The cafeteria was louder than Ren expected.
Voices overlapped. Chairs scraped. Laughter echoed.
It was messy… chaotic… alive.
Ren stood near the entrance, holding his tray awkwardly.
So this is… normal life.
Back at the mansion, meals were silent, elegant, controlled.
Here?
Someone almost dropped food next to him.
"Oi, move if you're not gonna sit!" a boy shouted.
"…Right. Sorry."
Ren quickly stepped aside.
He scanned the room.
Every table was filled.
Groups of friends, couples, loud classmates—everyone already belonged somewhere.
Except him.
"Yo! New guy!"
Ren turned.
A boy with messy hair waved at him from a table.
"Come here! You'll just stand there forever at this rate!"
Ren hesitated for a second… then walked over.
"Sit, sit," the boy grinned. "I'm Yuto Kanzaki."
"Ren Takahashi."
"Yeah yeah, we heard that part in class," Yuto said casually. "You're pretty quiet, huh?"
"…I guess."
Yuto leaned forward, studying him.
"…You don't seem nervous."
Ren blinked.
"Most transfer students act awkward. You're just… calm."
Ren gave a small smile.
"I'm just observing."
"Observing?" Yuto laughed. "What are you, some kind of spy?"
Ren didn't answer.
Not completely wrong…
Before he could reply, a voice cut in—
"Move your bag. You're blocking the seat."
Ren looked up.
It was her.
The girl from earlier.
She stood there, slightly annoyed, pointing at Yuto's bag.
"Oh—my bad," Yuto said, moving it. "Hina, you're late."
"I had work," she replied, sitting down.
Hina.
So that was her name.
She glanced at Ren briefly.
"…You're the transfer student."
"Yeah," Yuto jumped in. "Ren Takahashi. Ren, this is Hina Sakuragi—the most scary girl in class."
"I'm not scary," she said flatly.
"You literally yelled at me this morning."
"You deserved it."
Yuto laughed.
Ren watched quietly.
Their interaction felt… natural.
No filters. No fake politeness.
Just real.
Hina turned to him again.
"…You okay?"
Ren blinked. "What?"
"You've been staring."
"…Sorry."
She sighed. "You're weird."
Yuto burst out laughing. "Man, she doesn't hold back, does she?"
Ren felt something unfamiliar.
It wasn't insult.
It wasn't anger.
It was…
Refreshing.
"…I don't mind," he said calmly.
Hina raised an eyebrow slightly.
Then looked away.
"Whatever."
---
After school.
The sky had turned soft orange.
Students walked home in groups, chatting about random things.
Ren walked alone.
Not because he had to—
But because he didn't know how to walk with someone yet.
"…This is harder than I thought."
"Talking to yourself already?"
Ren turned.
Hina stood a few steps behind him, adjusting her bag.
"…Sakuragi-san."
"Hina," she corrected. "We're classmates."
"…Hina."
She nodded slightly.
"Where do you live?" she asked.
Ren paused.
He couldn't say his real address.
"…Nearby."
"'Nearby' where?"
"…Just nearby."
She stared at him for a moment.
"…You're suspicious."
"I get that a lot."
She sighed. "Whatever. Just don't be a creep."
"I'm not."
"We'll see."
They started walking together.
Silence.
But not uncomfortable.
Just… quiet.
After a few minutes, Hina spoke again.
"You don't act like other guys."
Ren glanced at her.
"…Is that a bad thing?"
"I didn't say that."
She kicked a small stone on the road.
"Most guys try too hard. Showing off, acting cool…"
She looked straight ahead.
"You don't."
Ren thought about it.
Because I don't need to.
But he didn't say that.
"…Maybe I just don't care about impressing people."
Hina stopped walking.
Ren took a few steps before noticing.
He turned back.
She was looking at him—really looking this time.
"…That's rare."
Her voice was quieter now.
"For someone our age."
Ren felt something shift in his chest.
Not pressure.
Not expectation.
Something… lighter.
"…What about you?" he asked. "What kind of people do you like?"
Hina looked away immediately.
"…Not rich ones."
Ren froze for a split second.
She didn't notice.
"I hate people who think money solves everything," she continued. "They don't understand how hard normal life is."
Each word hit deeper than expected.
Ren stayed silent.
"…Did something happen?" he asked carefully.
Hina tightened her grip on her bag.
"…It's none of your business."
"Sorry."
She exhaled slowly.
"…Just don't be like that, okay?"
Ren looked at her.
Serious eyes.
No lies.
No hidden intention.
Just honesty.
"…I won't," he said.
And for the first time—
That promise felt heavy.
Because he was already lying.
---
As they reached a crossroads, Hina stopped.
"I go this way."
"…I see."
She turned slightly.
"…You're weird, Ren."
"That again?"
"But…" she paused, then added quietly—
"…not in a bad way."
Ren blinked.
Before he could respond, she walked away.
No dramatic goodbye.
No hesitation.
Just… left.
Ren stood there for a moment.
Then slowly looked up at the evening sky.
> She hates rich people.
A small, bitter smile formed on his lips.
"…This won't be easy."
But somehow—
He didn't want it to be.
Because for the first time—
Someone had seen him…
Without knowing who he really was.
And still stayed.
---
End of Chapter 2
---