Chapter 1: Another Ordinary Day? (Part 2)

  Ding!

  The sharp chime of the university bell echoed across the sprawling campus, crisp and definitive — like the final note in a weary symphony. Within moments, doors burst open down the long corridor halls, and waves of students spilled into the walkways. Laughter, complaints, and post-class chatter rose like static in the air. Backpacks zipped, footsteps scattered, the very building seemed to exhale.

  Among the flow, Hikari drifted out of his lecture hall like a leaf in a soft current. His half-lidded eyes, weary and tinged with faint shadows, barely registered the passing crowd. A yawn stretched out of him, one arm lazily covering his mouth.

  "Finally," he mumbled, voice low and coarse from disuse. "This cursed day is over."

  He passed beneath a massive, ornate clock mounted above the corridor like a classroom relic preserved through time. It read: 2:00 PM.

  His footsteps were soft yet consistent, a quiet metronome beneath the chaotic melody of student life. Around him, clusters of girls talked animatedly.

  “I swear, that’s the first-year guy who scored the highest on the entrance exam.”

  “No way. Seriously? He looks like he hasn’t slept in a week.”

  “I heard he doesn’t even study!”

  “Whaaat? Don’t be ridiculous!”

  “They say he won the National Math Olympiad when he was in elementary school…”

  “Huh? You sure know a lot about him... Interested, are we?” one teased with a sly grin.

  “Haah?! Of course not!! He looks like a zombie!”

  “Oh, oh! Just look at you blushing! You can't even hide it!”

  “T-that’s not it, I swear!”

  Hikari, oblivious to the attention, yawned so hard a tear welled up at the corner of his eye. As he exhaled and lowered his arm, his shoulder bumped into something — or someone.

  Thud.

  He blinked once, slowly. For a second, he saw nothing. Nothing in his line of sight. Was it sleep deprivation? A hallucination?

  Then, a soft voice echoed from below.

  “…Itatata…”

  Looking down, Hikari found a girl. Much shorter than him. Her long black hair looked slightly tangled, as if the brush never made it to her that morning — yet it somehow shimmered like obsidian in sunlight. She wore a modest, stylish dress of deep blue trimmed with white, like the calm edge of winter. One hand rested on her head in pain, the other held a phone still playing a faint, repetitive game jingle — that same cursed tune that haunted Hikari’s mind.

  A light brown backpack hung from her shoulders, with a plush teddy bear dangling off the zipper like a silent companion.

  Then, slowly, she opened her eyes.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Blue — like a clean summer sky. Clear. Awake. Present.

  Her gaze, at first, met his shirt (a pale, cool grey — wrinkled, soft cotton), then gently climbed up to his face. And for the briefest moment, their eyes met.

  His: deep, tired, drifting like a still ocean at dawn.

  Hers: bright, curious, vibrant like the morning sky.

  The first contact.

  Sleeping blue met breathing blue.

  And the world, just for a heartbeat, stood still.

  A beat of silence passed.

  For a fleeting moment, blue eyes met blue—his, drowsy and half-lidded; hers, startled and shimmering like morning dew. Her lips parted, trembling. Then—

  “I-I’m so sorry! I mean—me! I-I didn't see you!” she stammered, her voice caught somewhere between panic and apology.

  Her phone jittered in her fingers from the sheer anxiety coursing through her. It slipped, spinning in midair like a coin tossed by fate. Her eyes widened in slow motion, horrified.

  Just as the phone was about to hit the floor, Hikari’s foot shifted slightly.

  His semi-sporty shoe—worn but clean—slid beneath it with calm precision. With the grace of someone playing hacky sack, he cushioned its fall, flicked it upward slightly, and caught it smoothly in one hand.

  A soft tap echoed off the polished floor.

  He looked at the phone lazily, half-interested, then flicked his gaze toward the girl—who was staring at him, stunned.

  Is he... athletic? She thought, blinking.

  “This…” he murmured, glancing at the screen, the familiar jingle of a certain game still playing.

  Her eyes went wide again. She snatched the phone back with both hands in a tiny, kitten-like motion, mortified. Her cheeks blazed crimson, and strands of black hair fell over her face as she held the phone behind her back like it was contraband.

  This is awful, she thought. I look like a total child… A college girl playing fantasy games in public? He must think I’m hopeless.

  Hikari simply stared, his expression unreadable, if not slightly intrigued. She bowed slightly and began stepping past him, her voice shaking.

  “R-really, I’m so sorry! Thank you so much! I have to go now, goodbye!”

  Her words tumbled out in a flustered stream, awkward and clumsy. A person clearly untrained in casual interaction.

  Hikari turned his head, watching her go. Her steps were quick, almost like she was trying to vanish.

  “That game… It’s Royal Fantasy Elixir, isn’t it?” he said suddenly.

  She froze.

  Her shoulders stiffened, her breath hitched. Slowly, only her head turned back—eyes wide and nervous, her phone clutched tight against her chest.

  He was looking at her now. Not just seeing—really looking. His lazy gaze seemed to focus, just for a moment, as if something about her shifted the atmosphere.

  She turned fully toward him, hesitant. Students passed behind her, paying them little mind.

  “You know it?” she asked softly.

  “I know of it,” Hikari replied. “It was all over the place when it dropped a few months ago. Hard not to know.”

  Her eyes lit up slightly. “Wait… So, you’re a player too?”

  He gave a lazy shrug. “Me? Nah. It’s one of those grind-heavy RPGs. Time and effort aren’t exactly in my toolbox.”

  Then he added, casually, “Though I’m surprised to see it on your phone. The game doesn’t even run on PlayStation or Xbox.”

  She glanced at her screen, smiling gently. “You’re right. On mobile, you can manage your account, upgrade weapons and skills, watch live feeds from in-game events… it’s pretty expansive. You can talk to your online party, study the monster database, and—”

  She stopped. Her face twisted in sudden realization.

  “Oh no, I’m rambling again! I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—!”

  Hikari studied her quietly, thoughts swirling behind his drowsy eyes.

  I can already read her, just from this one exchange. She’s alone. Hasn’t dated, maybe never. Probably top of her class. Lives in her books and games. Honestly… she’s just like me.

  I’d like to know more. But I’m not the type to invade someone’s space—especially not hers. She feels like a flower that’s never been touched.

  He smiled, the first genuine smile he had shown all morning.

  Waving his hand as he turned to leave, he said, “I hope the next time we meet… you won’t feel the need to apologize.”

  She watched him go.

  There was something oddly warm in the way he walked away—calm, respectful, and distant. Her heart thudded softly.

  He didn’t ask my name. He didn’t try to impress me. He didn’t try anything…

  Strange… He’s really strange.

  She looked down at her phone and smiled faintly.

  “…Yeah. I hope we meet again too.”