It's probably already 3 a.m., and I can't seem to fall asleep or even get a wink of rest.

Both my mother and sister haven't returned home yet. I'm pretty certain my mother is pulling another late shift because she's concerned about me managing the household all by myself, with no assistance from my sister. Speaking of her, she's always out and rarely comes back home, despite numerous warnings from our mom.

To be honest, I feel a twinge of envy...

And now this girl has shown up. What should I do?

*Sigh*... It just doesn't seem fair, does it?

I suppose I should call it a night. Tomorrow is my second day of school, and I can't afford to mess it up, or I'll lose myself.

I heard footsteps approaching me, and along with it, the persistent ringing of a cell phone. Though I dismissed it as unimportant, my drowsiness made it difficult to fully ignore. I contemplated returning to my blissful slumber...

"Hello? Ah, hello! Um... Lida Yukari speaking! Who's on the other end? Rin's...m-mother?! Ah... haha... You're probably wondering who I am, right? Well, I'm just one of Rin's classmates, I suppose... Yes, a classmate. Is there something urgent? Should I let Rin know? Don't worry, I'll make sure to inform him! Goodbye!"

I wondered, who could she be talking to? Isn't that Yukari-san's voice?

My mind was caught in the haze of half-sleep, a state of blissful comfort. If only I could linger in bed a little while longer, it would be sheer delight. 

However, something nagged at the recesses of my mind. What was it exactly?

Suddenly, the realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.

"IT'S SCHOOL TODAY!"

How could I have forgotten something so crucial?

"Uwaaa! Why did you have to scream like that? You scared the life out of me!"

"Oh, it's you... Right... Yukari, you're here too. How could I have forgotten?"

"Anyway, your mom called, and for some reason, you were still fast asleep... So, I answered the phone on your behalf."

Wait a minute... Did she just say she spoke on my behalf?

"Yeah... She was surprisingly kind, hehe~"

I. Am. Doomed.

"R-Rin? Rin! What are you doing? Are you angry because I talked to your mother? Are you planning to take advantage of me as some sort of punishment?"

"What? No! I just want to go to my room and get ready for school, you know?"

What kind of twisted thoughts does she have?

"Well, your clothes are clean and dry now. Hurry up and get dressed. We can't afford to be late."

"Y-Yes!"

Right after the switch, I wasted no time in whipping up a delightful breakfast for both of us. I went for pancakes, you know, the kind that makes your taste buds dance with joy. And to take them to the next level, I drizzled some heavenly vanilla sauce on top. Trust me, it's a taste of pure love.

"Hey Rin, where on earth did you learn to cook so darn well? You've got some serious talent!"

"Well, when you spend a lot of time flying solo like me, you gotta take charge of the household duties, including cooking. I'm not some weirdo who orders takeout every single day, you know?"

"Your skills shine through, I can see it in your eyes. But... then why did you reveal such things during the introduction?"

Maybe it's because I've come to accept that nobody really wants to strike up a conversation with me, let alone be friends. What happened yesterday was just a fluke, an accident. Helping her out doesn't automatically make us buddies, you know?

"Who knows, and who even cares?"

"Instead of pondering over pointless stuff, let's dig in and enjoy the food. It'll get cold if we don't eat faster."

"Mmm, you're absolutely right."

As we finished our meal, it was time to leave the house. I couldn't help feeling a tad embarrassed about going to school with her. Firstly, there would be plenty of fellow students around to witness us, and secondly, I really wasn't in the mood to endure any rumors or gossip...

"Something bothering you, Rin? You've been acting off ever since we left home."

"Well, don't you worry that people might start spreading rumors if they see us together like this? Look at me, it could tarnish your image, you know?"

"Honestly, I don't give a damn about my image. Trust me, I'd rather spend time with people I genuinely like than those who only care about themselves. So chin up, Rin ehehehe~."

Just as I suspected, not only was she stunningly beautiful, but her personality was also captivating. Still, I knew I should keep my distance. I didn't want anything to happen to her.

"Yeah, but you should still socialize and have fun with others. It's better for you that way. I'm more of the silent, introverted type, hehe."

Silence enveloped us momentarily as we walked towards the school. Did I say something foolish?

As we reached the main entrance, she paused for a brief moment. "Rin, I meant to ask you earlier, but now seems like the perfect time... So, Rin, would you like to be friends with me?"

"Friends with me?! Are you really sure about that?"

"Yes, I am. You've been kind to me without even knowing me or seeking anything in return. I don't think a friend like that would ever harm me."

What was going through her mind?

But honestly, my heart suddenly raced with excitement. Not because I was in love with her, definitely not, but because I finally had a friend. Not just any friend, but a friend of the opposite sex...

We hurriedly made our way to the classroom, determined to be on time and adequately prepared. I couldn't help but wonder if today would bring another round of ridiculous antics, just like last time.

"Hey, Lida-san! Good morning! Did you sleep well?" Araya asked.

"Morning, Araya! Yeah, I slept fine. But seriously, why are you looking so good today?" Yukari happily replied.

"Heh, still not as stunning as you, though."

I couldn't help but be taken aback by the sudden change in atmosphere. They were flirting as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Is this normal behavior among girls? I mean, if guys acted like that, I'd find it pretty gross.

"Hey, Lida-san, do you take the same school route as Takahashi?"

"Yeah, I do. Why? Something happened?"

"Listen up, here's the deal. I'm actually heading in the same direction as you guys, but I haven't seen either of you anywhere, not even a glimpse."

I get what she's saying. She's confused why we didn't cross paths despite taking the same route. It's messing with her mind.

"Well, maybe we left a little late. You got to school before us, so that's the only explanation I can think of."

"Hmm, alright, if you say so. I was just wondering because I went to school with Takahashi yesterday at the same time, but he wasn't there today. Made me curious about his whereabouts."

"That's pretty weird, don't you think?"

Who are we kidding? It's just a lame excuse to avoid thinking too hard.

"Takahashi... Why weren't you there today? Did you take a different way just to avoid me?!"

"Whoa, whoa, hold on! Where did that idea come from?"

"Come on, explain yourself!"

Why is she taking this so seriously? It's just our school route...

"Well, it's true that I took a different route today, but not because I wanted to. I overslept, that's all. It won't happen again, I promise."

"Yeah, that's right. He really overslept. I even had to talk to his mom 'cause he was still knocked out. Lazy bum, hehe."

"What? You talked to his mom?"

Uh-oh. I'm starting to feel uneasy. The whole class has fallen silent and everyone's staring at us. I need to defuse this situation before she spills everything.

"Hey, can we talk about this later? More people are watching now, and it could easily be misunderstood, you know?"

"Fine, but we'll definitely talk later, alright?"

The professor walked into the classroom, ready to commence her lesson. We eagerly absorbed all the essential details about the school, including grading policies, exam timings, and other important information. Although the instructions were easy to grasp, I took quick notes just to be thorough.

"Well, this year is definitely going to be tiring," I muttered to myself, realizing a bit late that my classmates had already left for home.

Just as I gathered my belongings, preparing to leave the classroom, someone approached me hesitantly.

"Um, hey Rin, it's me, Araya... Can we talk?"

Talk? I wondered what she wanted to discuss. Please don't let it be about that one particular topic.

"Sure, why not," I replied, a touch of apprehension in my voice.