> People often say that everyone is born with a unique "flavor." I'm not sure what my "flavor" is, but if I had to choose... I'd probably want mine to be something like a sweet candy.
Hello, my name is Hoshira Ryura, 18 years old (I'm a guy, by the way). Currently, I'm attending a high school in Tokyo (I'm in my second year) — to briefly introduce it, the school I go to isn't particularly famous, nor is it too bad, but to me, it's like a part of my life, having given me so many emotional experiences and wonderful moments that I'll never forget... at least, for now. ... How should I put it... If you met me in person, I'd bet 99.99% you would mistake me for a girl. (Yeah, not exactly something to brag about.) Why, you ask? Well... Because my height is... way too short. If you're imagining someone 3 meters tall, forget it — I'm more like 3 meters folded in half...(┳┳). I honestly have no idea why I ended up with such a ridiculously modest height... but that's just part of it. Worse yet, even though I'm a guy, I have a small, delicate build, and my skin is absurdly pale... (Honestly, sometimes even whiter than most girls.) It's like I'm sick or something. My face? Well, it's "pretty" — at least that's what the neighborhood aunties always say. Add to that my gentle voice, soft like those radio announcers you hear in the morning (even though I've already gone through puberty... but apparently, not that impressively...). Honestly, I never tried to be like this. I was simply born this way. (Damn you, fate ┳_┳). Everyone around me, from classmates to teachers, even random strangers on the street, constantly mistake me for a girl. To be honest, I've gotten used to it. (Haizz). It's just... sometimes, I really wish I could "look a little more masculine"... so I wouldn't have to explain myself over and over again. That's about it for me... Ah, maybe I should introduce my family a little.
... My family has four members: Dad, Mom, me, and my little sister. My dad is strict, but he loves me very much. Mom is more gentle, always cheering me up with things like, "Hang in there, sweetie ~ You're a man after all~" And every time she sees me struggling to explain that "I'm a boy," she'd sew me even more "manly" school uniforms (but honestly, it never helped much). Then there's my little sister — Hoshira Rinko — three years younger than me. Even though she's younger, she's a whole head taller than me...(( ಠ ಠ )) not to mention she loves teasing me with stuff like, "Onee-san, here, wear my dress! It'll look super cute on you~" or "Onee-san looks just like a doll ~" Every time that happens, I curse under my breath (damn you, little devil). But well, despite everything, we're close and love each other dearly. That's enough intro for now... I just hope my life stays peaceful until graduation... (Please, let it be so).
-A very ordinary day- ... This morning started just like any other. The familiar sound of the alarm clock blared at 6:30 AM. I sluggishly crawled out of bed, let out a big yawn, and dragged myself into the bathroom. In the mirror, the reflection staring back was... "A guy..." (Though, to be honest, even I sometimes doubted it.) "Whatever..." — I mumbled — "It's still me after all." I slapped my cheeks a few times to wake myself up, mentally preparing for a busy day ahead.
10 minutes later.
Everything was set — morning routine done — and now it was time to head to school, just like every other day. After putting on my school uniform — white shirt, black trousers — and throwing on a jacket, I slung my bag over my shoulder and rushed out the door to the sound of my mom calling:
"Ryura, don't forget to eat breakfast!" "Got it, Mom!" — I shouted back, sprinting off toward the train station.
A new day had begun — an utterly ordinary day... At least, that's what I thought.
The train station this morning was as crowded as ever. I tucked myself into a secluded corner, avoiding the rushing river of people flooding toward central Tokyo.
As usual, I boarded the train, chose a seat near the window, and pulled out my phone to check my messages. A letter had just arrived — a message sent 10 minutes ago — from none other than Rinko:
> "Onii-chan, don't forget to eat breakfast, okayyyy ~ Also, be careful today! I did a fortune reading and got a bad omen!"
I chuckled. That girl is always into fortune-telling nonsense. A bad omen? Yeah, right. After replying to her message, I tucked my phone away and stared quietly out the window. The train slid past rows of tall buildings, the morning sunlight spilling in through the glass, gently warming my shoulders. Just having this moment was enough to make me feel happy.
About 15 minutes later, I arrived at the gates of Tokyo High School. A three-story building with a wide courtyard — honestly, it was huge. In the courtyard, the cheerful chatter of students filled the morning air. Taking a deep breath, I savored the fresh, crisp atmosphere — until suddenly.
"Yoo~ Ryura-chan!"
I almost slipped. There it was again — the "chan"... How many times did I have to tell them?
Turning around, I saw Shinohara Kazuya waving like he was signaling for help. My classmate, my best friend — and the guy who loved teasing me more than anyone else.
"Good morning, Kazuya," I said, smiling lightly.
He slung an arm around my shoulder and leaned in to whisper: "Did you hear? We're getting a transfer student today."
I blinked. "A transfer student?"
Kazuya nodded eagerly: "Yeah, rumor has it they're transferring to our class. Wonder if it's a boy or a girl?"
I frowned slightly. A transfer student... mid-semester? That's definitely unusual.
But I didn't think too much of it. New people were just new friends waiting to be made. After all, my days were always calm and uneventful.
Or so I thought... until the classroom door opened.
The bell had already rung, and the class was unusually noisy today — probably because of the new student rumors. We waited for about 5 minutes.
Click.
The homeroom teacher walked in, greeted the class as usual, and then announced:
"Everyone, today we have a new transfer student joining our class. Due to some personal reasons, I hope you all will warmly welcome and help each other from now on."
After his brief speech, the teacher gestured toward the door.
The person stepped in. All eyes — including mine — turned to the newcomer. As he approached the front, standing next to the teacher, for a brief moment... time seemed to slow.
He was tall, his short black hair neatly trimmed, his face sharp and statuesque, but his expression cold and unreadable. His uniform was immaculate, his tie knotted perfectly down to the last centimeter. But what stunned me wasn't his appearance.
It was his eyes.
Those cold, deep eyes — as if they could see through everything... but somehow... there was something hidden in them too.
"My name is Minase Hajiren," he said, his voice low and steady. "Nice to meet you all."
Applause erupted like fireworks. Especially from the girls, who immediately started whispering.
"Omg, he's so handsome~" "I have to get his contact after class!"
...
Back to the front, the teacher scanned the room before making a decision.
"Minase, you'll sit next to Ryura."
"Yes, Sensei," — he replied calmly.
He made his way down to the seat next to mine, and at the moment he passed by me... something invisible, something subtle — shifted quietly inside me.