In the corridor outside, the sound of footsteps echoed steadily. A girl pushed the classroom door open just as the teacher was calling roll.
"Noelle," the teacher read out.
The name hung in the air as the girl stepped inside. Brown hair that framed her fair skin, a tiny mole beneath her eye, and a well-kept figure that made heads turn instantly—she was impossible to overlook.
"First day and you're already late," the teacher scolded.
"I'm sorry for that," Noelle replied softly.
"Go have your seat. Beside Takumi."
The class erupted in whispers.
"An angel like her sitting next to Takumi!?"
Takumi narrowed his eyes. Yeah, you morons, so what? Am I creepy or something? I don't bother any of you—or her.
Noelle sat down with a polite smile. "Nice to meet you. So you're Takumi?"
"Guess that's what the teacher just said."
Her lips twitched. "Right…" she thought bitterly, What's with his attitude? Can't he be grateful that I, Noelle, am sitting beside him?
Of course, on the outside, she remained perfectly pleasant. That's how most people were: masks of sweetness over narcissism.