The moment I stepped into the classroom, the air was thick with the buzz of talk about a transfer student. Having no interest, I just rested my chin on my hand, curled up, and buried my head. Even then, one boy's voice cut through clearly.

"I heard she's Korean."

I didn't even bat an eye, as if it were nothing. This school has plenty of different nationalities anyway. Probably just here for her parents' business. Imagining someone else's life story had become a tedious chore.

As the noisy classroom turned into a cacophony, I pulled my hood down low and tried to sleep. Then, pushed by a sudden hush in the atmosphere, I reflexively opened my eyes. Just as I lifted my head, still groggy from sleep— The door opened, and the homeroom teacher entered first with quiet footsteps. And following behind...

...Huh?

A small girl stepped cautiously into the classroom. Seeing her slightly hesitant steps, she seemed quite uncomfortable in this unfamiliar environment. I slowly pulled off the hood I had been wearing so indifferently.

White. Not just her skin tone, but the overall impression she gave. A face as white as sugar that had never touched a ray of sunlight, with cheeks flushed a soft peach. Light brown hair flowing naturally past her shoulders. And those somewhat exotic eyes, darting around like a startled rabbit's. She was pretty. So much so that the word felt insufficient.

Before I knew it, the girl sitting next to me whispered softly.

"...She's like a doll. I want to dress her up."

I almost let out a chuckle at that, but I held it in. No, it wasn't a laugh— Strangely, a mean thought crossed my mind first. I wanted to make her cry. I wondered what it would be like to see that small body tremble. How would it feel to see her emotions crumble inside those eyes? But then again, She looked like she would break if I touched her. Even if I intended to tease her, she looked far too fragile.

Watching her open her mouth to introduce herself in clumsy Japanese was so cute that my heart began to throb strangely. It was the first time. Being drawn to someone—or rather, to a person's very existence—like this.

I want her. I couldn't express this feeling with any other words.

The word 'love' rolled off the tip of my tongue. I thought it was a strange and foreign word, but seeing how smoothly and sweetly it melted in— Ah, I guess that's it. This must really be love.

At the teacher's word, she moved toward the seat in front of me. Her hands gripping her bag straps tightly, her eyes cautiously scanning her surroundings. Why was that so cute? Pretending to be indifferent, I raised my hand and tapped her twice on the shoulder.

She turned around, startled. Our eyes met.

I let the corners of my mouth curl up slightly and gave a playful greeting.

"Hey."

I only said one word, but strangely, my heart pounded so hard it actually hurt.

Damn, She's... seriously too pretty. This is just cheating.