"Huh...huh...huh, I'm late."
"It's my first day and I'm still late... damn it."
"I should've listened to Yamazaki-san and taken the car."
Ryo ran as fast as he could, his jacket flapping behind him and his bag swinging violently over his shoulder. He continued running, checking his watch every few seconds with increasing frustration until the school gates began to appear.
"I made it." He stopped for a moment to catch his breath, quickly running his fingers through his shiny brown hair to fix it and tugging the hem of his shirt back into his pants...then smiled and took off his jacket and put it on halfway.
"Let's make some impressions."
He entered the school with confidence, walking slowly as if he hadn't been late at all. Some students glanced at him in confusion.
"Look at that weirdo wearing his jacket halfway."
Ryo paid them no attention and continued searching for his classroom."Found it."
He put his hand on the door, took a deep breath, and then put on his usual smile.
"Good morning! Sorry I'm late!"
All eyes turned toward him — some looked surprised, others chuckled quietly. The teacher raised her eyebrows, then said:
"Ah, right… this is the new student I mentioned yesterday."
"Everyone, please welcome Takahashi Ryo."
He gave a quick bow and cheerfully said:"Hey, nice to meet you all!"
He went to the seat the teacher had pointed to in the back, His eyes briefly scanned the faces in the class until they fell on the boy by the window with the dark hair and cold eyes. "Haru."
He sat down in his seat and searched in his bag to find it empty, with nothing in it except the pen holder, as he had forgotten everything because of his lateness.
He said to himself while smiling to hide the tension that was evident on him.
"How stupid I am."
The bell rang
Ryo got up and stretched as if he had been asleep through the entire class.
A group of students started gathering around him and asking him random questions.
"Are you from the famous Takahashi family?"
"Takahashi family! So you're rich."
"Can I shake your hand?"
"How many cars do you own?"
"Do you live in a mansion?"
Rio was surrounded by questions from every direction and did not know where to start, so he found no solution but to smile silently, as usual.
"Hey... all of you, you're bothering the new student..."
"Takahashi-san, I apologize on behalf of everyone."
"No...it's okay, that's normal."
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Saito Shun, class president. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too."
The bell rang again, and everyone returned to their seats. Haru entered the classroom unnoticed and the teacher followed him to continue the lesson.
Ryo silently watched him, sensing the unique presence that set Haru apart from the rest.
"Hey, Takahashi-san." The student in the next seat said, waving his hand.
"Ah, hey."
He smiled widely and pointed his thumb at himself. "I'm Nakajima Kaito — just call me Kaito."
Ryo smiled naturally and extended his hand for a handshake."I'm Ryo. Nice to meet you. So, what's up?"
"Ah… just curious, but what school did you transfer from?"
"I went to a private high school in Minato."
"Huh, then why transfer here? I mean…" Kaito adjusted his glasses and added, "This place is good, but it's not on the same level."
Ryo smiled softly and looked at Haru who was slowly turning the pages of his notebook. "Let's say it was part of my father's orders… He said I needed to focus more."
"Your father seems strict."
Ryo did not respond to Kaito's words and ignored it , saying:
"I just want to get through high school without losing my mind."
Kaito laughed lightly.
"Yeah, I get that." Then added,
"By the way… what do you think of the class?"
"Um, it's pretty normal so far, but..."
"That boy over there by the window, he seems different."
"Ah..that's Naoki Haru, the top student in this high school. He's always quiet and never talks unless it's really necessary."
"Interesting," Rio said to himself and leaned back.
"What's up?"
"Nothing, just thinking of talking to him sometime."
Kaito smirked. "Good luck, but this might be the last time you talk to him,"
"What do you mean by that".
"I tried talking to him before, but that guy has a weird look in his eyes!"
"It sounds like he doesn't care who you are or what you say... even more so! He spoke to me through his eyes, saying, 'Who are you to talk to me?'"
"You're exaggerating," Ryo said mockingly.
"That's not true!"
"Okay, that's okay, I'll just try."
The remaining time of class passed with Ryo sleeping on his seat in the back until the bell rang.
The students started to pack their things to leave while Ryo, who hadn't brought anything, headed straight to the door to leave.
"Hey, Ryo, want to walk home together?" Kaito asked.
"Okay, I'll wait for you in the hallway."
Ryo stood against the wall, while Nakajima went to take over a task assigned to him by the teacher.
"I think I made my first friend… considering it's my first day here." Ryo thought to himself as he watched students pass by. Then he added with a smile, "That's remarkable progress,"
He leaned his back against the wall, sighed, and said in a serious, sad voice,
"I hope I made the right choice."
Suddenly a scream came from his classroom, so he ran to see what was going on.
"Are you crazy?!" a girl screamed.
It was hard to see through the group of students gathered around the door, but Ryo was tall enough to spot Haru standing among scattered desks and Yamada wincing in pain on the floor.
"I don't care if you talk bad about me—it means nothing!"
"But to say that crap about my mother? That's unforgivable!"
"Do it again, and I'll make sure you're buried alive."
Haru's words reached everyone's ears, sending chills through everyone. That quiet student, whose voice was rarely heard, now stood among them, revealing a side of himself that no one had ever known existed.
Ryo stood among the crowd watching silently, looking at Haru in surprise and his angry eyes.
"That guy… is interesting," Ryo said with a faint smile.
"Hey… Ryo! Sorry I'm late." Kaito said as he ran through the halls to get there quickly.
"Hey."
"Sorry, I've been given some extra work."
"It's okay...but you missed something interesting."
"What happened?" Kaito asked.
"Naoki Haru and Kenji Yamada got into a fight in class!"
"Whoa! Yamada and Haru fought?!"...
"That's rare."
"Anyway," Ryo said, looking at his phone. "The family butler messaged me — he's coming to pick us up… let's go."
The car moved smoothly and quietly, its black surface gleaming under the soft sunlight.
Ryo sat by the window, his eyes fixed on the world flowing around him. Kaito sat beside him silently, unsure if he should say anything.
The atmosphere inside the car was completely different. Ryo, who had been smiling the whole time, had lost his smile and cheerful tone. The person sitting by the window now was a different person.
Behind the wheel, Yamazaki Endo drove the car with precision and stability, showing nothing but…subtle nod and remained silent as usual.
Ryo hadn't said a word since entering the car. His fingers were intertwined, elbows resting on his knee. He wasn't aware of his surroundings—his mind was elsewhere.
"father will be in his office as soon as I get home."
"He's probably already aware that I was late this morning…"
"I don't even know what I'll say when I see him." He exhaled slowly as he leaned back in the seat.
"I made this decision, And if I fail... I'll never be free again."
Kaito glanced sideways at Ryo, deep in thought, and said to himself,"So this is the real him… the face he doesn't show others."
"But that look in his eyes… as if he's preparing for something big."
"What kind of pressure is this guy under..?"
The car stopped quietly in a quiet neighborhood next to a modest two-story house.
"Mr. Nakajima, we've arrived at your home," said Yamazaki, looking at him through the front mirror.
"Ah, yes." kaito opened the door and hesitated for a moment as he looked at Ryo, who didn't react.
"So, see you tomorrow. And thanks for the ride," Kaito said in a barely audible voice.
Ryo didn't say anything and just waved his hand, while Kayo closed the door and the car took off again.
"So," Yamazaki said finally, his eyes still on the road. "How was your first day, young master?"
Rio smiled slightly, his eyes on the horizon. "It was different, but I managed it ."
Yamazaki smiled as well. "You hide a lot behind that smile, Ryo-sama."
Ryo stretched his legs and raised his head, staring at the car ceiling.
"Yamazaki-san… you're the only one who understands me…"
"That's why talking to you is easy."
"Anytime, Ryo-sama," the older man replied warmly. "You can speak to me freely."
"I know." Ryo said with a rare, genuine smile.
The car pulled into the long driveway of the Takahashi estate — a sprawling, elegant modern residence surrounded by manicured gardens.
The sky was streaked with red and orange as the sun set. The car stopped near the entrance to the house, and the tall gates closed behind them with a faint metallic sound.
Yamazaki got out first and then opened the door for Ryo who picked up his jacket and put it over his right shoulder and got out of the car.
"Your father will likely ask about your first day. I suggest keeping it brief."
"Yes, I will."
"All I have to do is get through this conversation. Tomorrow, I'll start proving myself."
Ryo walked toward the entrance, but a few steps from the car, he turned around."Yamazaki-san..."
"Yes, young master?"
"Thank you," Ryo said, bowing properly and respectfully.
"You're welcome." Yamazaki bowed in return.
A breeze blew through the courtyard, carrying with it the light scent of pine from the pine trees that adorned the property.
The Takahashi Mansion stood tall in front of him, a perfect blend of traditional and modern architecture. The house was silent inside, but it wasn't devoid of life.
Ryo crossed the corridor without hesitation. He knew where he was going, he was used to it after all. That wide door far away at the end was his destination.
He stood firmly before it, raised his left hand to knock — but it trembled.
"I chose this path, and I'll walk it no matter how rough it gets."
He clenched his fist lightly and knocked twice. A deep voice responded from inside:
"Come in."
Ryo opened the door, eyes locked on the man seated before him.
"I'm ready."