First Entrance!!

*Author Point Of View*

"And that's the last of the luggage, right honey? Or is there anything else we missed?" Irishki's mom called out, brushing a lock of hair from her face as she looked around the half-empty hallway. Irishki, carrying the final box into his new room, replied cheerfully, "Yes, Mum! That's all of it—I've got everything set up in my room too, so we're good!" The words carried a mix of pride and nerves. Irishki had just moved to Tokyo after spending his entire life in Osaka, and though his heart ached a little from leaving behind everything familiar, the thought of this new chapter filled him with a quiet excitement. Tokyo was a city he'd only known from school trips and stories—vibrant, alive, and endlessly busy. Still, walking its streets now felt strange. He didn't know a single soul here, and the weight of that loneliness tugged at the edges of his smile. He missed his friends already, especially knowing they wouldn't all keep in touch. Yet, even in the midst of all that change, there was one person who refused to let him face it all alone—someone who made every strange corner of Tokyo feel just a little more like home.

THUD!A loud crash echoed from the room next to his parents', causing Irishki to freeze mid-step.

"Well, I guess we have visitors," his mom chuckled knowingly, already suspecting who the culprit might be. Her amused smile said it all—this wasn't the first time.

"Oh no, she didn't! She is not getting away with this one!"Irishki's eyes widened as he stormed toward his room.

And there she was—right in the middle of the chaos, perched like she owned the place. Saki. His childhood best friend, of course.

He let out a long, dramatic sigh and dropped his shoulders, as if the universe had conspired against his peace.

"Just how many times have I told you not to come through the window—and especially not into my room, SAKI?!"

She grinned from ear to ear, completely unfazed, like the rules of gravity—and privacy—just didn't apply to her.

And maybe, just maybe, Irishki didn't really mind it.Not when she was the one piece of home that had followed him all the way to Tokyo.

"Good lord, how loud are you, Shikaruu?!"

Saki dusted herself off with a grin as she stood in the middle of the chaos."I don't remember you being this loud. And I'm your bestie, right? I have special permission—right??"

Irishki gave her a long, pitiful look, silently questioning every life choice that led to this moment. Without a word, he bent down and began cleaning the pile of clothes she had knocked over when she crash-landed through his window.

Her real name was Inaru Mashina, but no one ever called her that. To him, she was—and always would be—Saki.

"I've told you more times than I can count," Irishki muttered, annoyed as he picked up a fallen sweater,"not to come through the window. There's always stuff there that I keep—"

"Oh, like your special stash of books that peop—"

SMACK!Irishki lightly thumped her on the head with a rolled-up shirt.

"You have no right interrupting me while I speak," he said through clenched teeth."And I don't have any books like that—and you know that perfectly well."

He exhaled sharply, then continued with a more serious tone."As I was saying, before someone rudely interrupted me... Did you forget what people in Osaka thought? Or have you already wiped it from your memory?"

There was a pause as he folded another shirt.

"Just like back then, people will start thinking we like each other—even though we clearly don't. I don't want to hear those kinds of rumors again, not here. Do you understand?"

Saki didn't answer.

Irishki glanced over. She was seated at his desk, casually gaming away on his computer as if nothing had happened.

"...ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?!"

His voice exploded right next to her ear, making her flinch for a split second.

"Yeah, yeah! I heard you the first time," she replied, completely unfazed."No need to shout at me, idiot. And just like in Osaka, I'll reject you again and we'll go back to being friends, same as always."

"I didn't even ask you out, idiot," he snapped."You're beyond saving, Saki. I seriously don't know what to do with you anymore."

She turned to him with a smile, her voice softening.

"Then why do I have you for, huh? You'll help me out, right? Just like old times?"

Irishki folded the last piece of clothing, pausing for a moment before answering.His voice was calm, sincere.

"Yeah. Of course I will. I haven't been your best friend forever for nothing, you know."

A warm silence settled between them.

Then—

"YOUNG LADY! YOU GET BACK HOME RIGHT NOW! YOU HAVE SCHOOL TOMORROW!!"

The unmistakable voice of Saki's mom thundered from across the street.

"Shit! Gotta go!"

Saki scrambled to the window."I don't want to be the main course at dinner!"

She jumped out in a flash.

"Didn't I tell you there's something called a door?" Irishki yelled after her.

"Let her be, Shikaru," his mom chuckled from the kitchen."You know she can't help it."

He just shook his head and sighed, brushing it off as he headed for a bath.

After a long soak, he returned to his room, threw himself onto the bed, and let out a heavy breath.

"Today sure was crazy… We moved houses, I got my results from Pachi High, and somehow I actually got admitted to such a prestigious school."

He smiled to himself, eyes half-closed.

"I still can't believe I made it in… And Saki, as usual, jumped into my room without permission. But that last part's nothing new."

He yawned.

"I better sleep—it's already pretty late. Don't wanna be late for my first day of high scho—"

He passed out mid-sentence, the words never finishing.And he had no idea that his worst fear was just about to come true.

The next morning, his eyes shot open to a loud, blaring alarm.

He looked around groggily—then froze.

"...No. No no no."

He jumped out of bed like a rocket.He was late.

Late for his first day of high school.

The first impression day. The one that sets the tone.He didn't care about all that nonsense—what mattered was not being tardy.

He threw on his uniform, shoved everything into his bag, and bolted out the door.His house wasn't too far, but at the speed he was running, people might mistake him for an Olympic sprinter.

As he neared the gates, he spotted a small figure waiting in the distance.As he got closer, he saw her.

Saki.

She had been waiting for him the entire time.

"How long does it take you, dummy?!" she called out.

"It was only ten minutes, idiot! Let's go before we're late for the assembly!"

They sprinted together, feet pounding the pavement in rhythm.Irishki thought to himself, This year, I'm going to start fresh. I'm going to get it right.

But fate had other plans.

Just as they entered the assembly hall, Shikaru tripped over his own foot and fell face-first onto the polished hardwood floor.

The room erupted in laughter.He lay there, frozen, face burning red.

I am Irishki Toko. Second-year high school student. Seventeen years old. And I just ruined my first impression in less than ten seconds.

It was said that he stayed on that floor for a full twenty minutes.He couldn't bring himself to look at a single person.

And as for Saki?She laughed harder than anyone else.