The day was April 1st. Kanta stood at the school gates in the morning, his satchel hanging loosely over his shoulder. He walked through, feeling the cool morning breeze brush against his face. The campus was empty, bathed in the soft light of early morning. The only sound was the gentle rustle of leaves, and there, near the flowerbeds, was Mori-sensei, watering the plants in his typical attire—dress slacks and a white button-up shirt. Kanta paused for a moment, taking in the scene. The peacefulness of the hour settled in, and he found himself wishing for a fresh, better start to his senior high school years—a chance to be more diligent, to break away from the mistakes of the past, and truly be present.

As he crossed the courtyard, Kanta noticed the familiar boards with exam scores and student grades. He paused, scanning the lists. His name was there—ranked 7th in the exam results. He did well in most subjects, but his foreign language score dragged him down. Just above him, he saw Kim's name—ranked 1st, as expected, and Tanya's at 2nd.

When he shifted his gaze to the student grades board, it told a different story. Kim was still first, Tanya had dropped to 6th, and Kanta found his name in the 200s—right in the middle of the rankings. The inconsistency gnawed at him—a reminder of his struggle with discipline. Exams were easy, but homework and assignments were another story. Skipping them meant his overall grades were nowhere near what they could be.

The courtyard was almost empty, giving the school a peaceful atmosphere. The morning was cool, cherry blossoms swayed gently, their petals drifting like snow. Kanta walked slowly, adjusting his school bag, his footsteps the only sound on the pavement.

"Nice change. No crowds, no noise," Kanta muttered, his voice barely audible in the stillness.

He made his way to the building, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. When he reached the classroom, he noticed a girl standing by the door. It was Tanya, her school bag hanging from her shoulder. Her short gray hair framed her face neatly, and her untucked shirt added to her casual style. Kanta knew her—everyone did. She had excellent grades, good looks, and was athletic. Kanta had always admired her, but they had never talked before. She looked up, and their eyes met. They exchanged a light smile, an unspoken greeting in the early morning.

Kanta walked past her and entered the classroom, placing his bag on the desk by the window—the one he'd imagined for himself long before high school. Something about this spot felt right. The view of the courtyard, the sense of being part of the class while slightly apart. He loved watching the world outside, seeing people go about their lives. It made him feel alive, part of something bigger. The freedom of the view contrasted with the confinement of the classroom, making him wonder what it would be like to not feel confined. He set another bag beside it, marking the spot for Kim, who he knew would want to sit next to him.

Kanta stepped back into the hallway. Tanya was still there, her expression distant. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. The quiet between them felt heavy, almost sacred. Finally, he decided to break the silence.

"You're here early," Kanta said lightly.

Tanya glanced at him, her face stoic. "Yeah, I come early to dodge the packed trains. I can't stand it when they're crowded," she replied.

Kanta nodded, glancing around. "Makes sense. I hate crowded places too. Quiet mornings like this are the best." He remembered often seeing Tanya at school whenever he came early, a sense of calm shared between them.

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"Yeah... it's peaceful," she agreed, her expression softening.

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment. Kanta glanced at the classroom door, then back at Tanya.

"Have you picked a seat yet?" he asked.

Tanya shook her head. "Not yet. I'm waiting for Lada. We usually sit together."

Kanta remembered seeing Tanya and Lada together often during their junior high years. They had always seemed close, spending time together during breaks, sharing lunch, and always sticking together during school events. It was no surprise they were still close now.

Kanta nodded again. “Got it. Well, if you want, there are a couple of seats in the front,” he offered, gesturing towards the classroom door.

Tanya tilted her head slightly, considering his words before nodding. “I'll let Lada know. Thanks.”

Kanta gave her a light nod before stepping back, leaning against the wall as they both waited for the rest of the class to arrive. The quiet stretched on, and Kanta found himself glancing at Tanya every so often, wondering what was going through her mind.

The hallway gradually filled as more students arrived, their quiet chatter echoing through the space. Kanta straightened, the peaceful moment ended as the school day truly began. He turned to Tanya, giving her a small smile. “Looks like it's starting.”

Tanya returned the smile, though it was fleeting. “Yeah. Here we go,” she said softly.

As the classroom being filled, Lada arrived, her hair falling freely around her shoulders, still slightly damp, her glasses slightly askew. The subtle scent of fresh shampoo lingered as she approached. Lada was Kanta's childhood friend and his first love. During their elementary school years, they were close, but neither admitted their feelings. Their bond faded in junior high when they ended up in different classes. Seeing Lada again brought back a mix of nostalgia and unease—he wondered if he could reconnect with her as they once had, or if the distance between them had grown too vast, turning them into strangers.

Lada was known for her beauty, outgoing nature, and effortless charm. Despite the attention she received, she had never entered a relationship, always turning boys down. She grinned at Kanta, nudging his shoulder playfully. “You planning to just stand there all day, or are you actually going to step inside?” She then grabbed Tanya's hand and led her into the classroom.

Kanta smiled, relieved that Lada had talked to him first, as he wasn't sure how to start. They hadn't had a real conversation in years, despite all the hearts he'd given on her Instagram posts. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” he said, following them into the classroom.

Together, they found their seats. Kanta sat at his desk, watching as Tanya and Lada took their seats in the front row just ahead of his. Lada looked back at him and said, "Isn't it nice we're in the same class again?"

Kanta's warm smile spread across his face. "Yeah, it really is," he replied. He tried to keep his voice casual, but there was a genuine sense of happiness behind it. After all the years of drifting apart, just having Lada close by felt like a small piece of familiarity had returned. "Feels like old times," he added, his tone softer, almost as if speaking more to himself than to her.

Lada turned to Tanya. "Kuzuhara-san is going to be in our class too," she said. Before Tanya could respond, Mori-sensei entered the classroom, earlier than expected. It was still quite some time before homeroom was scheduled to begin. Lada spotted him first since she was facing the door. She stood and bowed, prompting the other students to do the same. Kanta stood up quickly from his desk and bowed as well. Mori-sensei gave them a warm smile and a nod before scanning the room. The chatter died down instantly, the atmosphere shifting to complete silence as the students exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what had brought Mori-sensei there so early.

"You there, Aizawa, come with me," Mori-sensei called out, still standing by the door, gesturing for Tanya to follow.

"Not again," Tanya muttered under her breath, but she didn't hesitate. "Yes, sir." She walked towards him, her fingers brushing through her short, grey hair, drawing the attention of the other students. Kanta watched her leave, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face. He couldn't help but wonder what Mori-sensei wanted from her this time, but decided not to dwell on it.