# December 19th, Classroom 2-B
On a chilly winter morning, as the cold slowly penetrated every corner of the city, classroom 2-B was bathed in soft golden sunlight streaming through the large windows. Tiny dust particles danced in the light like miniature shooting stars in the small universe called a classroom. Despite the heater running, misty breath clouds formed with each exhalation, as the bitter cold still managed to seep through the old window frames.
The rhythmic ticking of the clock above the blackboard was the only distinct sound in the nearly empty classroom. The second hand moved sluggishly, as if time itself shivered from the cold. A few students had just entered, rubbing their hands together for warmth. Some rested their heads on their desks, drifting in dreams before class began, while others quietly read books, their eyes tired from studying the night before.
I, "Leo Tsukino," sat at my desk by the window. My fingertips, cracked from the dry winter air, touched the ice-cold glass as my gaze wandered to the gray sky above the school building across the way. Large, thick clouds moved slowly across the tall buildings, like ships sailing through a gray ocean. I wasn't thinking about anything special at that moment—just letting my thoughts drift along with those clouds, daydreaming about the distant summer.
But in truth, I was trying not to pay attention to her sitting just inches in front of my desk...
"Lumin Komori," the girl everyone in school knew. Her face was as elegant as a perfect painting, her skin smooth and fair like freshly fallen snow. Those deep brown eyes held a sparkle of strength with a hint of sadness, like stars shining in the night sky. Her straight golden-brown hair flowed to the middle of her back, swaying gently in the cool breeze from the open window. A faint scent of lavender shampoo drifted by whenever she moved her head.
She was deeply absorbed in reading a book, her slender fingers carefully turning each page. The sound of paper sliding against paper was softer than a whisper, yet it echoed in my ears like waves crashing on shore. Sometimes she would tilt her head slightly when finding an interesting passage, her rose-colored lips moving faintly along with the words she read.
Though I tried to look outside, I couldn't help stealing a glance at her from the corner of my eye. It was just for a split second, but it felt like my heart paused momentarily, as if time itself had stopped. This feeling wasn't merely infatuation, but a sense of wonder at a beauty that seemed out of place in the dull morning classroom atmosphere—a beauty that created an empty feeling in my chest every time I saw it.
Suddenly, the sound of shoes pounding against the hallway floor thundered from afar. The sound grew closer, faster, and louder, like an approaching storm...
"Leo! Look at this!" A familiar high-pitched voice echoed throughout the room as Zeno jumped into the classroom excitedly, startling the sleeping students awake.
"Zeno Kazuma," the boy with fluffy black hair who always seemed excited about his inventions. His large, round brown eyes gleamed with enthusiasm and boundless energy on this morning when everyone else was still tired. He ran into the room, his backpack swinging with each step, holding up a strange contraption that looked like a metal box with wires wrapped around it and small multicolored lights attached. His face beamed with confidence and pride as if he had just discovered a new version of the theory of relativity.
"I invented an electrical power converter. What do you think? Hahaha! It can transform movement energy into electricity. Isn't that cool?" he explained while spinning the box around in his shaking hands. The small lights blinked irregularly with the movement of the box.
His laughter rang throughout the room amid the mixed expressions of confusion and familiarity from his classmates. Some sighed deeply, some smiled faintly, others shook their heads with affectionate amusement. Zeno was always full of creative, unusual ideas, and although his inventions often ended in failure or small explosions in the science lab, his enthusiasm never waned. He was like a light on a gloomy day, a small flame on a freezing night.
Despite often causing excitement and regularly disrupting his friends, nobody ever grew tired of Zeno. Nobody disliked him because his cheerful manner and genuine smile made everyone smile along with him. Even I, who tended to be indifferent to everything, found the corners of my mouth lifting slightly whenever he entered the room with excitement.
I turned to look at him with a dry smile while still leaning against the window, one hand running through my own black hair that had been tousled by the cool breeze.
"What is it this time, Zeno? Save it for science class," I said flatly, but not hiding the faint smile.
"No way! I have to show it now! This is an invention that will change the world, Leo!" Zeno shouted while raising his invention high above his head, like a king brandishing a sword of victory.
Soon after, the bell rang, calling students to the start of classes. The sharp ringing sound vibrated throughout the room, jolting several drowsy students fully awake.
Students began to file in, gradually filling the once-empty desks. Soft conversations hummed throughout the room. There was gentle laughter from a group of girls in the corner, and whispers from a group of boys hurriedly exchanging homework before class began.
"Um... I forgot to do the math homework. Can I copy yours...?"
A soft voice tinged with embarrassment from beside me caught my attention. Ken Arizawa, my close friend who sat next to me, gently nudged my shoulder and gave me a dry smile while holding out a blank notebook. His gray eyes avoided direct contact, looking downward instead. His cheeks flushed slightly with shame. Ken's face usually maintained a calm, composed expression, rarely revealing his emotions. I was used to him asking to copy homework on the final day before submission, as if it were part of our daily routine.
"I guess you were too busy practicing basketball again..."
I joked while handing him my homework notebook. Ken's eyes immediately lit up, and he broke into a wide grin before quickly grabbing the notebook, as if afraid I might change my mind.
Ken kept his distance from the classroom chaos. He was quiet, reserved, not very expressive, but determined in what he loved—basketball. He was the star of the school team, taller than most boys his age, with three-point shooting accuracy that made the coach's eyes sparkle. But academically, he preferred spending time practicing basketball rather than reading books, which often caused him homework problems.
But the guilt was evident on his face every time he had to copy homework, and that's what made me unable to resist helping him each time. He might not be a top student, but he was a sincere friend who always protected me whenever I had issues with seniors.
Takumi Yoshida, another friend, spoke up as he walked in, dropping his tall, slender frame onto the chair next to Ken, covering a yawn with his book.
"What math homework? This is science class! Ken, you're truly hopeless with numbers."
Takumi wasn't particularly fond of studying. His eyes held the soul of an artist rather than a student concerned with grades. Though he had a natural talent for mathematics—his mind calculated numbers so quickly that even the math teacher was impressed—his laziness and indifferent attitude often caused him academic problems. He frequently drifted away from lessons, lost in his own thoughts that no one understood. Sometimes he would stare blankly out the window, his eyes distant as if traveling to another world.
But he had his own charm, with a mischievous smile and a talent for teasing that always made conversations more fun. He was often the one who added color to the friend group with dark humor that made everyone burst into laughter together.
Suddenly, Zeno appeared from nowhere, standing behind Takumi with an odd posture. He raised both hands in a ghost-like pose, his face contorted in what he thought was scary but was actually comically funny.
"Science... it's science, Ken-jan~ Kik kik kik," Zeno's voice sounded unexpectedly, making Ken jump. The notebook in his hand almost fell to the floor.
Ken quickly shoved the notebook back to me, his eyes wide with surprise as he complained:
"Why didn't you tell me from the start?! I almost copied the wrong subject!"
I shrugged and smiled slightly with a hint of mischief, but before I had a chance to respond, the classroom door opened slowly with a certain heaviness, making the sliding sound louder than usual.
Silence fell... Everyone turned to look at the door simultaneously. The sound of the teacher's heels echoed in the silence. Thud... thud... thud... a familiar sound that made everyone in the room tense.
"Good morning, students."
The deep, firm voice of Professor Satoru rang out, instantly silencing the room that had begun to grow noisy. His tall, large figure appeared at the door. His stern face swept across the room with sharp eyes hidden behind thick-framed glasses. His black hair, beginning to show strands of gray, made him look even more formidable. The dark gray suit he wore neatly further emphasized his strict and serious demeanor.
"Good morning, Professor."
The voices of all the students rang out in unison, soft but orderly. Everyone stood up straight, bowed slightly, then sat down together in perfect sync.
Professor Satoru entered the room gracefully. He placed his briefcase gently on the teacher's desk, removed his glasses to clean them with the small towel he always carried, then put them back on. He stood tall, scanning the students once more before continuing in a calm voice that carried authority:
"Well, today we'll have a small activity where everyone will pair up for a science project."
Professor Satoru spoke plainly, but that single sentence immediately livened up the classroom. Murmurs began around the room. Students started looking for their close friends. A group of girls turned to whisper among themselves. Some boys gave thumbs up to friends sitting across the room. Everyone's face brightened with excitement, feeling like they were getting to play a fun game during an otherwise boring class.
I turned to look at Ken as well, but our eyes met with Takumi instead, who raised an eyebrow slightly with a corner smile, while Zeno waved at me excitedly from across the room, as if we all understood we'd group together as usual.
But then, Professor Satoru's authoritative voice rang out again, instantly crushing every student's dream:
"But—you won't be choosing your own partners."
The teacher emphasized each word, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction at seeing the shocked expressions on students' faces.
"I will use a 'drawing lots' method instead."
Suddenly, the once lively classroom fell silent as if a switch had been turned off. Everyone froze momentarily. Disappointment was evident on the faces of nearly every student. Some sighed heavily, others muttered complaints under their breath, but no one dared to express clear displeasure for fear of Professor Satoru, who, while fair, was strict and intimidating when angered.
"Sigh..." Ken's sigh sounded near my ear. "This sucks. I'm not good at working with others."
I nodded in agreement. I didn't like working with unfamiliar people either, especially in group projects like this, where tasks needed to be divided. Such projects often ended with one person doing all the work alone.
Professor Satoru took out a clear plastic box from his briefcase. Inside were many small folded papers. He placed it on the front desk before scanning the room once more.
"Anyone with an 'odd' number, come up front to draw lots."
That command caused half the class to reluctantly stand up. I was among them, as my number was 9. A line of students formed in the middle of the room. Every step toward the lot box felt heavy, like walking toward an unknown fate. Some had hopeful expressions, others looked anxious. I felt a bit stressed myself but tried not to show it on my face.
Names began to be announced one by one. The atmosphere was like waiting for lottery results in the school raffle. The first student drew the name of his close friend, making both of them smile widely with relief. The second student drew the name of someone they'd never talked to, causing both to look at each other awkwardly.
"Ken Arizawa is paired with... Kenya Ōtsuki."
The announcement made everyone turn to look at Ken standing in line. His face changed to an unusual expression, a mix of disappointment and worry, because Kenya was the best student in the class and known to be very strict about group work.
"Oh man... this is bad," Ken complained in a low voice, looking stressed as he walked back to his seat. "I'm dead if I can't keep up with him."
I laughed softly before teasing him:
"Well, at least you'll find out if people with similar names can get along. Who knows, maybe you'll get good grades."
Takumi walked back with a lot in his hand. He stood still for a moment, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement.
"I'm paired with Zeno..."
Zeno, who was still standing with a wide smile, seemed unfazed. He stood with his arms crossed, looking around the room with pride in his invention. But upon hearing his name, he paused slightly, turning to look at Takumi with an odd expression.
"Oh, is that so... that's good," he said quietly before turning to give Takumi a strange smile. "Should we build a solar-powered generator?"
Takumi's face looked like someone who had just been told they had to climb an erupting volcano. He swallowed hard but nodded reluctantly.
And then it was my turn... I stood up, walked straight to the lot box positioned in the middle of the room. My heart beat softly as my hand slowly reached into the box. My fingertips touched several papers before finally choosing one. It felt thin and light in my hand, but heavy with expectation and anxiety.
With one paper in hand, I unfolded it slowly, my heart beating faster for no apparent reason...
"Lumin Komori.."
I paused for a moment, my eyes widening in surprise, my hand trembling slightly.
Lumin Komori... that girl.
I turned to look at the desk in the front row. Lumin was still reading her book, as if she didn't care about this pairing at all, while other students were anxious and excited.