It began, as all disasters did lately, with an innocent smile.
Rei had just settled into his hard-won corner desk in Classroom 2-S of the Royal Magic Academy, his chair still charred from last week's "Love Hex Midterm," when Emilia waved at him like an actual sane person. Her soft brown hair bounced with each step, her sunshine-bright eyes sparkled like she hadn't considered murder before breakfast, and worst of all—she carried a neatly wrapped bento box.
"Good morning, Rei! I made you lunch!" she said, placing the box on his desk.
The air temperature dropped by ten degrees. Somewhere in the courtyard, a raven cawed ominously.
Rei blinked slowly. "Why...?"
"Because you looked tired yesterday," Emilia said with an earnest smile. "I thought you could use something sweet. You've got dark circles under your eyes—have you been sleeping okay?"
