Reina had transferred in just a few days ago. Yet this morning, the classroom was already dyed in Reina's colors. When Saki opened the door to Class 2-3, three girls from the class were huddled together, whispering. All of them were wearing hairpins she'd never seen before. Little ribbon-shaped ones with some brand logo glinting on them. (Those look expensive...) As Saki tried to approach, one of them noticed. "Oh" The air changed. The three girls looked at Saki, then immediately looked away. "[sarcastic]...Where'd you get those?" "Oh, it's nothing" Shut down with a smile. Saki headed to her seat thinking (something's weird), but couldn't quite put it into words. First period. Second period. As time passed, the whispers grew gradually louder. "Saki, I heard she confessed to Tatsuya because she found out he's rich" "Seriously? So it was calculated from the start?" It was deliberate. Under Saki's desk, her fist clenched. (What? Where did that come from?) But she couldn't confirm it. No proof. She couldn't stand up during class. Saki just kept staring at her textbook, her fist locked tight. --- Just before lunch break, her phone vibrated. The class group chat. Read receipts piling up. Saki opened the screen and froze. A screenshot had been posted. Saki's icon. Saki's name. And written there: 'I want a rich boyfriend~ Tatsuya might be perfect' (...What?) "Seriously?" "That's harsh. Poor Tatsuya" "But it's her actual account" Saki stood up. "[angry]Wait. I never wrote that. This is fake!" Thirty pairs of eyes turned toward her. But no one said "Yeah, you're right." Just half-convinced stares. "...Well, if you say so" The conversation just ended there. No one helped her. Lunch break. Miho and Aya, who usually went to Tomo Cafe with her, passed by Saki without meeting her eyes. "[sad]Today's just... sorry" They didn't look at her. Saki headed alone toward Asahi Street Shopping District. --- When she sat at the counter of Tomo Cafe, the master Tomo called out to her. "[gentle]...Looks rough" Saki said nothing. "[gentle]I'll make you some pancakes" That was all. But it was the only warmth in this lunch break. When the pancakes arrived, Saki slowly pressed her fork into them. The butter melted. Sweet aroma. A week ago, she'd eaten here sitting next to Tatsuya. Tatsuya had silently eaten two pancakes and tried to eat half of hers too, and she'd yelled at him. (...Why am I remembering that?) Her chest ached, slowly and deeply. --- After school, Saki stopped Tatsuya. In a corner of the hallway. A quiet spot near the stairs. She thrust her phone screen at him. "[serious]Look. This fake image is going around. The whole class is basically ignoring me" Tatsuya looked at the screenshot for one second. His blue eyes narrowed. "I'll find who did it and crush them. I can identify them tonight" "[angry]What? That's not the point! Don't solve it with violence!" "Then what do you want me to do" "[angry]Talk it out properly! Do it the normal way!" Tatsuya paused for a moment, then spoke with a straight face. "If rumors stopped the normal way, this wouldn't have happened in the first place" Saki's words caught in her throat. He was right. Infuriatingly right. "[angry]...That might be true, but!" "I can't leave someone who hurt you alone" "[angry]Listen to my feelings instead of just protecting me!" Her voice echoed down the hallway. Tatsuya went silent. Saki kept going. She couldn't stop. "[angry]I didn't want to get dragged into your world!" The moment she said it, she knew. She'd said too much. Something changed in Tatsuya's eyes. Not his usual vacant expression. For just a moment, his face showed deep hurt. Then Tatsuya put his phone away. He said nothing. He just quietly walked down the hallway. Saki couldn't say "wait." Pride got in the way. Her tongue wouldn't move. The silver-white slicked-back hair receding into the distance. Only Saki remained in the hallway. (...Ah. I said too much.) --- Walking alone down Asahi Street, she caught the scent of sweet aroma. "May I have a moment?" She turned around. Reina was standing there. Her purple long straight hair swayed in the evening breeze. White-gloved fingers tapped Saki's shoulder lightly. "[cold]I have a proposal for you" "[serious]...What?" "Withdraw from the contest. If you do, I'll make the rumors disappear by tomorrow" Saki's feet stopped. "[surprised]...You spread them?" Reina didn't bother denying it. Her red eyes looked straight at Saki. "[cold]It doesn't matter. Either way, you're not suited for Tatsuya" "..." "The woman who stands beside Tatsuya needs to be stronger, more beautiful, and more capable of supporting him. A plain girl like you getting hurt is just what happens when you're in a place you don't belong" Every word hit precisely. Being isolated in class. Saying too much to Tatsuya. Having nothing. Reina seemed to know exactly where Saki was softest, and she struck every vulnerable spot. Saki tried to open her mouth. But no words came out. Everything from today swirled in her head, refusing to take shape. Reina didn't wait for an answer. "[cold]Think it over" She said only that and left. Standing alone in the crowd of the shopping district, Saki was frozen. People walked past her. Voices sounded distant. She felt herself getting smaller and smaller. (Am I... really out of place?) --- That same night. Minase City Central Ward, Tower Grants, 31st floor. Tatsuya sat on the sofa, opening an old envelope. One that Gonzo, one of his executives, had left with him. Inside was a single photograph. A small Tatsuya from elementary school, standing next to a large man, both smiling. His father. Tetsuji. Tatsuya stared at the photo for a while. "[whispers]...It's my fault she's hurting" If he tried to help, she'd get angry. If he stayed close, he'd be a burden. Tatsuya didn't know what was right. He gently put the photo back in the envelope. Outside the window, Minase City's night view spread out. Not the boss commanding thirty-two hundred members of the Kurogane Alliance. Just a single boy who'd realized he'd hurt someone. That was the face reflected in the glass. One week until the contest. The class isolation continued. The fight with Tatsuya remained unresolved. Reina's words—"If you withdraw, I'll help you"—still lingered in Saki's mind.