Chapter 1:Chapter 1: Beneath the Falling Petals
The first thing Ella noticed about Sakura High was the silence.
Not the absence of sound—but the kind that existed beneath everything. Beneath the laughter echoing through the courtyard. Beneath the distant hum of classroom chatter. Beneath the whisper of wind weaving through cherry blossom branches heavy with bloom.
It was the silence of beginnings.
Ella stood just outside the school gates, fingers curled around the strap of her bag. Above her, soft pink petals drifted lazily through the spring air, brushing against her dark hair before settling at her feet.
New school.
New classmates.
New version of herself.
She inhaled slowly.
Transferring had never been easy. Each time, she told herself she would try harder—smile more, speak first, be someone easier to approach.
Each time, she ended up sitting alone by the window.
But maybe this time would be different.
She stepped through the gates.
The courtyard stretched wide before her. Students moved in familiar clusters—some laughing loudly, others walking shoulder to shoulder in quiet conversation. A pair of girls were arguing over something trivial near the fountain. Someone was practicing dance steps under a tree.
Everyone already belonged.
Ella adjusted her posture.
Walk normally. Don't look nervous.
She made it halfway to the entrance before nearly colliding with someone turning the corner too quickly.
"Oh!"
Warm hands caught her shoulders.
"I'm so sorry!" the girl said immediately, bowing slightly.
Ella blinked.
Soft chestnut hair framed a delicate face. Gentle brown eyes held concern—not annoyance.
"It's okay," Ella said softly. "I wasn't looking either."
The girl studied her for a second before something in her expression shifted.
"You must be the transfer student."
Ella sighed lightly. "That obvious?"
"A little," the girl admitted with a shy smile. "I'm Miyo."
There was a softness in the way she introduced herself. Careful. Almost hesitant.
"I'm Ella."
Their eyes met.
And for a moment, the world quieted again.
Not dramatically. Not overwhelmingly.
Just enough to be felt.
"Well," Miyo said, tucking hair behind her ear, "your classroom is on the second floor. I can walk with you… if you want."
Ella wasn't sure why her chest felt lighter.
"I'd like that."
And just like that, her first steps into Sakura High no longer felt so solitary.
The hallway buzzed with noise as they entered.
Lockers slammed. Laughter bounced off polished floors. Conversations overlapped in waves.
Miyo walked beside her, explaining things gently.
"The teachers are strict but fair. The art room is on the third floor. The rooftop is usually locked, but sometimes students sneak up there."
"You sound experienced," Ella teased lightly.
Miyo smiled faintly. "I just observe a lot."
Ella liked that answer.
As they reached the classroom door, Miyo paused.
"They're loud," she warned softly.
Before Ella could ask what she meant, the door slid open.
"—and I told her that if she burns the toast again—"
A lively voice cut off mid-sentence.
Two identical faces turned toward them.
The first girl had slightly messier hair, wolf-cut layers framing sharp eyes filled with energy.
The second stood straighter, her identical features calmer, gaze more measured.
They spoke at the same time.
"Oh."
"The transfer student."
The energetic one grinned first. "I'm Seiya."
"And I'm Keiya," the calmer twin added.
Seiya leaned closer than necessary. "You're prettier than we expected."
"Seiya," Keiya warned gently.
Ella felt her face warm.
"I—thank you?"
Seiya laughed. "Relax. We don't bite."
"Usually," Keiya added quietly.
Miyo cleared her throat softly beside Ella.
Seiya immediately noticed.
"Ooooh," she sang teasingly. "You brought her in personally?"
Miyo flushed. "I just walked her here."
"Sure you did."
Ella blinked between them.
This school was already more chaotic than she expected.
The teacher soon arrived, restoring order.
Ella introduced herself at the front of the room, voice steady despite the dozens of eyes watching her.
"I'm Ella. I transferred here due to family circumstances. I hope we get along."
Polite applause followed.
As she returned to her seat—coincidentally beside Miyo—she felt multiple gazes linger.
One from the back corner.
She glanced briefly.
A girl with short, sleek black hair sat there, sketchbook open on her desk despite class not having started. Sharp, observant eyes watched Ella—not boldly, but thoughtfully.
When their eyes met, the girl didn't look away.
She simply tilted her head slightly.
Then returned to her drawing.
"That's Tomoe," Miyo whispered. "She's in the art club."
"She was staring."
Miyo smiled faintly. "She stares at anything interesting."
Ella wasn't sure whether to feel flattered or nervous.
By lunchtime, the air had grown warmer.
Seiya declared—without asking—that Ella would be joining them under the cherry tree.
And somehow, Ella found herself sitting on a blanket beneath cascading petals.
Saki sat nearby, posture calm and protective.
Bayaka sprawled lazily on her side, smirking at everything.
Tomoe leaned against the trunk, sketchbook balanced on her knees.
Keiya sat neatly beside Seiya, occasionally correcting her twin's exaggerated storytelling.
And Miyo sat close enough that their sleeves brushed when they shifted.
"So," Bayaka began, eyes glinting, "what kind of girls do you like?"
Ella choked slightly on her drink.
Seiya burst into laughter.
"Bayaka!"
"What?" Bayaka shrugged. "Important question."
Ella tried to recover her composure. "I—I don't know."
Miyo looked down, suddenly very interested in the grass.
Tomoe's pencil paused mid-stroke.
"Don't bully her on the first day," Saki sighed.
"I'm not bullying," Bayaka insisted. "I'm investigating."
Keiya offered Ella a reassuring smile. "You don't have to answer."
But Ella surprised herself.
"I like… quiet girls," she said softly. "Ones who notice small things."
There was a subtle shift in the air.
Tomoe's pencil resumed—slower now.
Miyo's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her skirt.
Seiya's grin widened.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
Later, as the sun dipped lower, the group slowly dispersed.
Ella remained beneath the cherry tree, watching petals drift around her.
"You stayed."
She turned.
Miyo stood a few steps away.
"I like it here," Ella admitted.
Miyo nodded. "It's peaceful."
A petal caught in Miyo's hair.
Without thinking, Ella reached out and gently removed it.
Their fingers brushed.
Time paused.
Neither pulled away immediately.
Up close, Miyo's eyes were warmer than Ella remembered.
"Thank you," Miyo whispered.
"For what?"
"For coming."
Ella smiled faintly. "I almost didn't."
"I'm glad you did."
Their hands separated.
But the warmth remained.
From the classroom window above, Seiya and Keiya watched.
Seiya gasped dramatically. "Episode one and we already have tension."
Keiya shook her head—but she was smiling.
As Ella walked home that afternoon, petals following her path, something inside her felt different.
Not completely settled.
Not completely certain.
But blooming.
She glanced back once at the school gates.
And for the first time in a long time—
She wanted tomorrow to come faster.Ella had just turned toward the school gates when laughter echoed from behind the building.
Not the friendly kind.
The sharp kind.
She slowed her steps.
Near the side walkway, two upperclassmen stood blocking a first-year girl against the wall. The younger student looked visibly uncomfortable, clutching her bag tightly.
"Relax," one of them sneered. "We're just asking questions."
Ella froze.
Her chest tightened.
She knew that look. The forced laugh. The shrinking posture.
She had worn that expression before at her old school.
Before she could think, she stepped forward.
"Is there a problem?"
The two upperclassmen turned toward her, surprised.
One of them scoffed. "And who are you?"
"Just someone who doesn't like unfair situations."
Her heart pounded loudly in her ears.
The younger girl glanced at Ella with wide, hopeful eyes.
"Oh?" the taller upperclassman said mockingly. "You're new, aren't you? Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."
A familiar voice cut through the tension.
"It belongs wherever she decides it does."
Saki.
She walked toward them calmly, but her presence shifted the atmosphere instantly. Behind her were Seiya and Keiya.
Seiya cracked her knuckles dramatically. "We're not in the mood today."
Keiya added softly, "You should leave."
The upperclassmen hesitated.
Then clicked their tongues in annoyance.
"Whatever."
They walked off, muttering under their breath.
The younger student quickly bowed. "T-Thank you!" She ran off before anyone could respond.
Silence lingered.
Ella hadn't realized how fast she was breathing until Saki gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You shouldn't handle things alone."
"I wasn't alone," Ella said quietly.
Seiya grinned. "Correct. You have us now."
Something about that sentence hit differently.
You have us now.
Miyo approached last, slower than the others.
"You could've gotten hurt," she said softly.
Ella met her gaze.
"But I didn't."
Miyo's brows knit slightly. "That doesn't mean you should risk it."
There it was again—that gentle concern. The careful tone.
Ella felt warmth spread in her chest.
"I just don't like seeing that happen."
Miyo's expression softened.
"I know."
For a moment, the others faded into the background.
Wind brushed through the trees again, sending petals swirling around them like quiet applause.
Seiya suddenly clapped her hands loudly. "Well! Since our heroic transfer student saved the day, I declare we celebrate."
"Celebrate what?" Keiya asked.
"The official formation of the Cherry Blossom Defense Squad."
"That is not our name," Keiya sighed.
Ella laughed before she could stop herself.
And it felt real.
Not forced. Not polite.
Real.
Later That Evening
Ella sat at her desk at home, window slightly open.
The scent of spring drifted in.
She replayed the day in her mind.
Miyo's shy smile.
Tomoe's steady gaze.
Seiya's loud laughter.
Keiya's quiet steadiness.
Saki's protective presence.
Bayaka's teasing questions.
For the first time in years, she hadn't eaten lunch alone.
For the first time, someone had said:
You have us now.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
She hesitated before opening the message.
Miyo:
"Did you get home safely?"
Ella stared at the screen longer than necessary.
She typed.
Ella:
"Yes. Thank you for today."
A pause.
Then:
Miyo:
"I'm glad you came to our school."
Ella's fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Her heart beat faster than it should over something so simple.
She finally replied:
Ella:
"I think I am too."
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Then:
Miyo:
"Goodnight, Ella."
Ella smiled faintly.
Ella:
"Goodnight, Miyo."
She placed her phone on her desk.
Outside, somewhere in the distance, petals continued to fall beneath the moonlight.
And in the quiet of her room, something inside her began to bloom.