[𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐞]
The second bell rang, signaling the start of homeroom, but Takumi Tachibana didn't budge. He sat near the back by the window, chin propped on his hand, black hair slightly tousled, eyes half-lidded as he stared out at the sky. The soft morning light caught his features, casting a lazy, contemplative air—though anyone who knew him would say it was more boredom than deep thought.
He hadn't even opened his notebook. Typical.
The classroom buzzed softly with students settling into their seats. Chairs scraped the floor. Voices dropped as the teacher neared. But Takumi remained still, as if he were detached from the rhythm of the school day.
Then came the sound of a chair being pulled out beside him, followed by a voice that always managed to cut through the noise, no matter how quiet.
"Good morning, Tachibana-kun."
Takumi slowly turned his head, his eyes flicking up to find Yuri Shinomiya standing beside him. Her light brown hair was perfectly in place, tied with a ribbon that matched her immaculate uniform. There was a warmth in her smile, but underneath it, Takumi could almost sense that small, playful glint in her eyes.
"Morning," he muttered, returning his gaze to the window.
Yuri took her seat beside him without hesitation. She adjusted her posture, shoulders straight, but there was a calmness to her demeanor that made her seem approachable—almost too perfect. Her kindness was apparent to everyone around her, but there was something about her that made people wary too. She wasn't easy to read. At least not for someone like Takumi, who preferred to stay in the background.
He had always been the type to avoid unnecessary attention. Academically average, socially distant, and notoriously lazy. That was his reputation. And yet, for some reason, the girl everyone referred to as "the angel of the class" had chosen the seat next to his on the very first day of school—and never left it.
He could hear the subtle teasing tone in her voice when she spoke to him, and yet, it always sounded gentle. She was the type of person who could make anyone feel at ease—unless, of course, you were Takumi.
She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice just enough so only he could hear. "You didn't do the homework, did you?"
Takumi blinked. "Nope."
Yuri's lips quirked, a slight, knowing smile playing at the corners. "I figured as much. I'll help you out this time, but only because it's your first offense."
Takumi raised an eyebrow. "First? I've been doing this for months."
She shrugged, feigning innocence. "A perfect student like me doesn't keep track of such things." The glint in her eyes didn't match the words, and Takumi couldn't quite tell if she was teasing or serious. Maybe a bit of both.
The teacher entered then, and the room finally settled. Takumi reluctantly opened his notebook, flipping to a blank page. Yuri had already taken out her notes, precise and color-coded. He glanced at them out of the corner of his eye and sighed.
He didn't dislike school—he just couldn't find a reason to care.
Sometimes, though, he wondered if that was starting to change.
To the world, they were just classmates.
But Yuri knew that wasn't the case. Takumi had been part of her life long before this high school ever began.
She remembered the small boy who had helped her on that rainy day years ago—He probably didn't remember it now. He didn't remember her.
But she remembered him.
And while Takumi stared lazily out the window, oblivious to the past she carried with her, Yuri watched him with a secret smile that only she knew the true meaning of.