When Summer Brought You Back

Episode One: The Quiet Boy and the New Girl

The classroom buzzed with laughter and chatter as the first day of high school began. Students greeted old friends, shared stories from summer break, and filled the room with the energy of a new beginning. But in the middle of the excitement, one boy sat quietly at his desk, detached from the noise around him.

Jiro Fujimoto wore headphones—not because he was listening to music, but because they gave him an excuse not to talk to anyone. He stared out the window, lost in thought, his expression calm but distant.

Suddenly, the classroom door opened, and the teacher walked in, followed by a girl with a bright smile. Her presence was like a breeze on a summer day—warm, light, and impossible to ignore.

"This is Nazumi Matsumoto," the teacher introduced. "She just moved here, so please make her feel welcome."

Nazumi bowed politely. "Nice to meet you all. I hope we can be good friends."

As she scanned the room for a seat, her eyes landed on the empty desk beside Jiro. With a cheerful smile, she walked over and sat down. Jiro didn’t even glance at her. Instead, he kept his eyes on the blackboard, pretending to focus on the lesson.

Lunch Break – The Garden

The cafeteria was loud, crowded, and chaotic—just the way Jiro hated it. As usual, he skipped lunch and went to the school garden, his favorite hiding place. He sat on the wooden bench, headphones on, a book in hand. The garden was peaceful, the soft rustle of leaves and distant hum of voices barely reaching him.

Just as he turned a page, he heard footsteps approaching. Glancing up, he saw Nazumi walking toward him with a curious expression.

"Hey," she said with a smile. "Aren’t you going to eat? It’s break time."

Jiro didn’t reply. He just stared for a second, then returned to his book.

"Mind if I sit here?" she asked, pointing to the empty spot on the bench.

He gave a small nod.

Nazumi sat down, opened a sketchbook, and began to draw. Jiro tried to ignore her, but his eyes kept drifting toward her without him realizing it. Her hair fluttered gently in the breeze, catching the sunlight. Her skin looked soft and pale, her features delicate yet striking. He stared a moment too long before quickly snapping his eyes back to the page.

Without saying a word, he stood up and walked back to the classroom, his thoughts unusually distracted.

“No. This isn’t me. I’m not going to fall that easily,” he told himself, shaking his head.

Back in the Classroom

The room was empty when Jiro returned—quiet, calm, just the way he liked it. He sat at his desk, pulled out his review book, and started reading. The silence helped him focus, though his mind still wandered back to the garden... and her.

The door opened, and Marina, the top student in their class, walked in. Her eyes met Jiro’s, and she smiled.

"Hello, Fujimoto-kun," she greeted warmly. "Can you help me carry some history books from the department office? They’re a bit heavy."

He gave a small nod and stood up without a word.

They walked together in silence. Jiro wasn’t used to talking much, especially not with girls. At the history office, as they collected the books, Marina accidentally knocked a few onto the floor. Jiro bent down and helped her gather them, placing them neatly back.

When they returned to the classroom, many of their classmates had come back from lunch. Marina thanked him, and Jiro quietly returned to his seat. But soon he overheard whispers.

"Did you see Marina and Jiro together?"

"They make a cute pair, don’t you think?"

He gritted his teeth. Rumors. Again.

He hated being the center of attention. Even more, he hated being shipped with someone he didn’t have feelings for.

And yet... even as the rumors floated in the background, his thoughts were already drifting back to the garden.

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