A new day meant facing hated textbooks again—a thought shared by most students. Staring blankly at the blackboard without grasping a word, all they could do was slump over their desks to sleep.

As a certified underachiever, Manatsu Moyu just wanted to nap. But one glare from the class monitor made her shrink back.

After all, that stare was terrifying. She didn’t dare skip class.

*Damn you, Lunorette. I’ll make you pay.* Moyu had cursed the otherworldly girl a hundred times in her heart.

*Outwardly a model student… but really a demon.*

At Totsuri High, Class 2-A reeked of academic despair once more. The black-haired girl dozed at her desk.

Yuki Shiki watched her front-seat neighbor collapse face-down and poked her with a pen.

"Yuki, what now…"

"Pay attention."

"So annoying…"

"Less complaining. Focus. Ask me if you’re stuck."

Yuki was always serious.

*That’s exactly why it’s a headache,* Moyu thought. Back in freshman year, the monitor never bothered with her. Now she was watched like a hawk every day.

But Yuki was a top student—it made sense. Ranked #1 in class with absolute skill, cute looks, and perfect manners, she’d naturally become the "class flower."

*How did someone like her befriend a perpetual last-place loser like me?* Moyu mused. *It’s like a story protagonist… except I’m not the male lead. I’m the heroine (tragically).*

At lunch, the girl lay corpse-like on her desk.

"I’m basically a salted fish already…"

*Not ‘basically.’ You literally are one.*

"Why that face? No ambition at all. What’ll you do if you fail exams again?"

Yuki slid her desk over, unpacking her bento—same as always, except…

Manatsu Moyu had no lunch.

To be precise: no money for food.

Lunorette had drained her account, and her dad hadn’t transferred funds yet.

"Aren’t you eating?"

Yuki, already eating, frowned at Moyu’s stillness.

Moyu swallowed hard. Yuki’s bento wasn’t lavish, but colorful and balanced. Her traitorous stomach growled. She forced a smile, looking away.

"Dieting lately. Don’t mind me~"

*Since I’m a girl now, ‘dieting’ is a valid excuse. She won’t suspect anything.*

Yuki set down her chopsticks, deadpan stare locked on her. Panic fluttered in Moyu’s chest.

"W-what?"

Being stared at made her skin crawl.

"Do you *need* to diet?"

Yuki’s disbelief cut deep. Moyu braced for accusations about adapting too fast to her new body—until the next words slapped her.

"Moyu, you’re too thin. Dieting’s pointless."

Ouch. That stung.

As a boy, Manatsu Moyu had been skinny. Now as a girl? Fragile enough to blow over in a breeze. Anyone seeing her would urge *more* food—not less.

"You stay up gaming, eat junk… How could you gain weight? You need to *gain* weight."

Hearing the monitor’s blunt truth, Moyu wanted to cry at her own terrible lie.

*Need a new plan—*

A short-haired girl with a bright smile plopped down beside them, slapping Yuki’s shoulder.

"Yo, Yuki! Mind if I join your bento party?"

Hanane didn’t wait for an answer before sitting.

*Hanane Minato. Classmate. Volleyball club. Yuki’s friend.* Moyu’s mind flashed the file.

"Bothering you two?"

Hanane’s mischievous grin pinned Moyu down. She clasped her hands nervously.

"Cut it out, Hanane. Eat."

Yuki flicked her forehead. Hanane grumbled but scooted closer to Yuki.

"Well, I get it. Yuki’s at *that* age—interested in boys now."

"Hanane, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"Don’t hide it, girl. I see it—you’ve been *conquered*."

"Stop saying meaningless things."

Yuki’s deadpan stare never wavered. *Zero inner turmoil. Might even be amused,* Moyu observed.

"Anyway, Manatsu-san."

Hanane swiveled toward her.

"Aren’t you eating?"

"Eh? I, um…"

Moyu tensed. This was her first real talk with a classmate since Yuki.

*This isn’t Rockefeller Academy. Here, Manatsu Moyu is a real student—I can’t hide behind Lunorette’s identity.*

"Oho? Blushing? Such a pure-hearted boy~"

Hanane leaned in to tease. Yuki rapped her knuckles with chopsticks.

"Hanane. Stop."

"Jealous, Yuki?"

Hanane’s smug face made Yuki’s fist itch.

"Why are you so nosy? We’re *not* what you think."

*Exactly,* Moyu silently agreed.

*We just happened to become friends. Yuki has tons of friends—she doesn’t need me. She even said she’s not into girls. Now that I’m one? Zero chance.*

"I don’t believe it! You claim you and Yuki are innocent? LIES!"

"Hanane—"

"You’re hiding it! You two must’ve already—" *thwack!* "OW! Yuki, stop hitting me!"

"I’ll rip that mouth off your face."

Yuki’s deadpan glare silenced her.

Moyu could only smile weakly. Yuki turned to her—Moyu shrunk under the gaze.

"Moyu… unlikely as it sounds. You didn’t bring lunch… or money?"

*Direct hit.*

Sweat beaded on Moyu’s brow. She avoided Yuki’s eyes just as her stomach growled loudly.

The air froze—not just between them, but with Hanane included. Embarrassment flooded Moyu. She stared at her desk, cheeks burning.

*If Lunorette hadn’t spent all my cash, I wouldn’t be in this mess.*

"Tch. Here. Take mine."

Yuki calmly lifted a slice of ham on her chopsticks toward Moyu’s mouth.

Moyu gaped like she’d seen a ghost. Hanane crushed her milk carton in shock.

"Yuki-san?"

"With your habits? Gaming all night, eating garbage. Half of mine is yours. Eat."

"I—I can’t—"

"Eat."

Ignoring stares, Yuki placed the food on Moyu’s tongue. Her face flamed crimson.

"An… indirect kiss?!"

Hanane’s eyes sparkled pink with delusion. Classmates’ burning glares pinned Moyu down. *First time being fed by a girl!*

"Open up for another—"

"I-I’LL EAT MYSELF! PLEASE, NO MORE!"

"Hmph."

Seeing Moyu’s panic, Yuki set down her chopsticks.

*Now I’ll never clear my name,* Moyu thought.

Moyu ate half the bento. Grateful as she was—why were classmates glaring at her like she’d committed murder?

*Guess ‘he who eats another’s food softens his stance’ is true.*

She stayed awake all afternoon, even taking notes. Yuki seemed pleased.

After school, Moyu finally got her dad’s text: *Money transferred.*

Walking with Yuki, she turned at the crosswalk.

"Sorry, Yuki. Gotta withdraw cash. Wait here?" She pointed to the ATM across the street.

"So you really had no money."

"…Yeah."

No explanation needed. *If I say Lunorette spent it all, Yuki’ll think I’m an idiot.*

The ATM stood beside a deserted alley. Card inserted, password typed—*cha-ching*. Relief washed over her. *Tomorrow, as Lunorette, I’ll empty her wallet to pay for this.*

Yuki waited across the street, scrolling her phone. Moyu yanked out her card. *Half-price bento tonight!*

A hellish chill shot down her spine. Her expression hardened. Slowly, she turned.

A black metal barrel stared straight at her.

"You’re Manatsu Mio, right?"

A sunglasses-clad man in black loomed, his voice a whisper from hell.

Moyu stumbled back—*clang!*—hitting the ATM.

The gunman’s finger squeezed the trigger…

**BANG!**

An explosion ripped through the bustling street. The ATM shattered. Banknotes fluttered like confetti in the wind…