The breeze was blowing gently in the outer courtyards of the academy. The sky was clear, and the atmosphere was buzzing with the usual student activity. From the main entrance to the training grounds, students walked, chatted and laughed with the energy of a new day.
Among them, a dark-haired figure walked with a relaxed gait. His movements were smooth, measured, and his expression was held in a constant serene smile. It was Tokura Yoshi. His appearance was that of an average student, perhaps too ordinary to attract attention, but his attitude radiated a harmless warmth.
-Good morning," he greeted politely a couple of students who walked past him.
He received courteous, if somewhat indifferent, greetings. That did not bother him. On the contrary, he seemed to enjoy even these small interactions.
His destination was clear: the main building. More specifically, the classroom where the group he wished to join was located. It had been a while since his "new beginning", and if there was one thing he wanted now, it was to fit in naturally. As if he was just another ordinary boy trying to make friends.
And there they were.
Haruto, sitting at his desk with a smile on his face, chatted with Liz and Haruka. The two girls were serene, if somewhat reserved. Liz, with her elegant and icy air, listened more than she spoke. Haruka, on the other hand, seemed to force a small smile every now and then, but didn't say much.
Yoshi approached without hesitation, carrying a notebook under his arm and a bottle of water in his other hand.
-Ah, Haruto! -he called in an animated and friendly voice. Good morning to you.
He looked up, somewhat surprised at first.
-Oh! Good morning, Yoshi-san. Everything OK?
-Yes, thank you. I just thought it would be nice to say hello to you. I was wondering if it would be okay to sit with you during the break.
Haruto nodded immediately.
-Sure, that's fine with me.
Yoshi took a seat in the empty chair next to the group. His smile didn't waver for a moment. He turned politely to Liz and Haruka.
-Good morning to you too. Liz-san, Haruka-san.
They both looked at him briefly. Haruka bowed her head slightly as a sign of politeness. Liz, on the other hand, only held his gaze for a moment and then looked away without a word.
-Did you train early today as well? -Yoshi asked, as if he was just trying to make casual conversation.
Haruka replied with a brief "Yes". Liz did not speak.
Haruto, noticing the tension, smiled awkwardly.
-Oh, Liz isn't very talkative in the mornings. And my sister... well, she's a bit tired lately, too.
-Oh, no problem," Yoshi replied gently. We're not all that chatty first thing in the morning. I hope I didn't interrupt anything.
Haruto shook his head.
-Not at all. In fact, it's good to see that you're interacting more. You used to be more... quiet, you know?
Yoshi laughed softly.
-Yes, I was a bit clumsy with words. But I thought it was time for a change. At the end of the day, we all need a support network.
His words were simple. Sincere. Or at least, they seemed so.
The conversation continued for a few more minutes. Haruto, as always, was cordial and open. They talked about classes, about the new weapons training, about some demanding teachers. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Yoshi remained attentive, interjecting at the right moments with light-hearted comments and restrained laughter. He seemed comfortable. But most of all, he seemed genuine.
When the bell rang announcing the end of recess, Yoshi stood up with the others. He put his things away and gave them one more smile.
-It was nice chatting with you. I hope we can do it again soon.
Haruto nodded.
-Yes, of course. It was good.
Liz had already walked away. Haruka only mumbled a "See you later" before following her.
Yoshi lingered a moment longer, watching the three of them walk away.
There was no expression on his face. Just calm.
But in the depths of his eyes, if someone had looked closely... perhaps they would have noticed a faint gleam. A difficult one to decipher.
As he turned to head to his next class, he whispered to himself:
-Little by little... one by one.
And his smile, as friendly as ever, did not fade for a second.