🎵 Suggested Background Music: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZEVxPQO-1jIQEOsC-T2c6OOqHrQCoCRj/view?usp=sharing]
The morning sun felt different today—it wasn't a signal for a busy schedule, but a call to a new reality. As I sat at my small table in Apartment 402, I opened my laptop to check my school portal. I was a 2nd-year High School student, just like Arata. Despite being a top student, I had missed so many classes recently because of the agency's tight schedules. I felt behind, like I was running a race with tied feet.
My phone vibrated. It was a message from my father. Unlike the agency, he had always been my silent pillar. He had sent a generous amount to my private account with a simple note: "Stay safe, Sayaka. Focus on your studies for now. I've taken care of everything, so you don't need to find any work. Just be a normal high school student again."
A wave of relief washed over me. I didn't need a job; I just needed to focus on my classes. But looking at the piles of missed assignments, I felt overwhelmed.
Suddenly, a soft knock came at my door. It was Arata. He was carrying a tray with a simple breakfast and a stack of notebooks.
"I figured you'd be too busy stressing about school to think about food," Arata said, placing the tray on my table. "Since we're in the same class, I've been keeping track of everything for you. Here are the notes from the last two weeks."
I stared at the notebooks and then at the warm breakfast. "Arata... you did all this for me?"
"Well, you're a better student than me when you're actually there," he chuckled. "But since you were 'busy', I thought I'd be your eyes and ears in the classroom. Eat first, then you can start catching up if you want to keep your top rank."
I smiled, taking a bite of the food. It tasted much better than the cold meals I used to have during rehearsals. "Thank you, Arata. This is exactly what I needed."
"Don't mention it, classmate," he nodded. "I'll be next door if you can't figure out the math problems from last week."
I spent the rest of the morning organizing my desk. For the first time, I wasn't studying lines for a movie. I was going through history notes and solving equations. I was no longer 'The Nation's Angel'. I was just Sayaka, a normal high school student catching up with the help of a friend.