At 3 PM, the girl rested her head against the cool glass of the speeding Shinkansen. Outside, the world blurred into streaks of color, but her gaze was fixed on the small screen in her hands. Tears welled up, blurring the family photo that smiled back at her — a man, a woman, herself, and a massive black guard dog standing protectively by their side. The image felt like a fragile thread to a past she longed for but couldn't hold onto.
Suddenly, the calm was broken by the crackling announcement over the intercom.
"Next station, Midorigaoka. Please prepare to disembark passengers."
She closed her eyes tightly, a tear slipping down her cheek. With a quiet sigh, she wiped it away with a handkerchief pulled from her bag. Carefully, she reached down and pulled out two suitcases, stacking them on the overhead rack above her head.
The train began to slow, the familiar rhythm of brakes clicking against the rails. The Shinkansen came to a smooth halt at Midorigaoka Station. As the doors slid open with a whoosh, cool air swept inside, carrying with it the distant sounds of the bustling platform.
Passengers began to deboard, the station humming with soft murmurs and announcements echoing from the platform speakers. She stepped off the train and moved steadily toward the exit, her heart beating just a little faster.
At the exit, she paused, scanning the crowd. Her eyes searched desperately for someone—anyone she recognized.
Suddenly, her phone rang. She quickly answered, then turned just in time to see, across the road near the parking area, a man and a woman waving eagerly at her.
She hurried toward them, and the woman immediately wrapped her in a warm hug.
"How was the journey? Was it comfortable?" the woman asked gently.
The man's voice followed, carrying a mixture of relief and hesitation.
"I'm glad, Heena, you took the right choice to live with us. I didn't want to, but Dad forced me—said you could get a better education there. Unwillingly, I came here."
Heena and the man exchanged a disappointed smile, the unspoken tension hanging in the air.
"Nevertheless," the man continued, "I'm really happy we can live together."
Heena let out a deep sigh at his words, the weight of the moment settling in.
"Okay, Heena. Let's eat first, and then we'll go to your school for documentation and formalities," the woman said with a gentle smile.
"I'm not hungry," Heena muttered, looking away. "You guys can eat. I'll wait in the car."
Naoto and Miyako exchanged glances, a quiet sigh passing between them.
"Okay, okay," Naoto said quickly, trying to keep the mood light. "Let's head directly to the school, then."
About half an hour later, their car rolled into the gates of Midorigaoka Meitoku High School—a prestigious, glamorous institution that looked more like a private academy than a high school.
The campus was breathtaking, surrounded by cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Neatly parked bicycles lined the stands, and the massive gym stood proudly in the distance. Three tall, modern buildings rose high, alongside a sleek administrative center that radiated importance.
They walked together toward the administration center. Inside, Naoto stepped up to the front desk.
"Hello," he said politely. "My name is Naoto Naruse. This is my wife, Miyako Naruse, and we're here about our daughter's admission—Heena."
The receptionist looked up apologetically.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't take midterm admissions."
"I understand," Naoto said calmly. "But I've already spoken with the principal. She asked us to come visit today. That's why we're here."
The receptionist nodded and picked up the receiver, making a quick call. After a short pause, she set the phone down and gave a courteous bow.
"I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience, sir. You may meet Madam in her office—third floor. Go straight and take a right for the elevator."
"Thank you," Naoto replied with a polite smile.
Heena followed behind them, her expression tight with barely hidden annoyance. The polished floors, the manicured hedges, the perfect symmetry of the buildings—it all felt like an overacted drama to her.
"Posh, disciplined… and painfully fake," she muttered under her breath, disappointed.
They reached the third floor, where Naoto stopped in front of a large wooden door. He knocked politely, and after a faint "Come in," they stepped inside.
The room felt more like a private library than an office. It was massive, with a wooden ceiling that gave it a timeless, almost imperial air. A deep red carpet covered the floor, muffling their steps.
The walls were lined with boards listing the names of students who had excelled in academics and sports over the decades. In one corner stood a proud display of trophies, medals, certificates, and shields—each polished to a shine. Next to them hung a framed Japanese flag, flanked by solemn portraits of the Emperor and Prime Minister.
At the grand desk sat a woman in her late fifties. Her moon-shaped glasses perched delicately on her pointy nose as she flipped through a stack of files with precise fingers.
Without glancing up, she gestured toward the chairs in front of her.
"Sit here."
They sat down silently, the room heavy with formality and expectation.
The woman didn't look up for another two or three minutes, her attention fixed on the files in front of her. Heena shifted in her seat, growing more impatient by the second. Finally, with a soft snap, the woman closed the folder and looked up, forcing a polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"I was expecting you today, Mr. Naruse," she began, her voice calm and composed. "To be honest, I was hesitant at first. You already have two daughters enrolled here, and as you know, our acceptance rate into Japan's top ten universities is 98%. We only take the most dedicated, hardworking students."
She adjusted her glasses slightly and glanced at Heena.
"But after reviewing her report cards, I have no doubt we have a seat for her. If she continues performing at the level shown here, she might even give your other daughters—Rika and Rina—a hard time. They're always first and second in their class."
"That's all thanks to the quality of education we've tried to give them," Naoto replied with a modest smile.
"I'll place her in the same class as her sisters," the principal continued, "so they can all flourish in healthy competition."
Miyako and Naoto exchanged satisfied smiles, clearly pleased.
"Whatever…" Heena mumbled under her breath, staring at a distant corner of the room.
"Thank you so much, Miss Fujimura, for your kind cooperation," Naoto said, bowing slightly.
"No worries at all," Miss Fujimura replied, her voice warming a little. "In fact, we're glad to welcome another bright, rising prospect into our institution."
As they stepped out of the principal's office, Naoto turned to his wife with a warm smile.
"Miyako-san, let's gather the girls and go out for dinner—Italian tonight, as a celebration for Heena's admission."
"Are they still at school?" Miyako asked, glancing at her phone.
"Yes," Naoto nodded. "Both of them are in the modeling club. They should still be around."
Modeling club? Heena raised an eyebrow, her thoughts whispering with disbelief. This school has a modeling club?
They walked across the campus toward another building—sleek, tall, and humming with energy. When they reached the room labeled Modeling & Media Arts, Naoto knocked politely before slowly opening the door.
The scene inside caught Heena off guard.
Around fifteen to twenty students filled the space, buzzing with activity. Bright camera flashes went off as shooting equipment surrounded a makeshift studio. Several girls posed confidently—some in elegant dresses, others in swimsuits, and a few even in bikinis. Nearby, other students were busy applying makeup, adjusting lighting, or editing photos on sleek laptops.
A boy in a stylish shirt approached them, smiling curiously.
"May I help you?"
"Yes," Naoto said. "I'm here for the Naruse sisters."
The boy turned around and called out loudly, "Rika! Rina!"
Moments later, the two girls appeared—and Heena blinked.
They were stunning. Flawlessly fashionable and full of presence. Their white school shirts were stylishly folded, short skirts swaying as they walked. The top buttons of their shirts were undone, revealing just enough cleavage to catch the eye.
One of them had long, flowing blonde hair with bold, dangling earrings that sparkled in the studio lights. The other had a shorter, brown-dyed haircut with a confident, almost tomboyish vibe.
Watching them, Heena could only think of one word.
Flamboyant.
"Hey, Dad—what are you doing here?" Rika asked, adjusting her earrings, her tone casual but slightly annoyed.
Naoto smiled, gesturing to Heena.
"Rika, Rina—meet Heena. She's your sister… Miyako-san's daughter."
There was a moment of silence.
"Stepsister," Rika corrected coldly, her eyes scanning Heena from head to toe, clearly unimpressed.
Rina's reaction wasn't much warmer. She looked at Heena with a disapproving glance, lips tightening slightly as if resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
Heena returned the look with quiet defiance, letting out a short, dry laugh under her breath—"Hhhh."
Naoto, sensing the tension, clapped his hands lightly.
"Girls, girls… let's go now. We're eating Italian tonight—to celebrate Heena's admission!"
Rina shrugged, brushing a strand of her brown-dyed hair from her face.
"Okay, okay," she muttered, clearly uninterested in the "celebration" part.
They all began walking back across campus. As they passed near the track and field grounds, the rhythmic thud of shoes on track echoed nearby. The team was finishing their training for the day, a few boys cooling off at the water station.
One of them nudged another with his elbow.
"Hey, Daiki. Look—your crush is walking by. Rina Naruse."
Daiki lifted his head just as the group passed. His gaze followed Rina quietly, a hint of admiration softening his face.
Then another boy, Ren, smirked as he twisted open a water bottle.
"I keep telling you—both of them are sluts. Slept with multiple guys. They're just good at hiding it."
"Shut the f*** up, Ren," Daiki snapped, turning sharply toward him.
"Guys, stop," a third voice cut in—Kaito, tall and serious, his expression calm but firm. "Those rumors are garbage. Just some rival girls with nothing better to do. Don't spread that kind of crap."
Ren rolled his eyes and snorted.
"Here he comes, our moral police. Kaito-san, always the knight in shining armor."
"Shut up, Ren," Kaito said again, this time with steel in his voice.
As they walked past the track, Rina's eyes drifted—just for a second—toward the group of boys cooling off. Her gaze found Kaito, standing there with his usual calm, upright posture.
The moment their eyes met, her cheeks flushed with the faintest pink. She quickly glanced at her family—no one seemed to be paying attention.
With a small flick of her wrist, she waved at him.
Kaito blinked in surprise, then raised a hand and waved back, though his gesture was hesitant—almost unsure.
Ren and Daiki, both watching from a few steps away, immediately caught the exchange.
"What was that?" Ren asked, his tone laced with mischief.
Kaito shrugged. "What?" he replied, acting nonchalant.
Ren leaned closer to Daiki, smirking.
"If that tomboy's into Kaito, you've got zero chance, man."
Daiki didn't respond, jaw tightening just a little.
"It's nothing like that," Kaito said calmly. "I beat her in the last semester exams. Since then, she's just… respected me. That's all."
"Ohhh, respected, huh?" Ren teased, grinning as he elbowed him playfully.
Kaito sighed but didn't argue. His eyes briefly flicked back toward Rina—just a flicker of thought he quickly pushed aside.
Just then, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Oi, you three!"
Coach Yuka Ishikawa walked over, her short black ponytail bouncing slightly with each step. Despite her petite frame, she carried herself with authority. She placed her hands firmly on Ren and Daiki's shoulders, eyes narrowing playfully.
"Did you guys finish your rounds?"
"Yes, Sensei!" the three of them chorused, straightening up instinctively.
Coach Yuka gave them a once-over, nodding with approval.
"Alright. You can head home now. Make sure you finish your homework—and don't forget your protein intake. Sleep well. Rest and recovery are just as important as training."
"Yes, Madam!" they said again, saluting half-jokingly.
Yuka smirked. "Smartasses." She turned and walked off toward the equipment shed, calling out to another student on the way.
As she left, the tension between the boys eased. Ren stretched his arms, Kaito grabbed his bag, and Daiki quietly stared in the direction Rina had gone—expression unreadable.
As the sun dipped low, casting golden light across the campus, the three boys walked slowly toward the cycle shed. The fading sounds of training echoed faintly behind them.
Kaito suddenly stopped, his gaze serious.
"Hey… Daiki, Ren," he said, his voice low but clear. "You two are my childhood friends. There's nothing in my life that you don't already know."
Both of them turned, sensing the shift in his tone.
"That goes the same for you guys," Kaito continued. "Daiki… I know you've liked Rina Naruse since middle school. You've never said it directly, but I've seen it. You've always looked at her differently."
Daiki looked away, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
Kaito took a deep breath.
"And I think she… might like me. She's always glancing my way, smiling, trying to start conversations. But I want you to know something important."
He paused.
"I don't have feelings for her. For anyone, really. You both know how things are at my place—stressful doesn't even begin to cover it. Adding romance into that chaos? No thanks. And I sure as hell don't want to break our friendship over something like this. What we have is too important to me."
He looked at Daiki with steady eyes.
"Even if she asks me out, I'll turn her down. You have my word."
Daiki let out a soft chuckle and smiled.
"Kaito… I already knew that. And besides… Rina? She's totally out of my league."
Ren rolled his eyes and immediately pulled Daiki into a headlock, ruffling his hair.
"Who the hell said she's out of your league, bro? You're one of the stars of our track team, you've got a decent face—though obviously I'm way more handsome."
All three of them burst into laughter, the tension melting into the warm spring evening.
They continued walking, their steps lighter, the bond between them just a little stronger.