The classroom had barely settled when the homeroom teacher, Mr. Hayashi, cleared his throat.
"Class 2-B, today we have a new transfer student joining us. Please welcome Akiyama Ayane. Ayane, would you please introduce yourself?"
All eyes turned toward the doorway as Ayane stepped in, her presence bright and confident. She smiled warmly at the class.
"Hello everyone! I'm Akiyama Ayane. I recently moved here from Tokyo and am really excited to meet all of you and make new friends. Thank you for having me," she said cheerfully.
The room was silent for a moment before whispers started spreading.
"She's so pretty…"
"Wow, she looks like a model."
Even Reina's mouth opened slightly, surprised by how striking Ayane was.
Suddenly, Ayane's eyes caught sight of Makoto sitting quietly near the window. Her face lit up instantly.
"Ohhhh—Makocchi!!! Long time no see, I missed you!" she exclaimed and, before anyone could react, threw her arms around him in a spontaneous hug.
Gasps erupted all over the room.
"Makocchi?!"
"She just hugged him?! In front of everyone?!"
"Wait—what kind of relationship do they have?!"
Makoto sat frozen, his entire body stiff with shock as Ayane clung to him with a huge grin on her face. He could feel every eye drilling into his back.
"…You haven't changed at all," she added, pulling back slightly but still holding his shoulders with a bright, nostalgic smile.
Makoto's voice came out flat, barely above a whisper.
"…Aya-chan. What are you doing? Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be in Tokyo?"
Ayane just beamed. "Transferring to your school, obviously!"
Mori Reina, still standing at her desk, clutched her bag a little tighter, her smile faltering for the first time. A strange flutter stirred in her chest as confusion and jealousy tangled together. Who is she? Why is she acting so close with Tatsunami-kun? Trying to hide her feelings, Reina looked away quickly but couldn't shake the uneasy sensation.
Ayane then turned fully toward Makoto, teasing with a mischievous smile.
"Hey, is that what you say to someone who's missed you so much? Where's my kiss, Makocchi~? …Woah, Haruki's here too! Long time no see!"
Haruki grinned wider, clearly enjoying the scene.
Ayane faced Makoto again, her eyes twinkling.
"Makocchi, you've never changed—you're still stupid. Why are you hiding your beautiful face behind those bangs?"
With a swift, playful move, she brushed his hair aside, exposing his eyes and forehead.
A collective gasp rippled through the classroom. Makoto looked unexpectedly handsome, his sharp eyes clear and intense beneath the revealed brow.
Reina's cheeks flushed deeper. She murmured quietly to herself, I don't like this...
Mr. Hayashi cleared his throat loudly, trying to restore order.
"Alright, alright—settle down. Akiyama-san, please take your seat."
Ayane gave Makoto a wink and finally sat beside him, perfectly composed despite the attention.
Makoto quietly turned his face away, hoping no one noticed the slight redness creeping into his ears. Makoto kept his face neutral, but inside, a storm of surprise and confusion brewed. He hadn't expected Ayane to show up here—not like this, so suddenly, so openly. His heart beat a little faster, though he told himself it was just from the awkwardness of the moment.
Reina stood quietly, watching the exchange with a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her. Who exactly is this Ayane? she wondered, And why does she act like she owns Tatsunami-kun? The unfamiliar sharp sting of jealousy gnawed at her, but she quickly pushed it down, telling herself to stay calm.
Haruki, always ready to break the tension, leaned toward Makoto with a mischievous grin. "Well, well, looks like you've got a fan club already. Should I be worried, Makocchi?"
Makoto shot him a tired glare. "Shut up, Haruki."
Mr. Hayashi clapped his hands once, raising his voice. "Alright, everyone, let's settle down. Akiyama-san, welcome again. Please take your seat next to Tatsunami-kun. We have a full day ahead."
The room murmured softly as everyone returned their attention to their desks, but the undercurrent of curiosity about the transfer student lingered in the air.
Makoto exhaled quietly, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes, and glanced sideways at Ayane, who was already smiling brightly at him.
After the morning classes ended and the classroom commotion finally settled down, Makoto, Haruki, and Ayane made their way up to the rooftop for lunch. The cool autumn breeze greeted them as they settled on the concrete ledge, the cityscape stretching out beneath them.
Haruki grinned, nudging Ayane lightly. "Still, I didn't expect to see you here, Aya-chan."
Ayane smiled softly, looking out over the school grounds. "Well, something unexpected happened in Tokyo… so I'm going to be staying here this year."
Makoto glanced at her, his voice quiet but sincere. "Have you been well?"
Ayane turned to him with a playful smirk. "Hmmmm… what would you do if I said I wasn't?"
Makoto blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. Haruki chuckled, sensing the change.
"Knowing Makocchi, he'd probably worry and try to help in his own quiet way," Ayane teased, nudging him gently.
Makoto gave a small, almost shy smile. "Maybe."
Ayane's expression softened as she looked at him. "I'm glad I'm back, though. It feels… right."
Haruki stretched out his arms behind his head, smirking. "Well, this year just got a lot more interesting."
The three of them laughed quietly, the weight of the day lightening as they enjoyed the brief peace together.