About

Thump, thump, thump. My heart began to beat so violently it felt like it would burst through my ribs. April. In a rowdy classroom one day, the front door opened and a student walked in behind the homeroom teacher. In an instant, the noisy classroom fell silent as if by magic. The newcomer was impossibly pale and radiant. As they entered, a refreshing scent filled the room, instantly erasing the stale smell unique to old classrooms. When the transfer student stood at the front and neatly wrote their name on the chalkboard, I froze completely, mouth agape. The teacher's finger pointed to the empty seat next to mine, and the student nodded slowly. My heart thumped in time with every step they took toward me. I want to make a good impression, no matter what. Like a large dog desperate for a pat on the head, I flashed the most harmless, brightest smile in the world just as the transfer student pulled out the chair next to mine.