The halls of Seiran Academy hummed with anticipation as students gathered for the annual freshman ceremony. Among them were two figures who stood out amidst the sea of faces.

Tatsuya Hiraya, his nose buried in the pages of a well-worn manga, moved through the crowded hallway with the casual ease of someone accustomed to solitude. Ignoring the curious glances and stifled laughter that followed his every step, he remained lost in the world of his favorite story, his mind a sanctuary against the prying eyes of his peers.

On the other side of the room, Sakura Tatsuno, with her radiant smile and effortless grace, captivated the attention of everyone around her. Admired by both boys and girls alike, she seemed to glide through the crowd like a vision of perfection, her presence commanding the room with an air of effortless charm.

By some twist of fate, Tatsuya and Sakura found themselves assigned to the same homeroom class. As the teacher announced the seating arrangements, a ripple of excitement spread through the room, mingled with a hint of apprehension.

Tatsuya's heart skipped a beat as he claimed the coveted seat by the window, which he affectionately dubbed the "protagonist seat." It was a small victory in the face of the constant scrutiny he endured, a reminder that even in a world that seemed determined to cast him as the outcast, he could still carve out his own space.

Beside him, Sakura took her place, her expression a carefully crafted mask of polite indifference. Though her classmates whispered in hushed tones about her undeniable beauty and popularity, she remained aloof, her true thoughts and feelings hidden behind a facade of perfection.

As the day unfolded, tensions simmered beneath the surface, a silent battle of wills playing out between Tatsuya and Sakura. While Tatsuya remained lost in the world of his manga, his otaku pride unwavering in the face of his classmates' scorn, Sakura struggled to maintain her composure, her disdain for her new seatmate evident in the cool indifference of her gaze.

When the teacher called upon Tatsuya to introduce himself, his nerves got the best of him. His communication disorder made it difficult for him to speak, and his classmates couldn't help but snicker at his stuttered attempts at conversation.

Sakura, ever the picture of poise, introduced herself confidently to the class, her voice ringing out clear and true. But when her gaze fell upon her seatmate, a flicker of disgust crossed her features, betraying the mask of indifference she wore so carefully.

As the last echoes of the final bell faded into the air, signaling the end of the school day, most students eagerly filed out of the classroom, their minds already drifting to the promise of freedom beyond the school walls. But amidst the departing crowd, one figure remained, lost in thought as he lingered at his desk.

Tatsuya Hiraya sat alone in the quiet classroom, the passage of time slipping away unnoticed as he stared blankly ahead. An hour had passed since the end of the day's lessons, yet he remained rooted to his seat, his mind consumed by the world of his manga.

Meanwhile, outside the classroom, Sakura Tatsuno charmed her way through the corridors, her infectious smile and natural charisma earning her the admiration of teachers and classmates alike. As the newly appointed class representative, she carried herself with an air of authority, her every action imbued with a sense of purpose and determination.

Upon returning to the classroom after her meeting with the teacher, Sakura's eyes fell upon a sight that made her blood boil with indignation. There, seated at his desk with his nose buried in a book, was none other than her unwanted seatmate, Tatsuya Hiraya.

With a mixture of frustration and disbelief, Sakura marched over to Tatsuya's desk, her steps purposeful and her expression thunderous. How dare he linger in the classroom long after the final bell had rung? How dare he intrude upon her sanctuary with his presence?

Before Tatsuya could even register her presence, Sakura seized a nearby book and brought it down upon his head with a resounding thud. Startled out of his reverie, Tatsuya blinked in confusion as he looked up to see Sakura glowering down at him, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Why are you still here?" Sakura demanded, her voice sharp with irritation. "Don't you have better things to do than loiter in an empty classroom?"

For a moment, Tatsuya could only stare at her, his mind struggling to catch up with the sudden turn of events. But as the fog of confusion lifted, he realized the truth: his manga lay finished before him, the final page turned and the story complete.

With a jolt of realization, Tatsuya sprang into action, hastily gathering his belongings and making a beeline for the door. As he passed by Sakura, he paused for a moment, gratitude shining in his eyes.

"Thanks," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. And with that, he disappeared into the hallway, leaving Sakura to ponder the strange encounter that had just unfolded.

As the last light of day filtered through the classroom window, casting a warm glow across the empty desks, Sakura watched Tatsuya's retreating figure with a newfound sense of curiosity. And as the wind stirred the pages of her book, revealing the boy's face in the fading light, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay hidden behind his stoic facade.

The wind gusted through the empty classroom, lifting a stray page of Tatsuya's manga and rustling the loose strands of his long hair. As Sakura Tatsuno stood there, book raised to hit him again, she finally saw his face. Tatsuya had beautiful green eyes shadowed by dark circles, and his bright skin tone contrasted starkly with his disheveled hair. For a moment, she thought if he were a girl, he might be even more beautiful than her. Her face flushed a deep red as a strange feeling washed over her.

It felt like love at first sight.

Mesmerized by his unexpected beauty, Sakura found herself following him, almost like a stalker. She watched from a distance as he bought a new manga from a nearby store. Just as he left, a girl she recognized approached him and proposed, but he gently refused, saying, "Let's be friends." Tatsuya truly wanted friends, she realized, and as the girl ran away in tears, Sakura felt a pang of jealousy she couldn't quite understand.

Day after day, she continued to follow him, watching as he bought or sold manga and was approached by girls. Each time, he said the same thing: "Let's be friends." It became clear to Sakura that he genuinely longed for friendship, though he rarely spoke to anyone except through his manga.

Determined to reach out to him, she decided to become his friend. The next day, the class door swung open to reveal Tatsuya, but this time, his hair was untidy, and everyone could see his face. The girls gasped and whispered, "Who is he?" His name was well-known, but his face had been hidden until now.

As he walked to his seat by the window, the class erupted into excited discussion. Tatsuya, oblivious to the attention, sat down and resumed reading his manga. Moments later, Sakura entered with her usual kind aura. She glanced at Tatsuya, remembering his beauty from the previous day, and blushed so hard she couldn't even say hello.

When lunch began, Tatsuya slipped away to the bathroom to fix his hair, returning with his face hidden once again. He never ate lunch at school, preferring to keep his manga streak unbroken. Sakura, curious to see his face, was disappointed to find him the same as always—an otaku loner.

After lunch, the teacher announced a surprise test. Sakura, known for her top 10 admission rank, found the questions challenging. Tatsuya, however, scribbled away confidently, finishing first. Unable to communicate his completion due to his disorder, he returned to his manga. Sakura noticed and thought he was dumb, assuming he couldn't answer a single question.

When the final period came, the teacher began distributing the graded tests, announcing that the class average was a disappointing 60 out of 100. But one student had scored a perfect 100. "Can you guess who it is?" he asked. The class shouted, "Sakura! Sakura!"

The teacher smiled. "No, it's Tatsuya."

The class erupted in disbelief, unable to fathom how the quiet otaku had outperformed everyone. As the chaos subsided, the bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Sakura was appointed to her class rep duties and stayed behind to complete them.

Returning to the classroom, she found Tatsuya spaced out, looking almost dead. She approached and hit him with his manga, bringing him back to reality. Startled, he mumbled a "Thanks" and dashed out, heading to the manga store. Sakura followed, determined to see his face once more.

In the store, she saw the true Tatsuya, not the gloomy facade he wore at school. Blushing furiously, she approached him but struggled to speak. Finally, in an exhausted voice, she managed a "Hello."

Tatsuya looked up and recognized her. Summoning his courage, he stuttered, "T-thanks for today and that day too."

Her heart racing, Sakura blurted out, "I love you," instead of the planned "Let's be friends." As usual, Tatsuya responded, "Let's be friends first," and Sakura quickly agreed, overwhelmed by his kindness.

For Tatsuya, it was the greatest day of his life. He had finally made a friend. Tears streamed down his face as he expressed his gratitude. "This is the first time someone wants to be my friend," he said with a smile, making Sakura blush even harder.

Curious, Tatsuya asked, "W-which school are you from?"

Heartbroken, Sakura replied, "I sit beside you, baka," and ran off. Tatsuya chased after her, explaining that he was just kidding. He confessed that she was his idol because of her communication skills, making her feel a sense of pride and pleasure she had never experienced before.

As they walked home together, a new bond formed between them. But the question lingered: could they ever be more than just friends?

The corridors of Seiran Academy hum with new tension as Tatsuya Hiraya and Sakura Tatsuno's bond grows stronger. Despite their contrasting personalities and the whispers of their classmates, an unspoken connection begins to bloom between them. Tatsuya, with his communication disorder and love for manga, and Sakura, the school's darling, are starting to see each other in a different light.

In this chapter, secrets and vulnerabilities come to the fore. Sakura, torn between her image and her growing affection for Tatsuya, finds herself defending him against the cruel gossip of their classmates. Her resolve is tested when she overhears a particularly hurtful conversation about Tatsuya's past.

Meanwhile, Tatsuya faces his own battles. As he continues to hide behind his manga, the pressure of his newfound friendship with Sakura weighs heavily on him. A chance encounter with an old acquaintance from middle school threatens to shatter the fragile confidence he's been building.

As the lines between friendship and something more begin to blur, both Tatsuya and Sakura are forced to confront their true feelings. Can they overcome their fears and the prejudices of those around them? And when an unexpected event throws their lives into chaos, will their bond be strong enough to survive?

Join Tatsuya and Sakura as they navigate the turbulent waters of high school life, where every glance, every word, and every secret holds the power to change everything