The early morning light filtered softly through Reina's window as she stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection. She wasn't sure why, but today felt different. She brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and took a deep breath, catching a glimpse of the girl she once was in the glass.
Her mind drifted back to when she was five, wide-eyed and curious about the night sky, standing in her backyard, pointing at stars while her parents explained the basics. That was when it had all started—her fascination with something bigger than herself, something endless. And then, years later, she was nine, sneaking astronomy books into her backpack, studying constellations, feeling the pull of the stars even stronger than before. The other kids never understood, but that didn't matter to her; she was certain of her dream.
Now, at fifteen, she had come so far. The principal had given her responsibilities most students could only dream of, and she had her very own lab, a space that felt more like home than her own bedroom. And then, there was the progress she'd made—real, tangible progress. Each lesson, each experiment brought her closer to her goal.
With a final nod to herself, she turned from the mirror and finished getting ready, her bag slung over her shoulder as she headed to school with a quiet determination.
At school, her routine unfolded as usual. She kept her head down in the hallways, avoiding unnecessary conversation, but that didn't stop her classmates from trying. At one point, Ayumi waved her over to chat, but Reina only gave her a brief nod in response. Despite her shy, cool replies, her classmates had grown used to her style; some even found her aloofness charming.
"Good morning, Reina!" Hana called, flashing a bright smile as she passed by.
Reina nodded back, her expression neutral but sincere. "Morning, Hana."
Kaito was leaning over his desk, trying to catch her attention with a question about math, while Ayumi was digging through her bag for some science notes, hoping Reina might clarify a point or two. Reina obliged them, but in her usual, no-nonsense way, explaining just what they needed without adding any unnecessary details. Her answers were quick, straight to the point, and sometimes a bit too honest—but by now, her friends didn't seem to mind.
By evening, Reina was back in her lab, mentally shifting into teaching mode as she prepared for her "students"—Kenji, Kana, and Yui—to arrive. They came in with their usual energy, chattering amongst themselves before stopping to greet her.
"Good evening, Reina-senpai!" Kenji said with a slight bow, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
Reina gave a quick nod. "Evening. Let's get started."
This time, she focused on building a strong foundation in both science and mathematics, mixing in astronomy whenever she could. She had them go over the basics of gravitational forces, the planetary order, and why math was so crucial to truly understanding these concepts. Kenji was more focused today, which surprised her, and Kana was as studious as ever, scribbling notes diligently. Yui, though reserved, was clearly absorbing everything, her questions becoming sharper and more insightful.
"Why does the moon's gravitational pull affect Earth's oceans so much?" Yui asked, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Reina answered without skipping a beat, explaining tidal forces and why the gravitational pull between celestial bodies affects the water more than other elements. She could see Yui's eyes light up as she connected the dots, and a tiny smile crept onto Reina's face, unnoticed by her students.
As the lesson wound down, Reina found herself surprised by how attached she felt to this little group of eager minds. They were younger, quieter, but they were pushing themselves—and in some way, they were helping her push forward, too. After her students left, Reina lingered in her lab for a few minutes, surrounded by the quiet hum of the room.
Tomorrow, she thought, she'd do even better for them and for herself.