Yueci Porcelain froze for a moment. She hadn’t expected to be asked to remove her glasses again so soon after leaving the infirmary.

Hachisu Inori noticed Yueci’s wariness. She smiled and explained gently.

"Don’t worry, Yueci-san. These photos are only for student records. No one else will see them."

"The school takes student privacy very seriously."

At this, Yueci gave a slight nod.

Truthfully, she didn’t need to be so on guard. So what if she ran into someone from her past?

She could simply deny it. After all these years, who could possibly remember every detail of a person’s face?

Coincidences were inexplicable—and the absurd things that had happened to her? No one would believe them anyway.

In the silent student council room, their breathing sounded unnaturally loud.

Hachisu watched Yueci patiently, eyes half-lidded.

Yueci’s fingers rose to her frames. Slowly, she lifted the plain black glasses off her nose.

The weight on her face vanished instantly.

She spotted a small stool before the blue backdrop against the wall—likely the photo spot.

Walking over, she sat down, placed her glasses neatly on her lap, and looked up at Hachisu.

"Ready. Take it."

Hachisu set up the camera but didn’t shoot immediately. She studied Yueci’s face, tapping her chin thoughtfully with a finger.

Before Yueci could react, Hachisu had already moved right in front of her.

A soft shadow fell over Yueci. She tilted her head up, puzzled—and found Hachisu’s smiling face inches away, bent close to examine her.

A cool touch brushed her cheek. Hachisu’s slender fingers gently swept Yueci’s bangs behind her ear.

Her vision cleared instantly.

With her hair tucked back, Yueci’s full face was completely exposed.

Hachisu’s breath hitched for a few seconds before steadying.

Her eyes gleamed with growing interest as she smoothed Yueci’s collar.

"My, Yueci-san… you’re really quite lovely~"

"You’re far too low-key every day."

With a soft chuckle behind her hand, Hachisu returned to her camera.

Yueci sat perfectly still. Facing the lens, she instinctively offered a faint, polite smile.

Hachisu adjusted the camera carefully, bending low to frame the shot—checking light and angle for perfection.

*CLICK—*

The flash blinded Yueci momentarily. When she opened her eyes, Hachisu was already reviewing the photo.

"Want to see it, Yueci-san?"

She held out the camera invitingly.

Hachisu’s skill was undeniable. Though just a standard ID photo, every subtle detail revealed the photographer’s talent.

No stiff, lifeless stare—Yueci’s charm was captured almost perfectly.

Yueci knew little about photography, but even she had to admit: it looked good.

"Alright. I’ll input your details into the system now."

"Hiru Kawakami is probably still waiting for you in the infirmary. You can take those textbooks and go."

Hachisu gestured to the stack on the desk.

Yueci nodded. The books weren’t too heavy. After a polite farewell, she left the office.

Watching Yueci’s figure disappear down the corridor, Hachisu’s smile deepened. She closed the door, sat at her computer, and inserted the camera’s memory card.

A soft, wordless hum filled the room, mingling with the clicks of mouse and keyboard.

*Tap-tap-tap…*

Footsteps approached the door, stopping outside.

*Knock knock knock…*

A crisp, rhythmic knock echoed.

"Come in," Hachisu called softly from behind her screen.

*CLICK—*

The door opened. An elegant girl entered, closed it gracefully behind her, and placed a file on Hachisu’s desk.

"Oh? Domoto-san?"

Hachisu paused her work, lacing her fingers under her chin. She smiled, eyes crinkling.

"The new underclassman already took the books?"

Noticing the missing textbooks, the girl tapped her lips thoughtfully.

"Mm. I’m entering her records right now."

"The uniform order still needs your attention, Domoto-san~"

The girl nodded. Her gaze drifted to Hachisu’s screen—and froze on the photo. Her lips parted slightly in surprise.

"…"

"So this is the underclassman who saved you, Inori-chan? She’s stunning."

"I heard… her family hasn’t been fortunate lately. How tragic…"

Her expression softened with pity.

Hachisu said nothing. She simply stared at the girl’s face, then narrowed her eyes, her smile deepening.

She always seemed to be smiling.

"Tragic indeed…"

"But Domoto-san’s reaction isn’t what I expected~"

"Oh dear. I thought you’d feel threatened seeing Yueci-san’s photo… maybe even jealous? She *is* so beautiful~"

A scoff cut her off. The girl laughed, feigning offense.

"So *this* is how you see me, Inori-chan~"

"How could I possibly be jealous of a junior I’ve never even met?"

Though her words were light, her eyes held no warmth.

Hachisu only maintained her enigmatic smile, silent.

—

The measurements and photos hadn’t taken long. After putting her glasses back on and fixing her hair, Yueci returned to the infirmary to find Hiru Kawakami still there.

The nurse was present, but the room was quiet.

Hiru rarely made small talk. She simply sat in silence, lost in her own world.

After informing the nurse, Yueci helped Hiru back to class.

One arm carried the textbooks; the other supported Hiru’s shoulder. The books weren’t heavy, but the load was awkward.

Hiru offered to carry them twice. Yueci refused each time with a shake of her head—Hiru could barely walk steadily herself. Burdening her further would be cruel.

After the second refusal, Hiru fell silent.

She simply felt the warmth of Yueci’s hand on her shoulder, lips pressed tight.

Their classroom was already half-full. Some students read at their desks; others gossiped in clusters; a few still ate lunch.

Unlike most Japanese high schools where students brought bento, Light Private High School had an in-house cafeteria.

Five-star chefs prepared meals for its wealthy students.

But since meals weren’t free, some less affluent students—and scholarship recipients like Hiru—still brought homemade lunches.

After settling Hiru into her seat, Yueci didn’t return to her own desk. She lingered beside Hiru’s table.

Neither had eaten yet.

Yueci didn’t need food—she’d brought no lunch.

When Hiru realized this, her ears flushed crimson.

Her shadowed gaze flickered from Yueci’s lips down her neck… then snapped back to her own plain bento box. She stared at it silently.

*Stomp-stomp-stomp…*

Loud footsteps and chatter erupted at the doorway.

Yueci’s eyes narrowed slightly in irritation.

*Predictable.*

Tanaka Kenta and his group. They never learned quiet—always desperate to announce their presence.

Today, however, Tanaka carried a cafeteria tray back to class. It overflowed with glossy, saucy dishes and a bowl of silky congee.

Unusual. Tanaka always ate in the cafeteria; eating at his desk was, in his eyes, a sign of financial struggle.

Sharp-eyed classmates glanced toward Yueci and Hiru—some smirking, others pitying.

No one spoke up.

Tray in hand, Tanaka swept the room with a sneer. He strode straight toward Yueci and Hiru.

Hiru bit her lip, eyes wary on his approach.

Yueci remained still, hands resting on Hiru’s desk.

Her expression was unreadable, as if studying the wood grain.

"Whoops—my hand slipped—"

*CLANG—*

The tray was already flying. Yueci spun, slamming it face-first into Tanaka’s head.

Metal cracked against bone. The sound echoed through the silent classroom.

Dead silence.

*CLATTER—*

The tray hit the floor.

Thick, gloppy mixture dripped from Tanaka’s stunned face.

Then rage ignited.

"Fucking bitch! You—"

A shadow blotted out the light above him. Tanaka looked up, struggling to see through the mess.

A desk came crashing down.