Chapter 1: Under the Same Sky

Here he goes, another day to step out of his door and realize that the world still turns even if everyone who'd been by his side is no longer around.

Here she sighs, riding on the train, looking at some random people, and glancing at the corners of somewhere she's never been before. There she sighs, so that is how it feels to be the one leaving.

Here he scoffs, people bowing everywhere he goes. Gotten used to eyes dropping on him and whispers after he marches out. His blood boils unaware of what he really likes. Greedy for attention even if he's got a lot.

Here she grits her teeth, feeling the soring pain in her body and the guilt she feels inside. Though, she tries to comfort herself with the reasons she has in mind, why she left and why she lied.

Here he screams, but then his screams are only heard by him alone. His cries for justice are just like sandcastles getting washed away every now and then. What is justice again, he asks.

Here she crawls, on her way to acceptance and on her way to approval. Here she crawls for love that is able to see who and what she really is.

Here he shines, amongst all of the stars, he's the one that stands out. Everyone is willing to follow him but he realizes... that even shadows leave when darkness surrounds him. Here he shines, but suddenly the light flickered out.

Here she waits, for a Knight and shining armor. It's been a week after her previous relationship and yet the urge to have someone she can call her own is stronger than Alexander the Great.

Tick tock! Tick Tock!

The sound of the clock is audible enough to assume that the house is filled with silence. Pair of beige eyes blinked for few times and glanced at the huge clock just in front of him. The ancient-looking clock is placed above a human-sized mirror.

Regardless of the lack of reason to wake up, he did. Grab the towel, head to the bathroom, wash your face, brush your teeth, cook your own food, and lock the house. When will the routine stop?

Saotome Hideyoshi is a 20-year-old 2nd-year university student majoring in Sports Management.

The lad stepped inside the bus and sat in the front row, next to the window. With his headphones on, it seemed to him that he was caught in a music video. He smirked at the thought of it. The bus stopped at the next station and his eyes dropped on a lady stepping inside. Hideyoshi's pair of beige eyes followed the figure and she suddenly stopped next to him to sit. He moved a little bit on the side. "Thank you", she said in her soft-spoken voice. The lad just gave a nod, probably not able to hear her, then continued looking outside the window. The lady suddenly opened her backpack and let out a cup with a red string attached to it. She performed her ritual of staying silenced for minutes to calm herself.

18-year-old, Nakara Mio, is a first-year university student majoring in music. She feels the butterfly in her stomach since this will be her first practical exam. It's been a month since she left the countryside. City life does not seem to fit her. Every morning, she expects the rooster to wake her. When she opens her apartment window, she expects to hear the sound of bugs and birds.

She opened her phone and mailed someone.

"My ritual isn't working. It's my first exam and I'm freaking out!".

"Chill, Mio. You've practiced enough, right? Playing the piano is something you've done since you were 5. Your practice won't betray you".

It's time for Mio to view the majestic pond near their school. Unfortunately, someone sat next to the window before her. Still, her emerald orbs were able to take a peek and the greeny scene made her calm down, Sachiro Pond. She's thankful that she was able to get a scholarship to the University of Tokyo.

They both went down the bus and marched towards the university. Mio feels like she's walking on broken glasses as she moves toward the auditorium. A hand dropped on her. "Hey, you look like you're on a death parade", a blonde lady teased around. She felt pity for her classmate who's got such natural talent and yet got anxiety of an amateur. "I envy your confidence", Mio sighed while looking at a calm pretty face.

18-year-old, Daifuku Emi, is a first-year university student majoring in Music. Emi locked her arm on Mio and grabbed her inside the auditorium. The lady greeted everyone inside as if she was aiming to be a mayor or what. Mio kept her head low almost all of the time. Emi raised her chin. "Why are you so chickened out?", Emi raised her brow. "You've been as popular as ever. I'm just a countryside girl who dove into this huge ocean", Mio stretched her arms. Emi opened her palm and offered candies for Mio to choose from. She picked the grape flavor.

Music Department got a real deal of musicians. Even the instructors are aware of the heated competition from the students. Mio prepared backstage and cracked some of her fingers. Her name was called. She made her way through the stage and sat on the piano chair. She was about to press the key when the door opened. A blonde guy opened and received attention. "Am I late? Wait. But why is there a piano on the stage?", he seems lost. A hand grabbed him outside and closed the door. The students just brushed it off and had their attention back on the stage. Mio's heartbeat was the fastest at that time.

Both lads walked outside the auditorium. "That's why everyone is there already", 19-year-old Oikawa Junichiro, the blonde laughed. His aura shines too much that metaphorically requires sunglasses just to look at him. Standing next to him is a laid-back-looking raven head, Hideyoshi. "By the way, there's an opening for a Kendo competition school-wide. Aren't you going to join?", Junichiro hummed. "Then, why are you also here in school when in fact you're rich and making money", Hideyoshi got irritated and walked faster.

"By the way, why are carrying a ball?", Hideyoshi noticed. Junichiro posed with the ball on his shoulder. "Doesn't it add up to my aura?", he winked at the guy. "Get lost. You're disgusting", Hideyoshi finally left the guy.

Junichiro walked to their building. Media Department. Girls screamed as he enters the building. He can feel the eyes following his every footstep. A second-year university student majoring in Media, Filming.

"Jun!", a lady's voice sent chills to his bone. "Then, were you able to get information about him?", she burrowed her fingers into his shoulder. "Hide. That guy is such a secretive person. What made you interested in him?", Junichiro gulped. "You've got to be useful Jun", Todou Hanae flicked her cousin's forehead, 20 years old, a 3rd-year university student majoring in Media, Mass Communication.

Back at the auditorium, Mio and Emi both had high remarks. They went out and saw a man leaning on the post. Emi ran towards him. "Are you here to treat me lunch?!", Emi's eyes brightened. "Let's go. Also with your friend", his authoritative tone made Mio feel like rejecting the offer. "Oh well, she also got a high remark. Higher than me. Mio, this is Ichijou Ren. He's a 3rd year majoring in political science. We went to the same school. He's the school pres and I'm the vice", Emi proudly introduced. Mio also gave her introduction and politely rejected the offer.