Chapters 3-12 of the light novel detail the protagonist, Tatsumi Aizawa's, difficult transition into Kiryugaoka Academy. The narrative opens with Tatsumi rejecting a confession from his childhood friend, Haruka Sakurai, on a rooftop at sunset. He claims he doesn't understand romantic feelings, a sentiment he attributes to his family's past estrangement. This rejection is immediately followed by a flashback to a childhood promise with Haruka, hinting at a deeper past connection.
Tatsumi wakes up to his alarm on the day of his high school entrance ceremony, still troubled by a recurring nightmare. He receives messages from his mother and older sister, Shuri, reminding him of the ceremony and Shuri's instruction to arrive early. He recalls a brief, somewhat awkward conversation with Shuri the previous night, where she mentioned their mother would attend the ceremony. Tatsumi reflects on his strained relationship with his family, particularly his sister, and his own self-imposed distance.
Upon arriving at the academy, Tatsumi encounters a bustling scene of new students. He is immediately approached by his older sister, Shuri, who is a student council member. Shuri expresses concern about his tardiness and insists on giving him a tour of the school, despite his reluctance. During the tour, Tatsumi notices Shuri's peculiar behavior, often lost in thought and muttering to herself, which he attributes to her overthinking their relationship. He also learns that the school has a random seating arrangement at the start of the year, a rule implemented by the young and seemingly eccentric Headmaster, Suzuka Tachibana. Tatsumi's class is 1-B, and he is assigned a seat next to Haruka Sakurai, a reunion that deeply unsettles him.
The narrative then shifts to Shuri's perspective, revealing her deep-seated anxiety and protectiveness towards Tatsumi. She harbors a traumatic memory from when Tatsumi was ten years old, where he violently defended her from bullies. His subsequent feral state and her fearful reaction led to him pushing her away, creating a rift that has persisted for years. Shuri's current actions are driven by a desire to reconnect with Tatsumi and, more importantly, to prevent him from encountering a specific girl she fears will hurt him. This girl is revealed to be Haruka Sakurai, who is also in Tatsumi's class. Shuri's internal monologue reveals a desperate plan to keep them apart, even considering extreme measures.
Tatsumi's day continues with his HR session, where his blunt and sarcastic remarks to his new homeroom teacher, Sanae Hiiragi, land him in trouble, resulting in a summons to the faculty room. He then has a brief, awkward exchange with Haruka, who calls him "Takkun," a childhood nickname. Later, he is summoned to the Headmaster's office. Headmaster Tachibana, a surprisingly young woman, reveals she knows about Tatsumi's "troublesome" behavior, referencing a "Rindo-san" who has asked her to handle him carefully. While assuring Tatsumi the school won't punish him for past actions, she sternly warns him against endangering other students. Tatsumi also inquires about the random seating, which the Headmaster explains is to foster "exciting" and "meaningful" encounters.
The story then delves into Haruka's past and the events that led to her estrangement from Tatsumi. In junior high, Tatsumi was subjected to severe bullying orchestrated by a boy named Kakiya, who also harassed Haruka. Haruka, pressured by Kakiya and fearing retaliation, faltered in her support of Tatsumi, even nodding when Kakiya asked if she thought Tatsumi was "lame." This moment, witnessed by Tatsumi, shattered their promise of always being together and led to him breaking the pink friendship bracelet they had exchanged. Haruka's guilt over this betrayal has haunted her, and she struggles with her passive nature.
Tatsumi is called to the faculty room by Ms. Hiiragi, where he is reprimanded for his HR behavior. He mistakenly believes Ms. Hiiragi was asking him out, leading to a humorous misunderstanding. Later, Tatsumi attends a celebratory dinner with his mother and sister. His mother reveals she has changed jobs to spend more time with her children, and Tatsumi agrees to return home more often. During dinner, Shuri subtly probes Tatsumi about his entrance exam performance, revealing she knows he intentionally held back. Tatsumi then leaves for a late-night outing, visiting a friend whose chaotic lifestyle mirrors his own family's past struggles. He cleans up his friend's apartment before heading home, encountering Haruka and her classmates on the street.
Haruka, meanwhile, reflects on her brief interaction with Tatsumi and her regret over her past actions. She is invited to a class gathering and struggles with her passive personality, which she believes led to hurting Tatsumi. She recalls the bullying incident in junior high, her fear, and her ultimate betrayal of Tatsumi's trust. The narrative concludes with Tatsumi returning home late, contemplating his complex relationships and the challenges ahead, while Haruka grapples with her past and the possibility of reconnecting with Tatsumi.
