Fukurodani Academy's grounds are bustling with students. The second and third years are chattering away with their friends they haven't seen in the duration of their school break. The first years are either standing awkwardly around a corner or engaging in small talk with fellow first years.

Akaashi Keiji was doing the latter.

He stood near one of the academic buildings surrounding the quad, listening to another first year, Yamamoto Shiro. The two were classmates in junior high and have both chosen to attend Fukurodani. Akaashi is glad to have Yamamoto attend the same school as him. At least he knew someone. Otherwise, he would be just like his other batch mates who are walking around aimlessly or trying to engage in a conversation with someone they haven't met before.

But having Yamamoto Shiro engaged in a conversation can really be tiring to a person's ears.

"And then we went to Kyoto and stayed there for a few days. It was so boring! My parents hid my phone and my laptop and my tablet so I can cut my access with all my friends so I can help my grandparents in their farm. Jeesh I would have helped even when I had my gadgets with me. Why confiscate it? I had no one to talk to, Akaashi!" Yamamoto whined.

"Oh, I could only imagine the sadness," Akaashi said in his usual monotone voice. Akaashi and Yamamoto were not close by any means. They didn't really interact much in middle school unless it was needed. Yamamoto had his own peers while Akaashi had his own. And his peers were never this talkative.

"What class are you in again?" Yamamoto asked.

"Five. You?"

"Aww. I'm in three. I guess my scores weren't high enough to get to the advanced class. But I'll work harder this year so we can be classmates next year!"

"I'm looking forward to it." Akaashi was not even a tad bit sarcastic. At least he knew that if he didn't manage to make any friends this year, he would instantly have one next year if Yamamoto does make it to the advanced class. But it's still too early to think about that. The new year just started.

"Attention, students and Fukurodani staff. The morning assembly would be starting in five minutes. Please form your lines in the school grounds."

"Guess that's are cue to part ways then. I'll see you around, Akaashi!" Yamamoto gave him a wave and sauntered off to the line of Class 1-3 students. Akaashi returned the gesture and made his own way to Class 1-5.

While he was on his way, he crashed into someone.

No wait, someone crashed into him.

The impact was so strong that Akaashi fell flat on his back.

"Ow," he groaned. What a way to start your day, huh?

"Oh, oh, oh I am sooo sorry! I didn't see you there! Are you okay?!" a loud voice cleared the fog that was forming in Akaashi's head. He looked up to see a tall boy with weird, gray and black hair that was spiked up. His round, gold eyes are wide with panic as he held his hand out for Akaashi to take.

"U-uh, y-yeah. I'm okay," he grabbed the boy's hand and Akaashi let him pull himself up. Once Akaashi had his balance, he brushed off the dirt and dust that lightly stained his gray blazer and gray slacks.

"Damn it, Bokuto, how many times do I have to tell you not to run you buffoon?!" a guy with dirty-blonde hair came up right behind the weird-haired guy, who Akaashi now knows, as Bokuto.

"E-e-eh! We're going to be late for the assembly if we don't hurry so I ran and then I bumped into this guy and — AH! Are you sure you're okay?!" Bokuto turned to Akaashi once more.

"I'm fine."

"I'm really sorry. This Bokuto can really be a handful sometimes. Scratch that, he is a handful," the blonde stated.

"EH?! Konoha!"

"It's okay. I am not hurt," Akaashi insisted.

"Hmm, you sure? The nurse's office is in the first building. Walk the long hallway then make a right. But if you insist that you're okay, then I guess you better get going to your class' line," Konoha tilted his head to where the students are all starting to line up.

"Thank you. I will be going ahead now." Akaashi gave them a brief bow and walked off. Konoha and Bokuto watched him disappear in the sea of people.

"I haven't seen that guy before. You think he's a first year?" Bokuto asked.

"Maybe. He's quite tall," Konoha answered.

"Oh! You think he plays volleyball? It would be nice to have new recruits this year! Maybe we should ask him!"

"After taking him down, I don't think that guy would want to go near you," Konoha smirked and started waling to the line of second years.

"GWAH! Mean, Konoha!" Bokuto exclaimed and jogged after his fellow second year.


After the thirty-minute assembly, the students were told to get in their respective classrooms and wait for their homeroom teacher to arrive. The students did their best to hurry while still walking in a straight line. After all, first day is when you get to choose your own seats.

That is, if you're fast enough.

Kimura Emica groaned when she entered Class 1-5. All the seats right next to the window were already occupied. Damn her and her bladder. She should have sacrificed her risk of getting UTI for the best seats available.

She trudged her way to the only available seat next to the seat that was right next to the window. It was in the fourth row. Quite far from the chalkboard but she can manage. Emica sat down and looked around her new classroom. Small friend groups were already forming. In front of her, there are a bunch of girls taking about the handsome senpais they've seen so far. to her left, four boys were playing games in their phones. A mixed group of boys and girls stood at the back of the classroom. The girl to her left is sleeping. So is the boy behind her. The classroom is almost full, save for a few seats that are still unoccupied. Including the seat to her right.

With nothing better to do, Emica started observing the girls in front of her. They were laughing and gushing over this 'muscular senpai who has black hair and blue eyes'. They looked friendly. Probably the gossip divas of the class, but potentially friendly.

All except one.

Now, this girl stood out, but not in a good way. She has, what Emica calls, a "Queen B" vibe coming from her. Queen B as in Queen Bitch. The way she sat on the table with her legs crossed, her hands flat on the table to help her balance, and her chin slightly raised makes her look like a supreme diva looking down upon her divalets. Her orange hair was fell in beautiful waves past her shoulders. Her hazel eyes hold a hint of mischief in them but are sparkling in mirth nonetheless. She has a pretty smile. But that has Emica question whether it's sincere or not. From time to time, she seems pretty amused by what her other classmates are saying. Emica just hopes it's genuine.

The girls must have noticed her staring because she suddenly looked at Emica and gave her a smile. Emica internally panicked but gave the girl a what she hopes is a friendly smile in return. The girl looked at her a little longer and just as Emica thought that she was about to say something back, her attention shifted to something one of the other girls in her group had to say.

Emica looked away and sighed in relief. She suddenly felt bad for judging the orange-head just based on her looks. The girls around her seem to like her so maybe she wasn't bad?

A movement to her right snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned her head to see that a guy just sat next to her. He had black, slightly curly hair, that sort of looked messy but neat at the same time. He was not facing Emica so she could not see how his face looks like.

The girls in front of her had their attention to the boy and Emica figured that he must be handsome since all those girls talked about were handsome guys.

But that's none of her concern. She came here to Fukurodani because it is a prestigious school known for it's high quality education and complete facilities. Of course, high quality education equates to a high price to pay for tuition fee and other school fees. Unless you are a scholar, that is. Not everyone in the advanced class is a scholar. Emica just so happened to be one of them. Her family's rich to begin with so she really did not have to worry about not being a scholar. Just being in an advanced class is okay for her.

However, Emica is still a teenage girl, and just like any other teenage girl in the room, she would like to know how "handsome" her new seatmate is. She did not have to wait long to know, though. Next thing she new, the guy dropped his pen.

Oh, how cliche.

The typical "seatmate-drops-pen-so-now-you-have-to-get-it-scene".

Emica would be so damned if she suddenly feels a romantic attraction towards this guy.

She bent to pick up the pen and at the same time the guy did.

Yep, cliche.

She got the pen and when she looked at the guy, her eyes widened. Her green eyes met his blue ones. This guy looked awfully familiar. She's sure she has seen him somewhere, hidden in the deepest parts of her memory box.

Then she remembered. This guy was with her in kindergarten. He was the quiet one who she thought had no friends. He was the weird kid who collected used popsicle sticks. He was the kid who helped her when she needed it the most.

And more importantly, this guy was her kindergarten crush.

"Akaashi?" Emica whispered.

Is this the plot twist of my 2018?


AN: I noticed that in the prologue, Emica's mom had two names lmao. One was Satomi and the other was Yuuna. Her name is Satomi haha I was not able to change Yuuna. Sorry for that *sweatdrop*. I changed it already and reuploaded it so it's okay now :) I hope you guys liked this new chapter. I'll be working on the next one now and I'll do my best to post it as soon as I can :)