Chapter 1: A Place to Stay Still
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
The bell rang, echoing through the halls and signaling the beginning of lunch break. Students eagerly shuffled from their seats, conversations were erupting as they formed groups to head to the cafeteria or linger by the windows to chat. The classroom buzzed with energy, and the air was filled with laughter and casual banter.
Except for one corner.
Near the back, beside the window where the sunlight cast a soft glow, a boy sat alone. His black hair was slightly tousled, it fell over his forehead, framing a pair of deep-set and indifferent eyes. His uniform was neatly worn, though his tie sat a little loose, as if he didn't care to adjust it. His expression was calm—not exactly bored, but not interested in the noise surrounding him either.
His name was Laverne Ellis.
Carefully, Laverne reached down to his bag, unzipping it to retrieve his lunchbox. The dark container clicked open to reveal a simple yet well-prepared meal: perfectly shaped rice balls sprinkled with sesame seeds, rolled omelets with neatly cut edges, stir-fried vegetables with a light sheen of sauce, and a couple of cherry tomatoes adding a pop of color. Not extravagant, but carefully made. Every piece was placed with a kind of quiet diligence.
It had to be handmade.
After all, Laverne lived alone now.
Why, you ask? It wasn't because his parents had passed away or something tragic like that. No, both his father and mother were alive and well. His father, a civil engineer, often worked on large infrastructure projects across the country, constantly moving to wherever the next assignment called. His mother, a flight attendant, was rarely home, soaring across time zones as her job demanded.
During his middle school years, this constant moving had become a norm for Laverne. Changing homes, adjusting to new classrooms, memorizing unfamiliar faces only to leave them behind a few months later—it made it impossible for him to form friendship. Everyone else seemed to have connections rooted in years of shared memories, while he just simply... drifted.
That was why, before his middle school graduation and the national high school entrance exams, Laverne had made a request. No, he had begged his parents: