Chapter 1
It has been two weeks since I came to this island.
I still haven’t smiled even once.
I stood on the shore, looking out at the sea.
The sun seemed to blur as the waves washed over it.
I didn’t like the salty, almost rotten smell of the ocean, and yet, somehow, I kept finding myself walking toward it.
The water shifted in color—from clear, to emerald green, to a deeper blue-green.
I had only learned that recently.
In all my sixteen years, I had never seen the ocean before.
But when I first saw it from the ferry that brought me to this remote island, something inside me quietly bloomed for the first time in a long while.
“...It’s beautiful.”
Miho whispered.
After that, she left her Boston bag on the floor and stayed on the deck where she could see the sea.
Half of her felt embarrassed at how excited she was.
The other half was surprised that she still had the ability to be moved by something beautiful.
Before long, the island that had seemed so far away came close enough to take on a clear shape.
Miho picked up her bag and went back inside the ferry.
When they arrived, she looked for a white Alphard.
That was her uncle’s car.
“Miho!”
A voice called out to her—neither too young nor too old.
She turned, saw her uncle waving, and gave a small nod before walking toward him.
“Hello.”
“Hey. That must’ve been a long trip. I wanted to come pick you up from your place, but…”
He looked apologetic.
Miho shook her head.
Her uncle, Touya, was already married and had two children.
His wife, Yuki, was one of the few nurses on the island. Working on her days off was nothing unusual.
While most people spent their holidays relaxing, she worked to help others.
And in the meantime, Touya took care of the children.
That was simply how things were.
“I left the kids with a neighbor for now.
Let’s put your luggage in the trunk.”
“Okay.”
Touya opened the trunk and carefully placed Miho’s Boston bag inside.
From where she stood, she could see the inside of the car.
It was clearly a space built for children.
There were two child seats, and the back was filled with all sorts of things.
“You’ll have to sit in the front with me. Is that okay?”
Touya looked slightly apologetic again.
“It’s fine.”
“Alright. Go ahead.”
He politely opened the passenger door for her.
Miho nodded.
“Excuse me.”
She got into the car.
After that, Touya did most of the talking.
Miho simply nodded along, occasionally responding or asking a question.
“School’s still on spring break, so you’ll probably start in about a week.
Also, about your room—we still have a few things we haven’t sorted out yet. But we’ve prepared a desk and a futon. Though… you only had three boxes of belongings. Is that really enough?”
“Yes, it’s fine.
As long as I have the basics. I’m grateful for the desk and the futon.”
Miho lowered her head slightly.
Touya quickly shook his head, looking flustered.
“You’re a girl. You must have things you need. Don’t hesitate to ask, okay?”
“Alright.”
She nodded.
But from the corner of her eye, she could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced.
He was probably wondering how to ease the distance she kept between herself and others.
Miho understood what he was thinking.
But she had no intention of becoming part of his family.
After graduating from high school, she planned to leave the island and find work on the mainland.
Or perhaps enter university through a recommendation and a scholarship.
Either way, she didn’t want to owe Touya anything.
She didn’t want him to treat her like family.
To Miho, Touya and his family were strangers.
Thinking about all that, Miho put on her uniform for the first time that day and attended the opening ceremony.
Inside the gym, students sat in long rows of folding chairs.
But Miho was seated apart from them, on a single chair.
Next to her, there was another empty chair.
Why was she being separated from the rest?
As she sat there, wondering—
a boy took the seat beside her at almost the same time.
Miho glanced at him.
He had black hair and a strikingly beautiful face.
Single-lidded eyes, long and narrow.
A straight nose. Thin lips.
His features perfectly matched what had long been considered “classically beautiful” in Japan.
Miho quickly looked away.
The boy didn’t speak to her.
He simply sat there, quietly listening to the principal.
Then, the principal gestured toward them.
“These two are transfer students joining the second year. Make sure to help them if they need it.”
Miho almost buried her face in her hands.
This was the worst.
She hated standing out.
And yet, here she was.
Now people would come talk to her out of curiosity.
And dealing with that would be a hassle.
She briefly glanced at the other students.
Curious eyes were already fixed on her.
“…Figures.”
A voice came from beside her.
Miho turned instinctively.
The boy muttered with a thoroughly annoyed expression.
Then, without fully turning, he glanced at her—as if asking for agreement.
Miho gave a small nod.
He shrugged slightly and faced forward again.
Miho did the same.
“…You ran away too?”
