Despite Kyra's insistence that the photo scandal would blow over, Myraa couldn't shake the feeling that things were getting… complicated. Rumors continued to swirl around school, Reina was clearly gearing up for her next scheme, and Hajime's sudden involvement in her life was starting to feel like a ticking time bomb.
"Why can't I just have one normal day?" Myraa muttered as she shuffled into homeroom.
As usual, her classmates greeted her with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"Miss Myraa! Do you want me to take your notes today?"
"Are you hungry? I packed extra onigiri!"
"Miss Myraa, are you really dating Kyra?!"
Myraa froze mid-step, her face heating up. "No! Why does everyone keep asking me that?!"
The student looked vaguely disappointed. "Oh. I mean, you two do look really good together…"
"I'm going to scream," Myraa muttered, slumping into her seat.
From her spot in the back of the room, Kyra watched with her usual calm. She raised an eyebrow when Myraa glanced her way, silently asking Are you okay?
Myraa scowled at her and mouthed, This is your fault!
Kyra smirked, clearly unfazed.
---
Hajime's Test
After school, Myraa was summoned to Hajime's office at the Reizei estate. She had no idea why, but the knot of anxiety in her stomach told her it wasn't going to be good.
When she stepped into the room, Hajime was sitting at a massive mahogany desk, a stack of papers neatly arranged in front of him. He gestured for her to sit, his sharp eyes assessing her as she did.
"I trust you're adjusting to life at Camellia Academy," Hajime said, his tone calm but intimidating.
"Uh… yeah?" Myraa replied, shifting uncomfortably in her chair.
Hajime leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "Good. Because I have a task for you."
Myraa blinked. "A… task?"
"Think of it as a test," Hajime said, sliding a folder across the desk toward her. "Inside, you'll find details about an upcoming event at the academy. Your job is to represent the Reizei family with competence and grace. Succeed, and you'll prove that you're capable of upholding our legacy. Fail, and…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
Myraa hesitated before opening the folder. Inside was information about an upcoming charity gala hosted by the school. It was a formal event, complete with speeches, performances, and a silent auction. And, of course, the Reizei family was expected to play a prominent role.
"You want me to do this?" Myraa asked, her voice high-pitched with panic. "I don't know the first thing about charity galas!"
"You'll learn," Hajime said simply.
"But—"
"Kyra will assist you," Hajime added, cutting her off.
Myraa glanced at Kyra, who was standing silently by the door. Her cousin gave her a small, reassuring nod, but her expression was serious.
"Fine," Myraa muttered, closing the folder. "I'll do it."
---
Gala Prep: Myraa's Worst Nightmare
Over the next few days, Myraa threw herself into preparing for the gala with Kyra's help. It was, without a doubt, the most stressful thing she'd ever done.
"Okay, let's go over this again," Kyra said as they sat in the library, surrounded by books on etiquette and public speaking. "What's the first rule of formal introductions?"
"Smile and don't spill anything," Myraa replied, flipping through a book titled The Art of Diplomacy.
Kyra sighed. "No. The first rule is to always address the highest-ranking person in the room first."
"Right. Got it." Myraa scribbled it down in her notebook. "Highest-ranking person first. Don't spill anything. Don't trip. Don't die."
"You're overthinking this," Kyra said, leaning back in her chair.
"That's because you're good at this!" Myraa shot back. "You're practically perfect, and I'm just… me!"
Kyra frowned slightly. "You don't have to be perfect, Myraa. You just have to be yourself."
Myraa snorted. "Yeah, because that's worked so well so far."
Kyra didn't respond immediately, her gaze softening as she watched Myraa fidget with her pen. "You're better at this than you think," she said quietly.
Myraa blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice. "You really think so?"
"I know so," Kyra replied.
For a moment, Myraa felt a strange warmth in her chest, but she quickly shook it off. "Okay, fine. Let's keep going. What's the next rule?"
---
Reina's Plan to Crash the Gala
Meanwhile, Reina was plotting—again.
"Did you hear about the charity gala?" she asked her minions, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Yes," one of them replied cautiously. "Miss Myraa's going to be representing the Reizei family."
Reina smirked. "Exactly. And what better place to show the entire school—no, the entire world—that she's a fraud?"
Her minions exchanged nervous glances.
"What are we going to do?" one of them asked hesitantly.
Reina's smile widened. "We're going to make sure that gala is a night Myraa will never forget—and not in a good way."
---
The Rooftop Moment: A Heart-to-Heart
The night before the gala, Myraa found herself on the rooftop again, trying to calm her nerves. The stars were bright, the air was crisp, and for a moment, she felt like she could breathe.
She wasn't alone for long.
"You're going to catch a cold," Kyra said as she stepped onto the rooftop, her long black hair swaying gently in the breeze.
"I'm fine," Myraa replied, not turning around.
Kyra walked over and leaned against the railing beside her. "Still worried about tomorrow?"
"Worried doesn't even begin to cover it," Myraa admitted, staring up at the sky. "What if I mess up? What if I embarrass the family? What if I—"
"You won't," Kyra said firmly, cutting her off.
Myraa turned to look at her. "How can you be so sure?"
Kyra met her gaze, her expression steady. "Because you've already proven you can handle anything. You're stronger than you think, Myraa. And no matter what happens tomorrow, I'll be there."
Myraa felt her breath catch. For a moment, she forgot about the gala, the rumors, and even Reina. All she could focus on was the way Kyra was looking at her—like she was the only person in the world who mattered.
"…Thanks," Myraa said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kyra gave her a small smile, but there was something unspoken in her eyes, something that made Myraa's heart race.
Before she could dwell on it, Kyra straightened and nodded toward the door. "You should get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."
"Yeah," Myraa said, still feeling a little dazed. "Big day."
As Kyra walked away, Myraa stayed by the railing, staring up at the stars and wondering why her chest felt so… complicated.