On the first day of school, Haruka tried her best to blend into the background. Not trying to engage in conversations or introductions. Settling into the middle desk of the classroom, she immediately surrendered to the pull of exhaustion, her head sinking heavily onto the desk.
As the class began, the teacher told the students to introduce themself in front of the classroom. A procession of students eagerly took the stage, each seizing the opportunity to boast their familial background or academic and non-academic achievements.
In stark contrast, Haruka's introduction was a mere utterance of her name. Returning to her seat, she resumed her slumped posture, provoking a stunned reaction from the teacher, who found herself momentarily at a loss for words.
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During break time, Haruka intended to go to the medical room to take a nap. However, as she was about to exit, a girl blocked her path. The girl was shorter than Haruka, standing at a height of 165cm. She had short hair with soft pink highlights, and her eyes were a warm honey colour.
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"You're Haruka Fuyuka-Chan, right? Let's have lunch together," the girl exclaimed with enthusiasm, extending a friendly invitation.
Haruka paused, her demeanour guarded. "Who are you?" she inquired, her tone tinged with curiosity.
The question hung in the air, causing a ripple of astonishment among their peers. Gasps of disbelief echoed around them, mingling with murmurs of doubt.
"Do you live under a rock or something?!"
"She just introduced herself in class! How can you not know her?!"
The racket of voices exclaimed around Haruka, deepening her discomfort. Accustomed to solitude, Haruka found herself ill at ease amidst the uproar of her classmates. In truth, she hadn't paid much attention to their introductions in class.
Haruka swiftly exited the classroom with annoyance mounting within her, ignoring the commotion swirling around her. Yet, the persistent girl trailed after her, undeterred in her efforts to initiate a conversation.
"I'm Suzumi Kamasaki, the trending topic on social media," Suzumi introduced herself, her voice laced with expectation and pride.
Haruka, however, responded with a nonchalant hum, devoid of the awe or recognition Suzumi anticipated. Without further ado, she departed, leaving Suzumi to ponder her unexpected encounter.
As Haruka roamed the school grounds, her thoughts wandered back to the mention of Suzumi's name. Memories emerged of the day of the entrance ceremony where she noticed some people were badmouthing her. Among those voices was Suzumi's.
Curiosity piqued, Haruka reached for her phone, her fingers dancing across the screen as she delved into the depths of the internet. To her surprise, Suzumi emerged as an idol under Winter Flower Entertainment, a revelation that caught Haruka off guard.
Winter Flower was the name of one of the biggest corporations in the world. It has many branches with different specialisations, such as Entertainment, Culinary, and Technology. Winter Flower Corporation was also known as WF Corporation.
💭We just met and she already called me with the honorific Chan 💭-Haruka mused, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
The medical room enveloped Haruka in its serene embrace as she settled onto one of the beds, seeking solace in the comfort it offered. She set an alarm, granting herself a brief respite from the uneasiness of the day.
In the midst of her slumber, the abrupt creak of the door shattered the silence, jolting Haruka awake. Irritation flickered across her features as she recognized the intruder.
"Huh?! What are you doing here?!" a loud voice pierced the air, disrupting the stillness.
Haruka clicked her tongue in annoyance, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're so loud, Fukuyama," she remarked lazily, her desire to return to her nap evident in her tone.
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The intertwined fates of Akira Fukuyama and Haruka Fuyuka were not mere fate but rather a consequence of their families' longstanding business affiliation. As heirs of two influential families, their destinies were inexorably linked by the ties of business.
The Fukuyama family reigned over YamaCar Ltd., a titan in the automotive industry, while the Fuyuka family stood as stalwarts in their own right, collaborating with the Furuya family to strengthen their collective businesses.
Their parents, the architects of this alliance, often orchestrated encounters between the two young heirs, hoping to nurture camaraderie and secure the bonds between their respective dynasties. However, Haruka and Akira harboured divergent aspirations.
Haruka, yearning for the warmth of familial companionship, preferred the solace of her parents' company. Meanwhile, Akira, the spirited second son of the Fukuyama household, craved the freedom to frolic with his mates. His vibrant red locks and piercing brown eyes were a testament to his rebellious spirit.
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Despite their differences, the weight of their familial legacies loomed large, forcing Haruka and Akira to manage the delicate dance of maintaining pleasant relations for the betterment of their parents' businesses. Thus, their interactions bore the burden of responsibility, each encounter laden with the weight of familial expectations.
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Akira was about to shout at her, but Haruka was already fast asleep. His initial shock at finding Haruka asleep gave way to a mixture of concern and exasperation. Taking a seat beside her bed, he watched over her in silence, a faint furrow marring his brow.
As Haruka stirred awake to the sound of her alarm, Akira's disagreement with her sleeping so carelessly cut through the air, his tone stern yet tinged with a hint of genuine worry. His lingering glare conveyed his disapproval of her carelessness.
With a dismissive nod, Haruka acknowledged his words before departing for class, her thoughts consumed by the unexpected encounter with Akira.
💭Shouldn't Fukuyama be a second-year student? What was he doing in the first-year students' building?💭 Haruka pondered, her curiosity piqued by Akira's presence.
Arriving in class, she advanced to her desk, tuning out the murmurs that surrounded her. Undisturbed by the insults thrown her way, she remained slumped on her desk.
A/N:
-Chan is a similarly informal honorific, a familiar suffix used for people you're close with. The more feminine nickname has a cutesy and childlike connotation.
