Act 1
***
On the inaugural day of my high school adventure, a quiet soul embarked on a journey through the corridors of anticipation. Despite having a history of camaraderie back in junior high, my social circle had condensed to just two friends whose names, for the moment, seemed inconsequential. Today marked a fresh start, a solo walk from the familiar comforts of home to the uncharted territory of a new high school. With each step, the hope blossomed that this venture might unfold into an opportunity to cultivate, at the very least, a singular companionship in this unfamiliar landscape.
I am Takashi Yamada, the silent strategist maneuvering through the chaos of high school. Conversations with people never quite click for me, but when it comes to connecting with a kindred spirit, the secret lies in our shared hobbies. RPG games, the captivating worlds of manga, and the thrill of crafting fanfiction inspired by the anime I devour - these are the realms where I truly come alive. In the sanctuary of these solitary pursuits, I embrace the label of a shut-in with pride. After all, there's an art to finding solace in the stories that unfold within pixels and pages.
Finally, here I am at my new high school, and the grand entrance gate? Well, it's about as normal as you'd expect. I mean, what else could you anticipate from a place like this? As the freshmen trickle in, it's a mixed scene. Some, like me, take the solo route, navigating the unfamiliar grounds independently. Then there are those strolling in pairs, exchanging words and laughter, and the adventurous ones already forming little cliques. As for me, predictably, I'm in the "flying solo" category, charting my course through this sea of new beginnings.
Here i am, walking through the school entrance, a solitary figure navigating the bustling crowd.
Suddenly, a swift passerby, a girl with long black hair and glasses, brushed past him at an impressive pace. Intrigued, he wondered if perhaps they were running late, but a quick glance at his watch dispelled that notion. Not only did she share his visual style like her glasses for example, but an unexpected olfactory detail caught Takashi's attention - her hair, it seemed, carried the delicate fragrance of roses. "Was it a scented shampoo?", he mused, though such specifics mattered little. In that brief encounter, a fleeting thought crossed Takashi's mind - perhaps she only engaged with the more popular crowd, leaving him to navigate the halls alone.
Instructions led them to a spacious school hall, a sea of freshmen navigating the search for their own seats. In this expanse, Takashi opted for the familiar comfort of the back row, where a quieter vantage point awaited him amidst the hum of excited chatter from the newcomers.
Suddenly, a presence claimed the seat beside him, accompanied by that distinct scent of roses. Turning his head to the right, Takashi found himself face-to-face with the same girl who had briskly walked past him earlier.
"Ugh...why is she sitting beside me?" he wondered, his thoughts drifting to the possibility of her having a group of friends to join.
Avoiding direct eye contact, Takashi hesitated, contemplating the unspoken dynamics of high school seating arrangements.
As the principals and other teachers entered the hall, a hush fell over the crowd. The principal took center stage on the platform, launching into a welcoming speech.
"Today is going to be a special day for us, as we finally welcome you to our school..."
However, Takashi couldn't muster much interest in the monologue. The speech seemed to drift into the realm of boredom, and he found himself on the verge of closing his eyes to escape the monotony.
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As the speech concluded, the call came to check the school information board for class assignments. The girl who had occupied the seat beside Takashi promptly stood up, offering no words before walking away. Intrigued, he joined the flow of students heading to the board.
"Class 1.1," Takashi mumbled upon locating his name on the list.
Observing the same girl who had passed him by at the school entrance, he noticed her nodding at the Class 1.1 list before swiftly walking away, likely heading to her assigned class. Takashi shrugged, following suit, and began making his way toward Class 1.1.
Entering the class, Takashi discovered only one student already seated - that girl again. Sitting in the back row, just one empty desk away from the class window, she seemed engrossed in her reading, perhaps a novel of some sort. He brushed off the details, but her cold gaze followed his every move as she adjusted her glasses before returning to her book.
"Eh , not a bad class... though, it looked pretty old," his inner voice chimed in.
Embracing Takashi's inclination for solitude and steering clear of the front row, he decided to settle by the window in the back row, inevitably taking the seat next to her.
Summoning a bit of courage, Takashi stole a glance at her. She appeared entirely absorbed in her novel, seemingly indifferent to his presence, until our eyes unexpectedly met. Caught off guard, Takashi quickly shifted his gaze to the window, feeling a subtle flush creeping onto his face. How could someone's eyes be so captivating? he pondered, attempting to distract himself by focusing on the outside view.
Just as I immersed myself in the scenery, a soft, and slightly weak gentle voice of a young woman broke through my thoughts.
"What is your name?" she inquired, her question hanging in the air.
Turning my head back to her felt like an arduous task, but with a surge of determination, I faced the question about my name. Keeping my gaze fixed on the window, I mumbled,
"Takashi...Yamada."
Closing his eyes, Takashi waited for her response, seconds ticking by in silence. When he mustered the courage to steal a glance, Takashi found her engrossed in her novel once more. "Where did I go wrong?" He pondered, considering his next move.
Summoning more courage, I decided to break the silence.
"What about you? what is your name?" I asked, my voice barely audible, hoping for a response this time.
In a moment suspended in time, their eyes finally met without a hasty retreat. Breaking the silence, she answered his question with a soft, almost delicate voice.
"Amemori Yukiko..."
Nodding, Takashi adjusted his glasses and directed his gaze downward, the atmosphere reverting to an uncomfortable silence. Conversations with girls weren't exactly his forte, given the shut-in tendencies. Determined to ease the tension, he pondered, allowing a question to form in his mind.
"It is a quiet classroom, no? I wonder where are the others..." he ventured, seeking to break the palpable silence that lingered between them.
Before Yukiko could respond, a hand abruptly appeared from the window frame next to Takashi's seat. Startled, he leaped away from his chair, prompting Yukiko to do the same. Their eyes locked in a moment of shared surprise as they stood there, side by side, uncertainty etched on their faces. They cautiously turned their attention back to the window, both silently pondering who or what might emerge from this unexpected intrusion.
***
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Meet them all!
Takashi Yamada
- Biography: The main character of this so-called novel. He prefers to shut himself in his house rather than go outside. A quiet boy. He won't be quiet when you start talking about RPGs and any kinds of manga with him, though.
- Height: 175 cm
- Appearance: Takashi wears black round glasses and has messy black hair. He Doesn't really care about the way he dress outside of school. As long as it's comfortable, then he's okay with it.
Amemori Yukiko
- Biography: The first student that Takashi met in his freshman year. Just like Takashi, she's a quiet girl, but in a unique way. She prefers to hide her feelings and always puts on an emotionless face. She's always drowning in a sea of novels wherever she is. She really likes sweets.
- Height: 159 cm
- Appearance: Like Takashi, Yukiko wears black round glasses and has long black hair. she always wears her white-pearl earrings. She dresses like other high-school girls outside of school, but prefers more muted colors, avoiding anything too bright.