On my way to the cafe I loved, right after school, I couldn't stop staring at the sky, painted in shades of pink, orange, and light blues. Fall always brought a sense of peace to my day. After savoring my usual coffee and finishing my homework, I returned to the apartment I shared with my brother Tobirama. We had moved there after our parents passed away, and even with my after-school job, we still struggled to make ends meet. Tobirama was already cooking dinner when I returned, as he usually handled the household chores. I peeked over to see what he was making, "Yay, rice curry, my favorite!" I exclaimed, but she quickly hushed me, "Shut up, we have neighbors!". "Sorry," I said, and after dinner, I followed my nightly routine of brushing my teeth and preparing for bed before finally settling in for the night.

    The next morning, Tobirama and I headed to school together, but we went our separate ways upon arrival since our classes were in different parts of the building. At my locker, I noticed a new student who caught my attention with his unique appearance. He was short, had pale skin, and beautiful long black hair styled in layers. I was completely mesmerized by his stunning appearance. He had a captivating aura that I had never encountered before. He exuded a sense of effortless style, dressed in a black sweatshirt and ripped jeans. As he tidied up his books, I couldn't help but notice his hands adorned with black nail polish. Suddenly, he turned towards me “Do you need something?”, and his smooth and beautiful voice broke the silence. Feeling flustered, "I-I've never seen you before so I was curious" I tried to explain my curiosity but stumbled over my words.

    He was beautiful, causing my heart to race and my body to heat up. I couldn't help but wonder what this sensation was. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Before I could respond, the bell rang loudly, interrupting us. As he walked away, my heart rate began to slow down and my breathing returned to normal. Confused, I gathered my belongings and made my way to class, still trying to make sense of what I was feeling. When I arrived and took my seat, I noticed that I was sitting next to the new student, who introduced himself as Madara Uchiha. Throughout the day, I discovered that he had a passion for art, particularly painting, as I saw him in several of my classes.

    I couldn't concentrate that night as my mind was consumed by thoughts of him. He possessed both beauty and intelligence, with a deep knowledge of art. Today, my focus is completely off. I had to work at a department store, trying my best not to daydream. The pay was decent, and the store was conveniently located just a few miles from my home. After a long day, I was finally allowed to leave, and as I gazed at the sparkling stars in the dark sky, I whispered, "Time flies." Exhausted, I took a shower and went straight to bed when I arrived home.

    The following day, Tobirama and I prepared for school. I gathered my books and waited by my locker for the bell to signal the start of the day. As the boy approached his locker, he glanced at me, noticing my flushed face. "Are you feeling alright? You look a bit red. Do you need to see the nurse?" he asked, showing genuine concern. "I-I'm fine," I stammered. "What's your name?" he inquired calmly. "Hashirama Senju," I replied with a smile. "Your name means a pillar that supports. I'm Madara Uchiha," he introduced himself, his expression neutral. "Your name signifies trustful, genuine, and honest," he added with a chuckle. "Well, to be honest, I think..." he trailed off, stepping closer and taking my hand, causing my face to turn bright red. Stumbling back, I was left confused and flustered. "W-what?" I managed to say before the bell interrupted us. Quickly grabbing my things, I rushed off to class.

    Arriving in class, I took my seat and settled in, taking a moment to calm my breathing before diving into my notes for focus. Suddenly, the door swung open and Madara entered, making his way to the seat beside me. Caught off guard, I quickly looked away when our eyes met. As the teacher began the lesson after the second bell, I got engrossed in my work, completely oblivious to Madara's presence. Walking to my next class, I found myself contemplating whether I should approach him to be friends.

    When I entered my next class, I spotted Mito, my friend from middle school. Taking a seat beside her, I greeted her "Hey Mito." She glanced at me and replied, "Hey Hashi, how's it going?" Her warm smile made me feel at ease as I said, "Good, but I need some advice." Her smile faded into a look of confusion as she asked, "What's up?" I hesitated for a moment, looking down at my hands before meeting her gaze again. "Well, there's this new student..." I struggled to articulate my thoughts. "I want to ask him to be my friend, but I find it difficult to talk to him." Mito's confusion deepened, and I continued, "Whenever I'm around him, my body starts to heat up, and my heart beats fast, but I don't know why." As I looked back at her, I noticed a wide grin spreading across her face.

    She playfully remarked, "It's normal because you're in love." I blushed, denying it, "W-what, no I'm not." Insisting, she said, "Yes, you are! You should go talk to him, and I want to meet him." Feeling embarrassed, I considered her suggestion. She suggested, "I could ask him to sit with us at lunch," placing her hand on my shoulder. Offering to help, she added, "If you're not comfortable, I can do it for you." Surprised, I asked, "You would do that?" She reassured me, "Of course, that's what friends are for," and we hugged. Thanking her, I said, "Thank you, Mito," as the bell rang, signaling the start of class.

    My next few classes passed without any interruptions. I spotted Madara a couple of times in the hallway but managed to keep my composure. During lunchtime, I glanced over at the table where Mito and I usually sat, only to find Madara there. I brought my lunch box over and sat down, catching both of their attention. "Hashi!" Mito exclaimed loudly. "Shh, no need to yell, I'm right in front of you," I replied, feeling a bit embarrassed as Madara chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," Mito brushed off my response, a common occurrence. "Hashi, where's Tobi?" she inquired, turning to me. "He's probably still studying, I haven't seen him today," I answered. Madara seemed puzzled. "Who's Tobi?" he asked. I looked at him and explained, "He's my younger brother, Tobirama, in 10th grade." His confusion vanished as he shared, "I also have a younger brother in 10th grade, named Izuna."

    Mito sulked, "It would be cool to have siblings like you." Madara replied, "Nah, you don't want siblings. I love my brother, but he can be so annoying sometimes." Mito smiled and said, "Well, maybe I shouldn't have any siblings then." Madara teased her, "You're such an airhead." Mito crossed her arms and warned, "Don't call me that, or I'll have to fight you!" Madara smirked and asked, "You want to fight with me?" Mito looked surprised and hesitated, "Um, well yeah, if you call me an airhead again." She added confidently, "But I would win anyway." I intervened, trying to stop Mito from doing something foolish, "Mito, stop”. “Don't underestimate my athletic abilities." They continued arguing until Tobirama arrived and asked, "What's going on here?" We all looked up at him, and Mito complained, "Finally, where were you?" I questioned, "And why did you push me away?" Tobirama replied dismissively, "I was finishing my presentation. It's none of your business."

    “I smell bullshit,” Madara said “What did you say!?” Tobirama demanded “Nothing,” he said with a devious smile Mito couldn’t stop laughing