It was early autumn, and the world around Shika felt warm, yet a cold breeze lingered inside her. She had walked to high school with her friend, Luna, her thoughts a whirlwind of frustration and sorrow. Despite Luna's attempts to cheer her up, Shika's mind was preoccupied with her recent breakup. The coolness of the season matched the chill in her heart.
"Well, Luna, they're all the same. I guess I'm not going to date anymore," Shika sighed, kicking a small pebble on the sidewalk. She adjusted her oversized jacket, pulling it tighter around her. The soft breeze made her shiver, but it wasn't just the weather that caused her discomfort.
Luna, her long ponytail swaying as she walked, shot her friend a sympathetic glance. "Don't worry about it. There are plenty of fish in the sea," she said with a cheerful tone that felt a bit forced. She hoped it would uplift Shika, even if just a little.
As they entered the high school building, the warmth of the hallways enveloped them, though it did nothing to ease Shika's internal cold. The bustling energy of students hurrying to class filled the air, and Luna kept chatting, trying to distract her. But as they passed by a group of classmates, Shika's name echoed in an all-too-familiar mocking tone.
"Hey, Mrs. Cold, is it snowing at your place?" Maku's voice rang out, her laughter mixing with that of her friends. They were leaning against the wall, their eyes gleaming with mischief.
Fuchima, another member of the group, chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I've never known it could snow in low-altitude areas. Must be special, huh?"
Their laughter pierced through Shika, and she felt the sting of their words like icicles. She was used to the teasing, but it didn't make it hurt any less. Luna stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward them. "Hey, knock it off!" she snapped, her hands clenched into fists.
But before things could escalate, Shika gently tugged Luna's arm, shaking her head. "Just ignore them," she whispered, trying to maintain her composure. Deep down, she didn't want any more attention drawn to her than necessary.
Ryoku, a quiet girl who had been standing nearby, suddenly spoke up, her voice shy but firm. "Stop annoying her," she said, her words catching the bullies by surprise. Maku and Fuchima exchanged glances but shrugged, seemingly bored of their own antics. They muttered something under their breath before walking off.
Luna gave Ryoku a grateful nod, though the moment was quickly interrupted by the teacher's arrival. "Everyone, take your seats," the teacher commanded, her stern voice echoing in the classroom. The morning's disruption faded as the day moved forward, though the cold that lingered in Shika's heart did not.
Shika, relieved that the confrontation had ended, took her seat next to the window. As the teacher delved into the lesson, Shika's thoughts drifted, her gaze shifting to the vibrant colors outside the window. She found a sense of calm in the rustling leaves, momentarily forgetting the harshness of her classmates.
"I can't believe I managed to secure a spot in one of the town's most prestigious high schools," Shika thought to herself, her mind wandering back to the day she received her acceptance letter. It had been a proud moment for her and her family, a testament to her hard work and the scholarship she had earned.
Her daydream was interrupted when the teacher called upon her to read aloud from the textbook. Shika quickly gathered herself, standing up with a sense of duty. She began reading with clarity and precision, her voice steady as she articulated each word.
As she finished, the teacher smiled approvingly. "Nothing less to expect from the top student in class," the teacher remarked, her praise causing a few murmurs from the other students.
---
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes, students flooded into the hallways. Shika and Luna walked side by side, ready to head to the playground for a bit of fresh air. Just as they reached the entrance, Ryoku came running up to them, her face a mix of worry and apology.
"I'm really sorry for what happened earlier," Ryoku said, her voice trembling slightly.
Shika smiled weakly, shaking her head. "It's not your fault… Thank you for defending me."
Ryoku's expression softened, and she smiled back. "Luna, why didn't you introduce me to your friend earlier? How bad!" she teased lightly, trying to brighten the mood.
Luna wrapped an arm around Shika's shoulders, grinning. "Oh right, meet my best friend, Shika. Shika, this is Ryoku, my friend." The introduction felt natural, and the three of them walked down to the playground together, the tension of the day slowly melting away.
The day ended peacefully as the three friends walked home together. Shika felt a small sense of warmth returning as they laughed and talked. But when she arrived home, she was greeted by a surprise that made her heart swell with emotion.
In the kitchen, her mother and little sister, Ichigo, had prepared a cake for her. The sight of the cake jogged her memory—it was her birthday. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she had forgotten.
Shika hugged her mother and sister tightly, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over her. After lunch, she returned to her room, where she finally felt the weight of the day lift. She had loving friends, a caring family, and maybe, just maybe, things would get better.
That night, she studied, feeling more at peace than she had in weeks, looking forward to what tomorrow might bring.
---
The next morning, Luna met Shika at her door, as usual, to walk to high school together. Shika noticed that she felt lighter, as though a bit of the weight on her chest had lifted. But that peace didn't last long. As they entered the high school, they saw Ryoku standing in the corridor, engaged in a heated argument with Maku and Fuchima.
"You stood by that crybaby's side against us," Maku spat, her voice loud enough to draw attention from the other students passing by.
Ryoku stood her ground, her voice calm yet unwavering. "I'm not against anyone. I'm just doing what's right."
Fuchima clapped sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "How noble, Mrs. Ryoku. Such loyalty to your new 'friends.'"
Shika's heart sank as she overheard the argument. She could feel the tension radiating from the group, and guilt began to gnaw at her. This was happening because of her. Before she could intervene, Maku shoved Ryoku back, her voice dripping with venom. "You're not our friend anymore. Let's see what you get out of that crybaby."
The words cut deep, and Shika felt a rush of emotions—guilt, anger, sadness. As soon as Maku and Fuchima walked away, she ran up to Ryoku, her voice trembling. "I'm really sorry. You shouldn't have done that for me. If you want, I can talk to them—"
Ryoku interrupted her, smiling gently. "No, no. It's not your fault. I realized something. Being their friend isn't right for me. I'm not like them."
Shika's heart ached as she looked into Ryoku's eyes. There was a sincerity there that she hadn't expected, and it made her feel even worse. "You still have us!" she said suddenly, wrapping Ryoku in a warm hug.
Luna, ever the pragmatic one, laughed lightly, "Okay, I love you both, but enough drama. We're going to be late for class."
The three girls walked off together, but Shika couldn't shake the feeling of guilt. She was grateful for her friends, but she couldn't help but worry about the rift that had formed between Ryoku and her old friends.
---
At break, they sat on the benches in the playground, the warm sunlight filtering through the trees. Ryoku's eyes were glued to the football field, where Sota, the captain of the football team, and his best friend, Heizen, were playing. Ryoku's gaze lingered a little too long on Heizen, and Luna nudged Shika with a knowing smirk.
"Looks like someone's got a crush," Luna teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
Shika glanced over at Ryoku, who blushed furiously and quickly looked away. "It's nothing," Ryoku muttered, but the way her eyes kept drifting back to the field betrayed her words.
All the girls in high school seemed to have a crush on Sota, but he always kept his distance, avoiding their attention. Heizen, on the other hand, was more playful, and Shika could see why Ryoku might like him. But as the two boys headed to the locker room, Shika's thoughts drifted back to Sota.
"He's such a jerk," she muttered, her tone laced with frustration. "Who does he think he is, letting all the girls chase after him like that?"
Ryoku, overhearing Shika, suddenly spoke up. "Sota and Heizen are my childhood friends," she said, surprising both Luna and Shika.
Luna raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you're friends with those two? Like, really?"
"Yes!" Ryoku replied, her smile widening
. "They've always been there for me, even if Sota seems a bit distant now."
Shika was surprised to learn this. As they returned to the classroom after lunch, Shika realized that Sota had been in their class all along. She asked Luna, "Was this guy in our class the whole time?" wondering how she had missed him earlier.
"Yes, he was," Luna replied, slightly irritated by his presence.
---
The day ended, and Shika packed her bag, ready to head home. But as she was about to leave, Luna's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Come on, we need to hurry home before it gets dark," Luna said, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Just a second," Shika replied, quickly stuffing her notebook into her bag. As they left the classroom, Luna asked, "Hey, can you show me the notes you wrote? I need them for our homework."
"Sure," Shika said, reaching into her bag. But as she rummaged through it, she realized with a jolt that she had forgotten her notebook in the classroom. "I forgot it in class because of you," she exclaimed, playfully blaming Luna before dashing back inside.
As Shika walked down the corridor, she noticed Ryoku standing with Sota and Heizen, deep in conversation. Sota's face was etched with sadness, which piqued Shika's curiosity. She wondered to herself, "I wonder what happened to him." The thought lingered as she approached the group, trying not to make her interest too obvious. Ryoku noticed her first and waved, prompting Shika to act as though she had just arrived.
"Where are you headed?" Ryoku asked as Shika approached.
"I forgot my notebook in the classroom. Luna's waiting for me," Shika replied quickly, keeping her tone light as she brushed past them. She glanced at Sota, but he barely acknowledged her presence, his focus elsewhere. A small pang of something she couldn't quite identify tugged at her as she hurried away. After retrieving her notebook, she rejoined Luna, who was waiting patiently.
"Took you long enough," Luna said, though her tone held no real irritation. Shika could tell that Luna had noticed something was off.
Shika remained quiet for most of their walk home, lost in thought. She had always seen Sota as a jerk—a guy who thought he was too good for everyone else.
"I wonder if something happened to him," she mused. The more she thought about it, the more she realized how little she really knew about him. Her initial judgments seemed unfair now. "Maybe he's not like I thought he was," she whispered under her breath.
"What did you say?" Luna asked, glancing at her friend curiously.
"Oh, nothing, just thinking out loud," Shika replied, offering a small smile. As they arrived at her house, Shika waved goodbye to Luna, feeling a strange mix of emotions she couldn't quite place. That evening, as she studied, Sota remained at the back of her mind, leaving her to reflect on how quickly she had judged him.
---
The next morning, the alarm rang at 7 AM, and Shika groggily turned it off, trying to steal a few more minutes of sleep. The previous night's thoughts lingered, making it hard for her to fully rest. Eventually, she dragged herself out of bed, got ready, and met Luna at the door for their usual walk to school. As they walked, Shika couldn't stop thinking about Sota's demeanor. She resolved to talk to Ryoku about it, hoping to understand what was really going on. When they arrived at school early, she saw an opportunity.
Shika approached Ryoku, who was already seated in the classroom, organizing her notes. Leaning closer, she whispered, "I know it's personal, but I'm concerned about Sota. I saw him yesterday, and he seemed really down. Do you know what's going on with him?"
Ryoku looked up, surprised but appreciative of Shika's concern. She smiled gently, reassuring Shika that she could trust her. After a moment's hesitation, Ryoku confided, "Sota's been going through a tough time lately. He recently broke up with his girlfriend… he was really in love with her."
Shika's eyes widened in surprise. "Why did they break up?"
Ryoku hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "She cheated on him with her best friend. Sota's actually a really kind person, once you get to know him. He's not as bad as you think."
Shika's skepticism was evident as she replied, "I don't know about that."
Before they could continue talking, the teacher entered the room, signaling the start of class. Shika quickly made her way to her seat, but her thoughts were far from focused on the lesson.
The day dragged on, and Shika felt herself growing more and more exhausted. By the time the final bell rang, she could barely keep her eyes open. She turned to Luna with a yawn. "I'm so tired," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Luna chuckled. "You look like you could pass out any second."
"I might," Shika replied, half-joking. But before she could say anything else, the teacher made an announcement that snapped her back to attention.
"There will be a quiz tomorrow based on today's lesson," the teacher said, her voice carrying a note of finality.
Shika's eyes widened in panic. "A quiz? Tomorrow?"
Luna turned to her, grinning. "Well, good thing I took notes for you. You slept through most of the class."
Shika snatched Luna's notebook with a grateful smile and dashed to the cafeteria to copy everything down. However, the noise of the bustling students made it impossible for her to focus. Frustrated, she decided to head upstairs to the rooftop for some peace and quiet.
When she opened the door to the rooftop, she was startled to find Sota sitting alone, his back against the wall, lost in thought. The sadness on his face was even more apparent in the quiet solitude of the rooftop.
Shika let out a small yelp of surprise, catching Sota's attention. Embarrassed, she quickly turned and ran back inside, her heart pounding. She didn't stop until she was back in the cafeteria, where she found Luna and Ryoku already seated.
As she sat down next to Ryoku, she leaned in and whispered, "I saw Sota on the roof. Why is he isolating himself?"
Ryoku sighed, her expression thoughtful. "He's always been a bit of a loner, even before all this happened. It's just who he is."
---
That evening, Shika went to bed earlier than usual, hoping to catch up on the sleep she had missed. But when morning came, Shika's mom burst into her room, pulling back the curtains. "Wake up, Shika! It's already 9 AM!"
Startled, Shika quickly covered her head with the blankets, mumbling, "Mom, it's the weekend. I just want to sleep in."
But her mother wasn't having it. "You promised Ichigo you'd take her to the park today. She's been waiting all morning!"
With a sigh, Shika threw the blankets off and reluctantly got out of bed. She couldn't say no to her little sister, especially not after making a promise. She quickly got dressed and headed to the kitchen, where Ichigo was already waiting, bouncing with excitement.
The park was bustling with activity, children playing on the swings, families picnicking on the grass, and the ice cream vendor doing brisk business. Ichigo immediately ran toward the ice cream stand, her eyes sparkling.
"Buy me one, buy me one!" Ichigo begged, tugging on Shika's arm.
Shika smiled and handed some money to the vendor, who handed Ichigo a brightly colored ice cream cone. Ichigo's face lit up with joy. As Ichigo ran off to play, Shika sat on a nearby bench, pulling out her notebook to sketch. The peaceful surroundings of the park gave her a moment to unwind, her pencil gliding across the paper as she lost herself in the simple act of drawing.
But soon, a little girl bumped into Ichigo, causing her ice cream to splatter on the ground. The girl's eyes widened in horror, and she quickly apologized, her voice trembling.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—"
Before the little girl could finish, a gentle voice reassured her. "No worries. Let's get you both another ice cream." He took the hands of both girls and led them back to the vendor.
Ichigo, her face lighting up once more, accepted the new ice cream with a wide grin. "Thank you!" she exclaimed; her earlier disappointment forgotten. The two girls quickly introduced themselves, Ichigo eagerly chatting with her new friend, Tenshi. The two quickly finished their treats and ran off to play together, their laughter echoing through the park. As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the park, Shika realized it was time to head home.
After searching for a few minutes, she finally found Ichigo and Tenshi playing together. Ichigo ran over, her excitement palpable. "Shika, this is my new friend, Tenshi! Isn't she nice?"
Shika knelt down to Tenshi's level, her smile warm and genuine. "It's nice to meet you, Tenshi."
Tenshi, shy but smiling, looked up at Shika. "Ichigo, your sister is so pretty," she said, her voice filled with innocent admiration.
Shika felt her cheeks warm slightly at the compliment. "Thank you, Tenshi. You're too kind." She then took out
her notebook and quickly scribbled down her address, handing the paper to Tenshi. "Feel free to visit us anytime," she said, hoping the girls' friendship would continue.
As they walked home, Ichigo chattered excitedly about her new friend and the fun they had. "You should meet Tenshi's brother, too! He goes to the same school as you, Shika."
Shika smiled, nodding along to Ichigo's enthusiastic recounting of the day. "I'm sure he's a nice guy, just like Tenshi," she replied, wondering who the mysterious older brother Ichigo was talking about might be, especially since they were in the same school.
When they finally arrived home, Ichigo wasted no time in recounting the entire day to their parents. She talked animatedly about her new friend, the ice cream, and how Tenshi's brother had been so kind.
---
The following Monday, the former student council president made an announcement in the stadium, marking the beginning of a new academic year. "As every year, a new student council president will be elected. To register, fill out this form, and the results will be announced in a week. I hope you all take this seriously."
As they left the stadium, Luna turned to Shika with a determined look. "I think I'll run for student council president."
Shika nodded, impressed. "That's great! You'd make an excellent president. You're responsible, intelligent—exactly what this school needs."
Luna smiled confidently. "This school could use someone like me."
Meanwhile, in another part of the school, Sota and Heizen were having a similar conversation. Heizen, always the lively one, was practically dragging Sota along as he talked about the election. "This is going to be so exciting. I'll run for president, and you can be my vice president!" Heizen said with a grin, slapping Sota on the back.
Sota shook his head, looking a bit exasperated but amused nonetheless. "You never change, do you?" The two of them had been friends for years, but sometimes Heizen's enthusiasm was a bit much for him.
As fate would have it, both groups converged at the registration board. As Luna and Heizen locked eyes, a silent challenge passed between them. Neither was willing to back down, and the competition was on. As they walked away, Luna fumed. "I'm going to make them regret it, those jerks."
The next day, the registration board was filled with names. Luna, ever the strategist, gathered three new students to support her—Rio, Maemi, and Motohiro, all old friends of hers. When Shika saw them with Luna, she was surprised.
Luna introduced them with a proud smile. "Shika, meet Rio, Maemi, and Motohiro. They're old friends, and they'll be part of the student council if I become president."
Motohiro immediately jumped in front of Luna, bowing deeply before Shika. "And I'll be the vice president, at your service," he declared with a grin.
Shika smirked. "If you get elected first," she teased before turning on her heel and walking away.
Motohiro watched her go, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "I like her. She's interesting," he remarked to Rio and Maemi, who both nodded in agreement.
Luna, not missing a beat, clapped her hands to get their attention. "Alright, let's get back to work."
---
As the election campaign began in earnest, Luna and her team were hard at work preparing speeches, while Shika remained in class, observing everything quietly. Suddenly, the former student council president's voice boomed over the loudspeaker. "The registration for student council president is now closed. It's time for the candidates to shine."
During the break, Ryoku ran up to Shika, her face tear-streaked. "Shika, I need your help," she pleaded.
Shika was taken aback. "What is it?"
Ryoku looked torn, her emotions laid bare. "I can't choose between Heizen and Luna. Luna is my best friend, but I... I love Heizen. This is so hard for me."
Shika patted her head gently, trying to comfort her. "Don't worry about it, Ryoku. Just choose the one whose speech convinces you the most. After all, that's what's important."
Ryoku sniffled, managing a small smile. "You're right. Thank you, Shika." But then her face fell again. "But what if the other one gets mad at me?" she asked, her voice trembling with fear as she imagined Luna's reaction.
Shika chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. "If Luna gets mad, just remind her that she'd be the best monster in a horror movie," she teased, earning a small, reluctant smile from Ryoku.
---
After school, Shika and Ryoku waited at the door for Luna. When she finally appeared, she waved them off. "Go ahead without me. I have some work to finish."
"Okay, see you tomorrow," they said in unison, heading home together.
The next day, Shika dutifully helped Luna distribute flyers at the school entrance to promote her candidacy. When Sota passed by, Shika offered him a flyer with a polite smile. But instead of taking it, he crumpled it up and tossed it into the trash, making a silly face at her. Shika felt a surge of irritation but kept it to herself, knowing that confronting him would only make things worse.
During gym class, Sota and Heizen were busy training on the field, while Shika and Luna sneaked off to the locker room. Luna pulled out a marker, and with a mischievous grin, she and Shika drew a mustache and glasses on Heizen's campaign photo. Shika felt a twinge of guilt as she participated in the prank, but Luna convinced her it was harmless fun.
After class, Sota and Heizen were in the locker room, changing out of their gym clothes when Heizen playfully snapped a photo of Sota without his shirt, apologizing with a charming grin. The next day, the photo had spread throughout the school with a cheeky caption: "Vote for Heizen if you want a hot man." The girls at school swooned, much to Luna's frustration.
Luna called an emergency meeting with her team. "He's using Sota's charm to win over the girls!" she fumed. "He already has the football team on his side. We need to counter this."
Maemi suggested, "Let's use Rio's charm. He's also on the football team," as she playfully tugged at Rio's shirt.
But Luna shook her head. "The captain can't be beaten," she said, her determination only growing stronger. Motohiro, meanwhile, was quietly conspiring with Rio and Maemi. "Let's take down 'Prince Charming' and his friend," he whispered, already plotting their next move.
---
Sota and Heizen were playing football on the field when Maemi stole their ball and ran into the girls' bathroom, daring them to follow. Not wanting to cause a scene, they hesitated, but eventually pushed open the door, only to find a group of girls half-naked inside. Embarrassed, they quickly threw towels over the girls and bolted out of the room, but not before Rio and Motohiro snapped a picture of the commotion.
The next day, rumors spread like wildfire, painting Sota and Heizen as perverts. Everyone in the school looked at them with disgust, except for Ryoku, who knew them well enough to believe they would never do something like that.
"There must be a misunderstanding," Ryoku said to Shika during break, her voice filled with concern.
Shika, however, wasn't so sure. "Well, from the look of that picture, they sure do seem guilty."
Ryoku shook her head firmly. "I'm telling you, there's no way they would do that."
The situation only grew worse when Rio and Motohiro managed to take another incriminating photo, making it look like Sota was fighting with Rio during football practice. Then, a picture of Heizen picking up an overturned trash can was twisted to suggest he had thrown the trash on the ground.
Ryoku couldn't stand it any longer. During break, she approached Sota and Heizen with a determined look. "I know this isn't true. Someone is obviously trying to destroy you."
Sota sighed, grateful for her support. "We need to figure out who's behind this."
Ryoku nodded, already formulating a plan. "We should investigate. I have an idea."
Determined to clear their names, Sota, Heizen, and Ryoku came up with a plan. They communicated through a group call, using code names.
"Apple ready," Ryoku said quietly into her earpiece.
"Banana ready," Heizen chimed in, his voice low.
"Cinnamon ready," Sota added, standing in position.
Sota staged a fake fight with a ball while wearing a jacket to disguise himself as someone else. Ryoku and Heizen hid behind some trees, watching closely as Rio and Motohiro crept up, ready to take another incriminating photo.
Just as Rio raised the camera, Heizen yelled, "Now, let's go!" and the three of them sprang into action. They chased Rio and Motohiro down a closed road, finally cornering them. With a triumphant grin, Sota and Heizen jumped on their backs, pinning them to the ground.
Ryoku stood over them with an evil smile. "Let's take off their masks," she said, snapping a picture of the two culprits lying on the ground with Sota and Heizen grinning victoriously beside them.
"If you don't apologize, delete the photos, and tell everyone the truth, we'll post this picture on the school blog," Ryoku threatened, her voice calm but firm.
At that moment, Shika and Luna walked by, Luna gasped when she saw the scene in front of her. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded, her eyes wide with shock.
Sota looked up at her, his expression serious. "We caught the ones who faked those pictures of us."
Luna's anger quickly turned to disbelief. "Really?"
Rio and Motohiro, now crying and desperate, begged Luna for help. "We're sorry, Luna! Please help us!"
But Luna wasn't about to let them off the hook. She smacked them both on the head and made them apologize to Sota and Heizen. "Apologize and clean up your mess." After that, everything returned to normal. The rumors were put to rest, and Luna and Heizen prepared for the final speeches of the election.
The final day of the election arrived, and the atmosphere at school was electric with anticipation. Shika felt a mix of excitement and anxiety as she watched Luna prepare for her speech. The two had spent hours perfecting it, and now all that was left was to deliver it.
Heizen was the first to speak, his charm and wit on full display. The crowd reacted enthusiastically, clearly impressed by his performance. As Shika watched, she couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty. Heizen was a formidable opponent, and Luna would need to bring her best to compete.
When it was Luna's turn, she stepped up to the podium with a determined look in her eyes. Her speech was passionate and heartfelt, speaking directly to the concerns of the student body. By the time she finished, the crowd was buzzing with approval.
After both speeches were delivered, the votes were cast, and the tension in the air was palpable. As the results were tallied, Shika stood by Luna's side, her heart pounding with anticipation. When the final announcement came, Luna was declared the winner.
As the crowd's applause echoed through the auditorium, Luna stood on the stage, basking in the glory of her victory. Shika could see the pride in her friend's eyes as she waved to the students who had voted for her. The sight filled Shika with warmth—Luna had worked so hard, and now she was reaping the rewards.
Once the excitement died down, the students began to disperse, heading out of the auditorium in groups, chattering about the election results. Shika stayed close to Luna as they made their way through the crowd, feeling a sense of contentment that she hadn't felt in a while.
As they continued walking, Sota and Heizen approached them from across the courtyard. Sota looked calm, his usual aloofness replaced with a more subdued demeanor, while Heizen wore a friendly smile, seemingly unbothered by the election's outcome.
"Congratulations, Luna," Heizen said, extending his hand toward her. "You ran a great campaign."
Luna hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand. "Thanks, Heizen. You were a tough opponent."
As the four of them stood there, an awkward silence settled over the group. Luna cleared her throat, breaking the tension. "So, what's next for you guys?"
Heizen grinned, his usual energy returning. "Well, we might have lost this battle, but we'll be back. Right, Sota?"
Sota shrugged, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "We'll see."
Luna chuckled, and for a brief moment, the rivalry that had dominated their interactions seemed to dissolve, replaced by a newfound respect. Shika felt a sense of relief—maybe things would be different now.
Chapter 1 concludes with the resolution of the school election drama and the beginning of new dynamics between the characters. Shika, still reflecting on her judgments and growing relationships, looks forward to what the next chapter will bring.