An Unusual Rom-Com Protagonist

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ She was standing from a distance. It was the kind of dawn when the sun has yet to peek out from the clouds, the kind of chill where one's breath is visible like smoke in the air, it was one where the town is already basking in the sun— but its filtered rays and lack of warmth made the town a little more... muted than it really was. Not the unpleasant kind, it just 'was'. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ Reflected in her eyes are the expectations for what was to come in the near future, the blues from a sea of wonder lapping by the milky sand, and a question akin to a bubble in nature. In that brief window before it pops, she asks... Is this the same view her mother saw before she left for Tokyo? ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ "Nee-san...!" A voice calls from afar, catching Yūna's attention. She smiles knowingly to this, certain that it was her brother. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ Her brown eyes glanced back at the sight of the sea for a moment. For the last time, for now. But this time, reflected in her eyes weren't questions or hypotheticals with no way to prove or answer them, it was determination. Eyes that chose to look forward and a heart that refuses to falter. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ "Okay... There's no turning back now." She mutters to no one in particular, turning her back from the sunkissed sea before warmth has fully enveloped it. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ⠀ ⠀⢀⣠⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣤⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣤⣄⣀⣀⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠈⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣄⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⢿⣿⣿⣿⣟⠋⠛⠛⠛⠻⢿⣿⣦⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⡿⠻⣿⣿⣷⠈⣿⣿⡿⢿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠑⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠃⠀⠻⣿⣿⡆⠹⣿⣧⠀⠙⠻⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⠀⠀⢹⣿⣇⠀⠀⠈⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ Hawthorne Academy is no ordinary school. It is one of the most prestigious private high schools in Tokyo, an institution whose reputation extends well beyond its impressive academic record. It was founded in 1882 by five influential families in Bloomsbury, Central London. And after over a century of success, opened its first branch at the heart of Tokyo, Japan (1992) rivaling older private schools. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ It is as controversial as it is famed. Alone, it tipped the political and economical balance in the city, boldly presenting itself as a rival to older established schools in the area, and proposed values that clash with Japanese culture which is inherently traditional in nature. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ The academy had the kind of facilities most schools failed to succeed in. An entrance examination difficult enough to discourage even capable students, and a reputation for producing graduates who would eventually occupy important positions in society. To Yūna, who came from a considerably more modest background, being accepted is not an achievement but an opportunity that she cannot let slide. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ In here, she aims to maintain her scholarship and graduate without having her father spend a dime on her academic endeavors (if she can help it). Here, in this miniature society, she's going to leave a lasting legacy, competing against elites on the same stage, with the same headstart, and expanding her world with an open-mind... At least, that was what she expected to happen. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ Seated at the front is the leading lady, Miyazaki Yūna, breaking out in cold sweat while actively avoiding eye contact at the front, the front where he stood— that person, why did it have to be him?! ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ Before her is a boy her age, easily 182 cm tall. His tall, lean frame gives him a noticeable presence that matches with his intimidating aura. Contrary to that, he had fair skin that complemented his youthful features: a softly defined jaw, his straight nose, to his expressive eyes which seemed to be scrutinizing Yūna like a scientist to a newly found species at the moment. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ He knows. She knows that he knows. And he knows that she knows that he knows— argh! ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ 'Mother in heaven, in following your steps...' she gulps, choosing to lock eyes with the new variable given that whatever looms ahead is now unavoidable, his eyes squinted in turn, raising his chin higher which caused his dark hair to shift to his movements. ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ 'I may have ended up in hell.' ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ