Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 1 - White Memory

𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬

[ 𝐒𝐢𝐱 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 ]

Third Person POV:

The day had long since come to an end. The sun was gone from the Tokyo skyline and replaced by a winter night over the city. Along the coastal edges of the metropolis, three figures cut a path down a bustling road with two of them holding freshly bought paper cups of coffee in hands.

"I really love winter. Doesn't it make you feel alive? It's like everything is sharper—clearer."

| ??? |

The boy at the front (the one with the golden hair) murmured that more to himself than anyone else—the kind of thing you say when you're not really looking for an answer, just letting a feeling out before it slips away. He took a slow sip of his coffee and let the warmth spread through his palms. Then he pivoted on his heel without breaking stride and continued walking backward, facing the others behind him. ''Back me up, gentleman!''

"Alive? More like frozen solid. I'm not even sure why I let you drag me out here, Asuka. Exams are around the corner, you know." The second boy behind him barely lifted his eyes from his phone with the calendar app open and filled with reminders of upcoming deadlines. ''...''

''Come on, Fuutarou! Loosen up! We don't get many chances to enjoy holidays like this. Even you need a break sometimes." Asuka took another sip from his coffee with a grin as bright as the twinkle of holiday lights strung up along the street. ''Feel The Magic, y'know. Or was it Seize the Day? Whatever,  you get the gist.''

Asuka Shoji—a first-year student at Asahiyama High.
Though, their school term now nearing its end, and second year is just days ahead.
A feeling bittersweet, but undeniably pleasant, especially for someone like him.
Him who stands at the very peak of school popularity.

''Hey. Unlike some people, I actually care about my grades.'' Fuutarou slipped the phone back into his pocket, though the rigid posture stayed exactly where it was. ''Although... I'll admit, I haven't seen you fail anything yet. So at least you're not a completely hopeless case.''

"Oh? Big words coming from the guy who copied me by dyeing his hair blonde. Teehee~!"

''Shut up! I-I thought it was cool... back then! But it never fit me in the same way it did you. Isn't your face the reason you're so popular at school? What was the term in that Otome games. Ikemen?''