The Depth of Love

Chapter 2: First Impressions

As Kai and Rina sat in their seats, the nerves swirled around them like a whirlwind, especially for Kai, who dreaded the upcoming "Introduce Yourself" activity.

Minutes ticked by, and finally, Rina was called to introduce herself.

Rina: “Good afternoon, everyone! I’m Rina, and I’m 16 years old. I love drawing and playing badminton, and I want to learn how to play the piano. I’m an introvert, shy, and quiet, so I’m not very active in big groups. However, I’m excited to get to know all of you, and I hope this journey will be interesting and enjoyable. That’s all, thank you.”

After Rina finished, she quickly returned to her seat, her heart pounding. She felt relieved to have completed her introduction, though she was keenly aware of the attention from her classmates.

A few moments later, it was Kai's turn. His nerves were through the roof, and he nearly stumbled on his way to the front.

Kai: “Good afternoon, everyone! I’m Kai, and I’m also 16 years old. I enjoy watching movies, listening to music, biking, and playing chess. I guess I’m pretty quiet and shy, maybe even a bit of an introvert, but I can be fun once I’m comfortable. I hope to make new friends and do well in our classes.”

Kai hurried back to his seat, trying to shake off the anxiety from speaking in front of the class.

After the students introduced themselves, their adviser, Ms. Takahashi, stepped forward.

Ms. Takahashi: "Good afternoon, students! I’ll be your adviser for this school year. Before we begin, let me introduce myself. I’m Ms. Takahashi, and I’m 26 years old. I’m here to support you, but I can be strict when necessary. Just follow my instructions, study hard, and you’ll all do well this semester. My hope is for each of you to achieve high marks and pass.”

After Ms. Takahashi introduced herself, she contemplated what to do next. Since it was just the first day, she wanted to keep things light and fun.

Ms. Takahashi: “So everyone, what would you like to do? Would you prefer to play a game or just get to know one another? How about we combine the two? Let’s turn introductions into a fun game!”

The students nodded eagerly, excitement replacing their earlier nerves.

Ms. Takahashi: “Here’s the plan: I’ll randomly arrange your seating, and you’ll ask the classmates next to you about their personal lives, personalities, and hobbies.”

After explaining the activity, Ms. Takahashi quickly rearranged the seating.

In this temporary seating arrangement, Rina found herself seated in front of a boy (Kai). She noticed him but didn’t engage in conversation, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand.

Kai’s POV:
Kai sat still, feeling the weight of the eyes around him. As he looked at the girl (Rina) in front of him, he felt a mix of curiosity and shyness. He wanted to engage but felt too anxious to initiate a conversation.

The game began, and the student seated next to Kai introduced himself.

“Hi! I’m Raven! Just like you, I’m also 16. I love dancing and watching movies. I was in a dance group at my old school, so I really enjoy it. I guess you could say I’m an extrovert—I’m pretty talkative and friendly!”

Raven's energy was infectious, and Kai nodded along, feeling a bit more at ease. As the conversation continued around him, he turned his attention back to the activity, hoping to learn more about his classmates.

Rina’s POV:
Rina turned back to her classmates, focusing on the introductions. Raven also approached her and she could hear Raven chatting excitedly, but her mind was elsewhere, contemplating her new environment.

“Hi, I’m Rina,” she replied to Raven when prompted. “I enjoy drawing and playing badminton.”

As Raven continued speaking, Rina nodded politely, not feeling the need to engage beyond the required introductions.

Narrator POV:
The introductions came to a close, and Ms. Takahashi announced that class was dismissed. Students began to pack their things, filled with excitement about the friendships they had started to form.

As Kai walked home, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he hadn’t made the connections he had hoped for. He shared his thoughts with Ash, recounting how he had made eye contact with a girl but hadn’t spoken to her.

“That’s totally normal for the first day, man,” Ash said, trying to comfort him. “You’ll get to know her eventually.”

Meanwhile, Rina returned home, reflecting on the day. She thought about how she had made eye contact with a boy in class but felt no pressure to engage further. Her focus remained on her studies, and she quickly dismissed any lingering thoughts of the introductions.

With both Kai and Rina focusing on their new school experiences, little did they know that their paths were destined to intertwine in unexpected ways.