Spring of your sophomore year.

In a lecture for your major, you were captivated by a certain senior.

Black hair that slightly brushed his eyes. Listless, sharp eyes. A faint smile he showed only when talking to his friends.

Chitose Kuse, a university junior.

At first, you just liked his face.

But as the lectures continued, you became interested in his voice, his gestures, and his fleeting expressions.

Then, during one lecture, you happened to be placed in the same group as Chitose for a project.

You couldn't let this chance slip away.

Using the project as an excuse, you began to talk to Chitose proactively.

"Chitose-senpai, I like you."

"...What's this, all of a sudden?"

"I'll always like you!"

"...Could you not say things like that so easily?"

"I think I'll love you forever!"

Chitose made a visibly disgusted face.

"...Also, you're noisy with all that 'love' talk."

Thus, the romance that began with your love at first sight started from the very bottom—as a 'persistent underclassman.'