The morning after the exhibition, the Reizei estate was unusually quiet. The fallout from Reina's sabotage attempt had sent shockwaves through the school, and rumors about her disgrace were spreading like wildfire.
"She hasn't been seen all morning," one student whispered in the hallway.
"I heard she's being called to Lady Reizei's office," another added.
"Do you think she'll get expelled?"
Myraa, for her part, didn't care. She was too busy replaying the events of the previous night in her head: Kyra's steadying presence, her calm defense of Myraa in front of the crowd, and—most of all—her words on the rooftop.
"Because you're important to me. More than you realize."
Myraa had tossed and turned all night, trying to make sense of it. Did Kyra really mean what she said? And if so… what did it mean?
---
Reina Faces the Consequences
Meanwhile, Reina's day wasn't going nearly as well.
She stood stiffly in Camellia's office, her usually smug demeanor replaced by a look of barely concealed panic. Camellia, seated behind her desk, regarded Reina with a calm but razor-sharp gaze.
"Miss Reina," Camellia said, her voice cool and measured. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Reina swallowed hard, her hands clenched at her sides. "I… I didn't mean for it to go this far."
"That much is clear," Camellia replied. "But intent is irrelevant when your actions jeopardize the reputation of this family—and this school."
"I was just trying to—" Reina began, but Camellia raised a hand, cutting her off.
"You were trying to sabotage Myraa," Camellia said bluntly. "And in doing so, you revealed a fundamental flaw in your character."
Reina's face turned red, but she didn't argue.
"Effective immediately," Camellia continued, "you are stripped of your leadership roles at Camellia Academy. Furthermore, you will publicly apologize to Myraa and the student body for your actions."
"What?!" Reina exclaimed, her composure finally cracking. "You can't be serious!"
"I am always serious, Miss Reina," Camellia said, her tone icy. "And you should be grateful that I'm not expelling you outright. Do I make myself clear?"
Reina hesitated, her jaw clenched, before finally nodding. "Yes, Lady Reizei."
"Good," Camellia said, dismissing her with a wave of her hand.
Reina stormed out of the office, her face a mask of fury.
---
Myraa's Turning Point
Later that day, Camellia called Myraa to her study. Myraa arrived nervously, half-expecting another lecture about family responsibility.
But to her surprise, Camellia greeted her with a warm smile.
"You've handled yourself well these past few weeks," Camellia said, gesturing for Myraa to sit.
"Uh… thanks?" Myraa replied, still wary.
Camellia chuckled softly. "I know this hasn't been easy for you. But you've shown resilience, creativity, and an ability to adapt under pressure. Those are qualities every Reizei must have."
Myraa blinked, her chest swelling with unexpected pride. "Really?"
"Yes," Camellia said, her gaze softening. "And while you still have much to learn, I have no doubt that you'll grow into your role. You've already begun to prove yourself."
Myraa felt a lump in her throat but managed a small smile. "I'll… I'll keep trying."
"That's all I ask," Camellia said, reaching across the desk to pat her hand.
---
The Rooftop Confession
That evening, Myraa found herself on the rooftop once again, her favorite place to escape the chaos of her new life. The cool breeze and the twinkling stars had a way of making everything feel a little less overwhelming.
She wasn't surprised when Kyra joined her, as she always did.
"You've been quiet today," Kyra said, leaning against the railing.
"Yeah, well… it's been a weird day," Myraa replied, glancing at her cousin.
"Reina?" Kyra asked.
"Partly," Myraa admitted. "But also… other stuff."
Kyra tilted her head, her dark eyes studying Myraa. "What kind of stuff?"
Myraa hesitated, fidgeting with the hem of her blazer. "Just… you know… everything you said last night. About me being important to you."
Kyra's expression softened, but she didn't speak right away.
"What did you mean by that?" Myraa pressed, her voice quieter now.
Kyra turned to face her fully, her usual smirk replaced by something more serious. "I meant exactly what I said."
"But… why?" Myraa asked, her brow furrowing. "Why do you care so much?"
Kyra sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Because… you're not like anyone else I've ever known. You're clumsy and chaotic and sometimes completely ridiculous…"
"Wow, thanks," Myraa muttered, crossing her arms.
Kyra smiled faintly. "But you're also brave and kind and… real. You don't try to hide who you are, even when it's messy. And I admire that."
Myraa blinked, her heart racing. "You… admire me?"
"Yes," Kyra said simply.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, the silence between them charged with unspoken feelings.
Then Myraa, feeling both bold and terrified, blurted out, "I think I admire you too. Like… a lot. Probably too much."
Kyra's eyes widened slightly, but then she smiled—a real, genuine smile that made Myraa's chest feel like it might burst.
"Good," Kyra said softly. "Because I'm not going anywhere."
---
As Myraa lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, she couldn't stop replaying the rooftop conversation in her head. For the first time since arriving in Japan, she felt like she wasn't just surviving—she was growing, changing, and finding her place.
And while the future still felt uncertain, one thing was clear: she wasn't alone.
Not with Kyra by her side.