Banri Takasawa stared at the classroom window, which reflected a faint image of himself. A man with neatly styled short hair and thin-framed glasses appeared in the reflection. His face wasn't particularly striking, but there was a friendly impression from the faint smile that sometimes slipped behind his simple appearance. Outside, the sky was clear with white clouds drifting slowly. However, in his mind, those clouds felt heavier, as if hiding something he couldn't express.

He shifted his gaze to the front of the class, where Alya Hoshizaki sat gracefully. Her long, silky hair cascaded neatly over her shoulders. She was talking to her friends, smiling, a smile that always made Banri's heart race.

Alya wasn't just beautiful—she was a shy girl with a tsundere side that drew attention. Intelligent, elegant, and always presenting herself with a graceful aura, she had a presence that made many people want to approach her. However, beneath it all, Alya tended to keep her distance, often responding with a cold and awkward demeanor when she felt uncomfortable. Banri, on the other hand, was fairly smart, often talkative, and known for his love of jokes. He wasn't the quiet or hard-to-approach type, though his cheerful personality sometimes made it difficult for him to fit into Alya's more reserved social circle.

Still, for some reason, his heart was always drawn to Alya. Even though they hardly ever spoke, Banri felt Alya was the perfect person. Every time he saw her smile, a warm feeling spread across his chest, though it was also accompanied by a pang of pain because he knew he lacked the courage to approach her.

However, Banri was not the type to give up easily. Even though he knew Alya preferred to keep her distance, that only made him more curious. For Banri, Alya's cold demeanor wasn't a barrier—it was a challenge.

"Alya's like a puzzle," Banri muttered one day to his friend Shun, who sat beside him. "Beautiful, smart, but hard to approach. I wonder why some people are like that?"

Shun chuckled softly, patting Banri's shoulder. "Maybe she just doesn't want the hassle. You're the one overthinking it."

"But she always looks like she's alone, you know? Like there's something she's hiding," Banri continued, his eyes glancing at Alya, who was reading a book alone in the corner of the classroom.

"Well, if you're so curious, why not just talk to her? You talk all the time—why be scared to talk to one girl?" Shun teased him with a playful tone.

Banri sighed softly. "It's not that simple, Shun. She's not the type of girl who's easy to approach, especially by someone like me."

"Someone like you?" Shun said, trying to encourage him. "You mean someone who makes people laugh? Come on, Banri, you're just selling yourself short."

However, Banri knew that Alya wasn't the type of person who would easily open up. He had tried several times to start small conversations with her, but Alya's responses were always the same: short, formal, and sometimes accompanied by a cold stare that made Banri lose the courage to continue.

Still, Banri couldn't escape the reality that he was always thinking about Alya. There was something about her that made it hard for him to stop hoping. Maybe it was her rare smile, the way she spoke so carefully, or perhaps the way she seemed so different from him.

For Banri, Alya was something he couldn't reach, but also couldn't let go of.

When the bell rang signaling the end of school, Banri watched Alya quickly gather her books. He observed her carefully, hoping for a moment to greet her. But as usual, Alya seemed busy with her own world.

"If you want to talk to her, now's the time," Shun nudged Banri, grinning teasingly.

Banri swallowed hard. He really wanted to do it, but for some reason, his feet felt heavy. "Ah, maybe later. She looks like she's in a hurry," he said, trying to make an excuse.

However, before Banri could muster up the courage, Alya had already walked out of the classroom, leaving behind a faint trace of perfume. Banri could only sigh, feeling like a coward.

On his way home, Banri kept replaying the moment in his mind. "Why do I always do this? I talk to everyone else, but with Alya, it's like my mouth is locked," he muttered to himself.

As he passed a small park near the school, he spotted someone sitting alone on a bench. Alya. She looked like she was reading a book, her face serious but still graceful.

"This is your chance, Banri," he told himself.

Gathering his courage, Banri slowly walked closer. He thought about what to say, something casual but not too silly. But as soon as he stood near Alya, his mind went completely blank.

Alya looked up, surprised to see Banri in front of her. "Eh, Banri?" she asked, her voice soft but slightly stiff.

"Oh, hey! I didn't mean to see you here," Banri replied, scratching the back of his head, trying to act casual despite his heart pounding.

Alya gave a small nod and then returned to her book. Banri felt awkward but didn't want to let the moment pass.

"What book are you reading?" he asked, trying to start a conversation.

Alya glanced at the cover of the book she was holding. "It's... a regular novel. About a girl trying to find herself," she answered briefly, then closed the book.

"Oh, I like stories like that. I read novels too, but I prefer the ones with comedy elements," Banri said with a wide smile.

Alya looked at him for a moment, then gave a faint smile. It wasn't a big smile, but enough to make Banri feel like he had succeeded. "You like joking around, huh?" she asked, her tone more relaxed.

"Yep, life's too boring if you take it too seriously. That's why I like making people laugh. Who knows, maybe it makes me look cooler too," Banri replied, jokingly.

Alya chuckled softly, though she quickly covered her mouth. "You're weird," she said, her tone teasing.

"If that makes you laugh, I don't mind being called weird," Banri said, now with more confidence.

They continued talking for a few minutes. Although their conversation was brief and simple, for Banri, it was an important start. For the first time, he felt like he could break through the wall that had always separated him from Alya.

When they finally parted ways, Banri walked home with a smile on his face. Maybe, he thought, Alya wasn't as intimidating as he had imagined. And maybe, just maybe, there was hope for their relationship to develop.

Banri walked lightly on the sidewalk, occasionally kicking small stones in the road. The evening air felt cool, and a faint smile never left his face. The conversation still echoed clearly in his mind, like a song playing over and over.

"Alya laughed earlier," he murmured quietly, smiling even wider. It might have been just a small laugh, but for Banri, it felt like a big victory.

However, the farther he walked, the more doubts filled his mind. "But... was she really comfortable talking to me? Maybe she was just being polite," he thought, his expression turning anxious.

Banri sighed deeply, trying to calm himself. "No, she seemed sincere. If she wasn't, she wouldn't have laughed."

When he reached the minimarket, Banri decided to stop by. He felt like he needed a snack for the evening. As he grabbed a bag of chips from the shelf, he ran into Shun, who raised an eyebrow when he saw him.

"Hey, Banri! You're looking pretty cheerful. Did you win a raffle or something?" Shun teased with a grin.

"No, just... well, something good happened," Banri answered, trying to act casual, though his cheeks were slightly flushed.

Shun approached, squinting his eyes. "Wait. Don't tell me this has something to do with Alya?"

Banri sighed, knowing his friend wouldn't stop probing. "Okay, I talked to her earlier. But it was only for a bit, okay? Nothing special," he said, pretending to be indifferent.

Shun chuckled, patting Banri's back. "You! Whether it was brief or not, that's a huge step, you know? You finally gathered the courage."

Banri just smiled faintly, trying to hide his pride. "Yeah, it's something. But don't make a big deal out of it."

After paying for his snacks, Banri continued walking home with Shun still teasing him beside him.

"So, when's the next step? You're gonna talk to her again, right?" Shun asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"I don't know yet. I don't want to come off as pushy," Banri replied, although deep inside, he hoped there'd be another chance to talk to Alya.

Shun laughed. "Seriously, Banri. If you keep waiting, someone else might get to her first. Alya's the—"

"Yeah, yeah. She's the center of attention," Banri interrupted quickly, though his tone sounded a bit sour.

Shun paused for a moment, then spoke more seriously. "But, Banri, don't forget one thing. Sometimes, someone who seems perfect, like Alya, also needs someone who makes them feel comfortable. Who knows, that could be you."

Shun's words made Banri fall silent. He wasn't sure if it was true, but he wanted to believe it. With a small smile on his face, he replied, "Maybe. We'll see."

Banri continued walking home, carrying a small hope in his heart, hoping that today's small step could lead to something bigger.

The next day at school, Banri tried to act normal. He didn't want to seem too obvious or show that he was thinking about Alya. But in his heart, he was already thinking of ways to try talking to her again.

During break, he saw Alya sitting alone at her desk, as usual. Her friends were outside, and Alya looked busy writing something in her notebook. Banri knew this might be a rare opportunity.

"This is it, Banri," he muttered, trying to motivate himself.

With a slightly nervous breath, Banri walked up to Alya's desk. His steps felt heavy, and his heart was beating faster than usual.

"Hey, Alya," Banri greeted, trying to sound casual.

Alya looked up, slightly surprised to see Banri standing in front of her. "Oh, hey," she replied briefly, with a slightly awkward tone.

Banri scratched the back of his head, trying to find a topic of conversation. He looked at the notes in front of Alya and immediately came up with an idea. "What are you writing? You look really focused."

"Oh, this… just some extra notes from class earlier. I didn't want to forget, so I'm writing them down now," Alya replied, slowly closing her book.

"You're really diligent, huh. My notes are sometimes all over the place, I don't know how you manage to make everything look so neat," Banri said, admiring her.

Alya smiled faintly, though she seemed a little nervous. "Not really. I just don't like it when lessons get too behind."

Banri tried to continue the conversation. "I get that it's important, but sometimes I end up joking around in class. Don't you get tired of always being serious?"

Alya hesitated for a moment before answering, "Maybe. But I'm not very good at… relaxed stuff like that."

"Well then, maybe I should teach you. Next time, try hanging out with me and Shun. You'll see how to be relaxed without losing track of the lesson," Banri said jokingly.

Alya looked at Banri for a moment, then smiled faintly. "You're really weird."

"There, you called me weird again," Banri pretended to be annoyed, laughing lightly. "But it's okay, as long as it makes you smile."

Alya seemed a little taken aback by that statement, her face slightly reddening. However, before she could respond, the bell rang for the next class. She quickly stood up and packed her books. "I have to get ready for the next lesson. Thanks for talking, Banri."

Banri smiled. "We'll talk again sometime."

Alya nodded gently before heading to her seat.

After Alya left, Banri returned to his own seat, holding back a sense of pride. This time, he felt their conversation went smoother than before. "Slowly, Banri," he thought. "Slowly, but surely."

Throughout the next lesson, Banri couldn't stop thinking about Alya's faint smile. It wasn't a wide smile or a loud laugh, but it was enough to make his heart feel lighter. He started wondering if Alya was beginning to feel comfortable with him, or if it was just politeness.

When the class ended, Banri and Shun walked out of the classroom together. As usual, Shun was ready with his sharp remarks.

"So, how was it? Did you talk to Alya again?" Shun asked, grinning.

"Yeah, we talked during break," Banri replied casually, though there was a hint of pride in his voice.

Shun laughed softly. "I bet you're smiling to yourself right now, huh? Come on, I want to know, what did you two talk about?"

"Ah, it was nothing special. She was writing notes, and I just talked to her about that. Nothing to make a fuss over," Banri said, shrugging, trying to downplay the moment, though in his heart, he knew otherwise.

"Listen, Banri," Shun stopped and looked at him seriously, "If you want to be serious with Alya, you need to do more than just have small talk. You have to show that you care, but not in a forceful way."

"Care about what? I don't want to seem weird in front of her," Banri replied, scratching his head.

"It's easy. Find out what she likes or what interests her. Then, show her that you care about those things too," Shun said, grinning widely.

Banri nodded slowly, reflecting on his friend's advice. He didn't know much about Alya yet, other than the fact that she was smart, shy, and tsundere. But maybe, Banri thought, that was the next step he needed to take: to get to know Alya better.

Days passed, and Banri began to notice the little things about Alya. He often saw her bringing different books to class every week, and there was always a certain theme: classic literature, biographies of great figures, even philosophy books.

One day, Banri gathered the courage to ask Alya when they ran into each other in the library. "You like reading, huh?" he asked, pointing to the book in her hand.

Alya, who was picking a book from the shelf, turned to face Banri. "Yeah. Reading... it's like a way to escape from the real world for a while," she replied softly.

"In that case, I have to ask," Banri said with a smile, "What's your favorite book?"

Alya hesitated for a moment, then said, "I like Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. I don't know why, but the story feels... real."

"Oh, I've heard of that, but I haven't read it. If I read it, would you want to discuss it with me later?" Banri tried to sound casual, though deep inside, he was nervous waiting for Alya's response.

Alya was silent for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Sure, if you really read it until the end."

Banri nodded eagerly. "Okay! Just wait. I'll finish it, and we'll talk about the story later."

When Alya left the library, Banri felt like he had won the lottery. He knew this might be small for Alya, but for him, it was a big step forward.

That night, Banri ordered Norwegian Wood online. "If this helps Alya open up to me more, I'll read it all the way through, even if the language is difficult," he said, smiling to himself.