The faint melody of the bell above the door echoed softly as Misaki Tanaka wiped down the counter of Sunset Café, her part-time job in a quiet corner of the town. It's a quiet afternoon, where Misaki sketches at the counter while serving customers. The aroma of coffee swirls around her as she absentmindedly doodles an art for the upcoming Midori Yama High Cultural Festival. Her pencil dances across the page, tracing delicate lines that form the outline of a work she wants to submit to the festival's art competition.

"Hey, Misaki," Aoi Nakamura calls from a table, grinning widely as she waves. "Any chance you'll be submitting something this year?"

Misaki blushes slightly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Maybe... if I can figure out the right design."

Aoi, the optimist, leans over the counter. "Come on, your work is amazing! You need to stop second-guessing yourself and go for it."

Misaki smiles, grateful for the support, but her gaze shifts to the back of the café where Haruto Sakamoto sits, surrounded by textbooks, completely absorbed in his studies. The quiet diligence of the top student in school always intimidated her. He looks so focused—so sure of himself.

Aoi follows Misaki's gaze, smiling. "You've been staring at him for weeks. He's not that scary, you know."

Misaki blinks, shaking her head. "What, No, I wasn't—"

"It's okay, Go talk to him, everyone's a little intimidated by him. Mr. Perfect over there with his perfect grades and all. But you know what? He's still just a person. Why don't you go talk to him?!" Aoi urges, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

Before Misaki can protest, Haruto looks up from his book, meeting her gaze. Her heart skips a beat. Embarrassed, she ducks her head back to her sketchbook, pretending to work.

Aoi doesn't want to push it further. But she says, "Well, you could start by asking him how he manages to keep his head from exploding with all that studying. Or maybe you could ask him to help you with your math assignments?"

"I'm fine with math." Misaki muttered, flustered.

Haruto suddenly looked up from his books, his sharp eyes locking onto them for just a moment. Misaki quickly lowered her gaze, pretending to focus intently on wiping the already clean counter.

Aoi chuckled under her breath, leaning in closer to whisper, "See? He noticed you. You should make a move."

Misaki shook her head rapidly, her face burning. "I—I don't think he's interested in talking to me."

"Please. Guys like that? They're all wrapped up in their books and don't know how to take a break until someone makes them," Aoi replied, with a smirk. "Besides, you never know unless you try."

"Just shut up, have your cappuccino, and just go!!!!!!", said Misaki.

Misaki felt her heart racing, her mind battling between embarrassment and a strange curiosity. She glanced back at Haruto, who had already returned to his book, completely absorbed once more.

There was a sense of peace about him in his silence, as if he had everything perfectly under control, while she was still figuring out what direction her life was heading in.

She sighed, tucking her sketchbook back under the counter. "Maybe one day."

The bell above the door rang again, and Misaki snapped out of her dreams. More customers came in, and the café gradually grew busier as evening approached. Aoi waved goodbye and left, leaving Misaki alone with her thoughts once more.

But, to her surprise, Haruto approached her silently and said, "Your sketches are really good!". He didn't look at her directly, but his gaze flickered toward the open sketchbook on the counter before he turned towards the door. "You should submit something to the festival."

Misaki stared at him, stunned. She hadn't realized he had even noticed her work. "Oh, uh… thanks," she mumbled, barely audible. Before she could say more, Haruto was gone, the door swinging shut behind him.

For a long moment, Misaki stood there, frozen in place. Her heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts swirling. "He noticed? He actually noticed my sketches?"

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she glanced down at her drawing. Maybe Aoi was right. Maybe it wasn't impossible after all.

Misaki, creative, and kind-hearted, but easily distracted by her daydreams, has always wanted to be a famous artist. She's constantly sketching and drawing in her notebook during classes, often lost in her own world. While her artistic talents are impressive, her parents worry about her ability to find a stable career, urging her to pursue something more 'practical'. As the eldest daughter in her family, she feels torn between following her passion and meeting her parents' expectations.

While Aoi, energetic, social, and always looking on the bright side, is the life of the party. She's constantly organizing outings for her friends and trying new activities. But deep inside, she's dealing with her personal sorrows after the sudden loss of her father 2 years ago. She works at a bakery her family runs, trying to keep her father's legacy alive while creating her own path.

Haruto, the top student in his school, with everyone expecting him to attend a very prestigious university. He is well-liked by the teachers and respected by his classmates. But only a few people truly know him. From a young age, he's been pressured to excel academically. However, Haruto secretly longs for a simple life, one where he can enjoy small moments without the weight of expectations. Lately, he started to spend more time at a local café, reading novels and books for a calm mind, and that's when Misaki saw Haruto. She admires his level of discipline.

To be continued....