The first day back from the holiday had a different energy. Students flooded the halls, sharing stories of their vacations, gathering in tight-knit groups, laughing, and gossiping. Amid the usual chaos, a single figure walked down the hallway, quiet and seemingly oblivious to the shift she had caused.
Reina.
"Is that… Reina-senpai?" one student whispered to her friend, nudging her as Reina passed.
"Whoa," her friend murmured, leaning forward to get a better look. "It really is her! She's… she's totally different."
The murmur of admiration quickly spread through the hall, trailing behind Reina like an unshakeable shadow. She seemed unfazed, her usual serious expression unchanged as she navigated her way through the crowd with focused steps, her dark, galaxy-like eyes trained forward.
In Class 1-B, where Himari and her friends were just starting to settle down, the conversations were buzzing with energy. Students were hunched over their desks, whispering and glancing towards the open door, waiting for any sign of Reina walking by.
"It's like she's a whole new person," said Kaori, one of Himari's friends. She tossed her hair, looking at Himari with wide eyes. "Himari, didn't you say you actually talked to her? What was she like?"
Himari shifted nervously, feeling a dozen eyes turn her way. "Uh, yeah. I mean, I don't really know her super well, but… we talked once or twice," she replied, her cheeks heating up. "She's still the same Reina—she just looks a little different now."
Another student leaned in, practically bouncing with excitement. "I heard people calling her the 'Space Beauty' now. So she's officially lost the 'Space Girl' nickname, huh?"
Himari bit her lip, glancing down at her hands. She remembered Reina's calm, serious tone, the way she answered questions so straightforwardly, like she was entirely focused on her own orbit, unaffected by anything around her. That composed, almost cold demeanor hadn't changed, and yet there was something undeniably captivating about her presence now.
"That's not all," chimed in another friend. "My brother's in her class, and he says the whole class couldn't stop staring. Apparently, she just sat there like nothing was different while everyone practically fell over themselves to catch a glimpse."
Kaori chuckled, nudging Himari again. "Isn't it amazing, though? Just a few changes here and there, and suddenly Reina-senpai is like a celebrity."
Himari nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "She… she definitely doesn't seem to notice, though. It's almost like she doesn't even realize the effect she has on everyone."
Her friends exchanged glances, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Maybe it's not just the looks, though," said Rika, a quieter girl with a thoughtful expression. "Maybe she's just confident and doesn't care about what others think. That's what makes her so… magnetic."
Meanwhile, in Class 3-A, Reina's classmates were having similar conversations. Ayumi, Kaito, and Hana were seated together, all eyes still drawn toward Reina, who sat near the window, her gaze focused out toward the distant horizon, as if she were looking past the school walls and into a world only she could see.
Ayumi leaned closer to Hana, her voice a quiet whisper. "She's so… different. I can't get over it. I mean, she's always been cool, but today it's like she's a whole new person."
Kaito chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You know, Reina probably doesn't even know we're talking about her right now. She's probably thinking about one of her projects or some theory she wants to test."
Hana sighed, propping her chin on her hand as she glanced toward Reina with admiration. "I think that's what makes her so interesting, though. She's like… untouchable. Like a star you can see but never reach."
A group of students from Class 2-B walked by, whispering and glancing in Reina's direction. "She looks like she could be a model," one of them murmured. "I mean, she's always been pretty, but now she's like something out of a movie."
"Yeah, but she's still the 'Space Girl' inside, right?" another student responded, glancing at Reina with a mixture of awe and caution. "I heard she still spends all her free time in the science lab."
Kaito grinned, leaning back in his seat. "She's definitely earned her reputation. But it's funny—she's not even aware of it. The 'Space Beauty' thing is just something people made up because she has this… otherworldly vibe."
Ayumi nudged Kaito. "Have you noticed that even the teachers are paying more attention to her? It's like her whole presence just turned up a notch."
Hana nodded, chuckling softly. "Remember last period when the math teacher kept calling on her, even though she obviously knew all the answers already? It's like everyone's trying to be closer to her now, even though she hasn't changed at all inside."
Reina shifted slightly in her seat, her gaze still fixed on the clouds drifting lazily by outside. She seemed completely lost in thought, her mind likely wandering to far-off worlds, complex equations, or the notes she'd left behind in her lab. To her classmates, though, this only added to her mystique—Reina's detachment from the ordinary world seemed to enhance her allure.
During lunch, the cafeteria was buzzing with excitement. Students from all grades sat in clusters, animatedly discussing the new nickname that had taken over the school: "Space Beauty."
One group of second-years sat near the entrance, glancing toward the senior tables, where Reina sat with Ayumi, Hana, and Kaito. "Do you think she knows we're all talking about her?" one of them asked, nibbling on her sandwich.
"Doubt it," her friend replied with a grin. "She's probably more focused on her projects than on what we think. But, wow… she's like the main character of some romance manga now."
Himari, who was sitting a few tables away with her friends, overheard this and felt a pang of discomfort. She knew Reina wasn't the type to care about rumors or popularity. Reina's focus was on her passions, her dedication to the unknown worlds she wanted to explore, and the journal she'd been working on so tirelessly. Still, it was clear that her new look had made her a figure of fascination, especially for students who didn't know her well.
Himari's friend Kaori leaned closer, whispering excitedly. "It's like we're witnessing some kind of transformation arc. I mean, just imagine what it must be like to be Reina-senpai right now!"
Himari glanced down at her tray, feeling a strange sense of protectiveness for Reina. "I don't think she cares about any of this," she replied softly. "To her, this is probably all just… noise."
Kaori tilted her head, watching Reina from across the cafeteria. "Maybe. But there's something about her that makes everyone curious. She's not like other people… and that's what makes her special."
The school day continued, and as Reina walked down the hallway after her last class, she caught snippets of conversations, hushed voices that fell silent the moment she passed by. It was a strange experience, this newfound attention. She was used to people noticing her intelligence or her dedication to her projects, but this kind of fascination felt foreign and unnecessary. Yet, she reminded herself that these whispers and rumors didn't change anything about her goals.
As Reina turned a corner, she noticed Himari waiting by her locker, looking hesitant. Seeing her, Reina gave a small nod, acknowledging her presence. Himari's face lit up, and she walked over with a nervous smile.
"Reina-senpai," she began, her voice just above a whisper. "I… I just wanted to say that… um… I think it's really amazing how everyone's noticing you now."
Reina raised an eyebrow, shrugging slightly. "It doesn't really matter, does it? This whole 'Space Beauty' thing… it's just a name. People will forget about it soon enough."
Himari hesitated, then nodded. "I know. But… I think you deserve the attention. You work so hard, and… you're just yourself. That's… rare."
Reina studied Himari's earnest expression for a moment, feeling a faint warmth spread in her chest. She hadn't expected anyone to see past the surface, but here was Himari, someone who understood her in a way that most people didn't.
"Thanks, Himari," she said softly, managing a small, genuine smile. "I appreciate that."
As they parted ways, Reina couldn't shake the feeling of curiosity and warmth that Himari's words had stirred in her. It was true that she was different, that she wasn't like most people her age. But maybe, just maybe, that difference didn't have to isolate her. Maybe it was what made her someone worth knowing.