between pride and emotions" A Dance Of Shadow And Light "(volume 1)

In high school The common world of adolescence. Some find it miserable and some find it the best, Kiyotaka is a quiet introverted guy who keeps to himself. With only a few classmates he talks to out of necessity, he lives a solitary life, preferring distance over friendship. To him, most people are just background noise-unremarkable and easy to ignore.

Then there's Alya, his seatmate. To everyone else, she's cold and prideful, with an aura that pushes others away. Her classmates see her as arrogant and unapproachable, and she's fine with that. But Kiyotaka is different. He doesn't see her like everyone else does. Somehow, he looks past the coldness, and that makes her feel something unexpected.

Though Alya finds herself drawn to him, she can't admit it, not even to herself. Her pride won't let her; showing any hint of emotion feels like a weakness. And so, she pretends she doesn't care, keeping up her distant, aloof image. Yet, she can't help but wonder if Kiyotaka sees her as just a classmate or if he cares for her in a way she secretly hopes he does.

For Kiyotaka, Alya might be just a seatmate. But for her, he's become something more-a quiet fascination she can't shake. Their connection is fragile and unspoken, yet it lingers, leaving her to question what lies behind his gaze and if she dares to find out.