Takeda Kai, a first-year student at JK High School, sat at his desk, lost in thought.
His black hair hung loosely over his brown eyes, and his school uniform was a little wrinkled from the rush this morning.
But none of that mattered right now.
All he could think about was Saito Hoshina — a second-year, and the most popular girl in the whole school.
Every boy wanted her. Every girl admired her.
And Kai… he just stared at her from afar, caught in a hopeless crush.
"If only I could talk to her..." he thought, tapping his pencil lightly on the desk.
"Kai. Kai. Kai. KAI!"
His teacher's voice snapped him back to reality.
Kai jolted upright, heart pounding.
"Who is it?!" he blurted out, confused.
The teacher narrowed his eyes.
"What are you thinking about in the middle of my class?"
"I-I'm sorry, sir," Kai stammered.
Laughter filled the classroom, and Kai slumped deeper into his seat, face burning with embarrassment.
When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the day, Kai stayed behind a moment, still feeling the sting of being laughed at.
That's when a familiar voice called out to him.
"Yo, what's up, lover boy?"
It was Baki Yamamoto — Kai's best friend, better known by his nickname, Beck.
With his messy blond-streaked hair and casual swagger, Beck looked like he belonged anywhere except a boring school like this.
Kai sighed. "Thinking about her again, man."
Beck smirked.
"You're doomed. You know that, right? Every guy here wants her. Even the third-years."
"I know..." Kai mumbled.
"But!" Beck slapped him on the back. "You want her, right?"
Kai nodded hesitantly.
"Then go for it, bro! If she rejects you, it's no big deal. At least you'll have shown some guts."
Beck grinned. "You're the best friend of Beck. You can't be a coward!"
Kai couldn't help but laugh. Beck always had a way of making things seem simple.
But deep down, Kai still hesitated.
Something in the air felt... strange today.
A tension he couldn't explain.
And without knowing why, Kai had the sudden, chilling feeling...
That confessing to Saito Hoshina might change everything.
Forever.