Chapter 1: Routine in Motion
I wake to the usual silence, the apartment empty except for the faint hum of the refrigerator.
The alarm blares, pulling me from a shallow sleep, and I swing my legs off the bed.
Cold floor, predictable morning.
My parents are gone for work, my siblings already out the door for school.
No one to interrupt, no one to demand attention. Perfect.
I move through my routine with automatic precision: shower, shave, uniform check. The blazer fits too perfectly, as always. Shirt tucked neatly. Tie slightly loose, because rules are rules, but I like small rebellions.
Breakfast is toast and black coffee—fast, unremarkable, necessary. I eat in silence, listening to the distant city sounds outside my window.
By 7:15, I’m out the door, backpack over one shoulder, walking the quiet streets toward Seiryo High. A few students chatter in pairs, others ride bikes.
I don’t engage. I’ve learned early that attention invites trouble—or expectations. Neither interests me.
The bell hasn’t rung yet when I step into the courtyard. I notice the usual — groups clustering, someone dropping books, another scrambling to finish homework.
All noise, all motion, none of it for me. I keep walking, long strides, eyes scanning, posture careful.
And then I see her.
Ishikawa Yui.
She’s at her usual spot near the library steps, hunched over her books. Long black hair falls down her back, bangs brushing her eyes.
Her navy cardigan hangs slightly loose, skirt modestly folded, long socks visible above polished shoes.
She’s small, timid, and yet somehow… not invisible.
Today, she glances up. Her eyes find me, just for a heartbeat, and she nods. A small, careful nod.
I look away immediately. Heart doesn’t skip. Not that much. Just… notices. That’s all.
Class begins, and I slip into my seat at the back. Books open, pen ready, posture perfect. The teacher drones on about the upcoming test in history.
I pay attention enough to answer if called on, otherwise I observe.
Always observe.
Halfway through the lecture, a commotion near the window draws my attention. One of the younger boys trips, knocking over a stack of papers.
Instinctively, I stand, moving fast. Not to show off—just… natural. I catch the papers before they scatter across the floor.
“Thanks,” the boy mutters, eyes wide.
I nod. No words. Always no words.
From the corner of my eye, Yui watches. A faint smile plays on her lips as she scribbles something into her notebook.
Doesn’t flinch, doesn’t make a sound. She’s… observing again. I notice.
Between classes, the halls erupt with the usual chaos: lockers slamming, students shouting, a couple of idiots running like they’re on a race.
One of the boys bumps into me, too close, smirking.
“Watch it, kid,” I murmur, voice low.
He freezes. My glare is sharp, precise. He mutters an apology, scuttling away.
YOU ARE READING
Fireworks ⚊ andTeam K
FanfictionEveryone says Koga Yudai is trouble - cold, reckless, untouchable. But Ishikawa Yui sees something different beneath his silence, something worth reaching for. She becomes his spark... until Yudai realizes too late that Yui's own light is fading fas...
