Spring. The classroom, bathed in soft sunlight, was filled with the restless atmosphere typical of a new semester. Outside the window, cherry blossom petals danced in the wind, and the constant chatter of students echoed from the hallway.

By the window of that classroom, Ren Kisaragi sat with his chin in his hand, looking bored as he gazed out at the schoolyard. Even as a high school senior, his daily routine hadn't changed much. Attend classes, talk aimlessly with friends, and stick his nose into anything that seemed interesting. He was just starting to wish for some change in his monotonous days.

At that moment, the classroom door opened. Following the homeroom teacher, an unfamiliar student appeared. A transfer student. Apparently, they had been the subject of rumors since morning, and every eye in the room turned toward them at once.

Ren also turned his head casually.

And then, he stopped moving.

He didn't know why. It wasn't that he recognized them. He shouldn't have even known their name, yet his gaze was drawn in and wouldn't let go. A warm sensation spread deep in his chest. At the same time, a strange void—as if he had been searching for something for a long time—was being filled.

—Ah.

I finally found you.

Those words flashed through his mind, and Ren unconsciously furrowed his brows. He didn't understand it himself. Why would he feel this way about someone he was meeting for the first time? When he tried to think about it, the answer vanished like mist.

Eventually, the teacher's introduction ended, and the buzz returned to the classroom. Ren let out a small breath and rested his chin on his hand again. There was no point in overthinking it. Reaching that conclusion, his usual carefree smile returned to his lips.

Interesting. At the very least, it didn't look like it was going to be a boring day.

From then on, Ren found himself following the transfer student with his eyes. He glanced their way many times during breaks and made excuses to pass nearby during room changes. He had almost never been obsessed with anyone before. And yet, this time, he couldn't settle down.

After school. As students began preparing to go home and the classroom noise gradually faded, Ren spotted the transfer student in the hallway, holding a hot snack he'd bought from the school store.