Lunch break slipped away like sand in an hourglass, and when the school bell rang, it carried a painful crispness.
Compared to the morning filled with constant incidents, Reina felt that her afternoon campus life could be described as calm and tranquil.
She simply acted like the most ordinary high school student—listening to lectures, taking notes, relaxing her stiff neck and shoulders during the break bell, occasionally discussing a math problem with the classmate in front of her, and carefully organizing her homework for each subject into her bag before school ended.
The day thus reached its conclusion.
To others, such an afternoon might seem a bit too dull, but to her, it was like a rare breathing space after a storm, so precious she was almost moved to tears of gratitude.
"Reina-chan~!"
When that signature energetic, sweet voice came from behind with an obvious intent to approach, Reina reflexively clutched her shoulder bag tighter.
She didn't look back, and she didn't even slow down; instead, she accelerated without hesitation, trying to merge into the flow of students surging toward the school gate.
"Wait for me—!"
The voice behind her grew closer, and she could even hear the sound of slightly hurried footsteps chasing after her.
Wait for you? Only a ghost would wait for you!
Reina couldn't help but scream silently in her heart. She buried her head and practically jogged out of the main entrance of the teaching building, temporarily shaking off that space mixed with various youthful scents.
The afternoon sun was a bit dazzling. She squinted her eyes, but her pace didn't slow down at all.
Misaki.
In Reina's private dictionary, this name had now become synonymous with terms like "Symbol of Trouble," "Unstoppable Straight Ball," and "Perpetual Motion Engine of Vitality."
Ah, although she really didn't want to use such rude words to describe a classmate who was essentially kind and popular... the truth seemed to be exactly that.
Honestly, when she had just entered Fujimori Girls Academy and was still ignorant of everything, Reina had actually secretly thought Misaki was a pretty good person.
After all, on the very first day of school, with that bright smile that seemed like it would never go out, a kind and friendly attitude toward everyone, and the passion to give her all in any activity, she quickly became the grade's well-known "Acknowledged Little Sun."
Such a person, no matter how you looked at it, felt extremely, extremely good.
—Until that lunch break, which still made Reina's scalp tingle just thinking about it.
It was in a corner warmed by the sun; Misaki, with a smile, approached her quite naturally.
Then, in a tone that was no different from her usual one, she threw out a question comparable to the Big Bang:
"Ah, speaking of which... Reina, do you know what love feels like?"
"Eh?"
"...No, I don't." At that time, Reina was completely caught off guard and could only answer honestly by reflex.
"That's great! I don't know either!"
Misaki's eyes instantly lit up, as if she had discovered some interesting commonality.
Immediately after, she pressed her hands together, leaned forward slightly, and in a matter-of-fact tone, said the sentence that turned Reina to stone on the spot:
"Then—why don't we try dating? That way, we'll both know what it feels like!"
"Oh... hmm?"
"Ha→↑???! Wait, wait—?!"
That elongated, pitch-shifted exclamation still seemed to echo deep in Reina's eardrums.
She still hadn't figured out how Misaki managed to start a confession in such a... such a fresh and unconventional way.
Even more confusing... why did it have to be her who was chosen?!
Moreover, just standing next to her, Reina often felt the illusion that she was about to melt away.
Really, about to melt.
For someone like her, who was essentially gloomy, accustomed to staying in corners, and needing to expend huge mental effort just to barely disguise herself as a socialite, standing next to a sun like Misaki, who seemed born to live under the spotlight, only made her feel out of place.
Like an ugly duckling trying to blend into a flock of white swans, every moment was filled with the fear of being exposed.
As expected... for someone like her, it was probably more appropriate to find a rotten corner filled with clutter and quietly wait to grow moldy, right?
In that case, at least she wouldn't have to worry about being roasted to a sizzle and suffering in agony just by coming into contact with the overly hot and dazzling sunlight, like a legendary vampire.
Such a high-energy fellow, always burning herself up...
If she remembered correctly, she should be in the real world right now, right?
It wasn't some third-rate pulp romance novel or an exaggerated shōjo manga, right? How could someone really be cheerful to the point of having their own BGM and a background of blooming flowers!
"...Ah."
Her chaotic thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of the yellow and black warning line beneath her feet.
Unknowingly, she had walked quickly to the edge of the commuter train platform. Reina snapped back to her senses and hurriedly steadied her steps, stopping just inside the warning line.
That was close... she almost stepped out.
"It seems Rin was right..." She withdrew a foot that had already slightly extended with lingering fear, raised her hand to rub her throbbing temples, and whispered to herself, "Lately, my attention... really has been too scattered."
Always immersed in her own troubles and over-interpreting others, she would even space out while walking to the point of almost making a fool of herself.
She looked up at the currently empty platform.