When you were a child, you used to walk around your grandma's house, which was nestled close to the edge of a dense forest. As you wandered near the bushes behind her yard, you would sometimes hear a deep, threatening growl. Curious and a bit scared, you would cautiously approach to see what was making the noise. To your astonishment, you discovered a small lion and a fox engaged in a fierce fight, their claws and teeth flashing as they battled.

Your naive, young brain tried to intervene, desperate to stop the chaos. In your innocence, you reached out to separate the animals, but instead, the fox lunged and bit your arm, causing sharp, burning pain. Suddenly, the lion, startled or perhaps sensing danger, lunged at the fox. The fox scrambled away and disappeared into the bushes. Just as you were about to thank the lion for saving you, it flinched suddenly, scratching your hand with its sharp claws before it turned and ran off into the woods, leaving you stunned and bleeding.

Years passed, and you grew into a normal girl with a large, visible scar marking your left arm and right hand. People often asked what had happened, but you had long since learned to block out their curiosity, feeling indifferent about sharing your story.

One day at school, while you were peacefully drawing in your notebook before class, the teacher entered the room and announced, "A new student is joining us today." She gestured towards the door, where two figures were about to step inside.

"Come on in, you both. I'm sure everyone is eager to meet you," the teacher said warmly. As the door swung open, you saw two boys walk in, one taller than the other.

The taller one spoke first, his voice confident and friendly. "Good morning, everyone! My name is Sendoh Akira, and I'm really excited to be here. And beside me is Rukawa Kaede," he said, gesturing to the boy next to him. "He's a bit quiet, but I promise he's eager to meet all of you."

After introducing themselves, the teacher directed them to sit in the remaining empty chairs. As Sendoh took a seat, he flashed you a bright, warm smile. Caught off guard, you offered an awkward smile in return.

Lunchtime

Just as you were about to head to the cafeteria with your friends, someone suddenly sat down in the chair across from you, startling you as you looked up. The stranger looked at you with a friendly expression and said,

"Hi! Nice to meet you. I'm Sendoh, Sendoh Akira. Are you here alone?"