Spring──I hear it is the season of meetings and farewells.

As it happens, I could say that I myself am in a situation that fits that description.

My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, a fifteen-year-old boy who becomes a high school student this spring, or rather starting today.

The name of the high school I am scheduled to attend is ‘Advanced Nurturing High School’.

It is one of the policies put forward by the Onijima Cabinet and is a national educational institution established to produce young people who will support Japan in the future.

However, the person called me is not someone excellent enough to truly match that high school.

Even so, carrying great hopes and a slight amount of anxiety for the beginning of a new life, I boarded the bus.

‘I wonder if I’ll be able to make friends…’

Since it was the first departure of the day, I was able to choose any seat I liked.

So I sat down in the two-person seat second from the back and muttered to myself.

After all, since I myself am not a particularly interesting person, I do not even know whether there will be anyone who wants to associate with me.

Still, since high school life only lasts three years, it is probably inevitable that I feel excited.

While spending time staring out the window for a while, someone sat down next to me.

Perhaps because I had been a little absent-minded, it felt as if my awareness suddenly snapped awake.

When I turned my eyes to the side, a girl with pink hair that extended down to around her waist was sitting there.

Since she was wearing the same red blazer as me, I could guess that she too was a fellow student who would attend Advanced Nurturing High School.

However, for them to be that big is something I have never seen before──

“Oh, are you also going to Kouiku? You are, right?”

Maybe she noticed that I had been glancing at her from the corner of my eye because she spoke to me first.

‘Kouiku’ is the abbreviated name for the high school mentioned earlier.

“…Yeah, I am.”

Being suddenly spoken to like that made me a little flustered.

They never trained communication skills there... In just this brief moment I realized how difficult making friends could be.

“Just as I thought! I’m Ichinose Honami, nice to meet you!”

It seems this girl’s name is Ichinose.

It is a common surname but her looks and personality seem to stand far above average.

“I’m Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Nice to meet you, Ichinose.”

I safely clear this part without any problems.

If possible, I would like to become friends with this girl but whether that wish comes true will depend on me.

I should do my best.

“Ayanokoji-kun, huh. That’s a cool surname!”

Fortunately, she continues to offer topics of conversation like this.

What I need to do now is somehow keep the conversation going and pass the ball back.

“Is it? I’ve never really been conscious of it but I’m grateful to hear you say that.”

In truth, I have never had much interest in my own name.

I never had the time to worry about something like that.

Still, if I think of it as a compliment it is not unpleasant.

“That’s right. Though my Ichinose is pretty good too!”

“Indeed. The sound of it is beautiful. It also has a traditional Japanese feel and the characters that make it up are elegant.”

“I-If you praise it that much it’s a little embarrassing... but thank you!”

It seems praising someone too much is also no good.

Human relationships really are difficult.

“Ayanokoji-kun, are you nervous? It’s a new environment and we won’t be able to leave for three whole years.”

Just as Ichinose says, once you enroll in Kouiku you cannot leave the grounds until graduation.

However, since the campus exceeds 600,000 square meters and even has well-developed amusement facilities, it becomes more of an advantage than a disadvantage.

“I am nervous, that’s true. Being in an environment where you don’t know anyone is frightening.”

“Right? I came from East Kanto but where are you from, Ayanokoji-kun?”

When Ichinose asks me that, I hesitate for a moment.

My hometown, huh... Rather than awkwardly dodging the question and causing misunderstandings, it would be faster to tell a lie.

“A remote town in Saitama. It might even be smaller than Kouiku’s campus.”

“Ahaha, Ayanokoji-kun you’re funny. A town that small would be pretty hard to find!”

Is that so?

Unfortunately I do not keep the approximate size of towns stored in my head so I do not know the average.

However, Ichinose does not seem like the type to lie to people so it is probably true.

“I suppose that’s true.”

“Ayanokoji-kun, you seem pretty mature. Most boys don’t make eye contact when they talk to me but you seem different.”

Ichinose, that’s probably because they aren’t looking away from you but rather at your ‘assets.’

“I’m nervous too. Putting Kouiku aside, it’s the first time in my life I’ve spoken to a beautiful girl like you, Ichinose.”

That is not just flattery.

I may not know the world’s exact standards of beauty but Ichinose would certainly fall into the category of a beautiful girl.

Beautiful blue eyes and a well-shaped nose.

She has the kind of looks that any man would admire.

On top of that, she has an overwhelmingly friendly personality that speaks casually even to someone like me who struggles with conversation.

At this point it makes you want to ask whether it is really okay for someone this perfect to exist.

“N-No, that’s not true. I still have a long way to go and I’m not that beautiful at all...”

Ichinose, let me give you a piece of advice.

Excessive modesty can sometimes rub people the wrong way.

While chatting about trivial things with Ichinose, it seems the bus has arrived at Kouiku.

Since Kouiku’s campus is located on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay, the sea breeze hits my face.

“Wow, it’s amazing.”

Ichinose says that as she looks at the school gate towering before us.

It really is an overwhelming sight.

A gate made of marble and the imposing line of characters reading ‘Advanced Nurturing High School’.

“So this is where we’ll spend the next three years.”

“I’m excited!”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Ah, it looks like the class assignments have been posted. Want to go check together?”

After passing through the gate and walking for a while, I see a crowd of people.

Sure enough, if people are gathering on the first day of school then it must be for class assignments... probably.

Ichinose says so, so it must be correct.

“Yeah, please let me come with you.”

“Of course!”

Following the flow of people, we move forward until we reach something like a bulletin board with a large poster posted on it.

The details must be written on that.

“I’ll go take a look.”

“Okay, I’ll leave it to you then.”

“Alright.”

Judging that Ichinose probably cannot see because of her height, I approach the crowd alone.

I focus my eyes and search for the names ‘Ayanokoji Kiyotaka’ and ‘Ichinose Honami’.

And then──

“I found them. Both Ichinose and I are in the same class, ‘Class B’.”

When I return to report, Ichinose smiles.

“I thought so! I had a feeling Ayanokoji-kun and I might end up in the same class!”

So this is what they call a woman’s intuition... impressive.

“I’m happy I’m in the same class as you too, Ichinose.”

“I’m glad you said that. Then shall we go together?”

“Yeah.”

Under the blue sky, I walked side by side with Ichinose toward the school building.