Fukushū no Kage CHAPTER 6

Arc 1: Shiroi Academy

---

The days passed, and although Haruto and his friends remained alert to the strange signs at the academy, the student life continued with its seemingly calm routine. Between classes and conversations, their bonds strengthened, but the shadow of the unknown continued to loom.

One particularly cool morning, Haruto arrived early to class. He sat at his usual desk and, while taking out his books, noticed someone approaching the entrance with light steps. He looked up and saw a girl with dark brown hair, strands falling delicately over her shoulders. She wore the academy uniform, but there was something about her bearing that made her stand out. Her eyes gleamed with a warm hazel tone, full of life and curiosity.

The girl seemed to be looking for something, or maybe someone. Finally, her eyes settled on Haruto, who immediately looked away, feeling a slight warmth in his face.

"Excuse me," the girl said with a soft but firm voice. "Is this the history class?"

Haruto, a little nervous, quickly nodded. "Yes... yes, this is it."

She smiled, relieved. "Thank you. I'm Aya Takahashi. I transferred this week."

"Ah, welcome..." Haruto responded, trying to maintain his composure. "I'm Haruto Akiyama."

Before they could continue the conversation, Mikasa entered the classroom and quickly approached. She noticed Aya and smiled warmly.

"Oh, hi. Are you new?" Mikasa asked, looking at Aya with interest.

Aya nodded and repeated her introduction. Mikasa, always friendly, offered her to sit near them.

"Come, you'll be fine here. Haruto can be a bit shy, but he's a good person. And I'll help you with whatever you need," Mikasa said, winking at Haruto, who could only lower his head in embarrassment.

Soon, Renji and Yuta arrived at the classroom and introduced themselves. Aya seemed to fit in easily with the group, smiling and answering their questions naturally. During the class, Haruto couldn't help but glance at her out of the corner of his eye. There was something about her presence that calmed him, but also made him nervous.

After class, the group decided to take Aya to the academy's gardens so she could familiarize herself with the place. While walking, she told them a little about her life.

"My family moved here because of my father's job. We used to live in a small town, so this is a big change for me," Aya explained.

"It must be tough to adjust," Renji commented, with his usual timid tone. "But don't worry, you have friends here to help."

"Thank you," Aya replied, with a smile that seemed to light up the place.

Haruto remained quiet for much of the conversation, but Mikasa didn't miss the chance to push him a little to interact.

"So, Haruto? What do you think? Don't you think Aya fits in well with us?" Mikasa asked, with a mischievous smile.

Haruto, taken by surprise, could barely stammer. "Uh… yeah… sure… she seems… nice."

Aya laughed softly, which made Haruto feel even more nervous. "Thanks, Haruto. You seem very kind too."

The rest of the group exchanged knowing glances, enjoying Haruto's evident discomfort. However, Aya seemed to find him endearing, and her friendly demeanor helped him relax a little.

In the following days, Aya integrated further into the group. During breaks, she always sought out Haruto and the others, and although Haruto still felt awkward around her, he slowly became more comfortable talking to her.

One day, while studying together in the library, Haruto noticed that Aya seemed distracted, gazing out the window with a melancholic expression. He decided to gather his courage and ask her.

"Are you okay, Aya?" he said softly, so as not to disturb the other students.

Aya looked at him, surprised, but then smiled faintly. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... sometimes I miss my old school and my friends."

Haruto nodded, understanding how she felt. "I also transferred recently. It was hard at first, but I found Renji, Mikasa, and Yuta... and now you."

Aya looked at him for a moment, and then her smile grew warmer. "Thank you, Haruto. That means a lot to me."

For the first time, Haruto felt that words came easily. "If you need anything, we're here for you. You're not alone."

Aya nodded, and Haruto noticed a faint blush on her face. It was a brief but meaningful moment that strengthened their bond.

Meanwhile, Renji, Mikasa, and Yuta were also forming stronger bonds with Aya. Mikasa, in particular, was very protective of her, almost like an older sister. Yuta, with his kind nature, always found ways to make her laugh, while Renji shared his love for reading with her.

However, the strange happenings at the academy didn't disappear. Although they tried to focus on their studies and their growing friendship, they all noticed that the rumors about the school's dark history continued to spread. Aya, just like them, began to feel the oppressive atmosphere at times.

"Have you noticed that the teachers act strange sometimes?" Aya asked one afternoon while walking down the hallways.

"Yeah," Mikasa replied, frowning. "It seems like they're hiding something."

"Do you think it's related to what Teacher Yoshino said?" Renji added, always analytical.

"It's possible," Haruto said, recalling the teacher's words. "But we still don't know enough."

Aya nodded, her expression serious. "If there's anything we can do to find out, I want to help. I don't want something bad to happen without us doing something."

The group agreed, although they decided they had to be cautious. For now, their priority was to stay united and support Aya while she adapted to her new life at the academy. But they all knew the mystery in the shadows of the school wouldn't go away, and sooner or later, they would have to face it together.

Among the group dynamics, Emi Nishikawa also shone as an important pillar. Although she didn't speak as much as Mikasa, her reserved personality and always warm remarks made her beloved by everyone. Since Haruto arrived at the academy, Emi had shown special empathy toward him, offering help when he seemed most lost.

As the group walked with Aya through the academy's gardens, Emi walked beside Haruto. Although she didn't speak often, her presence had a calming effect on him.

"It's good that Aya is adjusting so quickly, don't you think?" Emi said, breaking the silence between them.

Haruto nodded. "Yeah. She seems to fit in well with everyone."

Emi smiled slightly. "You have something to do with that, Haruto. You don't realize it, but you're good at making people feel comfortable."

Emi's words took Haruto by surprise. It was rare for someone to compliment him like that, and he didn't know how to respond. He could only smile shyly and mutter a thank you.

A memorable moment for the group occurred one afternoon after class. They decided to stay a little longer on the sports field, enjoying some recreational time. Yuta, always enthusiastic, suggested they play badminton in teams.

"I'll team up with Mikasa!" Yuta shouted, raising his hand. "We're sure to win."

"Then Emi and I will go together," Renji said, adjusting his glasses.

This left Haruto and Aya as the last team, which immediately provoked some laughs and meaningful glances from the group.

"Come on, Haruto! Show us what you got," Mikasa joked, winking at him.

Aya, a little nervous but smiling, picked up the racket. "I hope I'm not too bad at this."

The game began with constant laughter and jokes. Although Haruto tried to concentrate, he couldn't help but feel a little awkward being close to Aya. On the other hand, Emi and Renji stood out for their coordination, which made them a surprisingly competitive team.

When the game ended, the group sat on the grass, laughing and catching their breath.

"Definitely Emi and Renji were the best," Aya admitted, while wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Emi, always humble, shook her head. "We just got lucky. Besides, Renji did most of the work."

Renji, blushing, waved his hands. "That's not true… you played really well too."

Mikasa, amused, pointed to Haruto. "You need to practice more, Haruto. You can't let your partner do all the work."

Haruto scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I'll try…"

Aya laughed, giving him a light tap on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you did fine."

That day ended with a sense of camaraderie even stronger among them. Emi, in particular, seemed to enjoy the group dynamics, although she preferred to stay in the background, watching and smiling at the others' interactions.

Later that night, while Haruto wrote in his journal, he remembered the happy moments he had shared that day. He thought about how each of his friends played a unique role in his life: Mikasa, always energetic and protective; Renji, with his intelligence and loyalty; Yuta, the optimist who always found a way to make them laugh; and Emi, whose tranquil presence gave him stability.

He also thought about Aya, who had recently joined the group but already felt like part of their little circle. Although he still struggled to express his feelings, Haruto knew he was grateful to have them all in his life.

However, as he closed his journal, the memory of the strange things happening at the academy returned to his mind. He knew these happy moments might not last forever, but he decided to make the most of them while he could.