  We present high-cadence photometric and spectroscopic observations of
SN~2023axu, a classical Type II supernova with an absolute $V$-band peak
magnitude of $-16.5 \pm 0.1$ mag. SN~2023axu was discovered by the Distance
Less Than 40 Mpc (DLT40) survey within 1 day of the last non-detection in the
nearby galaxy NGC 2283 at 13.7 Mpc. We modeled the early light curve using a
recently updated shock cooling model that includes the effects of line
blanketing and found the explosion epoch to be MJD 59971.48 $\pm$ 0.03 and the
probable progenitor to be a red supergiant with a radius of 417 $\pm$ 28
$R_\odot$. The shock cooling model cannot match the rise of observed data in
the $r$ and $i$ bands and underpredicts the overall UV data which points to
possible interaction with circumstellar material. This interpretation is
further supported by spectral behavior. We see a ledge feature around 4600 \AA\
in the very early spectra (+1.1 and +1.5 days after the explosion) which can be
a sign of circumstellar interaction. The signs of circumstellar material are
further bolstered by the presence of absorption features blueward of H$\alpha$
and H$\beta$ at day $>$40 which is also generally attributed to circumstellar
interaction. Our analysis shows the need for high-cadence early photometric and
spectroscopic data to decipher the mass-loss history of the progenitor.

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;Solar and Stellar Astrophysics