Since the start of the school year on September 1, over a month had passed.
It was now late October. The incessant chirping of cicadas had long since faded, the last vestiges of midsummer heat had dissipated, and the golden splendor of autumn was beginning to take hold.
Looking up, the sky stretched like a vast, clear ocean of blue, dotted with clouds that drifted lazily like frothy waves. They were wanderers of the sky, destined to roam freely.
Carrying her schoolbag on her shoulder, Yukinoshita Yukino walked alone up the slope in front of the school. Though she appeared outwardly calm, her mood was surprisingly pleasant.
Ever since that gray, rainy day, her life in Tokyo had changed dramatically.
She now had not only a direction for her efforts but also companions she could call friends—and a few "interesting" adults. Thinking of Touma Youko from yesterday, her cheeks flushed slightly.
She had never imagined that the cold, elegant Touma Kazusa could have such a passionate, warm-hearted mother. But Yukino didn't dislike Touma Youko; she could sense her genuine goodwill.
Having an exceptional older sister at home had meant Yukino's mother always held her to high standards. It wasn't out of a lack of love, but her personality and habits simply didn't allow overt indulgence.
Yukino's first impression of her mother had been that perfectly composed, beautiful, poker-faced visage. Back in Chiba Prefecture, middle school–aged Yukinoshita Yukino had earned the nickname "Snow Woman," but in her mind, the title belonged far more fittingly to her mother. Her icy exterior was simply an unconscious attempt to emulate her.
She wondered briefly about Hara Kei's family. He claimed to come from an "ordinary household," but what kind of ordinary household could produce someone as extraordinary—and strange—as him? A curious thought stirred in her mind.
Yukino's good mood didn't last long.
The moment she stepped into the classroom, the warm hues of her mood were immediately drained away, leaving only a chilly, cold-toned atmosphere lingering in her heart.
In Grimm's fairy tales, Cinderella wore her glass slippers and rode in a pumpkin carriage to the prince's ball. After a dazzling night, she would still face her stepmother and stepsisters' scolding and servitude the next day.
The rural Cinderella that was Yukinoshita Yukino was no exception.
Her interactions with Hara Kei, Touma Kazusa, and Fujisawa Chika hadn't elevated her status in class because they shared a common trait—they were all in different classes.
Kei and Chika were in Class A, while Touma Kazusa was in Class D.
In Class B, where Yukino belonged, she remained isolated and unsupported.
Jealousy is a serpent that grows in every heart, awakening when admiration arises, spitting venom into the soul.
And right now, Yukino had become the object of that jealousy, making her social situation in class increasingly difficult.
Fortunately, this resentment hadn't yet escalated into bullying.
Not that the teenage classmates had particularly high moral standards—it was simply a matter of circumstance.
To provoke strong hostility from others, two conditions must be met: first, there must be something to attack, some clear misbehavior; second, there must be a victim.
Yukino, who always acted correctly and justly, had never displayed any behavior that could be clearly criticized, nor had she ever hurt anyone.
Thus, though some classmates disliked her, none had taken extreme actions. It was a delicate, precarious balance.
As for how things might develop from here… only fate knew.
Yukino herself had no idea.
Though she noticed the growing chill in her relationships with classmates, she didn't know how to melt the accumulating ice.
"If it were my sister… if she were in my place, what would she do?" Yukino's mind conjured an image remarkably similar to her own.
But unlike Yukino's perpetually serious expression, this face always carried a warm smile.
"No… if it were my sister, she probably wouldn't have ended up like this at all."
She sighed quietly, recalling a phrase her mother often said:
"I don't ask you to be as perfect as Haruno, but…"
Sitting at her desk, under the occasional unfriendly glances from her classmates, Yukino's thoughts were tangled like threads. Yet one thought became clearer and clearer:
"I really hope lunchtime comes soon."
For some reason, that small, unremarkable classroom had quietly grown into a place of significance in her heart. Compared to her apartment, it felt far more like home.
"What? Hara Kei didn't come to school today?"
That lunchtime, when Yukino entered the lounge, she was surprised to find that Kei, who usually arrived slightly earlier than her, hadn't shown up.
Later, she learned from Fujisawa Chika that Kei had apparently requested a sick day.
'Is he ill? Seriously ill, to the point he can't come to school?' Yukino felt a twinge of worry.
Honestly, she found it hard to imagine Kei being sick. He had never shown weakness in front of her, leading her at one point to suspect he might not even be human—maybe some cybernetic lifeform fueled by a mysterious "spark."
So hearing that he was sick, she inexplicably felt relieved… and then immediately concerned for him.
What surprised her even more was Fujisawa Chika's reaction. Rather than showing any negativity, Chika seemed genuinely cheerful—a paradox that left Yukino puzzled.
Noticing Yukino's surprise, Chika offered a mysterious smile and pulled out her phone, showing a memo with an address.
"Hara Kei's sick today and can't come to class. How can we make sure he doesn't fall behind?" Chika said in an exaggerated, playful tone. "Looks like it's up to me, class rep, to bring him today's notes and assignments!"
"…." Yukino roughly understood what the address implied.
"You're coming with me, Yukino?"
"Of course." The reply was immediate and without hesitation.
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