At eighteen years old, Akira Sato stepped through the gates of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro campus.
A backpack rested on his shoulders.
Inside his mind, however, a quiet storm raged.
For students all across Japan, entering this institute was a dream. Years of preparation. Sleepless nights. Endless practice exams.
Everything led to this moment.
And Akira had made it.
He had secured a seat in Computer Science, one of the most competitive programs in the country.
Yet strangely…
He didn't feel the excitement everyone expected.
Students around him were laughing, exchanging introductions, and taking photos under the tall campus gate.
"Hey, take another one!"
"No, wait—let me fix my hair!"
Parents stood nearby with proud smiles, watching their children begin a new chapter of life.
Akira simply walked past them.
Talking to strangers had always been difficult for him.
Words that sounded perfectly clear in his mind somehow vanished the moment he tried to say them out loud.
His throat would tighten.
His thoughts would scatter.
And the conversation would die before it even started.
So instead of talking…
Akira carried silence.
The orientation event was being held in the main auditorium.
Rows of students filled the hall, chatting excitedly while waiting for the event to begin.
Akira quietly slipped into a seat near the back.
He glanced around.
Everyone seemed to already be forming groups.
How do they do that so easily…?
He sighed softly and pulled out his phone.
Maybe just one episode.
The familiar opening theme of One Piece played through his earphones.
Instantly, the noisy hall faded into the background.
The professor's speech began.
Applause echoed through the room.
Announcements about clubs, research labs, and campus life filled the air.
But Akira barely noticed.
His eyes stayed glued to the screen.
"Luffy… you idiot," he muttered quietly as the episode played.
By the time the ending credits rolled, the auditorium had already begun to empty.
Akira blinked and looked up.
"…Wait."
The seats around him were empty.
The event had ended.
"…Ah."
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, slipped his phone into his pocket, and stood up.
Outside, evening had already arrived.
Golden light reflected off the buildings as students walked through campus in small groups.
Akira walked alone.
His apartment building stood a few streets away from the campus.
It was small but clean.
Akira unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The flat smelled faintly of fresh paint and detergent.
He looked around.
A small kitchen.
A hall with a television.
One main bedroom.
And a smaller guest room.
"…Not bad," he murmured.
Honestly, he had expected something worse.
He walked into the bedroom.
Inside were only the essentials.
A bed.
A desk.
A chair.
And a window facing a line of tall trees outside.
Simple.
Quiet.
Akira sat down on the bed and exhaled slowly.
For the first time in his life…
He was living alone.
Far from home.
But strangely, home wasn't a place he missed much.
Growing up, his parents believed success required pressure.
Constant pressure.
Good grades were expected.
Anything less meant disappointment.
Even when Akira ranked first in school, the praise rarely lasted longer than a few minutes.
But when he dropped to third or fourth place—
The criticism never seemed to end.
Somewhere along the way, Akira had stopped sharing things with them.
Silence was easier.
Silence didn't lead to arguments.
The first week of college passed quickly.
Orientation events.
Campus tours.
Introductory lectures.
But Akira mostly stayed quiet.
Every morning he walked to class alone.
Every afternoon he returned to his apartment alone.
His life slowly fell into a routine.
Wake up.
Walk to class.
Sit silently.
Listen to lectures.
Return to the apartment.
Watch anime.
Eat dinner.
Sleep.
Then repeat.
Days passed like pages turning in a book no one was reading.
On Wednesday of the second week, something small happened.
Something that would eventually change everything.
Akira entered the classroom and walked toward his usual seat near the window.
It had become his spot.
Quiet.
Away from most of the noise.
He placed his bag down and opened his notebook.
Pretending to read.
Then—
Thud.
A bag dropped onto the desk beside him.
Akira stiffened slightly.
A boy with messy black hair slid into the chair next to him like he had been sitting there his whole life.
The boy glanced sideways.
"Yo."
Akira blinked.
"…Yo?"
The boy grinned.
"First time I've seen someone look so serious before class even starts."
Akira looked away.
"…I'm not serious."
"Really?" the boy laughed. "You look like you're preparing for a final exam."
Akira didn't know how to respond.
A short silence passed.
Then the boy extended his hand casually.
"I'm Ren Nakamura."
Akira hesitated for a moment before shaking it.
"…Akira Sato."
Ren leaned back in his chair.
"Nice to meet you, Akira."
Akira nodded.
"…Yeah."
For Ren, it was just a normal introduction.
But for Akira—
It was the first real conversation he had since arriving at the institute.
And he didn't know it yet…
But this small moment would slowly lead him toward the most important person he would meet in college.
A girl who would change his life forever.
The next two days passed quietly.
Akira continued following the routine he had built since arriving.
Wake up.
Walk to class.
Sit silently.
Listen to lectures.
Return home.
Watch anime.
Eat dinner.
Sleep.
Nothing exciting happened.
But something had changed slightly.
Ren.
The boy sitting beside him had an endless supply of energy.
"Hey Akira, did you understand that algorithm?"
"Man, this campus map is impossible."
"Do you think the cafeteria food is safe to eat?"
Akira mostly gave short answers.
"…Maybe."
"…I think so."
"…Probably."
But Ren didn't seem bothered.
If anything, he talked even more.
And for the first time since arriving…
The classroom didn't feel completely lonely.
One afternoon after class, Ren stretched his arms dramatically.
"Ugh. I'm dying."
Akira glanced over.
"…From what?"
"Hunger."
Ren grabbed his bag and stood up.
"Come on. Cafeteria."
Akira hesitated.
He wasn't used to eating with someone else.
But Ren was already walking toward the door.
"Don't tell me you survive on instant noodles."
"…Sometimes."
Ren turned around with a horrified expression.
"Unacceptable. Come on."
Akira sighed quietly.
Then he followed him.
The campus roads were crowded with students rushing between buildings.
Ren talked the entire way.
"So where are you from, Akira?"
"…Saitama."
"Oh nice. I'm from Osaka. Way better food there."
"…You just said cafeteria food might kill us."
"Exactly."
Akira almost smiled.
Almost.
After lunch they returned to their classroom.
But something felt strange.
The room was empty.
Completely empty.
Ren frowned.
"…Did we miss something?"
Akira looked around.
"…Maybe."
They stepped outside and stopped another student.
"Hey," Ren asked, "where's our class?"
The student looked confused for a second.
Then laughed.
"Lab session. Didn't you check the timetable?"
Ren froze.
"…There was a timetable?"
The student nodded and walked away.
Ren groaned loudly.
"Fantastic. Second week of college and we're already lost."
Akira quietly checked his phone.
"…Lab building. Third floor."
Ren slapped his shoulder.
"See? I knew keeping you around was a good idea."
"I didn't say I was helping you."
"You just did."
They ran toward the lab building.
When they arrived, the professor was already inside.
A list was posted beside the door.
Ren scanned it quickly.
"Let's see…"
Then he sighed.
"Oh great."
Akira stepped closer.
Their names were listed in different groups.
Ren scratched his head.
"Well… guess we're separated."
He shrugged.
"See you after the session, Akira."
"…Yeah."
Ren walked into the lab.
The door closed behind him.
And just like that…
Akira was alone again.
But somewhere inside the room—
A new meeting was waiting.
One that would quietly change his life.