Dedicated to,
Those who dream with their eyes open, and to her-
Wherever you are in this world, or the next
"Hey, boy! Watch your step!!"
A voice yanked me back to reality just as my foot nearly kissed the pavement. I stumbled, barely catching myself, heart pounding like a faulty engine. Great start.
It was my first day of high school. Nervous? Totally. Anxious? Like my stomach was doing backflips. I'd rehearsed how to walk in, act cool, say my name like a normal functioning human. But the moment I crossed through those towering iron gates, everything blurred. I was swallowed into a sea of unfamiliar uniforms, chattering students, and distant school bell chimes.
I followed our homeroom teacher like a lost puppy, clutching my bag strap like it
was a life preserver. The hallways stretched forever, and every classroom looked like a portal to another dimension of judgment.
We finally stopped. The teacher opened the sliding door with a cheerful, "Class, we've got a new student today!"
And then, every head turned toward me.
Their gazes hit me like heat beams. My spine stiffened. My brain screamed, abort the mission!!
"Hey Haruto, introduce yourself to the class," the teacher said casually, like this wasn't the scariest moment of my life.
Right. Just talk. Out loud. No biggie.
I opened my mouth—and then I saw them.
Daiki. Miyako.
Two familiar faces in a classroom of strangers. My childhood friends. My safe zone.
Relief crashed over me like ocean waves. I could breathe again.
I straightened up a little. Cleared my throat. "Haruto Takami. Looking forward to being with you all," I said, trying to sound confident. Keyword: trying.
The teacher pointed me to a seat — right between Daiki and Miyako. Thank the school gods.
"Dude!" Daiki whispered as I sat. "You look like you just walked out of a horror movie."
"I felt like I did," I muttered.
Miyako smirked. "Still dramatic, huh?"
We grinned at each other, and just like that — the years melted away.
Lunch was a chaotic bliss. We shared snacks, caught up on everything, and planned a mini reunion after school. Miyako still had that fierce sparkle in her eyes. Daiki still had the energy of three squirrels. And me? I felt like I'd just been handed a cheat code to survive high school.
Then, after lunch… everything changed.
The door slid open again. The teacher stepped in — and this time, she wasn't alone.
A girl followed her.
And not just any girl.
The classroom fell silent. Boys froze mid-sentence. One guy dropped his rice ball. Another whispered, "Thank you, God."
Even the sunlight from the windows seemed to tilt toward her like a spotlight.
Her dress — soft pink with delicate lace — danced around her knees. Her long dark hair flowed with the breeze. She tucked a strand behind her ear like she'd done it a million times, but in that moment, it looked like something out of a dream.
And then—she smiled.
"Yumiko Airi. Looking forward to being
with you all!"
My heart? Skipped. My brain? Blue-screened. My soul? Floated.
Something about her was… surreal. Not just beauty. Something deeper. Like I'd seen her before, in a place I couldn't name.
She was seated in the front row for now, but I couldn't help it — I kept glancing her way. Every time I looked, I half-expected her to vanish. Like a mirage.
After school, we had our reunion. Laughter, teasing, bubble tea, and those inside jokes that never got old.
"So, how many girls fell for you today, Romeo?" Daiki asked with a waggle of his brows.
"Zip," I said.
"Liar. I saw that one girl blush when you said your name."
"That was probably a sneeze."
Miyako chuckled. "Boys. Always so delusional."
We walked home as the sky turned molten gold. And for a second, everything felt like a movie. My life had just rebooted—and it wasn't half bad.
The next morning? Madness.
Flowers.
So. Many. Flowers.
Every guy showed up with a bouquet. Some with chocolates. One dude even wrote "Yumiko Airi Fan Club" on his binder. They lined up outside the school gates like knights ready to duel for her honor.
She walked past them all.
No glance. No smile. Just a polite nod to the sky as she strode through the gates like a queen unaware of her kingdom.
And when I sat at my desk, humming a tune—
She sat beside me.
The class gasped in unison. I felt heat crawl up my neck as if the entire room was setting me on fire with their eyes.
Before I could blink, she turned and said,
"I just wanted the window seat. I already talked to the teacher. So... no need to be friendly with me."
I blinked.
Wut.
Did she just—reject me telepathically??
Before I could react, she turned to stare out the window, her expression unreadable.
I didn't know whether to feel insulted... or impressed.
(Okay fine, mostly impressed.)
Still, Yumiko Airi, the girl every guy had practically written sonnets for, had voluntarily chosen to sit next to me. For a
window, sure — but she could've sat anywhere.
The classroom was practically vibrating with jealousy. I swear one guy mouthed, "You lucky—" before Daiki threw a crumpled note at my head.
After school, Daiki pounced on me.
"You, my friend, are a man of destiny!"
"What even just happened," I muttered, still dazed.
"She totally likes you," he grinned.
"No she doesn't," I groaned.
Miyako rolled her eyes. "Boys. Again."
"She literally told me not to talk to her!" I whispered.
"Reverse psychology," Daiki said confidently.
"She doesn't know me!!"
"Yet," he winked.
Miyako smacked him with her notebook. "Can we not start a fanfiction in real life?"
"You wound me, my queen!" he said dramatically, bowing.
Yup. Those two were absolutely dating. They had been since middle school. Everyone knew. No one dared mess with it.
As we parted ways at the train station, the sky above had turned dusky, a soft lavender-blue smeared with gold.
"See you tomorrow," I said, waving.
"Don't fall asleep in class, window boy!" Miyako teased.
"Confess your feelings and get rejected like a man!" Daiki added.
I flipped them both off playfully as I turned away.
But as I walked home, the wind brushing past, the evening strangely quiet, I found myself thinking of her again. Yumiko Airi. The girl with the window gaze and the ghostly smile.
Why did it feel like I'd seen her before?
That night, I dreamed.
She was there. In a field of white lilies. Dressed in light. Her voice called out to me like music.
I reached for her hand.
And just before our fingers touched—
I woke up.