Chapter 2: The Four Queens of Seishin Academy
Morning at Seishin Academy was always loud.
Students filled the hallways before the first bell, forming groups, exchanging gossip, comparing homework they had no intention of admitting they copied.
At the center of countless conversations—
one name was repeated more than any other.
"Ayame."
"She got full marks again."
"She was helping the basketball club yesterday too."
"Didn't she also win the speech contest last month?"
"She's unreal..."
Near the shoe lockers, Ayame changed into her indoor shoes in silence.
As usual, she ignored the whispers.
Riku, standing beside her, grinned.
"They're praising you again."
"They do that every day."
"And?"
"It's exhausting."
Mika folded her arms.
"You should glare at them more."
"I do."
"You look elegant when you glare," Hina said seriously.
Riku burst into laughter.
Ayame sighed.
These three were the only people around whom she could act normally.
The four girls walked toward their classroom together.
Students moved aside instinctively.
Some because they admired them.
Some because they were intimidated.
Some because all four together were simply impossible to ignore.
They were known throughout the school as—
The Four Queens of Seishin Academy.
Ayame.
Riku.
Mika.
Hina.
Each popular for different reasons.
Each impossible to overlook.
And none of them cared much about the title.
The classroom door slid open.
They entered.
Conversations paused for a moment.
Then resumed louder than before.
At the back row—
Arata was asleep.
Face down on the desk.
Completely motionless.
Riku stared.
"...Is he dead?"
"No," Ayame said immediately.
Three heads turned toward her.
Ayame froze.
Riku slowly smiled.
"Oh?"
Mika narrowed her eyes.
"You answered too fast."
"I meant... he always sleeps."
Hina leaned closer.
"You noticed that?"
Ayame sat down calmly.
"I have eyes."
Riku sat beside her, still smiling.
"Interesting."
At the back, Yuto slapped Arata's shoulder.
"Wake up."
No response.
"Wake up."
Nothing.
Yuto looked at Daichi.
"Help me."
Daichi continued reading.
"No."
Sora leaned over from the next seat.
"Try food."
Yuto opened a bread wrapper near Arata's nose.
Arata's hand rose instantly and grabbed it.
The boys stared.
"...You were awake?" Yuto said.
"No."
Arata took the bread and ate half of it with his eyes still closed.
Sora laughed so hard he nearly fell off his chair.
"Monster."
Class began.
The teacher entered carrying a stack of papers.
"Listen carefully."
The room quieted.
"The first-term exams begin in two weeks."
Groans erupted instantly.
"No way..."
"So soon?"
"I forgot everything already."
The teacher ignored them.
"These exams will affect class rankings, scholarship evaluations, and club recommendations."
Now everyone listened.
She placed the papers on the desk.
"And this term, the student who ranks first overall will receive special recognition from the academy board."
That changed the room.
Eyes sharpened.
Voices lowered.
Competition had entered the air.
At the front, Ayame remained calm.
Riku smirked.
"Looks like they added bait."
Mika cracked her knuckles.
"I hate studying."
Hina looked terrified.
"We're doomed."
At the back—
Arata raised one hand lazily.
The teacher frowned.
"What is it?"
"If I pass, do I still have to come?"
The class exploded with laughter.
"Sit down," the teacher said coldly.
"That sounds like a no."
Lunch break.
The rooftop door opened.
Arata, Yuto, Sora, and Daichi stepped outside carrying food.
Warm wind greeted them.
They sat in their usual circle.
Yuto pointed with chopsticks.
"You heard the announcement, right?"
"I hear many things," Arata replied.
"The exams."
"Oh."
"That's all you have to say?"
"Should I cry?"
Sora laughed.
Daichi ate in silence.
Yuto leaned forward.
"Aren't you worried?"
"No."
"You should be."
"Why?"
"Because everyone serious is aiming for first place."
Arata opened a juice box.
"Then I wish them success."
Yuto grabbed his head.
"I can't deal with you."
Sora smirked.
"So who do you think gets first?"
Yuto pointed instantly.
"Ayame."
"Reasonable."
Mika?" Sora said. "Too angry."
"Hina?" Yuto asked.
"Too scared."
"Riku?" Daichi finally spoke.
"Too dangerous," Sora replied.
They all laughed.
Then Yuto looked at Arata.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"If you actually tried?"
Arata drank his juice.
"I wouldn't."
"That wasn't the question."
"It was the answer."
That evening—
The mansion was quiet.
Ayame sat at the dining table with books spread around her.
Mathematics.
Economics.
Literature.
A disaster waiting to happen.
Arata entered carrying tea.
"You started already?"
"The exams are close."
"You still have two weeks."
"That's exactly why."
He placed the tea beside her and sat across from her.
Ayame stared at a formula.
Then slowly pushed the book toward him.
"I hate this chapter."
Arata glanced down once.
Then took the pencil from her hand.
"This is easy."
"It isn't."
"It is."
He wrote three short lines.
Solved the problem.
Then turned the book back.
Ayame looked at the answer.
Then looked at him.
Then back at the answer.
"...I hate you."
"You say that often."
"You make things look annoying."
He leaned back in the chair.
"You panic too early."
"I plan properly."
"You panic elegantly."
Ayame glared.
He ignored it.
After a moment, she quietly moved her chair closer.
"Explain it again."
Arata did.
Slowly this time.
Clearly.
Without joking.
Ayame listened carefully.
Her expression softened.
At school, no one would believe this version of him existed.
Even she sometimes forgot how sharp he really was.
When he finished, she spoke quietly.
"If you tried... you could take first place."
"I know."
She blinked.
"You say that so casually."
"Because it's casual."
"Then why don't you?"
Arata looked out the window.
The evening sky reflected faintly in the glass.
"Winning things publicly is noisy."
Ayame stared at him.
Sometimes he sounded lazy.
Sometimes he sounded like someone hiding from the world.
She could never fully tell which was true.
Later that night—
Ayame yawned and rested her head on the table.
"I'm tired."
"You studied for forty minutes."
"That's enough."
"It's not."
She looked at him sleepily.
"Then motivate me."
Arata stood.
Walked behind her.
Then gently placed both hands on her shoulders.
Ayame stiffened.
"What are you doing?"
"Motivation."
He leaned down near her ear.
"Study."
Her face instantly turned red.
"You're cheating."
"It worked."
She sat up straight.
"...I hate you."
"You said that already."
But this time—
she was smiling.
The next morning—
As Ayame entered the classroom with her friends, she noticed something strange.
The room was louder than usual.
Students gathered near the windows.
Near the center—
someone unfamiliar stood surrounded by attention.
Tall.
Well-dressed.
Sharp features.
Relaxed smile.
Even from the doorway, his presence was obvious.
Girls whispered.
Some boys looked irritated already.
Riku raised an eyebrow.
"New transfer?"
Mika clicked her tongue.
"Looks annoying."
Hina whispered,
"He's handsome..."
Ayame said nothing.
At the back row—
Arata, who had just arrived half asleep, looked toward the crowd.
For the first time that morning—
his expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
His eyes sharpened.
The boy in the center noticed him.
Then smiled.
And began walking toward the back row.
Straight toward Arata.
The classroom slowly fell silent.
Yuto looked between them.
"...Do you know him?"
Arata didn't answer.
The boy stopped beside his desk.
"Long time no see, Arata."
Silence.
Then Arata looked up.
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"I was having a peaceful morning."
The boy smiled wider.
"I missed you too."
End of Chapter 2