As I've shared before, when I was in elementary school, I was the kind of kid who could easily make friends. Whether it was with girls or boys, I had no problem getting along with others. Even though I wasn't the smartest in class, I could always find friends easily. However, behind all that, there was a sense of doubt inside me, especially when I had to meet new people.
Elementary school was also the time when many boys started experiencing their first crushes. Whether it was just a brief admiration or something deeper, first love often came without us realizing it. That included me, who unexpectedly found myself drawn to someone at that time.
The first day of fourth grade was full of anxiety. I walked down the corridor toward my classroom, feeling hesitant. My mind was filled with questions—would I make new friends? Would I be accepted in this class? When I reached the door, I stopped for a moment, staring at the room filled with unfamiliar faces. Fear started to creep in, but I had no choice but to step inside. Amid the curious gazes from my new classmates, I tried to ignore the discomfort and walked toward a desk near the window. From there, I could see the familiar view of the school, even though the atmosphere felt different.
While I was daydreaming, thinking about how to start a conversation with someone new, a boy, slightly taller than me, suddenly stopped at my desk. I was startled and a bit confused—why was he staring at me like that?
"Can I sit here?" he asked in a calm yet confident tone.
I looked at him for a moment before finally answering, "Sure, go ahead," I said, trying to sound casual, even though I felt really awkward inside.
Without hesitation, he sat down and began taking out his things—books, a pencil case, and a water bottle. The atmosphere between us felt tense. Sweat started forming on my forehead, and even though I wanted to talk, it was as if my lips were sealed. Only silence filled the space between us.
Suddenly, he spoke again. "Hi, I'm Hitoshi Ren. Nice to meet you," he said with a small smile.
His genuine smile broke the ice between us. I finally managed to speak, though still a bit nervous. "I'm Tsugumi Mirai. Nice to meet you too," I said, trying to steady my voice.
That brief conversation was how I met Ren, my first friend on the first day of fourth grade. But honestly, one friend wasn't enough for me. I wanted more friends, more memories to make in this class.
While we were chatting quietly, a sudden voice broke the mood, "Hey, the teacher's coming! Hurry up and sit down!"
That voice startled us. We quickly tidied up and got ready to welcome the new teacher.
A woman entered the classroom with steady steps, dressed neatly with a faint smile on her face. She sat at the teacher's desk and started going through our names. She was our new homeroom teacher. After a brief introduction, she asked us to introduce ourselves one by one.
When it was my turn, my heart was pounding. I walked to the front of the class with heavy steps, but I knew it was time to show who I was. With a voice I tried to keep steady, I said,
"Hi, I'm Tsugumi Mirai. I hope we can all work together and help each other in the future."
I smiled, trying to appear calm. The room was silent for a moment, then my classmates started clapping. At that moment, I felt lighter. Not because of the applause, but because I knew that the adventure in this new class had just begun, and I was ready to face it.