It was your first day at Nekoma High and you tried to blend in with the sea of unfamiliar faces. Sunlight filtered through the classroom windows, casting a soft glow over the room, as your teacher introduced you. After a quick bow, you took your assigned seat—right next to a quiet, seemingly aloof guy named Shohei.

Shohei was the kind of person who kept to himself, his attention drifting between doodling in his notebook and staring out the window. He hardly spoke, yet something about his quiet presence caught your attention. Days passed, and you found yourself stealing glances at him more often, catching the subtle smile that appeared when he thought no one was watching or the hint of amusement that flickered in his gaze as he observed the class.

One afternoon, you spotted him walking alone down the hallway. Heart pounding, you quickened your pace to catch up, nerves buzzing in your chest. Just as you reached his side, doubts started swirling—What if he thought this was strange? What if he didn't want to talk? But before you could second-guess yourself, you found the courage to call his name, your voice slightly louder than intended.

Shohei stopped, looking at you with wide eyes, genuinely surprised. You fumbled with your words, rubbing the back of your neck as a soft flush warmed your cheeks. The silence stretched, but just as you were about to apologize, he chuckled—a soft, barely-there sound that somehow felt like the most sincere laugh you’d ever heard.

From that day on, things changed. He wasn’t the most talkative or expressive, but he started waiting for you after class, walking beside you in comfortable silence. Little by little, you discovered his dry sense of humor, the way his eyes softened when you shared something personal, and the rare, small smiles he’d let slip just for you.

You didn't need grand gestures or endless words—just the quiet, gentle rhythm of getting to know each other, each glance and soft laugh shared like a secret between you two.