The first day of the new semester had arrived.
Sakura University was bustling again with voices, laughter, and the ceaseless murmur of hundreds of students moving through the halls, clutching notes, greeting old friends, and searching for their classrooms.
As always, the campus felt like a world of its own.
Clubs were recruiting in the main plaza, the Student Council was organizing the term opening, athletes were training on the fields, and cafes were filling up.
Though the university housed hundreds, only a few faces felt familiar.
Ash Walker was one of them. For quite some time, their encounters rarely ended pleasantly for him. Many students assumed that if they were in the same place, a confrontation, a cruel prank, or an awkward situation was bound to happen.
Another familiar face was Olivia Hayes, the cheer captain. Off-campus, they occasionally crossed paths at parties where the vibe was quite different from class.
Then there was Haruto Blake, the Student Council President. It was rare for a week to go by without crossing paths in his office due to some university incident. Even so, Haruto never lost his composure, always resolving situations with the calm that made him famous.
And, of course, there was Ryo Vex. Their rivalry was a spectacle. A glance in the hallway was enough for one to drop a provocative comment. No one remembered how it started, but it was part of the university routine.
Beyond those four, the rest of the campus was a board filled with strangers.
Clubs, friendships, rivalries, romances, secrets, and academic competitions—hundreds of lives were waiting to unfold.
The bell announced the start of activities as the bustle dispersed.
A new semester had just begun.