The morning classes passed smoothly and calmly. There wasn't anything worth much attention or importance, and for Hiroshi, the classes were equally uneventful.
If anything stood out at all, it was the arrival of Frill Shiranui. But for Hiroshi, who already knew this was going to happen, it wasn't a huge surprise. However, one thing did truly surprise him: the beauty of this girl.
It's one thing to see a drawing in a manga or an anime adaptation, but seeing this person in real life is completely different. Stunning would be too simple of a word to describe her. Her features were soft yet striking, captivating in an almost hypnotic way. Every movement she made was full of grace, and it was easy to imagine that, if she wanted, she could win over anyone. In addition, her talent as an actress was widely recognized. It wasn't just her looks that impressed, but also her presence.
Hiroshi, who deeply admired those who stood out in their profession, felt a pang of respect and even a certain reverence when looking at her. "This girl... she's truly amazing," he thought.
With his mind more focused on Frill than on the class, time passed quickly for Hiroshi, and the classes that were "calm" for him soon came to an end.
During the break, Hiroshi grabbed the bento his mother had lovingly prepared and headed to a quieter spot, away from the hustle and bustle of the other students.
Finding a bench in the shade of a tree, he sat down and let the gentle breeze wash over him. The setting was perfect, and he took the moment to relax, enjoying his meal in peace.
'Nothing better than inner peace.' Thinking this way, Hiroshi savored every bite of his food. However, as with all good things, his peace didn't last long.
Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. Feeling a slight shiver, Hiroshi immediately recognized who it was—not out of fear, but out of uncertainty about how to deal with this person.
When he looked towards the horizon, he saw Ruby approaching, this time accompanied by her friend Minami and her twin brother, Aqua.
As soon as Ruby saw Hiroshi's face, she rushed to introduce her brother. "Takahashi-san, this is my twin brother, Aqua. Please be friends with him too."
Surprised by this sudden request, Hiroshi automatically nodded. After processing the situation, he finally responded. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Aqua Hoshino. I'm Hiroshi Takahashi." With a sincere smile, Hiroshi extended his hand to a hesitant Aqua. "I hope we can be good friends."
Aqua, seeing no reason to refuse the offer of someone who seemed genuinely friendly, returned the gesture. "I hope we get along."
Seeing the scene, Ruby could barely contain her excitement. "That's great for you, Aqua! You've made your first friend at school!"
However, Aqua's expression became slightly dark, as if Ruby's words had touched something deep inside. Hiroshi, sensing the discomfort, felt a pang of empathy for the boy. But before he could think of something to ease the situation, Ruby was distracted by something.
Excited, Ruby pointed to the other side of the courtyard and exclaimed, "There she is, Aqua! The actress I was telling you about earlier, Frill Shiranui!"
Aqua reacted with indifference. "As famous as she is, the number one for me will always be Ai."
Ruby, nodding in agreement, added, "Well, for me too."
While Ruby continued talking excitedly about Frill, Aqua decided to approach the actress. "Hello, Shiranui-san. My younger sister is in your class, please get along with her."
Frill, looking at Aqua, recognized him immediately. "I know you... Weren't you in Sweet Today?"
As they continued their conversation, Hiroshi, who was nearby, also joined in. "I knew I had seen you somewhere. You really acted well in that series," Hiroshi complimented sincerely.
Frill, noticing Hiroshi's presence, also recognized him. "You're Hiroshi Takahashi, right? I've watched some of the plays you were in. You're good."
Receiving compliments is always a nice feeling, and for Hiroshi, it was no different. Smiling, he replied, "Thank you. Now, I want to expand into productions beyond theater."
"Good for you," Frill replied. "I hope we can act together someday." After saying that, she turned to Minami and commented, "I saw you on the cover of Middle Jump."
The conversation continued in a relaxed manner until Frill said goodbye and left. After her departure, Hiroshi found himself thinking in silence.
'Frill Shiranui is a great actress. And on top of that, she's stunning.'
'If I had to point out someone who's close to perfection, she would be a strong candidate.'
'I like her... maybe more than I should.'
'Am I falling for her?'