It had been a few months now, months filled with small, steady victories. I'd finally reached a place where the funds I'd saved from my part-time job were more than enough to support my projects. And though I'd taken on the extra work out of necessity, I'd actually grown used to it. As it turned out, I enjoyed seeing the faces of my three students light up with understanding when I taught them something new.
But recently, there had been an even bigger achievement. The week after final exams had wrapped up, our results were posted, and as expected, I'd secured the first-place position across the entire academy. Honestly, it didn't surprise me much—I'd worked for it, and I knew where I stood academically. More exciting was the fact that my three students had exceeded my expectations, each of them scoring at the top of their respective classes. Their hard work had paid off, and it felt surreal to realize they'd grown so much under my guidance.
I remember taking the results to the principal that afternoon. She'd taken one look at the papers and offered me a warm smile.
"Reina, it's clear your efforts have paid off," she said, nodding in approval. "Your students have done very well."
Hearing that made me feel…proud. Proud of them and, yes, a bit proud of myself too. I was proving that my methods worked, that my dream could lead to tangible results. With that final report handed in, I was officially done with teaching them. They were ready to continue on their own paths, just as I'd always planned.
The principal also handed me some news I'd been waiting for: the vacant classroom was now officially mine to use as my lab. That quiet, spacious room where I could work uninterrupted was finally, truly mine. After returning to my room that evening, I'd immediately started rearranging my equipment, taking special care to lock the doors and add a couple more safeguards. It was just me and my projects in there now, and I felt a new sense of ownership and focus. No one could interrupt me here. This room had become my sanctuary, my own little world.
However, I couldn't stay locked away forever. As much as I would have liked to avoid it, the school festival was approaching fast, and for some reason, I'd been selected as the class leader. Now, this was entirely unexpected. My classmates didn't usually look to me for anything unrelated to academics, but somehow, here I was. My mind raced with questions. Why me? Couldn't someone else take over?
But when I tried to step down, Ayumi, my friend and one of the few people I regularly interacted with, had other ideas.
"Reina, just take the lead this once! You're really organized; you'll do a great job," she insisted with an encouraging grin. "Besides, you know how to focus. You'll help us pull it all together."
I didn't argue further, mainly because Ayumi seemed genuinely excited at the thought of me leading our class. It was strange, this idea of being in charge of something social, something not related to my studies or my lab. But I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to try. So, reluctantly, I accepted the role.
With that decision made, I'd committed myself to researching activities that would actually interest my classmates. I knew next to nothing about popular entertainment, let alone what might appeal to everyone. My focus had always been academic; now, I had to shift gears entirely. I dove into modern trends and what was considered fun outside of textbooks and experiments, studying up on things like music trends, fashion, and food stalls.
To my surprise, I discovered that there was so much I didn't know about this side of life. My classmates seemed excited about a variety of activities: singing contests, band performances, plays, and food stalls selling all kinds of sweets and snacks. It was honestly a bit overwhelming at first, but I couldn't let it show. I was supposed to be their leader, after all.
We started with a class meeting to brainstorm ideas, and I found myself observing everyone in a new way. They were so passionate about things I'd never even considered. Hana, for example, lit up when she talked about creating costumes for a short skit, while Kaito had plenty of ideas about what snacks we could sell.
"We could make themed bento boxes! They'd sell fast, trust me," Kaito suggested, excitement clear in his voice.
I frowned slightly, but not because I disagreed. I just wasn't sure how to manage all these ideas. Taking notes, I tried my best to remain neutral.
"That sounds…reasonable," I replied.
I could tell my response wasn't exactly enthusiastic, but thankfully, they didn't seem to mind. Ayumi leaned over, patting my shoulder.
"Don't worry, Reina. You don't have to know everything about this stuff. Just keep us organized."
Over the following days, I worked harder than I thought I would on planning and keeping everyone on task. I may have been a little blunt sometimes, but they seemed to appreciate my straightforward approach. Soon, our class was set to sell decorative notebooks with themes designed by the art students, along with Kaito's bento idea.
Despite myself, I found a strange satisfaction in all of this. Watching everyone contribute, all of them putting their unique talents to use, was…refreshing. Even though I was more of a director than a true participant, I couldn't deny the sense of camaraderie forming around me.
When the day of the festival finally arrived, I was there early as usual, overseeing the setup. It was a blur of activity—Ayumi arranging decorations, Hana assembling costumes, Kaito inspecting the bento stands. Everyone had their role, and I managed the logistics as best I could.
The food stalls turned out to be a huge hit, with lines forming for Kaito's themed bento boxes, while Ayumi's beautifully arranged decorations added charm to our little space. As for myself, I stayed in the background, organizing, observing, and making sure everything went according to plan. I'd expected to feel completely out of place, but somehow, seeing everyone so engaged actually made me…happy? Maybe that's the right word.
The singing contest and band performances echoed through the school's halls, adding a festive energy to the day. I'd initially thought I wouldn't care about any of it, but seeing my classmates and other students excited, smiling, and enjoying themselves—well, it was hard not to be affected. For once, it wasn't just about science, math, or space; it was something entirely different.
At the end of the festival, when everything was winding down, Ayumi, Hana, and Kaito came up to me, all of them looking exhausted but incredibly happy.
"You did great, Reina!" Ayumi said, giving me a proud smile. "Thanks for leading us. We wouldn't have managed all this without you."
I shifted, unsure of how to respond to their gratitude. It felt strange, this new sense of being part of something, of contributing to a group effort.
"I just…organized," I said awkwardly, not really sure how else to explain it.
"And that's exactly what we needed," Hana added, her eyes sparkling.
For the first time, I allowed myself to smile back at them, even if just a little. It was nice to be recognized, to feel like I'd helped in some way, even if it was in a small, practical role.
That night, back in my lab, I sat down and began writing out new project ideas. My research and ambitions still came first, but now I couldn't deny that there might be more to school than I'd once thought. The festival had been a strange detour, but maybe a necessary one.
After all, if I was going to explore the universe someday, maybe I'd need to understand people a little better too.