Early Spring

Sakioka Junko’s striking beauty is both a gift and a curse, setting her apart from every other girl in her class. Yet rather than admiration, her looks breed only simmering resentment and petty jealousy among her female peers. Ostracized and left friendless by their collective hostility, Junko finds herself with just one steadfast ally—a single friend who dares to stand by her side in the face of the school’s silent social warfare. Kasai Makoto, weary of the endless gossip and bitter complaints that fill his ears each day, finally decides to silence the noise. In a misguided effort to placate the jealous girls, he takes it upon himself to confront Junko’s sole companion, intending to deliver a swift, decisive victory in their favor. His words strike true, and the confrontation ends as planned—the girl is utterly defeated, reduced to helpless sobs before him. But the triumph rings hollow. As the tears fall, Kasai is struck by an unexpected pang of regret, for he never truly wished to cause such pain. In that fragile moment, his cold resolve crumbles, and a sudden, overwhelming impulse seizes him—not to gloat, but to reach out and console the very girl he just devastated, setting the stage for a complicated shift in loyalties and hidden emotions.