The computer lab slowly filled with students.
Chairs scraped across the floor as people searched for seats. The quiet humming of computers blended with the low buzz of conversation.
Akira stood near the back wall, clutching his notebook.
If I stay here… maybe no one will notice me.
Then the professor clapped his hands once.
"Alright everyone, listen up."
The room quieted.
"Today's lab will be done in pairs. Sit with your partner."
Akira blinked.
Pairs…?
Before he could even move, someone stopped in front of him.
"Hi."
Akira looked up.
A girl stood there holding her laptop, her expression calm.
"Looks like we're partners."
Akira's brain froze.
Talking to boys already made him nervous.
Talking to girls felt like trying to defuse a bomb.
"…O-okay," he said quietly.
They sat at the same computer.
The girl began setting up the program.
"So," she said casually while typing, "what's your name?"
"…Akira Sato."
"I'm Kaori Fujimoto."
She gave a small polite smile.
Akira nodded awkwardly.
"…Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too."
A brief silence followed.
Kaori glanced at him again.
"So… do you know this programming language already?"
"…A little."
"That's good," she said. "Because I'm still trying to remember half of the syntax."
Akira looked at the screen.
"…I can help if you want."
Kaori smiled.
"Really? That would save me."
Inside Akira's mind, however—
Okay, calm down.
Don't say something weird.
Just focus on the code.
Thankfully, the professor began explaining the assignment.
While the professor talked about algorithms and debugging methods, Akira's attention slowly drifted around the room.
He searched the rows.
Where's Ren…?
After a moment he spotted him near the front.
Ren was already laughing with his partner.
Of course he is.
Akira sighed quietly.
Then—
His eyes stopped.
Two rows ahead sat a girl he had never seen before.
She was focused entirely on her computer screen.
Every few minutes she gently pushed her hair behind her ear while listening to the professor.
Something about her calm concentration felt… different.
Akira stared without realizing it.
Who is she…?
Minutes passed.
Then more minutes.
Even when Kaori asked him a question—
"Akira? Does this line look right?"
"…Huh?"
"You're staring into space."
"…Oh."
He quickly looked back at the screen.
But somehow his eyes kept drifting forward again.
For reasons he couldn't explain…
He couldn't stop looking at that girl.
Two hours later, the lab session finally ended.
Students began packing their bags.
Akira shut down the computer slowly.
But his mind was still somewhere else.
The image of that girl replayed in his head.
Why was I staring like that…?
He walked toward the elevator absent-mindedly.
Students stepped inside.
The doors closed.
Akira pressed a button without even looking.
His thoughts kept circling the same question.
Is she in my class…?
What's her name…?
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
Akira stepped out automatically and walked down the hallway.
Still thinking.
Still distracted.
He reached a door and opened it.
Then walked inside.
He dropped his bag on the sofa and sat down.
"…Maybe I'll see her tomorrow."
Then suddenly—
A bedroom door opened.
A girl walked out.
They both froze.
The girl blinked in confusion.
Akira blinked back.
Several seconds passed.
Finally she spoke.
"…Um."
"Yes?"
"…Who are you?"
Akira frowned slightly.
"…Who are you?"
The girl tilted her head.
"…What are you doing in my apartment?"
Akira looked around the room.
Then he looked back at her.
"…Wait."
"…Yes?"
"…What floor is this?"
"Fourth floor."
Akira's brain stopped working.
"…Fourth?"
"Yes."
"…I live on the third floor."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then—
"I'M SO SORRY!"
Akira bowed instantly.
"I pressed the wrong floor and didn't realize it! I was thinking about something and just walked in!"
The girl waved her hands nervously.
"It's okay! Really!"
"I even sat on your sofa—!"
"That's fine!"
"I'm extremely sorry!"
"You don't have to apologize that much!"
Akira bowed again.
"Sorry for disturbing you!"
And then he ran out of the apartment like a criminal escaping a crime scene.
Back in his own room, Akira collapsed onto his bed.
"…That was the most embarrassing thing I've ever done."
He covered his face.
I literally walked into a stranger's apartment.
What kind of idiot does that…?
The guilt slowly started eating at him.
"…I should apologize properly."
After taking a quick shower, Akira stood outside her apartment again.
He hesitated.
Then pressed the doorbell.
The door opened.
The girl looked surprised.
"…You again?"
Akira bowed.
"I came to apologize properly."
"You already did."
"…I still feel guilty."
She sighed softly.
"…It was an honest mistake."
Akira shook his head.
"Please don't cook dinner tonight."
"…What?"
"I'll cook for you."
"…Why?"
"To make up for earlier."
She looked confused.
"You really don't have to—"
"I insist."
"…You're serious?"
"…Yes."
After a moment, she laughed quietly.
"…Alright."
Akira went to a nearby supermarket.
Cooking had always been something he loved.
Back home, the kitchen had been the only place where no one judged him.
Tonight he decided to cook properly.
An hour later he knocked on her door again.
She opened it.
Akira held up several food containers.
"I brought dinner."
They sat at the dining table.
Akira opened the containers one by one.
Omurice.
Japanese curry.
Onigiri.
And a small bento.
The girl stared at the table.
"…You made all this?"
Akira nodded.
"…Yeah."
"In one hour?"
"…Cooking relaxes me."
She looked genuinely impressed.
"…You're amazing."
Akira scratched the back of his neck.
"…Please choose what you like."
She smiled.
"I'll take the omurice… the onigiri… and the bento."
Akira handed them to her.
Then he stood up.
"I'll go now."
She blinked.
"You're leaving already?"
"…I prefer eating alone."
"…Oh."
She gave a small smile.
"Still… thank you for the food."
"You're welcome."
She opened her mouth again.
"Wait—what's your—"
But Akira had already left.
Later that night, Akira lay on his bed staring at the ceiling fan.
For a while his mind felt quiet.
Then suddenly—
That girl from the lab appeared in his thoughts again.
Her focused eyes.
The way she pushed her hair behind her ear.
Who is she…?
He didn't even know her name.
Yet somehow…
She was stuck in his mind.
Akira closed his eyes slowly.
And for the first time since arriving at the institute…
He found himself thinking something new.
I hope I see her tomorrow.