She's a total loner. I could feel myself laughing inside. But I totally expected that.
But, special classroom? Oh, that room. The one I thought was just some temporary setup. Turns out, it's more of a prison for the overachievers. And here I was, thinking it was some random chalkboard scribble I'd misinterpreted.
So, her name is Naokawa. That's the last name, right? But, Naokawa? A name so soft and gentle for someone so… glacial.
I almost burst out laughing again. It's funny how names work sometimes. Now that I have the critical intel on the Ice Queen, Naokawa, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Talking to her would a breeze now, right?
But wait, what's her first name?
What if it's something intimidating? Oh, the horror. Imagine if it's some kind of European name… like Raffaele or something. That's a literal final boss from an RPG game!
I muttered a quick thanks to Mirei and finally left the gymnasium, for real this time, without asking her a million more questions. I skipped down the hallway, practically skipping like one of those girls in a shoujo manga who just got her crush's love letter.
Oh-ho! Now that I have Naokawa's name, I could use it against her! Maybe even blackmail her into something you call a friendship. Who knew? The possibilities were endless. Naokawa, ready or not, here I come!
I arrived at the so called "special classroom" assigned to me, which I recently found out that it only had one subject on the curriculum: free time. Seriously, I was now convinced this was the best class ever convinced. Never would I have to face a math problem or an English sentence ever again.
Truly, the school administration outdid themselves this time. I slid the door open, expecting to find Naokawa in her usual spot. But nope, she was nowhere to be seen. Not even a shadow. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Relieved? Maybe, just a bit.
I wandered to the open window, captivated by the view I never knew existed. The campus expanded out before me like a designed movie set.
The buildings, modern, sleek, and as organized as a librarian's dream stood in stark contrast to the mess of my thoughts. The classrooms, laboratories, and administrative offices were arranged with the precision of a well-thought-out chess game, and the sports facilities, including the gym and field. I took in the scene with a mix of appreciation and envy.
The architecture was an interplay of concrete and glass that screamed "efficiency" while whispering "we might have overthought this." I should've noticed this in the first place. The scenery was unexpectedly beautiful, almost like something out of a cliché teen drama.
But standing there felt a little awkward, so I dragged my chair to the window and plopped down. I angled my chair just right so I could face the window while still facing the front of the classroom. You get what that looks like, right? It was the perfect pose for someone like me, just figuring out how to survive here.
After a moment of admiring the view outside, the back door slid open with a loud thud, startling me yet again. I immediately leaped to the conclusion that it must be Naokawa, our very own Ice Queen, returning quite late.
What could she have been up to? Plotting world domination? Or perhaps she just got caught up contemplating the meaning of life? The usual Ice Queen. But I masked all of my thoughts under my nonchalant reaction, even though I did get startled.
But as I turned around, I was met not with the cold, calculating stare of Naokawa, but with someone entirely different.
Standing in the doorway as a girl with an unusually long ponytail, which at first glance, I mistook her for Naokawa. But as my eyes adjusted, it was clear that this was someone else entirely. Her eyes were thin and sharp, almost as if they were narrowed in suspicion just because of me, or deep thought. She looked like she hadn't slept in days, weeks, even.
But why did I mistake her for Naokawa? Maybe they shared the same penchant for these unsettling entrances.
She had this strange presence about her. Not the frosty, "Stay back or I'll bite." type that Naokawa had mastered, but something more… terrifying. Like she was constantly chipping on the edge of a breakdown, or a breakthrough. I couldn't quite tell.
Her school uniform though, was in complete disarray. There a few buttons undone at the top, leaving just enough mystery to make you wonder if it was a fashion statement or simply a cry for help.
Her breathing was ragged, as if she had sprinted all the way here to deliver a supposedly important message of utmost urgency, or maybe she was just out of breath, exactly just me after any form of physical exertion.
She looked dangerous. Not in the "I'll slice you with a glare" way like Naokawa, but in a "I might actually stab you if you look me wrong" sort of way.
The ultimate delinquent, rumored only in the halls and whispered among students? It had to be her. She had that kind of vibe, and yet there was an odd prettiness to her. But then again, this was me we're talking about. I'm not exactly known for my good judgment when it comes to people. It was bound to be messy, that's for sure.
But you know what happened, though? Absolutely nothing. She just stood there, blinking at me. And I mean that quite literally. She blinked at me for a whole minute straight! No words, no movements. Just this uncomfortable, gaze. What is happening?