Reina followed closely behind.
The backyard was darker than imagined.
The huge shadow cast by the teaching building completely enveloped this area, and only the outline of the short tree near the wall in the distance was vaguely discernible in the night.
Rin looked back at Reina, didn't speak, but just lifted her chin toward the direction of the tree.
Then she took the lead, moving forward silently along the darkest part of the shadow at the foot of the wall.
Reina took a deep breath and followed.
The tree was indeed not high, the trunk rough, covered with uneven textures left by time.
The lowest branch was only a bit over a person's height from the ground; stepping on the knots on the trunk, it should be very easy to climb up.
Rin stopped under the tree, looked up and sized it up for a few seconds, then turned to face Reina.
"I'll go up first."
She said in a low voice.
"After I go up, you wait below, and I'll pull you."
Reina nodded.
Rin turned around, grabbed the most prominent knot on the trunk with both hands, kicked off the ground, and moved as lightly as a real cat.
In just a few seconds, she climbed onto the lowest branch, sat on it, and looked down at Reina.
"Come."
She reached down a hand.
Reina stood on tiptoe, trying hard to reach up, but the height of the branch was higher than she imagined; her fingertips barely touched Rin's palm, but she couldn't get a firm grip.
Rin didn't speak, just leaned her body further out, and that hand reached down a bit more.
This time, Reina grabbed it.
That hand was cool, slender, but held very tightly.
Borrowing that upward force, Reina stepped on the protrusion on the trunk and climbed up bit by bit; Rin's other hand timely supported her shoulder, helping her stabilize her center of gravity.
Soon, Reina also climbed onto the branch and sat beside Rin.
At close range, she could clearly see the silhouette of her profile illuminated by the moonlight, and those eyes focused on the direction of the wall.
"Rest for a moment."
Rin said softly.
"Then climb over."
Reina nodded and looked in the direction of her gaze.
The wall was right outside the canopy, slightly higher than their current position, but as long as they stood up and reached out while holding the trunk, they should be able to reach the top of the wall.
In the night, streetlights cast pools of warm yellow light onto the street on the other side of the wall. Occasionally, pedestrians hurried by, never noticing the two female students hiding on this side, climbing over.
Reina's heart was pounding with an inexplicable sense of excitement.
Even though they were doing something not quite right, sitting in the tree now, feeling the night breeze, with that quiet white figure beside her, she actually felt a strange sense of peace.
It was as if, as long as she followed this person, it didn't matter what they did.
"What are you thinking about?"
Rin's voice suddenly rang out.
Reina turned her head, meeting those azure eyes that seemed exceptionally bright in the night.
"...Nothing."
She looked away, her ears seeming a bit pink.
"I just think... this is actually quite interesting."
"Then it seems you are quite rebellious."
"...How can you say that to me!"
Rin didn't press the issue.
She just gave a soft "Mm," and then turned her gaze back to the wall.
"Are you ready?"
Reina took a deep breath and nodded.
"Mm."
Rin didn't say anything more.
She braced herself against the tree trunk with both hands, stood up lightly, and reached out, holding onto the branches on the outer side of the canopy. The wall was right in front of her, but it didn't seem to pose any obstacle to her.
She grabbed the top of the wall with one hand, pushed off with her feet, and vaulted over.
A soft landing sound came from the other side of the wall.
Then, Rin's voice came from over the wall, kept very low: "Reina, it's your turn."
Reina swallowed hard.
She stood up, imitating Rin, and leaned out, holding onto the tree trunk.
The tree trunk was rougher than she had imagined; as her palms pressed against it, she could feel the uneven texture digging into her skin. The wall was right ahead, and her outstretched fingertips could barely reach the edge.
She stood on tiptoe, trying to shift her center of gravity over.
—It was harder than she had imagined.
The branch under her feet wasn't wide enough, so she had to turn sideways, with one foot on it and the other hanging in the air, searching for a new foothold.
The distance to the top of the wall didn't seem as close as it had before; every time she stretched out, her balance wobbled.
"Take it slow, don't rush."
Rin's voice came from the other side of the wall, very soft, but very steady.
Reina bit her lower lip, trying hard to grip more firmly.
However, at this very moment.
Something flashed in the bushes not far away.
It was a beam of light.
It wasn't very conspicuous, perhaps even faint, but in the pitch-black night, that swaying beam of light was enough to make anyone with a guilty conscience stop breathing.