Whisper Of First Love.

The Queen's Game.

The cafeteria was a grand space that looked more like a high-end hotel lounge than anything you'd expect in a school. Crystal chandeliers, marble-topped tables, and gourmet meals. Haruto stood awkwardly with his tray, unsure where to sit. Almost every table was claimed by tightly-knit groups—rich kids in designer uniforms laughing over imported desserts.

He scanned the room and made his way to a quiet corner. The last thing he wanted was attention. But luck, it seemed, had other plans.

Just as he sat down, a shadow loomed over him.

“Alone already?”

Aoi Tsukishima stood beside his table, her tray balanced in one hand. A few students gasped. A few others openly stared.

“Mind if I sit?” she asked, not waiting for a reply before sliding into the seat across from him.

Haruto blinked. “You… want to sit *here*?”

Aoi gave a small smirk, stabbing her salad delicately with a gold-tipped fork. “Why not? It’s the only place not drenched in ego and perfume.”

Haruto glanced around. The room had gone nearly silent. Whispers exploded like fireworks.

*"Is she serious?"*

*"He’s just a scholarship kid—what’s she doing?"*

*"Maybe she’s bored again. Playing with him."*

He gritted his teeth but stayed quiet.

Aoi watched him for a moment, then leaned forward. “Do you always eat like you’re trying not to be noticed?”

Haruto paused, lifting his eyes to meet hers. “Do you always talk to strangers like you own them?”

There was a brief pause—then she laughed. A real, melodic laugh that turned more than a few heads.

“You’re sharp,” she said. “I like that.”

Haruto wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or a warning.

The rest of lunch passed in a strange silence. He ate. She picked at her food and occasionally glanced at him as if studying a puzzle she couldn’t quite figure out.

As the bell rang and students started standing, Aoi spoke again.

“You’re different. That’s rare around here. They all follow scripts—money, family, reputation. You don’t play the part.”

“I didn’t get a copy of the script,” Haruto said, standing.

Aoi smiled again. “Maybe I’ll write you into mine.”

He walked away, unsure what that meant, but knowing—deep in his chest—that something had shifted.

For better or worse, **Aoi Tsukishima had taken interest in him**.

And in Saint Avalon Academy, when the queen sets her eyes on someone…

It’s never just a game.