After getting enough rest, we ran a bit further and then stopped at a fork in the path. Lucy looked at me and gave a small nod.
"Thanks for running with me. See you at school."
"Yeah, see you later," I replied, waving goodbye before heading home.
After a shower, I packed my bag and left the house as usual. At the gate, Ayaka and Sumire were already waiting. We walked to school together.
Ayaka cheerfully shared, "I went back to my hometown over the weekend. The weather was clear and cool. There was even a small festival at the shrine near my house."
Sumire listened attentively, her eyes sparkling. "That sounds so fun… I'd love to try something like that someday."
"Next time, I'll take both of you with me!" Ayaka said brightly.
We chatted the whole way to school. But when we entered the classroom, something felt different.
The reason was… today, a new student was transferring in.
Mr. Takeda arrived earlier than usual. His face was stern, but there was a curious glint in his eyes as he looked at the class.
"Quiet down, everyone. Today we have a new student."
Immediately, the room filled with murmurs.
"Another one?" "Why are there so many new students in our class lately?"
Mr. Takeda raised his hand for silence. "Come in."
The classroom door opened. Lucy walked in with a confident and composed demeanor. Her footsteps were steady,neither too fast nor too slow. Her ruby-red eyes swept across the room, and her side-tied golden hair swayed gently with each step.
The class buzzed again, this time over her striking appearance.
"Whoa… who is she?"
"She's gorgeous…"
Lucy stopped at the front of the class. She placed a hand on her chest and bowed slightly.
"Hello, I'm Lucy Infernia. Nice to meet you all."
Her voice was clear and unwavering. Short, but strong enough to quiet the room for a moment.
When she looked up, her eyes scanned the room and briefly stopped on me. In that fleeting moment, she gave a soft smile.
It was just a small smile, but it made me freeze for a second. I wasn't sure why, but my heart seemed to skip a beat.
After the introduction, Mr. Takeda pointed her to a seat near the window. She walked over and sat down gracefully.
The atmosphere in the class hadn't quite settled. People kept glancing at Lucy, but she remained calm, as if nothing could bother her.
I looked out at the schoolyard, wondering what else this morning might bring.
Lunch break.
As expected, Lucy's desk quickly became a focal point, but surprisingly, it was surrounded by… the girls.
They came to ask questions, strike up conversations, even invited her to lunch. Despite being new, Lucy didn't seem flustered at all. She smiled, chatted easily, and answered everything smoothly.
From moving schools to living alone to her daily habits,she shared just enough to be polite without seeming distant. Her manner of speaking was poised, like someone properly trained since childhood.
I glanced around… the boys in class, on the other hand, seemed uninterested. A few of them gave her a glance, then quickly looked away like nothing special had happened.
"Typical… game developers," I muttered under my breath. "Creating a stunning heroine but coding the boys to have zero interest… that takes some skill."
At a desk near the window, Celestine sat with her arms crossed, quietly watching. She muttered just loud enough for me to hear:
"Why wasn't it like this when I transferred in…"
I turned to her and chuckled.
"You're on a whole different level, Oujo-sama. No one dares approach too quickly."
Hearing that, Celestine blinked once. Then, seemingly taking it as a compliment,very much her style,she let out a soft laugh.
"Hmph… as expected of a noble lady," she said, pulling a folding fan from her pocket. With graceful flair, she opened it and struck a royal pose like she was attending an afternoon tea party.
I burst out laughing.
This class… might just be more interesting than I thought.
When Lucy stood up to leave her desk, I quickly got up and walked over.
"Hey, Lucy," I called out gently but loud enough for her to hear.
"If you don't have a place to eat yet, I can show you around the school and then bring you to our club. The literature club has a quiet spot perfect for lunch. I think you'd like it."
Lucy looked at me for a moment, a little surprised, but didn't refuse. A soft smile formed on her lips, her eyes showing a hint of curiosity.
"Is that so? Alright, I could use a little break," she replied in a calm but somewhat cheerful tone. She stood up and adjusted her uniform before getting ready to leave.
"Let's go."
We walked out of the classroom and strolled through the wide hallways, heading toward the literature club.
Though the school was large, it wasn't too noisy during lunchtime. Along the way, I pointed out a few interesting places,the library, the small garden outside. Lucy listened quietly, though it seemed like she just wanted to relax more than hear me talk.
When we arrived at the clubroom, I opened the door and led her in. The quiet, relaxing atmosphere seemed to help her unwind a little.
"What do you think?" I asked.
Lucy looked around thoughtfully. The room was simply decorated but cozy, perfect for studying or relaxing. She nodded and shrugged lightly.
"It's not bad. The air's definitely better than the classroom," she replied, then calmly sat down on a long bench near the window.
I chuckled. "Make yourself at home."
While I went to grab the food, Lucy sat there gazing out the window. Soft sunlight poured in, making the space feel even more serene. It felt like time had paused, leaving just the two of us in our own little world.
There were plenty of interesting things to talk about over lunch.
Why were we the only ones in the clubroom? Naturally, Ren and Kaori were off somewhere together, and Ayaka and Sumire had gone out to buy flowers to decorate the room. Mizuki messaged the group saying she'd be eating with her friends today.
I sat down and chatted with Lucy. "So, have you decided on a club yet?"
She shook her head. "Not yet. Got any suggestions?"
Knowing what she liked, I gave her a few ideas. "We've got all kinds of clubs,archery, track, volleyball… you can take your time deciding."
She thought for a moment, then said, "Hmm, I think I'll join the archery club."
I wasn't surprised, since I already knew she liked archery but seeing her eyes light up as she said it still made me happy.
We continued eating and chatting for a while. The atmosphere between us was peaceful. Every now and then, Lucy would sneak a glance at me, then quickly look away when our eyes met. I was pretty sure I had caught her attention.
After finishing our lunch, we headed back to class together.