Gonzo's words from that night were still stuck in her head. "The young master never smiled until he met you." Saki sat at the counter of Tomo Cafe, drizzling syrup over her pancakes, turning those words over and over in her mind. Yesterday, the day before—she still hadn't found an answer. The lunch-hour Tomo Cafe was quiet as always. Master Tomo was brewing coffee behind the counter. An acoustic guitar hung on the wall, catching the afternoon light in a faint reflection. (When did Tatsuya stop being able to smile?) She brought the warm pancake to her mouth. Butter melted, sweet and fluffy. Well, thinking about it won't help anyway. All I can do is be a normal girlfriend. She was trying to settle it in her mind when the door chime rang. Saki turned reflexively. Someone sat down across from her without a sound. Long hair. Purple straight locks caught Saki's eye immediately. Tall—probably around 168 centimeters. A white lace choker at her neck. A wine-red jacket, probably from some expensive uniform, fit snugly against her body. A sweet aroma drifted through the air. Red eyes looked straight at Saki. Sharp eyes. Calculating. Appraising. "...Um, who are you?" The words came out. The beautiful girl spoke Saki's name. "Kitami Saki, yes?" Not an answer. Just stating her name. Like she was checking off a list, her voice calm and measured. Saki froze. She was about to ask how she knew her name when Tomo appeared from behind the counter. "[gentle]Welcome~, what can I get you?" "Just water, if you please." Tomo's face looked troubled. He opened his mouth. "[serious]Um... this is a cafe, so just water..." Reina glanced at him. One second. "...Water, coming right up." Tomo quietly set down a glass and retreated to the back. Saki stared in shock. What just happened? She'd silenced him with just a look. "[cold]So you're the girl next to Tatsuya." Reina didn't even touch the glass as she said it. Something thudded in Saki's chest. "[serious]...Yeah, I am." "[cold]How plain." She said it without pause. Saki's hand holding the fork stopped. Reina looked Saki over from top to bottom—her black short hair, her face, her plain uniform like everyone else's—then let out a small sigh. Not a flicker of emotion in her eyebrows, her gaze empty. Like she was checking off a list somewhere. "Tatsuya deserves someone far more suitable. You're... a bit lacking." "[angry]Hold on a second." Saki set down her fork. "[angry]What are you even saying? Tatsuya's my boyfriend. That's none of your business, is it?" Reina's mouth moved for the first time. Just slightly upward. It could have been a smile or a sneer. "[sarcastic]Then prove it." "[surprised]Huh?" "Next month, there's a school event at Minase Municipal First Middle School. The Minase Middle Charisma Grand Prix—where all students vote for the most charismatic person in the grade. You know it?" Saki had heard of it. A school-wide vote held every October, third Saturday. They did it the day before the cultural festival. This year's winner got a special slot on the main stage and free school lunch for a year. "[cold]Let's compete there. Whoever wins is the one truly suited to be at Tatsuya's side." "[sarcastic]...What? That has nothing to do with anything." Reina started to stand, then paused. Without turning around, she said quietly: "[cold]Running away? Is that the answer of Tatsuya's girlfriend?" Saki stopped for one second. The words pierced something deep inside her. Right at the core. "...I'll take you on." The words came out before she could think. Reina didn't turn back. She just said softly, "I look forward to it," and left, the door chime ringing behind her. Clink. Silence. Saki looked at the counter. The pancakes were there. Completely cold. (Why did I say that?!) She wanted to bury her head in her hands. She was going to refuse. There was no way she could win. She had no special talents, no charisma, nothing. Tomo peeked out from the back. "[gentle]...Was that girl someone you know?" "[sad]No, I don't know her." Saki sighed and poured more syrup on the cold pancakes. Then again. Out of spite. --- After school. Saki headed for the window seat in the back row of Class 2-3. Tatsuya was slumped over his desk as usual. In the dim light—almost black rather than silver today—his bangs spread across the desk. He looked like he'd brought sleep from somewhere else with him. "[serious]Hey, wake up." She tapped the desk lightly. Tatsuya slowly lifted his face. Sleepy blue eyes looked at her. Saki told him everything. About the beautiful girl who approached her at Tomo Cafe. About her being the second-generation boss of Violetta Trading Company—a rival organization whose territory overlapped with Tatsuya's Kurogane Alliance. About being challenged to compete in the Charisma Grand Prix. About trying to refuse but somehow accepting anyway. Tatsuya didn't hesitate for even a second. "[serious]There's no way you'd lose. You're the woman I chose." "[angry]That's not the point!" Saki's voice rose. "[angry]That girl Reina—on her first day of transfer, all the girls in class were already saying she's so cool—and apparently she can dance at a professional level—I don't have any special talent like that—" Tatsuya tilted his head. His face was blank, like he was about to say "so what?" Saki's words caught in her throat. She wanted to be angry, but she could feel that Tatsuya wasn't doubting her for even a moment, and her anger crumbled. (Why doesn't this person ever hesitate?) Something warm bloomed in her chest. Not an unpleasant warmth. More like the kind that was inconvenient. "[sarcastic]...But I don't have any charisma or special talents or anything." "Then let's train." "[surprised]Train for what?!" Tatsuya's blank face returned. He said "anything works" like it was obvious. Saki went limp, slumping back in her chair. Talking to this person drained her. She wanted to be angry but couldn't. That was the most frustrating part. --- Living room at home. Saki collapsed onto the sofa. She threw her bag somewhere nearby. "[sad]This is bad. I made a terrible promise." She meant it as a mutter to herself. The sound of a knife stopped in the kitchen. "[gentle]What's wrong, boyfriend trouble again?" Saki's older sister turned around, knife still in hand. She was two years older and always made dinner. Saki stared at the ceiling and told her everything. From Tomo Cafe to Reina's challenge to how she'd somehow accepted when she meant to refuse. Her sister kept chopping for a while. Thunk, thunk, thunk. Then she said quietly: "[gentle]But Saki, you could have refused and you didn't." "...Yeah." "[gentle]That means you actually want to win, doesn't it? Deep down?" Saki said nothing. The words hit harder than she expected. "[sarcastic]...Shut up." Her sister grinned. "[laughing]So what did your boyfriend say?" "He said there's no way I'd lose. Immediate answer." Her sister stopped chopping. She turned around, her mouth softening. "[laughing]Yeah, he's totally into you. Completely." "[angry]He is not!!" She denied it with full force. Her sister chuckled and turned back to the kitchen. Saki put her hand to her face. (No. He was just surprised. I'm just confused.) Her cheeks were a little warm. It was just the stuffy evening air in the room. Definitely just that. Her sister could see everything, but she said nothing. --- The next morning. The moment Saki entered Class 2-3, she heard laughter. Four or five girls were clustered in the middle of the classroom. Purple hair was in the center. Reina was laughing. Not the cold face from Tomo Cafe yesterday, but a soft, gentle laugh. Every time one of the girls said something, she laughed back warmly. She'd already blended into the class in a single day. A girl's voice reached her. "[excited]Reina's really cool, isn't she?!" "[whispers]Did you hear about what happened at the cafe yesterday? She made the master go silent in an instant." Saki headed to her seat by the hallway, catching the voices from the corner of her ear. Her eyes met Reina's. Reina's mouth lifted just slightly. That same smile from yesterday. Then she turned her gaze away like nothing had happened. (She's on a completely different level...) Saki sat down. She looked at the window seat in the back row. Tatsuya was already slumped over his desk. Drool was coming out. By any measure, he looked like a normal sleepy middle schooler. (Say something.) She complained silently. Tatsuya didn't move. Only the sound of even breathing. Saki sighed and opened her textbook. One month until the Charisma Grand Prix. I have no strategy, no special talent, nothing. --- That night. Fifth floor of a mixed-use building in Minase Central Ward. Violetta Trading Company's Minase branch. An office decorated in white and purple, filled with sweet aroma. Reina spoke quietly to her subordinate. "[cold]Investigate that girl thoroughly. Find every weakness." The subordinate bowed deeply. "[serious]Understood." Reina looked out the window. The night view of Minase City spread before her. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly.