After school, Iyuna collapsed onto her bed, letting the plush mattress absorb the weight of her exhaustion. She was in her dorm room now, wrapped in soothing silence.
She closed her eyes slowly and drifted into sleep, her rapid breaths gradually steadying. Hours later, she awoke, stretching her still-uniformed body with a soft groan, arms reaching wide. "Nghh~"
Then she sat up, rubbing her heavy eyelids. Through the window, she saw that night had fallen—streetlights illuminated the school grounds. The wall clock read 7:20 PM, its hands sharp against the dial.
Iyuna undid her uniform buttons one by one, stripped off her clothes, and grabbed the towel hanging behind the door, ready for a shower.
Bored after her bath, her damp hair clinging to her neck, she decided to step outside for fresh air. Dressed casually, she descended the dorm stairs, her long legs moving lightly, and wandered aimlessly.
She paused at a vending machine, fished coins from her pocket, and tapped the button for a soda. The can clattered out.
"Gulp, gulp~" She drank, her throat bobbing as the cold, fizzy liquid hit her tongue.
A few steps later, her feet carried her without direction—until a shout echoed from a nearby corridor.
"Get lost! You'll never amount to anything!" A boy snarled, shoving a girl hard. His hands gripped her shoulders, forcing her to stagger back.
The girl—long white hair, delicate frame—nearly fell. "Lucy, wasn't it?" Iyuna mused, peering from behind a lamppost, fingers gripping the cold metal.
"Brother! I'll try harder! I'll make it to Class A in the next exam!" Lucy protested, eyes glistening.
"Pathetic," the boy spat. He yanked her wrist, fingers digging in. "You're still clinging to your useless habits." His voice was ice, eyes narrowed to slits.
Iyuna sipped her soda, engrossed in the drama—until her elbow knocked over something. *Thud.*
Both turned. The boy stormed toward her, shoes clacking ominously. "What the hell are you doing here?" He tilted his chin up, arrogance dripping.
"E-enghh~" Iyuna tried to stand, palms pressing the cold floor.
"Iyuna?" Lucy gasped, recognizing her.
*Huh. Someone remembers my name.* Iyuna's brow twitched in surprise.
The boy grabbed Iyuna's arm, fingers bruising. "Brother?!" Lucy reached out, but he ignored her, slamming Iyuna against the wall. Trapped between his athletic frame and concrete, she felt his breath—warm, oppressive—on her face.
"So you're Iyuna?" His nose almost touched hers. "Heard there's a girl who scored straight 50s on the entrance exam."
"And?" Iyuna's voice was flat.
"Not just one subject. *Every* subject." His thumb traced her cheek. "Iyuna Marge. That's you, right?"
"Yeah." Her breath stayed even.
"Did you do it on purpose?"
"No. Just a painful coincidence." Her lips curled faintly downward.
Lucy fiddled with her sweater hem, bewildered. "W-what?"
The boy pressed his knee between Iyuna's thighs, lifting her slightly. "You're interesting. And I *know* you're lying—"
Iyuna held his gaze, unflinching. He gripped her chin, forcing her to look up. "—and yeah, I'm into you." A crooked smile.
"Too bad I'm not." Her voice froze the air.
He released her, fingers trailing down her neck. "Hngh. Rejected, huh?" Stepping back, he shrugged. "Forget this happened." With that, he vanished into the shadows.
Iyuna offered Lucy a hand. "Eh? T-thanks…" Lucy stammered, letting Iyuna pull her up.
"Iyuna," Lucy called, tugging her sleeve as they walked. "Did you *really* get 50s in every exam?"
"No. Your brother lied." Iyuna avoided her eyes.
"Oh…" Lucy's shoulders slumped. "Sorry about him. He's usually kind—just disappointed I'm in Class F."
"Hm."
"He's the student council president! Everyone admires him. But I…" Lucy twisted her fingers. "You don't even know his name, do you?"
Iyuna barely nodded.
"It's Rakha. Class 12A. Top of the school." Lucy nudged her. "Sure you wanna pass up his 'interest'?"
"Interest?"
"He *said* he liked you! He *never* says that!" Lucy flailed her arms.
"More like threats and lies." Iyuna shrugged as their dorm loomed ahead.
"I-I don't think so…" Lucy mumbled.
"See you tomorrow." Iyuna waved, turning away. Her black hair swayed softly.
"W-wait! Okay, goodnight!" Lucy waved back, watching Iyuna disappear into the dark.