The First Day
As he approached the school gates, a gust of wind showered him with delicate pink petals. Haru couldn't help but smile, interpreting it as a good omen. He dismounted his bike, straightened his crisp new uniform, and took a deep breath.
"Here goes nothing," he muttered, stepping onto the school grounds.
The courtyard bustled with activity. Returning students reunited with excited chatter, while bewildered first-years like Haru tried to navigate the chaos. He overheard snippets of conversation about summer adventures and new class assignments as he made his way to the notice board.
Scanning the lists, Haru located his name. "Class 1-B," he read aloud, committing it to memory. As he turned to find his classroom, a flash of movement caught his eye. A girl with flowing black hair dashed past, her arms full of art supplies. Their eyes met for a brief moment before she disappeared into the crowd.
Haru blinked, momentarily dazed. There was something captivating about her eyes—a spark of creativity and mischief that left him intrigued. Shaking off the encounter, he refocused on his mission to find his classroom.
The hallways of Sakura Heights were a maze of polished wood and sunlit corridors. Haru climbed to the second floor, his footsteps echoing in the stairwell. He found Class 1-B and slid open the door, greeted by the buzz of his new classmates.
"Ah, welcome!" A friendly voice called out. Haru turned to see a boy with glasses and an easy smile. "I'm Kenji. You looked a bit lost, so I thought I'd say hello."
Haru's shoulders relaxed. "Thanks, I appreciate it. I'm Haru. It's nice to meet you."
As they chatted, more students filtered in. Haru's eyes darted to the door each time it opened, half-expecting to see the girl from earlier. But she never appeared.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the school day. Their homeroom teacher, Ms. Sato, entered with a warm smile. "Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Sakura Heights Academy. Let's make this a year to remember!"
As Ms.Sato began taking attendance, Haru's mind wandered. He thought about the girl with the art supplies, the cherry blossoms, and the endless possibilities that lay ahead. A new chapter of his life was beginning, and he couldn't wait to see how it would unfold.
The morning flew by in a whirlwind of introductions, syllabus reviews, and campus tours. Before Haru knew it, the lunch bell was ringing. As students began to file out of the classroom, Kenji turned to him with a grin.
"Hey, want to check out the club fair? I heard it's happening in the courtyard during lunch."
Haru nodded eagerly. "Sounds great! I've been wondering about the clubs here."
As they made their way downstairs, Haru found himself scanning the crowd, hoping for another glimpse of the mysterious girl. The courtyard was now filled with colorful booths, each representing a different club. Students milled about, collecting flyers and chatting with club members.
"Any idea what kind of club you're interested in?" Kenji asked as they wandered through the fair.
Haru shrugged. "Not really. I'm pretty open to—" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes landing on a vibrant booth decorated with paintings and sketches. And there, handing out flyers with a bright smile, was the girl he'd seen that morning.
"The art club," Haru murmured, a smile tugging at his lips. "I think I'd like to check out the art club."
As they approached the booth, Haru felt a flutter of anticipation. Something told him that this was just the beginning of an unforgettable year.