The morning sun filtered through the windows of the small herb shop, casting golden light over the neatly arranged shelves of dried pnts and tinctures. Tomoe Nakano moved quietly around the store, helping her mother arrange freshly gathered herbs, her delicate fingers tying small bundles together before hanging them from the wooden beams above the shop window. The air smelled of vender, chamomile, and fresh-cut mint, a familiar and comforting scent that had been part of her daily routine for as long as she could remember.

  The small shop, nestled within the business district of Konoha, was both their home and livelihood. Tomoe and her mother, Serena, lived in the small apartment above the shop, a quiet space filled with old books and the scent of medicinal pnts. She never knew her father—her mother wasn’t forthcoming with details, and Tomoe had long since stopped asking.

  As she reached up to fasten a bundle of rosemary near the window, the chime of the entrance bell rang. She gnced over her shoulder, watching as a familiar patron stepped inside.

  “Ah, Kaya!” Serena greeted warmly, her face lighting up with a beaming smile. “Right on time, as always.”

  Kaya, ever composed, offered a polite nod and an easy smile before stepping toward the counter. Tomoe recognized this pattern—Kaya frequently visited to sell herbs from the nearby forests, offering a supply of rare pnts that weren’t easy to come by. It wasn’t uncommon for vilgers living near the outskirts to find valuable herbs, but the sheer variety and amount that Kaya brought in were unusual.

  “You’re the best herb gatherer in the vilge,” Serena teased, crossing her arms with a smirk. “Any pharmacist would jump at the chance to have you as an exclusive supplier. I swear, you’re putting me out of business.”

  Tomoe, still silent, returned to hanging the bundles of herbs, her soft violet eyes peeking over the shelf. She kept to the background as she always did, letting her mother handle customers.

  Until her mother called out to her. “Tomoe, come here for a moment.”

  She turned hesitantly, walking toward the counter, only to freeze mid-step. Standing beside Kaya, examining a jar of small pinecone-like objects suspended in oil, was a boy she recognized.

  Hiro.

  His dark green eyes reflected the light from the window, his face calm as he studied the jar with curiosity. His gradient-colored hair—deep purple near the roots, darkening toward the ends—was even more striking up close. He carried himself with an air of quiet confidence, his posture rexed yet attentive.

  As Tomoe timidly approached the counter, Hiro must have sensed her presence, because he looked up and, after a brief moment of recognition, offered her a wide smile.

  “Hey, Tomoe,” he said in an even, neutral tone.

  Tomoe felt her breath catch. She hadn’t even been aware that Hiro knew her name.

  Though they were in the same css, she had gone out of her way to avoid standing out. During break times, she kept her head down, avoiding the lively group discussions that other students engaged in. She was below average in physical activities, often lingering at the back of training drills, unnoticed and unheard. For someone like Hiro, who was surrounded by strong and capable students, to remember her name was... unexpected.

  Her mind raced, trying to come up with a response. She lowered her gaze, letting her bangs cover her eyes as she shifted uncomfortably.

  “Uh... Hey, Hiro...” she finally whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

  Hiro, unfazed, gave her a small wave before returning his attention to the jar. The tension in her chest didn’t ease, but at least he hadn’t ughed or pressed her to talk more. That was a relief.

  Without another word, Tomoe walked past him and collected the packaged bundle of herbs her mother had just bought from Kaya. Clutching it carefully, she hurried toward the back of the shop, grateful for an excuse to retreat into familiar, quiet work.

  As Kaya and Hiro turned to leave, Serena suddenly called out.

  “Kaya, wait a moment.”

  The tone of her voice made Kaya pause. She exchanged a gnce with Hiro before telling him to wait outside. Once Hiro stepped out, Kaya returned to the counter, noticing the way Serena’s usual bright expression had dimmed slightly.

  Serena hesitated for only a second before speaking. “I didn’t realize Hiro was in Tomoe’s css.”

  Kaya raised a brow. “You’ve heard of him before.”

  “Of course,” Serena said. “You’ve mentioned him to me before. But I never thought Tomoe would actually know him.”

  Kaya could see the concern in Serena’s eyes before she even said the words. “Tomoe is... extremely shy,” Serena admitted. “She’s a kind girl, but she doesn’t reach out to make friends. I worry about her. The Academy is filled with strong personalities, and I’m afraid she’ll go unnoticed or left behind.”

  Kaya nodded, understanding. “You want to help her make friends.”

  Serena gave her a hopeful look. “Do you think there’s a way for Tomoe to get closer to Hiro?”

  Kaya’s lips twitched into a small smirk. “Natsume is in their css too. Maybe she could be another friend for Tomoe.”

  Serena’s eyes brightened. “That’s perfect. I know Aoi well—we’ve worked together for years through the Yamanaka flower shop.”

  “Then I’ll talk to her,” Kaya said simply. “And in the meantime, why don’t you and Tomoe come over for dinner? It’ll be casual, and we can see how the kids interact without the pressure of the Academy.”

  Serena smiled warmly. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

  As Kaya stepped out of the shop, she gnced over at Hiro, who stood patiently outside, staring up at the sky in quiet thought.

  She wondered if he had any idea that he was about to become part of another small but important change in someone’s life.