Ririka had a dream.
In the dream, she seemed to return to that island, to that school built on a solitary island.
There weren't many students, all children her age, and besides them, there were only adults.
The classmates here, to put it nicely, were companions; to put it harshly, they were rivals, enemies.
Everyone wished others would fall behind them. To be at the top and secure the front positions, no one refrained from kicking others when they were down or gloating.
In this environment, Ririka had to undergo rigorous training every day. To meet the teachers' demands and prevent those around her from surpassing her, she couldn't relax for a moment.
Surrounded by enemies, everyone longed to drag others down. Even her own sister, who was on Ririka's side, always treated her harshly, demanding things of her like a strict teacher.
Ririka was very unaccustomed to this environment; she often felt suffocated and suppressed here.
Fortunately... there was still one person in this school she could rely on.
Once again, she was scolded by her sister for a homework problem.
Ririka felt utterly dejected. She walked out of the school alone, head bowed, and unconsciously made her way to the hillside outside.
The sea breeze blowing in her face was very moist and gentle, making Ririka feel a little more relaxed, but she hadn't come outside the school just to enjoy the sea breeze.
Ririka walked along the stone path for a few minutes, and when she saw the figure lying on the hillside below, her heart spontaneously leaped with joy, and much of her dejection from being scolded dissipated.
She slowly walked over to the boy and sat down, hugging her knees.
As usual, Ririka gently nudged his arm and softly reminded him, "Kiyotaka, it's time to wake up. If the teachers find out you ran outside without finishing your homework, you'll be scolded again tonight."
The boy seemed not to care, lazily saying, "Those math equations have been done countless times already. Instead of wasting time on repetitive homework, I'd rather lie outside and enjoy the breeze."
While others were frantically writing and struggling with their homework, he would always sneak out and nap on this hillside.
He seemed completely indifferent to the academic rankings that others cared about; it seemed that for him, getting enough sleep was a more important matter.
The teachers were furious with this unruly student, wishing they could severely punish him and make him understand what rules were. However, his outstanding performance in training and actual combat always left them speechless.
"I know Kiyotaka is amazing, but if you don't get up, the others will snatch all the dinner later."
He didn't care about rankings, but he cared very much about what he ate. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, lying in the grass, immediately opened his eyes at her words.
He sat up, adjusted his non-existent glasses, and suddenly said something profound and incomprehensible with a serious expression.
"The wind today is truly boisterous…"
Ririka extended her hand to feel the wind, tilting her head in confusion: "We are in a temperate monsoon climate; there's sea breeze all year round. Today's wind is no different from yesterday's."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka turned his face away, seemingly wanting to explain, but quickly gave up, smiling helplessly: "As expected of Ririka, she never follows my pace."
Ririka felt as if she had been scolded, and her mood instantly dropped. She softly asked: "Did I disappoint Kiyotaka? How should I change?"
In Ririka's view at that time, disappointing others meant not doing well enough and needing to correct one's mistakes. If Kiyotaka didn't like her this way, she was willing to learn and change.
"No, no, absolutely no need to change, this is perfect!"
Ayanokoji shook his head repeatedly: "I've seen enough guys with chuunibyou and arrogance in this school. If even a gentle and proper girl like Ririka becomes like that, I'm really afraid my preferences will change!"
Although she didn't understand what Kiyotaka meant by that, he must be praising her, right?
Ririka smiled shyly.
Ayanokoji looked at Ririka's face, as if he remembered something, and burst out laughing: "Ririka, do you know? The first time I saw you, I thought of a girl named Anna Kinomiya.
On the surface, she is a beautiful, pure, and flawless woman, and also the Student Council President who holds great power in the school. In reality, she is very interested in sex education privately and is a yandere character with a huge contrast… No, these topics are not suitable for me to talk about with Ririka."
Ayanokoji spoke carelessly, but halfway through, he suddenly realized that this was not a suitable topic to discuss with a girl, and quickly shut his mouth.
Ririka became alert.
She didn't realize what "sex education" was, nor did she know what "contrast Cute" (moe from contrast) or "yandere" meant. What she cared about was another point.
"Kiyotaka, who is this girl you're talking about? When did you meet her? We've always been on this island…"
As she spoke, Ririka's expression suddenly became dejected.
Even though Kiyotaka was her childhood friend and had always been with her, he was thinking about other girls…
Girls of this age are always sensitive and prone to anxiety.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka quickly comforted her: "Ririka, don't be sad, I'm talking about a girl from an anime, she's not a real person…!"
"An anime…" Ririka's mood eased slightly, and she asked curiously: "Is that girl you mentioned very much like me?"
Ayanokoji smiled and nodded: "Very similar. Like Ririka, she has short white hair. She is gentle and lovable, intelligent and capable, pure and generous, and completely unaware of any dirty jokes… She is a particularly likable and innocent girl!"
"…Dirty jokes? What are those?"
It was another word she hadn't heard before.
Ririka lowered her head and pondered: "Should I ask my older sister?"
Her older sister was different from her; although they were the same age, she knew much more than Ririka. Even Kiyotaka sometimes couldn't look up when he was in front of her.
Her older sister should know the things she didn't know.
"It's nothing! I was just talking nonsense, don't worry about it!"
Ayanokoji panicked, quickly grabbed Ririka's hand, and pleaded: "Unlike you, Ririka, your older sister is extremely precocious. Please, absolutely do not tell your older sister what I said!"
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