Ten years ago…
"Hikaru-kun, my son, we are going to move to America for a while. You will stay here so the house is not left empty. Here is your credit card; there is 100 billion dollars inside or over 15 billion yen here in Japan. You can spend it however you like. Your maid, driver, and security are all here to serve you," Hikaru's mother said in a calm yet hurried tone, handing over a black card.
"But Mom..." Hikaru's young voice trembled as he held the card, looking up at his mother with teary eyes.
His mother and siblings quickly got into the luxury car, their silhouettes blending into the background of their estate. His siblings waved at him, shouting goodbyes, but his father remained silent, not even sparing him a glance.
"Hikaru-kun, don't worry, we will be back. I promise," his mother said before the car's door closed.
"Mama!!!" Hikaru screamed, tears streaming down his face as the luxury car disappeared from view. He stood there, clutching the black card, feeling abandoned.
Present day…
Now 16 years old, Hikaru Takashi stood at the entrance of his third-year high school classroom. His black hair framed his face, and his blue eyes, hidden behind plain PC glasses, scanned the room. At 170 cm tall, he wasn't the most imposing figure, and his unassuming demeanor had earned him a reputation as the quiet, gloomy loner in class.
"Man, Hikaru is still so gloomy."
"Yeah, a total loner."
"Bro, look at Hikaru. He's been like that since first year."
Hikaru's classmates whispered as he quietly slid into his seat by the window, ignoring the murmurs around him. "Yeah, this is me. I'm a total loner," he thought to himself, his gaze fixed outside.
The chatter in the room was interrupted by a new voice. "Everyone! Please go back to your seats. I am your new teacher for this school year. I am Haruto Matsuda, and I will be your adviser. I look forward to working with you all," the teacher said with a commanding presence.
"Now, since I don't know you all yet, let's start by introducing ourselves. Starting with... you, at the very back of the room. Hey!" the teacher called out, his gaze landing on Hikaru.
Hikaru, lost in thought, didn't notice until he felt a gentle poke on his arm.
"Hoi! Hoi! Hoi!" a cheerful voice called out. A beautiful girl with striking pink hair stood beside him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Ahhh!" Hikaru jolted upright, embarrassed. "W-what!?"
"Our teacher is calling you!" she whispered, her voice tinged with amusement.
"Yes, teacher!?" Hikaru's voice cracked as he stood.
"Introduce yourself, please. Your name and age."
"Y-yes, sir. G-good morning, my name is H-Hikaru Takashi. I'm six-six-sixteen years old," he stammered, bowing deeply. His face flushed red as the class stared at him, their expressions a mix of amusement and pity.
"Thank you, Hikaru-kun. Next, the person beside him," the teacher said, moving on.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Miyu Tanaka, and I'm 16 years old!" the pink-haired girl said with a bright, cheerful demeanor. Her voice filled the room with warmth, and her infectious energy drew smiles from their classmates.
"Thank you, Miyu-chan," the teacher nodded, and the introductions continued.
When lunchtime arrived, Hikaru was relieved to escape the spotlight. He unpacked his obento at his desk, hoping for a quiet meal alone. But fate had other plans.
"H-hey," a familiar voice interrupted his solitude. Hikaru looked up to see Miyu poking his arm again.
"W-what now!?" Hikaru exclaimed, startled.
"H-hey, don't shout like that!" Miyu said, pouting. "Wanna have lunch with us?"
"A-ahh..." Hikaru hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"Yeah, it's not a bad idea. You should come with us!" another voice chimed in. Sakura Fujimoto, a petite girl with a soft voice, smiled at him.
"Yeah, you must come with us!" Kaoru Nishikawa added, his energetic tone making it hard to refuse.
"A-ahh, I don't know..."
"No, I insist. Come with us!" Miyu declared, grabbing his arm and pulling him up before he could protest further.
"Uh... Tanaka-san..." Hikaru began, but she cut him off.
"Nope! Let's go!" she said, dragging him along. The rest of her friends laughed and followed them to the cafeteria.
In the bustling cafeteria, Hikaru felt out of place. He sat quietly at the table as Miyu and her friends chatted animatedly.
"Uhh... why did you want me to come with you guys?" Hikaru asked shyly.
"Why not? You looked so lonely," Miyu said matter-of-factly, smiling at him.
"Yeah, and we thought it'd be nice to hang out," Sakura added.
"You're part of the class too, Hikaru-kun. No need to sit alone all the time," Kaoru said, nodding.
As they continued talking, Hikaru's unease began to fade. But then, all eyes turned to his obento. The lid was open, revealing a meticulously prepared meal that looked like it belonged in a five-star restaurant. Each item was arranged with precision, from the perfectly seared wagyu beef to the delicate sushi rolls and gold-flaked dessert.
"Woah! What is that?" Shota Kobayashi exclaimed, his eyes wide.
"That looks so expensive!" Aoi Takamura added, leaning in for a closer look.
"N-no, it's not that expensive!" Hikaru stammered, trying to downplay it. "It just looks like it. My auntie made it for me."
"Your auntie must be a professional chef or something," Ren Yamashita joked, making everyone laugh.
Hikaru scratched the back of his head, feeling the weight of their gazes. "Y-yeah, something like that..."
Despite his embarrassment, the group's warmth began to chip away at his walls. For the first time in years, Hikaru felt a flicker of something he hadn't experienced in a long time: belonging.
After the lunch break, the group returned to class, and the day carried on with the usual lessons. Hikaru, while still reserved, found himself stealing glances at Miyu and her friends. They had accepted him without hesitation, something he wasn't used to.
When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Miyu approached him once more.
"Hey, Hikaru-kun! Do you want to join us for karaoke?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Uh... karaoke?" Hikaru repeated, uncertain. "I-I don't think I'm good at singing..."
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun!" Miyu insisted, leaning closer.
"Wait, how about this instead?" Hikaru interjected, surprising even himself. "Why don't we go to the mall? I'll treat everyone to whatever they want."
The group exchanged surprised glances before Kaoru broke into a grin. "Seriously? You'll pay for everything?"
"Y-yeah," Hikaru replied, scratching his neck awkwardly. "It's not a big deal."
"Wow, Hikaru-kun, you're full of surprises!" Sakura said, her soft voice tinged with excitement.
"That sounds awesome! Let's go!" Miyu exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
And so, the newly formed group of friends made their way to the mall, setting the stage for a day filled with unexpected moments and laughter—a day that would mark the beginning of Hikaru Takashi's journey out of the shadows and into the light.