The late autumn breeze carried the scent of fallen leaves through the streets of Kyoto, weaving through the crowds of students heading home from school. The golden light of the setting sun painted the sky in warm hues, casting long shadows on the pavement.
Reiji Tsukishima walked calmly through the school gates, his hands tucked into his blazer pockets. His posture was relaxed, his gaze indifferent, yet there was an unmistakable sharpness in his dark eyes—a quiet, unshaken confidence that made people take notice. He wasn't the type to stand in the spotlight, but his presence was hard to ignore.
He didn't mind the solitude. It was peaceful, predictable—until she appeared.
Aoi Fujikawa.
She was laughing, her voice light and melodic as she spoke with her friends near the vending machines. Her long, chestnut-brown hair swayed slightly with the wind, and her smile—genuine and effortless—had a way of softening the world around her.
Reiji had seen her plenty of times before. But recently, he had found himself noticing her more, watching the way her expressions changed, the way she interacted with people. There was something about her warmth that drew him in, something he couldn't quite ignore.
And then, there was her.
Sena Tachibana.
Unlike Aoi's inviting warmth, Sena had an edge to her—a sharpness that made it clear she wasn't the type to get along with just anyone. Her jet-black hair, tied loosely into a ponytail, barely hid the piercing gaze she carried. If Aoi was the sunlight filtering through the trees, then Sena was the storm brewing in the distance.
And right now, that storm was looking directly at him.
Reiji met her gaze without hesitation, their eyes locking for a brief moment before she scoffed and turned back to Aoi. It wasn't the first time he had noticed the way Sena looked at him—like he was some sort of nuisance, an annoyance she had no patience for.
The feeling was mutual.
Not because of who she was, but because of what she represented.
Aoi was already taken.
And Reiji wasn't foolish enough to ignore that.
But even knowing that, he couldn't help but wonder—what was it about Aoi that made his heart waver? And why did it feel like, despite their clear hostility, he and Sena were bound to keep crossing paths?
As the evening air turned colder, Reiji exhaled slowly.
This was only the beginning.
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