First encounter

'I still don't know exactly what I will say to her. There is so much I want to say.' But, for now, he wants to confirm that she is truly here. He wants to see her.

"You say that. But Mikaze-kun sent me a text saying he showed you around yesterday." Mikan said.

Alto Mikaze was his father's brother's son. In other words, his cousin. Their personalities are completely different. But Atushi did enjoy his company. Mikaze is a good guy. An honest and sincere person is rare to find these days.

"I didn't have a choice, you know. I wanted to rest, but he had so much energy and kept saying how great the area is."

"Well, I can see why he would say that. Although this is the countryside, this town has steadily grown in the past few years. This school is one of the best in town and is even ranked highly in Japan." Mikan explained.

'I can see why that is the case. This place is very beautiful. With rows of trees, greenery, and different flowers.' It's almost like stepping into a wonderland.

"So, when did you get back?" Mikan asked curiously.

His face turned pale. "Five am. Atushi exhaled deeply.

He knew his parents missed him, and the decision to go abroad was very sudden. But he needed a break. He needed to be away from here.

Mikan laughed and patted his back. "Now, now. It couldn't have been that bad since Mikaze-kun managed to pull on a great performance just now."

"He performed?"

"Yeah. The best group in the year can perform and use the auditorium whenever they want. I'm surprised you didn't know that considering your brother---" Mikan paused, seeing the dark expression on his face. "Sorry."

"It's fine. Don't mind it. I'm guessing I missed it, huh? That's a shame..

Although he isn't as attached to music as his fellow students. Atushi did enjoy it, and he grew to love it after hearing Ibuki Sumire sing. Everything started with that girl. That's why he needed to see her again. He wants to talk to her and confirm these emotions that have been messing up his life.

"Performances are always held in the concert hall all the time. The school always chooses talented individuals to perform here, so I may as well take you there."Mikan said.

"Is that okay?"

Mikan grinned."It's fine. We still have ten minutes before homespun starts."

His sweat dropped at Mikan's comment. She really hasn't changed. Only ten minutes? From where he was standing, the place was far too big. Would they make it on time?

Atushi's thoughts break off, seeing a black limo parked at the front. "Such an impressive car." Atushi complimented. "Do rich people attend this school too??"

He frowned at the thought. He wanted to enter a regular school, so if this was a school for the rich, he might have to drop out.

"Well, most of the students here come from distinguished backgrounds. But they come in regular transport as not stand out. I wonder which brave soul that is." Mikan said, scratching her head, equally as puzzled as him.

The two of them eyed the black limo and watched as a man, which he assumed was the driver, opened the door, and out came a girl with long pink hair.

"Thank you very much, Yasunaga."

"Not at all oujou-sama."

Long pink hair and ruby-colored eyes, and that figure. He always thought Mikan was pretty since the girl was a model, but this girl would defeat his friend any other day. Ruby-colored eyes, he had never seen something so beautiful before. No, he has- the girl he has been searching for also has such unique, striking features.

Thinking that he would soon see the girl. Atushi felt nervous. When he first came, he saw her name on the class register and made a few inquiries. Sumire was a student of the school. But it seemed like she was currently taking a leave of absence.

"Ah, it's Momoi-san!" Mikan exclaimed excitedly.

"Who?"

"You don't know who she is? Momoi Futaba. She was scouted as a model for STAR last year but had been modeling since elementary school. She's a real beauty and won the national beauty pageant." Mikan rambled on.

The girl's loud voice clearly didn't go unnoticed since the pink-haired girl turned her attention to them. She looks away, flustered.

"Damn, I shouldn't have made her uncomfortable. It's awkward getting caught being driven to school in a limo." Mikan muttered.

He watched the girl's limo drive off and she made her way over, looking down as she went past them. However, he noticed something unusual about the girl's face. There was a faint-colored bruise on her cheek, and there were tears in her eyes.

Atushi didn't know why, but he felt his hands reach over to wipe the tear away from the girl's face.

"Ah, I'm sorry. But you were crying so-" Atushi rushed to explain himself. He doesn't understand why he did that, but it was rude. "We won't tell anyone, so you don't have to be upset."

"I---I see, thank you very much," Futaba said nervously,

Mikan sighs and yet smiles. Atushi could only "Oh well." She shrugged her shoulders. "Momoi-san, do you want to join us? We're heading to the concert hall."

"The lives finished, though," Futaba said, confused.

"That doesn't matter. This guy just transferred not too long ago. That's why I'm showing him around. He still hasn't familiarised himself with the school." Mikan said, looking at him with a hopeless expression.

'How can I when my parents have been dragging me out every night since I returned?' He has been too exhausted to do any proper exploring.

Besides, he isn't in a rush to familiarise himself with the school. Depending on how his talk with Sumire goes, he probably won't be here too long.

"If that's the case, I suppose I can tag along for a bit."

Well, he supposed it was okay. He was slightly interested in the girl, not because of her looks. But there was something about her aura. Even though she gave off such an innocent-looking appearance, he sensed a dark presence around her.

She truly resembles Sumire in that aspect. Sumire is the same. At first glance, she seemed innocent and almost fragile, but after getting to know her - one will easily learn how violent she could be.