Chapter 6: The Boy Who Returned Different
Class 2-B was back in session.
The summer heat clung to the windows, cicadas screeched in the background, and students yawned through their first day back. Laughter, gossip, and the smell of cheap convenience store lunches filled the air.
Then…
Click.
The classroom door opened.
And everything stopped.
A boy stepped in.
Straight posture. Calm steps.
Black slacks, navy sweater. Sharp, neat hair.
No glasses — just warm brown eyes, half-lidded, unreadable.
Not smiling. Not anxious. Just… quiet. And collected.
No one recognized him at first.
Then someone gasped.
"Wait… is that—Haruki?!"
Even the yellow-haired girl — Yua, the class idol — froze mid-lip gloss.
Her heart skipped. That face… that vibe… it didn't match the shy boy from months ago.
But something in his eyes pulled a memory —
a kind child who once offered her an umbrella in the rain.
He looked so different now.
But it was him.
And yet…
He didn't even glance at her.
Not her. Not anyone.
He walked to his seat. Sat down. Took out a notebook.
Silent. Unbothered.
Not a single word.
Yua blinked, lips parted.
He didn't even fake a smile. He had the aura of someone who'd stared into the abyss and came back with homework done.
---
Then…
The door slammed open behind him.
"EXCUSE ME, PEOPLE! THE SNACK PRINCESS HAS ARRIVED."
Rinako Kuroi barreled in, holding a melon bread in her mouth and a bento in her hand.
"Sorry-sorry-sorry I tripped on my flip-flop this morning and then the cat tried to kill me so I'm late—"
She plopped into her seat beside Haruki and immediately opened her lunch like it was a survival mission.
Everyone blinked at the chaos.
Then… the impossible happened.
Haruki turned his head slightly…
And smiled.
"Morning."
Only two syllables. But with a warmth he hadn't shown anyone.
Rinako lit up. "Yo~! You look super sparkly today. Is this Version 3.0 already? Are we skipping updates?"
"You're late," he muttered.
"I blame gravity."
"You also blamed gravity last time you ate pavement."
"Gravity is consistent. So am I."
He sighed. "At least chew before you talk."
"I'm training to speak mid-snack. It's my ninja way."
He smirked — tiny, subtle — but it was real.
Yua, across the room, stared at them.
The boy who ignored everyone had smiled.
Only for her.
Rinako.
---
Whispers filled the room.
"Was that really Haruki?"
"He didn't even blink when Yua looked at him…"
"Dude's aura changed. Like a main character glow-up arc."
Someone from the back said, "Wait till the bully sees him."
Another chimed in, "Pfft, Kenji's not even here yet. He always skips the first week."
"Can't wait for that showdown."
"Place your bets!"
---
Meanwhile, Rinako shoved a rice ball in Haruki's face.
"Taste this. I added too much soy sauce. It might awaken your third eye."
He looked at it. Sighed again.
"…Fine."
He bit it.
Paused.
"…It's good."
"Lies. It's aggressively salty."
"Still better than cafeteria food."
She grinned. "You're growing up. Lying to protect my feelings."
He replied flatly, "I just don't want you to throw another rice ball at my head."
"Ah. He remembers. Good."
---
The rest of the class watched in awe.
This new Haruki didn't just look different.
He acted different.
But somehow… when he was with Rinako, it wasn't forced. It was natural. Familiar.
Like they'd built something over summer that no one else understood.
Yua watched from her seat.
Eyes soft. Thoughts tangled.
That smile…
That kindness…
That spark he only gave to Rinako—
She wanted to look away.
But she couldn't.
---