By now, Myraa's accidental rise to stardom at Camellia Academy had reached new, absurd heights. After her improv success at the Talent Showcase, students were treating her like a living legend.
In the cafeteria, someone handed her a tray of food before she even reached the serving line. During class, someone volunteered to "take notes" for her even though she was sitting right there. And at least three students offered to carry her bag between periods.
"Why does this keep happening?" Myraa asked Kyra as they walked down the hall.
Kyra, as always, looked effortlessly composed, her hands tucked casually into the pockets of her tailored uniform pants. "Because they love you."
"Why?!" Myraa demanded, throwing up her hands. "I didn't do anything! I just tripped over my own feet on stage and talked about lemons!"
"Exactly," Kyra replied, smirking.
"That doesn't make sense!" Myraa cried. "Why does this school run on nonsense?!"
Kyra didn't answer, but the glint in her eyes suggested she found the entire situation deeply entertaining.
---
Reina's Growing Frustration
Across the courtyard, Reina sat under a cherry blossom tree, glaring daggers at Myraa from a distance.
"How does she keep winning?" Reina hissed, clutching her tea cup so tightly it was a miracle it didn't shatter.
One of her minions hesitated before replying. "Maybe it's because people like her?"
Reina turned her glare on the girl, who immediately shrank back. "People like me too!" Reina snapped.
"Yes, of course they do!" the girl squeaked. "It's just… Miss Myraa is… um… relatable?"
Reina groaned, throwing her head back. "Relatable? That's not a personality! That's a defect!"
Her other minion leaned forward cautiously. "What's the next step, Reina? How are we going to deal with her?"
Reina's eyes narrowed as she watched Myraa laugh at something Kyra said. "Oh, I'll deal with her. But first… I need to deal with Kyra."
---
A Mysterious Arrival
The day's chaos took a turn when Myraa spotted a sleek black car pulling up to the academy gates during the lunch break. Normally, she wouldn't have paid much attention, but the car wasn't just sleek—it was intimidating. The kind of car that screamed dangerous and important.
She paused mid-bite of her bento, narrowing her eyes at the scene unfolding in the distance. A tall, broad-shouldered man in a dark suit stepped out of the car. He looked sharp, serious, and vaguely familiar, like the kind of person who could silence a room just by walking into it.
"Who's that?" Myraa asked, nudging Kyra with her elbow.
Kyra stiffened beside her, her usual calm demeanor replaced by something Myraa couldn't quite place.
"Kyra?" Myraa asked again, glancing at her cousin.
Kyra's jaw tightened. "It's Hajime Reizei."
"…Okay," Myraa said slowly. "And who's that?"
Kyra finally looked at her, her expression unreadable. "Our uncle."
"Wait, uncle?" Myraa exclaimed, nearly choking on her rice. "I have an uncle?! Why is this the first time I'm hearing about this?!"
Kyra didn't answer, her gaze fixed on Hajime as he strode across the courtyard like he owned the place.
---
The Family Meeting
Later that afternoon, Myraa was summoned to the Reizei estate for what Camellia called a "family meeting." She arrived in the grand sitting room to find Hajime already there, sipping tea like he was born to sit in elegant rooms and intimidate people.
Kyra stood off to the side, her posture rigid and her expression carefully neutral. Myraa, on the other hand, felt like a clumsy squirrel in a room full of predators.
"Ah, Myraa," Camellia said warmly as she entered the room. "This is your uncle, Hajime Reizei. He's been very eager to meet you."
Myraa blinked, glancing between Camellia and Hajime. "Um… hi?"
Hajime set down his tea cup and stood, his sharp gaze assessing her. "So, this is the girl everyone's talking about," he said, his voice low and commanding.
"Talking about?" Myraa repeated nervously. "What kind of talking? Good talking? Bad talking?"
"Mostly good," Hajime replied, though his tone was impossible to read. "Your… unique rise to popularity at Camellia Academy has been interesting to watch."
Myraa glanced at Kyra, who gave her a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. She took a deep breath. "Thanks, I guess?"
Hajime's expression didn't change, but Camellia's smile widened. "Hajime has come to evaluate the progress of the Reizei family's next generation," she explained. "He's particularly interested in you, Myraa."
"Why?" Myraa blurted out before she could stop herself. "I mean, I'm not exactly… you know… good at this heiress stuff."
Hajime raised an eyebrow, but Camellia chuckled. "You underestimate yourself, dear. And besides, being a Reizei isn't about perfection—it's about resilience."
Kyra's gaze flicked toward Myraa at that, something unspoken passing between them.
---
Kyra's Protective Side Intensifies
After the meeting, Myraa and Kyra walked back toward the estate's garden, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.
"So," Myraa said awkwardly. "What's the deal with Uncle Hajime? Is he, like, secretly a supervillain or something? Because he kind of has that vibe."
Kyra let out a short laugh, but it didn't reach her eyes. "He's not a supervillain. But he's… difficult."
"Difficult how?"
Kyra hesitated, her hands clenched at her sides. "He's always been the one pulling the strings in the background. Even my mother defers to him. And now, it seems, he's taken an interest in you."
"Why do you say that like it's a bad thing?" Myraa asked, narrowing her eyes.
Kyra stopped walking, turning to face her. "Because Hajime doesn't do anything without a reason. And whatever his reason is, it's not going to be simple."
Myraa frowned. "Great. So now I have two Reizei family members watching my every move. Awesome. Can't wait."
Kyra's expression softened slightly, and she placed a hand on Myraa's shoulder. "You're not alone in this. Remember that."
For a moment, Myraa just stared at her cousin, caught off guard by the warmth in her voice. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Camellia's voice rang out from the house, calling them back inside.
Kyra's hand dropped away, and the moment passed.