The school bell rang, signaling the start of another day at Seiryo Elementary. Students rushed through the halls, chatting loudly, completely unaware of the boy standing quietly near the entrance.
Yusuke Saito took a deep breath, gripping his bag strap. A new school. A fresh start. But deep down, he knew—no matter where he went, things wouldn't change that easily.
He walked through the crowded hallway, searching for his classroom. His feet felt heavy, like each step was dragging him closer to something he wasn't ready for.
Finally, he reached the door labeled 6th Class. Pushing it open, he stepped inside.
The room was filled with chattering students, some standing by their desks, others already seated. Almost every desk had two students sitting together—except for one, where three boys sat, crowded together.
Yusuke's eyes scanned the room for an empty seat.
The last bench. Safe.
He walked over and sat down, hoping no one would notice him.
But before he could settle in, a voice called out.
"Hey, new kid."
Yusuke looked up to see a boy from the three-student desk turning towards him. His sharp eyes and confident smirk made it clear—he was the type who liked being in control.
"I'm Kenta," the boy said, tilting his head toward the two boys beside him. "These guys are Daichi and Satoshi."
Daichi gave a lazy nod, while Satoshi, the tallest of the three, barely acknowledged him.
"You got a name?" Kenta asked.
"...Yusuke," he muttered.
Kenta smirked. "Yusuke, huh? So, you the smart type, or just another nobody?"
Yusuke hesitated. He didn't want to answer, but silence would only make things worse. "...I guess I'm just me."
Kenta chuckled. "We'll see about that."
Before the conversation could continue, someone suddenly dropped into the seat beside Yusuke.
"Yo, what's up, new guy?"
Yusuke turned to see a boy grinning at him. His uniform was slightly messy, his tie barely knotted, and his energy felt overwhelming.
"I'm Haru," the boy said, slapping Yusuke on the back. "Guess we're desk mates now!"
Yusuke didn't respond. Haru was the complete opposite of him—loud, confident, and probably not very interested in studying.
Kenta glanced over and snorted. "Good luck with that one. He talks more than he listens."
"I heard that!" Haru shot back, grinning.
Yusuke sighed. So much for staying invisible.
---
The first two periods passed with Yusuke keeping his head down, trying to focus. Haru, on the other hand, seemed to have endless energy, whispering jokes and making comments throughout the class.
Then, after the third period, their homeroom teacher clapped her hands.
"You three," she said, pointing at Kenta, Daichi, and Satoshi. "You always sit together. Time to switch seats. Move."
Kenta groaned. "Aw, come on, sensei!"
"No arguments," the teacher said firmly.
With an annoyed sigh, Kenta grabbed his books and scanned the room. After a moment, he walked straight to Yusuke's desk and plopped down beside him.
"Great. Stuck with you now," Kenta muttered.
Yusuke wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not.
---
The final class of the day was Drawing. Their teacher, a strict woman with sharp eyes, stood at the front of the room.
"Before we begin," she announced, "I need last week's assignment. Place your work on your desks."
Yusuke blinked. Assignment? He hadn't received any homework—he had just joined.
The teacher's eyes landed on him. "You. Where is yours?"
Yusuke hesitated. "I… I didn't do it."
A few students snickered.
The teacher frowned. "And why not?"
"I didn't know about it," Yusuke said softly. "I just transferred here."
The teacher sighed. "Excuses won't help you here. Next time, be responsible enough to ask."
Yusuke felt his face heat up. It wasn't his fault. He had only just joined. Why was she treating him like he had done something wrong?
Before he could stop himself, his chest tightened. His vision blurred.
And then, out of nowhere—he cried.
The class fell silent for a second. Then came the laughter.
Yusuke squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to stop, but the more he tried, the worse it got. His shoulders trembled as he quickly wiped his face, but the damage was done.
Then, a voice came from beside him.
"Sit down."
Yusuke turned his head slightly, eyes still wet. Kenta was looking at him, his expression unreadable.
"Just sit down," Kenta repeated, his voice lower this time.
Yusuke hesitated, then quickly sat, lowering his head. The laughter faded, replaced by the rustling of notebooks and pencils.
The teacher sighed and turned away, ignoring him. The students didn't.
The bell rang, finally ending the day. Yusuke grabbed his bag and rushed out, avoiding everyone's stares.
Another first day. Another disaster.