Haruto couldn't focus. For someone who was usually the center of attention, being ignored by his seatmate for an entire week was a completely new experience. He watched Keijy calmly sharpen her pencil; her movements were precise and mechanical. He wanted to say something, but the sudden appearance of Aika at the classroom door changed the atmosphere instantly.
-"Look, it's Samoru Aikari!"
-"What is she doing in our class?"
-"She must be here to see Haruto!"
Whispers rippled through the room as the Student Council President appeared. Samoru Aikari was one of the most famous girls in school. She was in Class 11B, one year older than Haruto. With her pure face and excellent academic record, she was loved by everyone. She walked straight to Haruto and placed a stack of papers on his desk.
-"This is the club enrollment draft. Distribute them to the classes, okay?" Aikari turned to leave but remembered something important. "Oh, Haruto, meet me in the conference room after school."
Haruto nodded. At that moment, his usual gentle expression vanished, replaced by a serious demeanor. Whenever he was on duty as the Vice President, he always exuded a different kind of maturity.
Haruto let out a soft sigh. He hugged the heavy stack of papers and began handing them out to his classmates first. Because the pile was so high, it almost blocked his vision. Haruto stumbled out of the classroom and accidentally collided with a group of students running around. The impact made him dazed, he fell, and the papers scattered all over the floor.
-"I'm so clumsy again…"
Haruto muttered, leaning down to gather each sheet. Suddenly, another hand quickly collected the papers nearby. Haruto looked up, startled. It was Keijy. Her movements were decisive and neat—in no time, they were back in a tidy stack.
-"Keijy…" -Haruto called out softly.
-"I'll take half, you take half,"- Keijy said, grabbing her portion.
Haruto also took the rest and stood up shakily.
-"Thank you so much."
-"So, which class is next?" Keijy asked.
-"Class 10B," Haruto replied.
They walked together down the hallway. The sound of their shoes hitting the floor created a simple harmony, like a silent whisper that needed no words.
[...]
The stack of papers had dwindled significantly. Both had walked all over the hallways, distributing them to each class. Keijy rested her hands on her thighs, letting out a faint sigh.
-"Sorry for troubling you, Keijy…"
-"It's nothing."
Haruto smiled, reaching out a hand toward her.
-"Come on. Just three more classes and we're done."
The gesture made Keijy freeze for a split second. A simple act, yet it brought back a hauntingly familiar feeling.
-"I used to be like this too…" Keijy thought to herself. She took Haruto's hand, hugged the papers, and they continued down the corridor.
Haruto suddenly remembered he had seen Keijy check a club earlier.
-"Which club are you planning to join?"
-"The Taeyo Archers Club."
Haruto was genuinely surprised.
-"Oh, I'm in that club too."
-"You're the school's ace archer, right?"
Haruto gave a sheepish laugh.
-"Well… I've been interested in it since I was twelve."
-"Twelve years old…" Keijy mused, her eyes drifting into a sea of thoughts.
[...]
Keijy looked at Haruto's registration form. There were two checkmarks—Haruto chose to join both the Taeyo Archers Club and Taeyo Fencing.
-"You're joining two clubs at once?" Keijy asked, surprised.
-"Yeah. Actually, I like fencing more than archery."
-"Does that mean you're good at fencing too?"
-"I'm alright..." Haruto rubbed the back of his neck, smiling. For a moment, childhood memories rushed back: the days he used a small knife to carve his own wooden swords. At the age of six, Haruto already knew how to make a toy sword for himself.
Keijy looked back at the form.
-"It says here, 'Tomorrow at 3 PM, all students must be present at their respective club rooms.' Are you going?"
The question snapped Haruto out of his reverie. He stammered.
-"Ah… of course. How could I miss that."
-"For those who are already somewhat proficient, who already know how to shoot… do they have to start from the beginning?" -Keijy asked in a low voice.
Haruto stroked his chin, trying to remember what he knew about the school.
-"Hmm… I don't think so. I believe they'll teach experienced archers separately. But you asking that… does it mean you already know how to shoot?"
-"Yes," Keijy replied, her voice ice-cold.
Haruto could only smile, a strange curiosity blossoming in his heart.
The Following Afternoon
Taeyo's practice range was vast, with pristine white lines marking the lanes for each archer. At the far end, thick foam targets with bright red bullseyes stood like a challenge to the newcomers.
Haruto took a deep breath, his joints cracking as he stretched. He picked up his bow, meticulously checking the string like a soldier inspecting his rifle before battle. Every move radiated the confidence of someone who ruled this field.
Then, Keijy arrived. Her bow looked nothing like the modern athletic gear around her. It was carved from ancient dark oak, its wood grain rippling like tensed muscles. The frame was rough, unpolished, but it exuded a heavy scent of old forest and pine resin. It looked heavy—so heavy that Haruto's eyebrows shot up when he saw her lift it.
Along the grip, a series of strange symbols were engraved. They weren't letters, but swirling lines shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings amidst fierce clouds. As the afternoon sun hit the dark wood, the engravings seemed to pulse with a faint, ethereal blue light.
When Keijy tested the string, it didn't produce a sharp snap. Instead, it emitted a deep, thrumming vibration that echoed like a distant temple bell, carrying the stillness of an ancient forest. The vibration sent a faint jolt through her calloused palms. Despite her rough hands, she moved with grace as she reached for an arrow.
[...]
Coach Meito—the head of the Archers Club—entered. In his hand was a bow that had become weathered over the years, a testament to his long commitment.
-"Welcome, class. I am Meito, your lead instructor. Now, everyone take out your bows for a physical check first." -He was direct. To him, time moved fast, so he never spent it on useless things.
Keijy raised her bow for a trial. Her movements were exquisite and sharp—as if she was deeply familiar with the bow.
-"Nice bow, Keijy," Haruto whispered.
Keijy remained silent.
Coach Meito approached Haruto.
-"You're Kurosawa Haruto, right?"
Haruto nodded.
-"Yes, sir."
-"I'm still impressed by your shooting the other day," Meito smiled.
-"Now, show everyone what you can do."
Haruto stepped up. Since the class wasn't crowded, most had finished their checks. He took a deep breath, drew his bow, and released. The arrow hissed through the air, streaking toward the target.
-"Arg… just a bit off," Haruto exhaled, a hint of regret in his eyes.
The onlookers cheered. Coach Meito noticed one student hadn't stepped up yet. He was quite surprised because very few female students joined this club.
-"And you are…?" Meito looked toward the end of the line.
-"Gushiken Keijy. That is my full name." her voice rang out clearly.
Keijy stepped onto the lane. The bow was held steady in her firm grip, her posture screaming technical mastery.
-"Isn't that the new student from Class 10A?" a voice whispered from the crowd.
-"Yeah. She looks pretty professional," another student whispered, eyes glued to Keijy.
The arrow flew like a lightning bolt toward the board. It landed right next to Haruto's arrow—creating a tense atmosphere. Everyone gasped as they looked at her arrow. They didn't expect Keijy's skill to be on par with Haruto's.
-"She's incredible!" "Her aiming is truly equal to Haruto's."
Coach Meito nodded in approval.
-"Excellent."
-"Not excellent enough." a mocking voice interjected.
Everyone turned toward the outside of the range. It was Mr. Riven—the school's Vice Principal. Coach Meito smiled
-"It's been a long time since we've had the Vice Principal visit the club."
The Vice Principal smiled back, walking toward Keijy. His eyes lingered on the bow in her hand, then on her serious face:
-"A girl joining such a masculine club?"
Coach Meito stepped in:
-"But her skill is quite remarkable, sir."
The Vice Principal laughed:
-"I saw. But that's not enough. These are just basic drills. You need to try much harder."
Keijy gave a slight nod.
-"Yes, sir."
After the Vice Principal left, the class started whispering:
-"That's the first time I've met the Vice Principal."
-"He's too strict."
Seeing this, Coach Meito said:
-"Now, now. You shouldn't judge others just by their appearance or a few words. The Vice Principal wants to give you the spirit to strive, not to mock your friend."
Hearing that, everyone fell silent and continued practicing.
After the session, Haruto spotted a boy with silver-grey hair standing outside. Immediately, all the girls from the Archers Club swarmed him. That was Haku Fushima—a student from Class 11A, famous not only for his handsome looks but also for his excellent basketball skills.
Keijy walked past Haruto with her gear.
-"I'm heading out first. See you later."
She went straight to Fushima. Realizing the situation, Keijy signaled Fushima to head the other way to avoid the crowd of girls. Fushima gave a sheepish, apologetic smile:
-"Sorry everyone, I have something to do so I can't play basketball today. See you tomorrow. Goodbye."
Fushima quickly ran off. He was a kind guy, so everyone liked him. When he caught up with Keijy, Fushima breathed out.
-"I'm so sorry about that."
Keijy glanced over, seeing Fushima's helpless yet forced smile. The sight made her let out a soft laugh, as if she understood he couldn't escape the attention even if he wanted to.
Keijy teased him:
-"Is being a celebrity that hard?"
Fushima sighed, a helpless smile on his lips:
-"I didn't want this."
Keijy laughed:
-"Who told you to be so good at sports."
The two chatted naturally and happily like close friends, leaving Haruto stunned. A thought flashed in his mind:
-"She knows senior Fushima? I thought Keijy didn't like making friends with many people…"
The next morning, the class was buzzing about Keijy's archery talent. She felt both proud and a bit annoyed by the excessive attention.
Miha walked to Keijy's desk, her eyes full of admiration:
-"You know how to play the bow? That's so admirable."
Keijy smiled:
-"Thank you, Yamamoto."
Haruto chimed in as he put his bag away.
-"She doesn't just know how to shoot, she's excellent at it."
-"Haruto!" Keijy called out softly.
Suddenly, a classmate shouted:
-"Why don't Keijy and Haruto have a match? They're both equally strong."
Keijy was startled by the suggestion. Haruto thought for a second, then looked at her with a challenging smile:
-"Sure. I want to see who the best archer in school really is. Do you agree?"
His eyes were filled with excitement and provocation. Keijy hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
-"When?"
The class erupted in cheers. Miha quickly stepped up to the podium, her voice full of excitement:
-"At the competition arena, during the next break! Everyone agree?"
-"AGREED!"
-"The competition arena already?"
Miha laughed:
-"With these two special talents, how could we compete in a simple place like the practice range!"
Keijy sighed, helpless yet accepting, a small smile playing on her lips as she accepted the challenge the whole class was waiting for.