The morning sun filtered lazily through the classroom windows, casting a golden hue over the desks. Students were buzzing around, chatting about the cultural festival that had ended just days before. The energy was light and carefree, everyone finally relaxed after exams and the chaos of running their booths.
But for Izumi, sitting at his desk, fiddling absentmindedly with his pencil, something felt different today.
"Hey, Izumi."
A soft, familiar voice broke him from his thoughts. He looked up, surprised to see Marina, the ever-perfect "Snow Princess" of the school, standing casually beside his desk with her arms crossed.
"Huh? Oh! Morning, Marina." Izumi blinked, adjusting himself to sit up straighter.
"Still spacing out even after the festival?" Marina smirked slightly, leaning on his desk just a little closer than usual.
"Ah—well, yeah, kinda..." he mumbled, scratching the back of his head. "I'm still thinking about that maid café madness..."
Marina chuckled under her breath, her cold, perfect façade breaking slightly. "It was... surprisingly fun, wasn't it?"
Izumi smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess so..."
Then, as if she was waiting for the right moment, Marina leaned in just a bit closer, lowering her voice. "Hey... are you free this weekend?"
Izumi blinked. "Eh? Weekend?"
"I was thinking... maybe you could... come over to my house."
Izumi's brain froze.
"C-Come over?! To your place?!" His voice cracked slightly, causing a few students nearby to glance over.
Marina blushed faintly, but kept her calm face. "Don't make it weird. I just thought... since we're both in the anime club, maybe you'd like to see my private collection."
"Your collection...?"
She gave a small, almost proud smirk. "Of course. I don't show it to just anyone, you know."
"Uh... wow. I mean... I..." Izumi stammered, mind racing.
Marina tilted her head, teasing slightly, "What? Are you scared of coming over?"
"I-It's not that!" Izumi quickly defended, hands waving.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "So? Yes or no?"
Izumi hesitated, thinking about how his little sister would definitely tease him if she found out he was going to a girl's house and not just any girl. Marina, the richest, prettiest girl in school. I already go to her house so why am I scared. maybe this time I am alone?
"...Okay. Yeah, sure. I mean... why not?" He forced a grin, trying to play it cool, even though inside he was screaming.
"Good." Marina smiled, satisfied. "I'll send my driver to pick you up. Be ready on Saturday."
Before he could say anything else, she turned gracefully, her long silver hair swaying behind her as she walked back to her seat.
Izumi sank back in his chair, hands on his face.
(What did I just agree to...?!)
"Hey, oniiii chan, you're acting weird today."
Izumi's little sister, Hana, stared at him from the couch, a mischievous smirk on her face.
"I'm not acting weird!" Izumi snapped a little too quickly, causing her to raise an eyebrow.
"Oh? Then why were you staring at your phone for ten minutes straight?" she teased, flipping through a magazine. "Lemme guess... a girl?"
"N-No!"
Hana grinned, leaning over the back of the couch. "Ohhh, so it's a girl!"
Izumi groaned, slumping into the couch. "It's... just a friend, okay?"
Hana poked his cheek. "Friend, huh? Sure. Is this about that pretty ice princess you always talk about?"
"I don't 'always talk about her'!" Izumi flushed red. And how did you know about her?"
"Right, right." She smirked. "So when are you going on this date, big bro?"
"It's not a date!"
But Hana just laughed, clearly having way too much fun.
When the day finally came, Izumi stood awkwardly in front of Marina's gigantic mansion, holding his school bag.
"...This is insane..." he muttered under his breath. The mansion looked like something out of a fantasy novel, with beautiful gardens, huge marble pillars, and a driveway that felt longer than a soccer field. Even though he came before for group study but still.
A maid bowed politely as she opened the gate. "Welcome, Master Izumi. Lady Marina is expecting you."
Izumi blinked. Master?
"Uh—thank you...?"
He followed the maid inside, trying to act natural, but everything was so big and fancy it made his head spin.
Finally, they reached a huge double door.
"Lady Marina is waiting inside," the maid said with a bow before leaving.
Izumi hesitated. (Okay... just be cool. You're here for anime stuff, nothing weird.)
Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.
"You're late."
Marina was sitting casually on a velvet couch in a room that looked more like an art gallery. But Izumi's eyes went wide as soon as he noticed the walls.
"Whoa..."
The room was filled with anime figures, rare manga volumes, giant posters, and even life-sized cutouts of famous characters.
"You have... all this?!"
Marina smirked, standing up. "Impressed?"
"Hell yeah!" Izumi said before catching himself. "I mean—uh, I didn't expect this..."
Marina giggled softly, walking over to a shelf. "Come on. You think I just read manga like a casual fan?"
She pulled out a limited edition figure, showing it off like a prized treasure.
"This is a prototype figure from Star Fencer Chronos, only five ever made."
Izumi gasped. "You...actually...got that?!"
Marina nodded proudly. "Of course."
The two of them spent the next hour talking excitedly about their favorite anime, flipping through manga volumes, and laughing over which characters they liked or hated.
"I now believe you're this much of a fan," Izumi said, smiling.
"Why? Because I'm rich?" Marina teased, nudging him playfully.
"I mean... kinda. You always seem so... serious and perfect at school."
Marina's smile softened. "Well, I guess you're one of the few people I can be real with."
Izumi felt his heart skip a beat at those words.
Then, while looking around, his eyes fell on something different—a small locked cabinet, separate from all the anime stuff.
"What's that?" he asked curiously.
Marina stiffened slightly. "Oh... that's nothing."
Her sudden change in expression made Izumi curious.
But before he could ask, Marina quickly smiled again. "Hey, wanna see my Star Fencer Chronos full set of cosplay?"
"Oh! Uh, sure!" Izumi replied, though his eyes lingered on that cabinet for a moment longer.
To be continued...