Tokyo: To reiterate, this is not a dating system.

The walk to school just after six o'clock was quieter than I had imagined, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth.

A gentle spring breeze, not cold, caressed my face, bringing a pleasant and comfortable feeling.

It seems like getting up early every day isn't so bad.

Once the thought flashed through Genji Aoyama's mind, it became impossible to ignore.

The archery club is open in the morning, so shooting a few shots before class is a nice thing to do.

He recalled the focus he had when he was shooting arrows, concentrating all his energy on doing one thing—hitting the bullseye.

That perfectly reflects his current mood.

If you persist with this practice in the long run, it should also be helpful in improving your concentration.

After swiping his card to enter the station, Genji Aoyama boarded the 6:20 tram and got off at Hongo 3-chome Station.

Leaving the station, I walked straight along the shopping street, stepping on the still damp pavement. After about seven or eight minutes, Genji Aoyama arrived at the entrance of Hakutsuru High School.

Because they arrived so early, even the student council's disciplinary committee members who were on duty every day hadn't arrived yet.

The environment at Baihe High School can be described as beautiful, with shady trees. After entering the school gate and stepping onto the steps at the entrance, he walked onto the main road of the school.

Under the cherry blossom tree not far away, a girl stood quietly. Just by standing there, she exuded an undeniable presence, and this was not simply because she was wearing a school uniform from another school.

Genji Aoyama looked over.

The wind blew through the girl's smooth black hair, revealing her cool and fair face, like a flower on a high mountain, aloof and unapproachable.

A transfer student?

Out of curiosity, Genji Aoyama glanced at it a second time before turning his gaze away and preparing to walk towards the martial arts hall.

There was still some time before seven o'clock, so he planned to go to the archery club first. If anyone was training, he could watch from the sidelines.

As he passed the girl, Genji Aoyama was stopped.

"Hello, are you Aoyama-kun?" Unlike the aloof and unapproachable image I had of her, the girl's voice was very gentle.

"Yes, may I ask who you are?"

He stopped and looked at the girl—she had a slender waist, a full chest, and a face so beautiful that he felt the cherry tree was not in bloom at the right time.

If it were early April, when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, the occasional fluttering petals would perfectly complement the girl's beauty.

In short, he was certain he did not know the girl.

"She doesn't look quite like the person in the file. I almost thought I had mistaken her for someone else," the girl said with a slight smile. "I am Haruka Minatsuki. Nice to meet you, Aoyama-kun."

High school students...

Although somewhat surprised, Genji Aoyama quickly responded.

"Just call me Genji. I didn't expect you to be so young, Ms. Minatsuki."

In her memory, the person who first sponsored the original owner was Hitomi Minatsuki, a kind old woman who would send money from Tokyo every now and then.

After a break of about six months, Minatsuki Haruka contacted him, saying only that she was the heir of Ms. Hitomi. He naturally assumed that the sponsorship had been taken over by Ms. Hitomi's daughter.

The only contact we have is daily money transfers and occasional holiday greetings.

During this year's school admissions process, Minatsuki Haruka, after consulting with the original owner of the body, arranged for him to attend Hakutsuru High School.

Today is the first time they have met.

“I’m also a high school student, studying at Sacred Heart Girls’ High School. We’re about the same age,” Haruka Minatsuki said calmly as she looked at him. “So you don’t have to treat me like an elder or a guardian.”

"No matter what, I am very grateful to Ms. Minatsuki."

As soon as he finished speaking, Haruka Minatsuki slowly approached, her delicate fragrance, like that of magnolia blossoms, wafting over. Genji Aoyama turned his face slightly away.

"When you're out and about, you should dress appropriately." She spoke calmly and gently, stretching out her slender white hand to smooth out the wrinkles on the shoulders of his uniform, then buttoning the top button of his shirt and tightening his tie slightly to fit the collar of his shirt.

"Just call me Haruka." After adjusting her clothes, Haruka Minatsuki maintained a perfect distance from him, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Yes."

Genji Aoyama felt a slight sense of restraint, but the degree was barely acceptable.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder?

He noticed Haruka Minatsuki's attire: her navy blue Western-style uniform jacket was impeccably tailored, and every pleat on her pleated skirt was perfectly arranged.

A knitted sweater was worn underneath the shirt, with a neat bow tied at the neckline.

Just one glance is enough to give you a sense of perfect neatness and elegance.

"What do you think of life in Tokyo, Genji-kun?" She looked at Aoyama Genji with a slightly enigmatic gaze.

"I only have a slight understanding of the area around the school and apartment. I've only been to Shinjuku, and if I had to say, it's alright."

"Hmm." Haruka Minatsuki nodded, then asked, "What about school?"

"I think it's great."

"Has anything unusual happened?"

Haruka Minatsuki looked into Genji Aoyama's eyes. Although his gaze was calm, it gave him the illusion that he was being scrutinized.

Genji Aoyama understood that they were asking him why he was asking for money again when he had been given a semester's worth of living expenses.

"It might be a little embarrassing to say, but before the start of the school year, I met a group of delinquents in Shinjuku."

Since I had just arrived in Tokyo and was unfamiliar with the area, I felt awkward refusing their invitations, so I often went out with them.

During that period, I was semi-forced to spend over 400,000 yen, but I didn't dare tell anyone because I was afraid of being scolded by Ms. Minatsuki.

He couldn't comment on these things, and since he had transmigrated, he was even less likely to blame the victim, "Genji Aoyama".

Since Haruka Minatsuki asked, he told her the truth based on his feelings at the time.

Are you still in touch with those friends?

"We've broken off all contact."

Actually, after the original owner said that he didn't have money to play, the other party unilaterally blocked and deleted him from their friend list.

It was completely used as a wallet.

"That's why you haven't made any friends at school," Minatsuki Haruka said, her tone softening as if she were a mother comforting a child who had made a mistake. "I should have realized it sooner. Genji-kun, you've had a tough time lately."

"It's my fault that Miss Minatsuki is worried." Genji Aoyama shook his head.

Haruka Minatsuki never blamed him or showed any dissatisfaction throughout the entire process.

This woman is not simple; perhaps "has a lot of problems" would be a more accurate description.

Aoyama Genji thought to himself.

"Just call me Haruka." Haruka Minatsuki repeated the sentence again.

"Yes, Ms. Haruka," Genji Aoyama said after a moment's thought, "Are you waiting for Mr. Hazen?"

"Yes, we're meeting here. Judging from the time, they should be arriving soon."

Genji Aoyama took out his phone and checked the time. It was almost 7 o'clock. Occasionally, he could see students walking back and forth between the teaching building and the school gate—probably student council members on duty.

He felt that this woman was waiting for him, and that the three-way meeting with Yuzuru should take place later.

As the thought crossed his mind, Yuko Asahi appeared in his line of sight.

They arrived way too early.

Aoyama Genji thought to himself.

As she was considering whether or not to say hello, Asahi Yuko glanced over.

"Good morning, Asahi," he said.

Good morning, Aoyama-kun.

Yuuko Asahi glanced at Haruka Minazuki.

Wearing another school's uniform... Older sister? Younger sister? Or what's their relationship?

Sigh—once someone greets you, you can't ignore it.

She moved lightly to their side, facing Haruka Minazuki, and greeted them first: "Hello, I'm Yuuko Asahi, Aoyama-kun's girlfriend. May I ask who you are?"

"I am Haruka Minatsuki, and Genji-kun is mine...?" Haruka Minatsuki laughed, tilting her head to look at Genji Aoyama. "How should I describe this relationship, Genji-kun?"