“Club?”

  Irisa held the paper delicately between her fingers, green eyes scanning the bold letters at the top: Club Enrollment Form.

  “Yes,” the teacher repeated patiently. “All students must join a club. It’s part of the school curriculum.”

  Irisa nodded once. “Understood. What clubs are currently avaible?”

  The teacher turned the clipboard toward her and pointed at the printed list. “These are the active ones. Sports, culture, arts. And remember, a club must have at least three members to be established.”

  Irisa tilted her head slightly. “So students may form any club they desire, as long as there are three participants?”

  “Yes, though it still requires teacher approval.”

  “I see.” She considered this information carefully, like it was a treaty agreement rather than an after school hobby. “Is there a deadline to submit my decision?”

  “I’ll give you three days,” the teacher replied. “Take your time.”

  Irisa bowed politely. “Thank you very much.”

  When she stepped out of the teacher's room, she paused in the hallway and studied the club list again. Kendo, tea Ceremony, literature, art, archery.

  Her lips curved faintly. Human society really enjoyed categorizing their leisure activities.

  How fascinating.

  She folded the paper neatly and walked back toward css, posture straight, movements composed.

  A few passing students slowed down just to look at her. She remained unaware or perhaps unbothered.

  ---

  By the time csses ended that afternoon, the hallway outside their cssroom already looked like a fan meeting. Students hovered around her desk. A few simply stared.

  Akari, meanwhile, sat two rows away, pretending to pack her bag while absolutely not pretending to gnce over there every fifteen seconds.

  “You keep looking at her direction today,” Yuu whispered suddenly.

  Akari jerked so hard she nearly dropped her pencil case.

  Yuu grinned. “I can’t bme you though.”

  “Stop it, Yuu,” Akari groaned.

  “What are you thinking about your ‘cousin’ now?” Yuu wiggled her eyebrows. “Has she started showing her fangs?”

  Akari smacked Yuu lightly on the head. “Idiot.”

  Yuu ughed.

  Akari huffed, then lowered her voice. “I just saw her bringing the club form earlier. I was wondering what club she’d join.”

  Yuu’s smirk deepened. “You sound very invested.”

  “I’m just curious!”

  “You have all the time in the world to ask her at home. No one’s going to steal her.”

  Akari rolled her eyes.

  Then Yuu added casually, “You sounded like a possessive girlfriend just now.”

  Akari immediately pinched Yuu’s cheek. “Don’t phrase it like that!”

  “Ow, ow! Okay, okay! I’m sorry!”

  Akari released her with a dramatic sigh. It wasn’t possessiveness. She was just… curious. Right?

  When Akari gnced back toward Irisa, she was gone.

  Akari blinked. The crowd had dispersed slightly. Her desk was empty.

  Akari slung her bag over her shoulder. “I’m going home. See you tomorrow.”

  “Bye, Akari,” Yuu replied.

  Today they hadn’t gone to school together.

  When Akari came downstairs in the morning, hair still messy, Irisa was already gone.

  “She really remembers the way already…” Akari muttered to herself earlier that day, strangely impressed.

  Now, walking toward the entrance hall, she wondered if Irisa had left early again, but before she could reach the shoe lockers,

  a commotion erupted near the entrance.

  Students were gathered in a loose circle. Some squeaked. Some whispered loudly. Some pretended to walk past very slowly.

  Akari frowned. What now?

  She stepped closer, weaving through the small crowd and then she saw.

  Irisa was standing near the entrance, calm as ever and beside her...

  Asa Nakamura...

  Akari froze.

  Asa possessed a quiet kind of beauty, the kind that didn’t demand attention, yet held it effortlessly.

  Her dark hair fell in yered waves just past her shoulders, slightly tousled, as though she’d simply run her fingers through it instead of bothering with a comb. A few loose strands framed her face, softening the natural sharpness of her jawline. Her almond shaped eyes were observant, carrying a calm, distant depth that made it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

  There was something about her presence. Cool, yet undeniably feminine. She moved with quiet confidence, like someone fully aware that people were looking at her but with no need to acknowledge it.

  And right now, she was standing close to Irisa.

  Somehow… they looked really good together.

  Visually banced.

  Cool and cool.

  Pretty and pretty.

  Akari’s brain short circuited for a second. Why do they look like a beautiful painting? She thought, irritation creeping in without permission.

  The surrounding students had started leaning in, whispers forming like background music. Even the air felt heavier, dramatic in a way that made the scene seem staged.

  Akari felt something strange rise in her chest.

  Not anger, not jealousy.

  Just...

  An uncomfortable feelings.