The morning sun warms the scattered desks. Students gather in loose circles, their laughter filling the bright room.
"Hold perfectly still, Watanabe," Ninomiya says with a sigh. She steps close and grabs the wrinkled fabric of his uniform collar. "Your uniform tie is a complete disaster. Did you get dressed in the dark?"
"I totally overslept. Just give me a break." Watanabe laughs awkwardly and rubs the back of his neck, then steals a quick, nervous glance at Renjiro in the back corner--or perhaps, not at Renjiro at all, but at someone else.
"You need to look sharp on the second day," she scolds playfully, pulling the red knot tight against his throat.
Near the front chalkboard, Shibata leans casually against a desk. He spins a notebook on his finger.
"Did everyone check the club fair schedule?" Shibata asks loudly. His energetic voice easily carries across the room. "The soccer team holds tryouts this afternoon. I am definitely going. Anyone else aiming for a sports club?"
"I might check out the outdoor tennis courts," Ando replies from the next row over. "But I really want to find the mall first."
Ichinose Honami stands at the center of the largest group. She holds a small pink notebook in both hands, her bright eyes scanning the gathered students. A welcoming smile rests on her face.
"We have plenty of time to explore the campus together," Ichinose says warmly. "I wrote down all the major facility locations last night. We can form small groups after class so nobody gets lost. Does that sound like a good plan?"
"That sounds perfect, Ichinose," Watanabe says, finally stepping away from Ninomiya and her adjusting hands.
"Count me in!" Shibata cheers loudly. "We can hit the sweet cafes after the tour finishes."
The atmosphere feels incredibly light. A cooperative bubble forms effortlessly around Ichinose. They share schedules and crack jokes, entirely ready to tackle their new lives right now.
Renjiro sits perfectly still at his desk in the back corner.
He rests his chin heavily on his knuckles. His eyelids droop, fighting a losing battle against gravity. His calf muscles burn with a dull, persistent ache.
Every single step he took through Keyaki Mall yesterday afternoon echoes directly in his joints.
Carrying heavy plastic bags filled with dense liquid hair products across the big campus completely drained his stamina reserves. His shoulders feel like lead.
Mako sits at the desk immediately to Renjiro's right.
Then, she leans forward and talks animatedly with Chihiro and Yume. Her hands move through the air.
"You guys must see the top floor," Mako says. A wide, genuine smile stretches across her face. "We found a huge arcade racer with actual race wheels and pedals. It feels just like a real sports car."
Chihiro blinks. "Really? I only walked past the apparel shops on the second level."
"Those shops are just a small fraction of the mall." Mako claps her hands together. Her bright blue eyes spark with crazy energy. She shows zero physical fatigue from yesterday. "We also spotted a claw machine packed with huge plush bears. I tried to win one. The metal claw just dropped my prize at the last second. It was a total scam."
Yume leans close. "Did you play the rhythm cabinets?"
"Dozens of them," Mako answers. She taps an invisible beat on her wooden desk. "We need to go back today after class. I want a rematch with that rigged machine. We can grab strawberry crepes right after."
"Strawberry crepes sound perfect," Chihiro agrees softly.
"Count me in too," Yume adds with a nod.
Renjiro stares blankly at the side of her head. He runs the numbers in his mind.