It was the boys.
Their faces lit up with excitement as their eyes caught sight of the stunning girl standing at the front of the classroom.
She stood there quietly, framed like a portrait of elegance. Her long, ocean-blue hair was tied into a side ponytail with a neat red ribbon. Soft bangs fell just short of her eyes, framing her porcelain face like a painter's final touch. Her eyes were a captivating shade of bluish-gray—warm, yet distant, like a sky moments before a snowfall.
She wore a cream-colored ribbed turtleneck that hugged her slender figure, paired with a navy-blue pleated skirt that fluttered just slightly as she moved. Black tights hugged her long legs, perfectly accentuating the schoolgirl aesthetic, yet something about her presence made it clear—she was far from ordinary.
"Ehem." Miss Florence cleared her throat pointedly.
"...!"
The boys instantly straightened, faces flushing with embarrassment. They knew better than to make their homeroom teacher mad twice in one day especially in the first period.
Tak Tak Tak
The girl stepped forward, each footfall light yet confident, and came to a stop beside Miss Florence. Her posture was straight, chin up, hands at her side. Poised.
Most of the class quieted, though some boys in the back couldn't quite contain their curiosity—and immaturity.
"Yo, did you see her?"
"Obviously. What, you think I'm blind?"
"Hmph… Well, what do you think?"
"Of what?"
"Her face and body, dumbass."
"Oh? Isn't it obvious? She's at Lisa's level—maybe even higher. But her body? Gulp…"
"Way better. Look at those thicc thighs and that bust."
"I swear, if she sat next to me, I'd ascend to heaven."
"Yeah right. You'd pass out before she even looked at you."
"This bastard…"
"Still though… what's with that icy look?"
"You're righ—"
"Alright, class." Miss Florence called, cutting through the whispers like a knife.
Everyone fell silent—everyone except for one student.
Mark.
He remained where he was, back straight, arms relaxed, eyes glued to his book. Not a single glance spared for the commotion. It was as if the world around him didn't exist.
"Meet your new classmate, Alicia Rains."
"Huh?"
"That name…" Mark's brows furrowed ever so slightly. A faint flicker of recognition sparked in his mind.
'Why does that name sound familiar?' He tried to chase the memory, but it flitted away like smoke in the wind.
"Where did I… whatever, forget it."
Miss Florence smiled kindly. "Now, I want you all to treat her well and help her catch up in her studies. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!" the class echoed, some more enthusiastic than usual.
"Good. Now, Alicia, would you like to say something?"
"…Yes." Her voice was soft.
"I'm Alicia Rains. Nice to meet you."
That was all.
The class waited. A few more seconds passed in silence. But she said no more. Her calm, detached expression didn't change.
Even Miss Florence looked a bit surprised. But she recovered quickly. "Alright then… take a seat anywhere you like."
Nod.
Alicia gave a quiet nod, her eyes scanning the classroom—and stopping when they found him.
Mark.
Still reading. Still indifferent. She tilted her head slightly. A faint, imperceptible smile crept onto her lips.
'He didn't even look up… but he heard my name. Didn't he? So why… why won't he react?'
'No matter.' She thought. 'He's mine, whether he remembers or not. That won't change.'
Her eyes took on a darker shade of blue as she thought that.
Badump Badump
Her heart began to beat faster as she made her way toward the empty seat beside him.
'Calm down. Deep breaths. You need to stay composed… for now.'
Thwp.
She slid into the chair, eyes drifting to Mark out of the corner of her left eye. Her gaze traced the lines of his profile—his sharp jawline, his black hair, those lazy blue eyes that scanned each page with robotic rhythm. Even his straight nose that seemed like it would bridge any gaps between them.
'You've changed so much,' she thought, cheeks warming. 'I knew you would… but seeing you up close like this…'
"Alicia?"
"Hm?"
She turned, blinking as Miss Florence called her name.
"Do you have your school-issued tablet?"
"…Um, no."
'Lie.'
"I see. Well, we'll get that sorted. For now, please share with someone nearby… hmm…"
Miss Florence only needed a second.
"Mark."
'Yes! It worked!' Alicia thought, pushing down the little bubble of guilt.
'Whatever.' It was a white lie—and it had brought her closer to her goal.
"Yes?" Mark said, finally lifting his eyes.
"Please share your tab with Alicia."
The choice made sense. Mark was top of the class in both academics and athletics. He was also the most disciplined—an easy choice to assist a new student.
'This is perfect,' Alicia thought.
'We'll have to sit close. This way, I'll have an excuse to scoot right next to him.'
Whispers bubbled in the classroom again.
'Lucky bastard…'
'He's so unfairly cool…'
'Why does HE get to sit next to her?'
'It should've been me not him!'
'Still, it's fine. Knowing Mark, he won't even talk to her.'
'He's probably asexual or something. Didn't he reject like quite a number of girls already?'
One girl, however, was still annoyed.
'Ugh, that should've been me!' Lisa huffed, subtly pouting.
'I could've gotten closer to him this way…'
"Alicia, why don't you pull your chair closer to Mark? That way you can share more easily," Miss Florence suggested with a gentle smile.
"Okay." Alicia agreed without hesitation.
'Finally. It's happening. In the first period, too!'
She could hardly contain her joy.
'Nothing can stop this now~'
"Unnecessary."
"…Huh?"
"Hm?"
"Eh?"
"What?"
Alicia, Miss Florence & the entire class let out a sound of confusion as they looked at Mark. They didn't understand what he meant by that.
Zip!
However, without explaining any further, Mark reached into his bag and pulled out something metallic and rectangular.
"Here."
He placed a second tablet on the desk. The first was still beside his book.
"…"
The room went dead silent.
***
A/N: Florence eye color changed from pink to light-blue.
Click for Florence Image.
Click for Lisa Image.