Chapter Text
It was the start of a new school year, and Haruto, freshly transferred to Eimei High, was wandering the massive campus.
“Now, where the hell is the badminton court?”
He grumbled as he walked. The campus stretched endlessly.
“Who thought making a school this big was a good idea?”
He spotted a middle schooler passing by and called out.
“Hey!”
The kid turned, froze, then bolted before Haruto could even explain.
“Wai—hey!” Haruto muttered, exasperated.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he headed back inside the school building. The corridors were crowded, noisy.
As he rounded a corner, he brushed past two girls mid-conversation.
That’s when he saw her.
Pink hair. A fleeting glance, but enough to light a fire in his chest. His eyes followed her until she disappeared down the hall.
“Pink hair, huh…” he whispered.
He barely had time to think before he collided with someone.
“Would you watch where you’re going, kid?!”
Haruto froze. An old man glared up at him.
“The vice principal?”
“Yes, the vice principal!” the man barked. “And what’s this attitude? Look at you! Uniform sloppy, piercings still in—how many times do I have to tell students—”
“My bad. Didn’t see you,” Haruto said flatly, wearing his usual half-smirk.
“Is that the right way to apologize? Listen here—”
“Mr. Mitogi, you’re needed in the faculty room,” a teacher called from behind.
Mitogi scowled. “I’m not done with you!”
But Haruto was already moving on, spared for now.
When he got to his classroom early, the few students there froze.
“He looks like trouble.”
“Yeah, better stay away.”
Haruto noticed their whispers. When he glanced at them, they immediately looked away, stiff.
He sighed, disappointed. Pulling out his phone, he started watching badminton videos instead.
Classes began, and even the homeroom teacher had words about his appearance. Haruto brushed it off.
They can hate me all they want. I’m only here for one reason anyway.
By midday, laughter and chatter filled the room as friend groups naturally formed.
One girl, though, kept sneaking glances at him—Akari Hyodo, sister of the famous Shota Hyodo.
She finally worked up the courage.
“H-hi! I’m Akari. Akari Hyodo!”
Haruto blinked. “Hyodo? Wait—you’re related to him?”
“Shota’s my older brother.” She smiled warmly.
Haruto stared, stunned.
“You’re Haruto, right? My brother talks about you a lot.”
“He does?”
“Mhm! He said you’ve got amazing feints.”
Her words hit Haruto like cool air on a hot summer day. Something stirred in him, a faint relief.
Maybe joining Eimei won’t be so bad after all.
That afternoon, he finally found the gym. It was massive, with every sport imaginable—table tennis, basketball, volleyball.
“Where’s badminton?” he muttered, scanning the courts.
Then he saw her again.
The girl with pink hair.
She moved with elegance he couldn’t fully grasp, body flowing in a skin-tight suit meant for her sport.
“Chono-senpai is so pretty!” one of the onlookers whispered.
“Senpai, huh…” Haruto echoed under his breath.
She turned mid-movement, her gaze landing directly on him.
His heart skipped. Heat surged to his face.
“She—Shit, I’m late!” he stammered, snapping himself back to reality and rushing off.
Maybe Eimei really isn’t so bad.
“Hey, Yusa! I told you I’m not done with you!”
The vice principal’s voice thundered across the gym as Haruto groaned.
TO BE CONTINUED