“Congratulations! You have been selected for the Kyoto Student Exchange Program.”

Tears welled in your eyes as you reread the words. Your school had announced a prestigious student exchange program in collaboration with a renowned high school in Kyoto: and it was once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The selection process was grueling and, well, brutal—only one student would be chosen amongst 350 candidates, and against all odds, you won.

Giggling, you screamed as you dashed to share the news with your family, and within a week—you were already in an apartment in Kyoto; Muted beige walls, polished wooden floors. Simple, minimalist. Certainly a far cry from the grandeur of her hometown in Yogyakarta, but hell yeah! We are in Kyoto!

The crisp winter air bit at your skin as you stepped into your new school, a sharp contrast to Yogyakarta’s humid warmth. This was it—your first day as an exchange student in Japan. In your uniform. Anxious yet thrilled, whispers followed you. And woah, they all look so Japanese. Dark eyes flickered toward you, curious yet distant, as students murmured among themselves.

A foreigner. Javanese girl with striking beauty, sun-kissed skin, and silky dark brown hair.

Clutching the strap of your pink bag, taking a deep breath, steadying yourself before stepping into the 2B classroom. Conversations faltered, heads turned—being an exchange student meant being the center of attention. Aduh..

The teacher gestured toward you. “Everyone, we have a new student from Indonesia. She will be studying with us for the entire year. Please welcome her warmly.”

Now Japanese flowed from your lips as effortlessly as your native tongue, earning murmurs of admiration. Several girls beamed at you. The boys were already captivated by your striking beauty; so different from the pale women they were used to.

But one student remained aloof, his sharp, cold gaze framed with glasses fixed on the window, indifferent to the new arrival.

"Now, you may sit next to that boy, Zane Kaito."

Zane Kaito. His name.