The Scholarship Student.
The gates of **Saint Avalon Academy** loomed before him, towering and elegant, with golden accents reflecting the soft morning sunlight. **Haruto Kisaragi** adjusted the strap of his old but well-kept school bag, taking a deep breath before stepping forward. This was it—the start of his new life.
Unlike the other students, who arrived in sleek black cars or walked in laughing with their polished shoes clicking against the pavement, Haruto stood out. His uniform, though neatly ironed, lacked the expensive custom tailoring the elite students boasted. The weight of their curious, judgmental stares pressed down on him as he entered the grand school grounds.
*"A scholarship student?"* he heard someone murmur.
*"Why even let them in? This isn't a public school."*
*"Poor thing… He won’t last long here."*
Haruto ignored the whispers. He had worked tirelessly to earn his place here. Saint Avalon Academy wasn’t just for the rich; it was for the *best*. He may not have their money, but he had something else—**talent**.
Inside, the school hallways gleamed with marble floors, the scent of polished wood and expensive perfume filling the air. Students clustered in groups, their conversations lively and filled with talk of vacations in Paris, new sports cars, and designer watches. Haruto walked with purpose, his eyes scanning the map in his hand. **Room 2-A.**
As he reached his new classroom, the murmurs followed him.
“Who’s that?”
“Some scholarship kid.”
“Bet he won’t last a week.”
Haruto exhaled slowly and stepped inside. The class fell silent.
A teacher, an older man with sharp glasses and a formal suit, glanced up from his desk. “Ah, the new student.” He cleared his throat. “Introduce yourself.”
Haruto straightened his posture. “I’m **Haruto Kisaragi**. I transferred here on an academic scholarship.”
Silence stretched for a moment before the teacher nodded. “Take the empty seat in the back.”
Haruto moved swiftly, feeling the weight of every gaze on him. He ignored it—until he passed by the **window seat** and caught sight of **her**.
Long, silky brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, her uniform perfectly fitted, accentuating her graceful posture. She rested her chin on her hand, gazing out the window with a bored expression. **Aoi Tsukishima.**
The room’s golden girl.
The daughter of a powerful CEO, rumored to be as untouchable as she was beautiful. Haruto had seen her name in magazines, her family featured in interviews. She had everything—wealth, popularity, the admiration of every student in this room.
And yet, she seemed completely **disinterested** in all of it.
She didn’t even spare Haruto a glance as he took his seat.
*"Good,"* Haruto thought. *"I don’t want to stand out."*
If only he knew.
This was the day **everything** in his life would begin to change.
