The faint chatter of students filled the hallways of Fujioka High School as Kaito Nakamura leaned casually against his locker, a mischievous grin curling on his lips. In his hands, he held the weapon of the day: a small packet of harmless but vividly colored powder. His target? Mr. Tanabe, the notoriously uptight physics teacher.
"You're really going through with this?" asked Haru, Kaito's best friend, who stood beside him with an incredulous look.
"Of course," Kaito said, tossing the packet lightly into the air before catching it. "It's just a little fun to lighten the mood around here."
The plan was simple. During the lunch break, Kaito would rig the classroom door so that when Mr. Tanabe opened it, he'd get a face full of bright blue powder. Harmless, but undeniably hilarious.
Kaito had pulled plenty of pranks before—he was practically a legend in the school for his antics—but today, fate decided to intervene.
As the lunch bell rang, Kaito hurried down the hallway with Haru in tow. The school felt alive with the energy of students rushing to their next destinations. Kaito worked quickly, carefully taping the packet to the top of the doorframe of the empty classroom.
"Perfect," he muttered, stepping back to admire his handiwork.
But just as he turned to leave, the sound of soft footsteps echoed from around the corner. A girl appeared, her arms cradling a stack of books.
She was someone Kaito had never seen before—quiet, unassuming, with dark hair that framed her delicate features. Her uniform was neatly pressed, and her gaze was downcast as if she were trying to avoid attention.
"Who's that?" Haru whispered.
"No idea," Kaito replied, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.
The girl approached the classroom, her head tilted slightly as if she were uncertain about her surroundings.
"Wait!" Kaito hissed, realizing what was about to happen.
But it was too late. She pushed the door open, and with a sudden poof, the blue powder exploded, covering her from head to toe.
There was a moment of stunned silence.
Kaito's jaw dropped as he watched the girl blink in shock, her face now a vivid shade of blue. The books she was carrying clattered to the floor, and a faint gasp escaped her lips.
"Oh no..." Kaito muttered, rushing forward. "I didn't mean—Are you okay?"
The girl stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, without a word, she knelt down and began gathering her books, her movements slow and deliberate.
"I'm so sorry!" Kaito blurted, crouching to help. "I thought... I mean, this wasn't supposed to happen. It was meant for—"
"For someone else," she finished, her voice soft but carrying a hint of irritation. She looked up, her eyes meeting his for the first time. Despite the powder covering her face, Kaito could see the faintest hint of a scowl.
"Yeah..." Kaito said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "I didn't know anyone would—"
"You didn't think," she interrupted, standing up with her books in hand.
Kaito winced. "Okay, yeah, I didn't think. But I really am sorry!"
The girl let out a quiet sigh, brushing some of the powder off her uniform. "Next time, maybe don't set traps in public spaces."
She turned to leave, but before she could, Haru, who had been watching the scene unfold like a silent movie, burst out laughing. "She got you good, Kaito!"
Kaito shot him a glare, then looked back at the girl. "Wait—what's your name?"
She paused, glancing over her shoulder. "Hana Matsui. I just transferred here today."
With that, she walked away, leaving Kaito standing in the hallway, feeling both guilty and oddly intrigued.
"Smooth," Haru teased, clapping Kaito on the back. "You really know how to make a first impression."
"Shut up," Kaito muttered, his eyes following Hana as she disappeared around the corner. Something about her quiet resilience struck a chord in him, though he couldn't quite explain why.
Little did he know, this was just the beginning of a connection that would change his life forever.