The garden path of Fujimori Girls Academy, the cobblestone road gleaming with a warm luster in the afternoon sun, the neatly trimmed bushes emitting the fresh scent of plants, with butterflies occasionally fluttering by.
Yui walked through it elegantly, her expensive uniform leather shoes stepping on the pebbles, making a rhythmic and clear light sound.
Her face maintained her usual cold expression, only deep within those glass-like eyes, a sharp and focused light flickered.
After confirming that Reina had gone to the school store and would most likely hide to eat her lunch in a short time, and would not appear at other common locations on campus, Yui immediately locked her search target onto Rin.
The first place she went was the student cafeteria, the location of the invitation Rin had extended to Reina, which she had vaguely heard outside the classroom door.
The cafeteria at lunch break was bustling with noise, the scents of various foods mixed together.
Yui frowned slightly, not quite accustomed to such an overly plebeian, noisy environment.
She stood in a slightly conspicuous position at the entrance, her gaze quickly sweeping over rows of seats and the backs of students queuing in front of various windows.
None.
There was no sign of that unique, eye-catching short silver-white hair, nor that back that was always straight yet slightly thin.
"Am I too late..." Yui felt a bit annoyed.
She guessed that the other party might have already quickly finished lunch; after all, given Rin's solitary personality, she likely wouldn't dawdle while eating.
Without hesitation, she immediately turned around and set her next destination as the playground.
Perhaps someone who liked being alone would find a quiet corner there to relax in peace?
However, there were only a few scattered students on the open playground doing club activities or simply walking, and Rin was nowhere to be seen.
Next was the rooftop, which was locked and didn't look like anyone was there.
The pavilion in the courtyard was empty.
The bench outside the library and the whispering area inside only had a few students with their heads buried in books...
Anxiety, like small vines, began to silently wrap around her patience. Time was ticking away; Reina could finish that pathetic bread at any moment and return to the classroom, or worse, meet someone else.
Clutching at the last glimmer of hope, she turned back into the school building.
The school corridor in the afternoon was much quieter than usual; most students had dispersed to the cafeteria, the school store, or their respective secret bases.
After silently brushing past a lone female student who was muttering to herself, "I really want to become a guitar vocalist...", her gaze finally, as if attracted by a magnet, slammed onto the corner not far ahead in the corridor.
There, a touch of cold silver-white was quietly leaning against the wall by the window.
Sunlight filtered through the clean glass window, perfectly outlining her slender silhouette, gilding her short white hair with a layer of pale golden halo.
She tilted her head slightly, seemingly lost in thought, gazing at something in the courtyard outside the window. The lines of her profile appeared clear and quiet in the light.
Rin.
Found her.
Yui's steps faltered; almost simultaneously, the restlessness in her chest caused by the long search was instantly replaced by another emotion.
It was scrutiny, and an undisguised, even somewhat condescending, repulsion.
She did not immediately approach.
Instead, she stood where she was, taking a few seconds to quickly and carefully adjust her uniform tie, which had become slightly loose from her brisk walking, and smoothed out her meticulous cuffs, as if the slightly impatient search from just moments ago had never happened.
She could not lose her composure.
Then, she restarted her steps.
The sound of her footsteps was unhurried as she walked toward the white figure leaning against the wall.
The sound of her heels tapping on the smooth floor was clearly audible in the quiet corridor, carrying a rhythmic, declarative tone.
As if she heard the footsteps, or perhaps felt the focused gaze, Rin, who had been looking out the window, slowly raised her head.
Their gazes met silently in the air.
Finally, she stopped about a meter in front of Rin.
This distance was neither impolite nor lacking in subtle pressure.
She lifted her chin slightly, her deep purple eyes falling upon Rin's face from above.
Her cherry-colored lips parted slightly, her voice clear and melodious, yet like the thin, unmelted ice on the surface of an early spring stream, carrying just the right amount of politeness and an insurmountable distance: "Greetings, Yukishiro-san."