Anon Chihaya straightened her outfit, shouldered her gray bag, and set off for Haneoka Girls' Academy to report for her first day.
"Hey, have you heard?"
"You mean that transfer student?"
"Yeah, it’s really her, right?"
"It’s definitely her! I’m so excited!"
As Anon stepped through the school gate, she caught snippets of whispers from the girls around her.
*Could they be talking about me? Hehehe~*
Thinking this with brazen confidence, Anon couldn't help but chuckle. She found her new classroom and paused at the doorway.
*Hoo.*
She took a deep breath.
*Alright, starting today, my new school life begins. Anon Chihaya, you can do this!*
She patted her cheeks, knocked, and after receiving a sign to enter, she pushed the door open.
...
"Even though Golden Week is just around the corner," the teacher for Class 1-A announced during the homeroom session, gesturing for Anon to take the stage, "we have a new member joining us today."
"Hello everyone, I’m Anon Chihaya," she said. "Due to family circumstances, I’m transferring at this unusual time. I hope we can all be friends. Please take care of me."
After bowing, Anon was met with warm applause. The students began buzzing about the girl with long pink hair, and laughter rippled through the room.
*Hehehe, as long as I blame the transfer on "family circumstances," I can fit right back into the class quickly. I really am a genius!*
Though her self-introduction had been standard, it was good enough. Just as Anon was feeling proud of herself, a knock sounded at the door again.
The teacher glanced at his watch and gestured for the newcomer to enter. Bai Xian pushed the door open and made a grand entrance.
"Let me introduce our second new student," the teacher said. "Due to Haneoka’s expansion program, we have another addition. As you can see, he is a boy. Bai Xian-kun, please introduce yourself."
"Sure, thank you, teacher."
"Hello everyone, I’m Bai Xian—"
Before he could finish, the girls in the classroom let out sharp, high-pitched shrieks.
"Ahhh! Look, it’s Bai Xian! He actually came!"
"It’s true, it really is him!"
"Why did Bai Xian-kun come to our academy?"
"Bai Xian-kun, what’s your favorite food? What about sports?"
"Ah, can I have your autograph?"
"Me too! Me too!"
...
...
It seemed an introduction was no longer necessary.
Bai Xian struggled to deal with the students' enthusiasm; their level of popularity was far beyond what he had expected. Then again, in a school as band-obsessed as Haneoka Girls' Academy, Bai Xian’s name—if not known to every single person—was nothing short of legendary. He was, after all, the iconic keyboardist for the world-renowned rock band "PENTAKILL." Some called him the very soul of the band, an indispensable figure, a sentiment widely shared across the globe.
Bai Xian looked visibly overwhelmed as he dealt with the attention, while Anon stood to the side, completely stunned.
*Wait! The person everyone was whispering about this morning was Shiro-chan, not me! And I never expected him to be in my class... but now that he’s here, isn't he going to be the center of attention instead of me? Waaaah!*
Anon felt a bit pessimistic, though she was secretly happy to be in the same class as him.
"Alright, alright, everyone calm down. Don't scare our new students," the teacher said, waving his hands to signal for quiet. "Bai Xian-kun, please take the empty seat at the back. Anon Chihaya-kun, you sit next to him. That’s fine, right?"
"Yes," they both replied.
"Good. Now, let’s begin homeroom."
Once they were seated, Bai Xian felt gazes coming from every direction, which left him feeling quite helpless. He noticed the girl in front of him looked slightly familiar, so he reached out, tapped her shoulder, and offered a soft greeting.
Tomori Takamatsu had been lost in her own world, focused on fiddling with a stone on her desk. She hadn't even noticed him during his introduction. When she felt the tap, she turned around timidly. Her eyes widened.
*Isn't this the kind boy I met before? Bai Xian, right? I never got a chance to thank him properly.*
But... when she had wanted to thank him earlier, he had... disappeared.
*Does he hate me? I’m so slow-witted. I can’t speak properly, and I can’t express my feelings.*
At that thought, Tomori lowered her gaze, her expression darkening. Seeing her look so sad—almost as if she were retreating into her own shell—Bai Xian spoke gently.
"Tomori Takamatsu-san? Are you okay?"
"Ah, I’m so sorry I just ran off last time. I was just... so hungry."
To his surprise, hearing this only made Tomori sadder.
"It’s... my fault. I ate all of your xiaolongbao and made you go hungry."
The girl looked incredibly self-reproachful, her eyes misting over as if she were about to cry. Bai Xian quickly tried to comfort her.
"Hey, it’s alright. I was happy that you accepted my kindness, Tomori-san."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Then... during lunch, will you come eat my bento with me, Bai Xian-kun?"
Tomori lifted her head, staring blankly at Bai Xian. Her tone was firm, a complete departure from her earlier fragility. Perhaps caught off guard by her intensity, Bai Xian didn't respond immediately.
"Is it... not okay?"
...
Tomori’s spirits sank, and the world seemed to dim for her again.
*He really does hate me. Bai Xian-kun doesn’t want to eat with me... He hates me. He hates me. He hates me. He hates me...*
"Of course, it would be my honor," Bai Xian said, finally reacting with a gentle smile.
*He... he doesn’t hate me.*
Tomori’s face lit up with a joyous smile, her expression so adorable it was impossible not to feel for her. Bai Xian couldn't help but reach out and pat her head. She didn't pull away; instead, like a little kitten, she docilely accepted his touch.
*She acts like a little penguin, so how did she turn into a house cat?*
The heartwarming scene didn't last long.
"Hey! Can you two please mind the occasion? We’re in class!"
The teacher had been watching them for a while, and he finally couldn't hold back his frustration.
"Ah, gomen!"
Bai Xian pulled his hand back and sat up straight, behaving like a model student.
*Give me a break, do you really think I’m that much of a pushover?*
Tomori: *staring*
Anon: *staring*
Teacher: *staring*
The whole class: *staring*
Under the weight of countless eyes, Bai Xian felt awkward until the bell finally rang. *Damn it, what did I do wrong?*
...
By midday, Bai Xian was preparing to head out for lunch when he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Bai Xian-kun, we agreed..." Tomori said softly, though her tone held a hint of stubbornness and resolve.
"Of course." Bai Xian smiled knowingly at her cute expression.
"Ah, can Anon come too?"
"Eh? Can I?" Anon froze, pointing at herself in surprise. She hadn't expected to be included.
"Of course. What do you think, Tomori Takamatsu-san?"
Bai Xian didn't force the issue, simply asking for Tomori’s opinion, but his concern proved unnecessary. Tomori nodded, signaling for everyone to head to the Astronomy Club to eat together.
...
Once they reached the Astronomy Club, Tomori found a clean spot to eat and placed her bento on the table.
"Everyone, let's eat..."
Her voice was faint, but in the quiet club room, it was perfectly clear. Bai Xian looked at the delicate girl—her amber eyes, her light gray short hair, the cute Haneoka uniform, and that pitifully beautiful face.
*What a cute and charming girl.*
Bai Xian felt a surge of genuine pleasure. Anon pulled an exquisite bento box from her bag and set it beside Tomori’s.
"If you don't mind, I’ll join too..."
Seeing the harmonious scene before him, Bai Xian nodded contentedly, took out his own bento, and with a flourish, said:
"Alright, let's dig in!"
"Yeah!" they all cheered.