The air was thick with the usual chatter and hum of students settling into their seats at Fujihara High School, a prestigious institution nestled in the heart of Aomori.
The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floors.
Maya sat in the farthest corner of the classroom, as she always did, her head bowed over her notebook. She barely registered the noise around her, too focused on sketching an intricate scene of a forest. It was her escape—her sanctuary. The classroom, with its endless prying eyes and whispers, was anything but.
The sharp sound of the door sliding open silenced the room. Maya glanced up, curious despite herself. A tall figure stepped into the classroom, his tie slightly askew and his dark hair falling over his forehead. He looked calm, almost bored, but his posture was relaxed, as if he was used to standing in front of people.
"This is Kaito Arata," the teacher announced, her voice firm but warm. "He's a transfer student from Tokyo. I expect you all to make him feel welcome."
Kaito gave a small wave. "Hey," he said simply, his tone casual.
The class erupted in murmurs. A new face was always an exciting distraction from the monotony of school life. Maya quickly returned her attention to her notebook, determined not to get drawn into the buzz.
"You can take the empty seat by the window," the teacher instructed, gesturing to the row in front of Maya.
Kaito strolled to his seat, his steps unhurried. As he passed Maya's desk, their eyes met for the briefest moment. She quickly looked away, her heart pounding for reasons she couldn't quite understand.
The lesson resumed, and Maya tried to focus, but her thoughts kept drifting. She wasn't used to changes in the routine, and Kaito's arrival felt like a ripple in the calm surface of her carefully guarded world.
---
When the lunch bell rang, Maya packed her things and made her way to her usual spot—an isolated bench near the cafeteria. It wasn't completely hidden, but it was tucked away enough that most students didn't notice her there. She liked it that way. From her seat, she could hear the faint clatter of trays and the buzz of conversations without being part of it.
She had just opened her sketchpad when she heard a voice.
"Hey, excuse me!"
Startled, Maya looked up. Kaito stood a few feet away, holding a school map in one hand. His tie was still crooked, and his blazer was unbuttoned, giving him a laid-back appearance that contrasted with the school's formal atmosphere.
"Do you know where the cafeteria is?" he asked, his voice friendly but tinged with uncertainty.
Maya hesitated, her mind racing. It had been so long since anyone had spoken directly to her that she wasn't sure how to respond.
"It's… just over there," she said finally, pointing toward the building behind her.
Kaito smiled. "Thanks. This place is way bigger than my last school."
For a moment, he glanced at the sketchpad resting on her lap. "What are you drawing?"
Maya's cheeks burned, and she quickly closed the notebook. "Nothing. Just doodles."
"Cool," he said, his tone easygoing. "I can't draw especially when am terrible at it, so that's pretty impressive."
Maya didn't know how to respond, so she simply nodded.
"I'm Kaito, by the way," he said, extending a hand.
She stared at it for a moment before mumbling, "Maya."
"Nice to meet you, Maya," he said with a grin. "Maybe I'll see you around."
And just like that, he was gone, walking toward the cafeteria with the same unhurried stride. Maya watched him go, a strange mixture of emotions swirling inside her.
---
Inside the cafeteria, Kaito grabbed a tray and scanned the options. The line was long, and the noise was overwhelming, but he didn't seem to mind. After paying for his food, he looked around for a place to sit. The tables were packed, and he didn't recognize anyone.
With a shrug, he took his tray and headed outside, finding a quiet spot under a tree. He ate quickly, enjoying the breeze. He had hoped to spot Maya again—something about her intrigued him—but she was nowhere to be seen.
---
After school, Kaito wandered the Campus, his backpack slung over one shoulder. The hallways were nearly empty now, and the silence was a stark contrast to the chaos of the morning.
As he turned a corner, he spotted her. Maya was sitting on the same bench near the cafeteria, her head bowed over her sketchpad once again.
"Hey, Maya!" he called out, walking toward her.
She looked up, startled, and quickly closed her notebook. "What are you doing here?"
"Just thought I'd say hi," he said with a shrug. "You always sit here alone. Why?"
Maya froze. She didn't know how to answer that question. How could she explain the years of isolation, the whispers, the judgment?
"I just… like being alone," she said finally, her voice barely audible.
"Really? Doesn't it get lonely?"
His tone wasn't mocking—just curious. But the question hit her like a blow.
"I have to go," she said abruptly, standing up and gathering her things.
she then shook her head. "You should go. You'll be late for whatever you do after school." Maya says.
"Maya, wait—"
But she didn't. She turned and ran, her heart pounding. She didn't hate Kaito. She didn't even dislike him. But his kindness felt like too much, like it was unraveling the walls she had spent so long building.
As she hurried down the road, she felt a lump rise in her throat. It wasn't sadness or anger—it was something she couldn't quite name.
Kaito watched her go, his hands in his pockets. He didn't chase after her, sensing that she needed space.
But as he stood there, watching the sun dip below the horizon, he couldn't help but wonder about the girl who always seemed so far away, even when she was right in front of him.
"Guess I'll have to try again tomorrow," he said to himself, adjusting his bag before heading home.
As Maya reached her small apartment, she leaned against the door, her chest heaving. She wasn't used to this—someone noticing her, asking questions, caring. It felt… foreign. Uncomfortable.
But deep down, a part of her couldn't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, Kaito wouldn't give up on her so easily.