As I made my way through the bustling crowd of students, I tried to catch up with Basil, who seemed equally curious about the commotion. The sight of so many ability tabs flooding my vision was overwhelming, but I pushed through, determined to see what had captured everyone's attention.
Finally, I spotted Basil in the distance, standing on his tiptoes and craning his neck to get a better look. I hurried over to him, eager to find out what was happening.
"What's going on here?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the noise.
Basil turned to me, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "There's a celebrity in that classroom," he replied, pointing in the direction of the crowded space.
My curiosity piqued, I leaned in closer. "Who is it?" I asked, hoping it was someone I would recognize.
The sword, never one to miss an opportunity to interject, chimed in with a crude question. "Is she hot?" it asked, a mischievous tone in its voice.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the sword's comment, ignoring its attempt at humor. Instead, I waited for Basil to respond.
He paused for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, before answering, "It's Sophia Snow."
The name didn't ring any bells, and I shook my head in confusion. "Who's Sophia Snow?" I asked, hoping for a clearer explanation.
Basil's face lit up, and he seemed eager to fill me in. "She's a famous actress," he began. "She's been in multiple movies and does a lot of magazine shoots and ad commercials."
His words started to paint a picture in my mind, but I still couldn't fully grasp the significance. That is, until Basil pointed out a poster in the corner. There, in all her glory, was Sophia Snow.
I took in the sight before me. Her skin was as pale as snow, which could possibly be attributed to her origin. Her hair cascaded around her, a stunning white that contrasted with her dark surroundings. Her figure was slender and graceful, accentuated by the bikini she wore in the poster. It was clear why she was the center of attention.
She held a drink in her hand, and the poster had a beach theme. It seemed she was advertising some sort of fruit drink, with the sun-kissed shores and crystal blue waters serving as the backdrop. Her captivating smile added to the allure, drawing you in with its charm.
After the commotion died down and the teacher called for everyone to return to their classrooms, the crowd gradually dispersed. Only a few students remained, including Sophia Snow, who seemed to belong to the same classroom as Basil and me. As the others began conversing with her, I tried my best to avoid her gaze, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention. But fate had other plans.
To my surprise and slight dismay, Sophia locked eyes with me and started walking in my direction. Panic welled up inside me as I silently questioned why she would be approaching me out of all the people in the room. The sword, always quick with its sarcastic remarks, chuckled and taunted me, suggesting that this was my first encounter with a girl.
"Well," I retorted in my mind, "the last time I talked to a girl, I accidentally bumped into her, so you can understand my hesitation."
As she drew closer, I couldn't help but notice her beauty. She exuded a certain charm and elegance, resembling a supermodel in every way. The attention of those who had been vying for her conversation shifted to us, their curious eyes watching as she initiated contact with me.
"Hello! Are you a transfer student too?" she asked, her voice friendly and inviting.
"Yes, I am," I replied, trying my best to sound composed despite the nerves swirling inside me.
"That's awesome! We can definitely get along then," she exclaimed, her smile widening.
Attempting to keep the conversation light and casual, I responded, "Cool! Class is starting soon, so I suppose we should head to our seats."
With that, I made my way to my assigned seat, aware that Basil was following closely behind me. Sophia bid me farewell and returned to the group of students she had been conversing with earlier. I could sense Basil's excitement as he whispered, "I can't believe you actually talked to her!"
I shrugged, trying to downplay the encounter. "Well, she's a student here too, so it's only natural to have a conversation."
Just as I settled into my seat, the sword interjected with an unexpected observation. "Did you notice the way she scowled as soon as you turned away? There's definitely something she's hiding."
Surprised by the sword's insight, I replayed the encounter in my mind. I hadn't noticed any signs of displeasure on Sophia's face, but the sword's words made me question if there was more to her than met the eye.
"She scowled?" I repeated, my brow furrowing in confusion. "I didn't see it."
The sword remained silent, leaving me with lingering doubts. Sophia's friendly demeanor had seemed genuine, but now I couldn't help but wonder what secrets she might be concealing beneath her captivating smile.
After settling into my seat, I couldn't shake off the sword's unexpected observation about Sophia's scowl. I pondered his words, trying to recall the details of our brief interaction. It was disconcerting to think that I might have unknowingly offended her in some way.
"The girl looked angry, huh?" I repeated, furrowing my brows in concern. "She seemed friendly when we were talking, though. I didn't pick up on any negative vibes."
The sword chuckled lightly, as if amused by my obliviousness. "Ah, Yamiru, appearances can be deceiving. People often hide their true emotions behind a smile or a pleasant demeanor. It's possible that she dislikes you for some reason, and she cleverly concealed it until she thought no one was watching."
I couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. Had I unintentionally said or done something to upset Sophia? The thought weighed heavily on my mind, as I replayed our conversation, searching for any possible misstep.
"I honestly don't know what I could have done," I mused aloud, my voice tinged with a hint of self-doubt. "I tried to keep the conversation light and casual, just like you advised."
The sword, ever perceptive, offered his insight. "Sometimes, it's not about what you say or do, but rather who you are. Sophia Snow is a celebrity, accustomed to the constant scrutiny and admiration of others. Perhaps she sensed something about your aura, your essence, that rubbed her the wrong way."
His words sent a shiver down my spine. The idea that someone might dislike me without any concrete reason was disconcerting. I was just a normal student, nothing particularly special about me. Or at least, that's what I thought until the sword mentioned the possibility of a unique origin.