The three of them walked together under the quiet evening sky of Hoshino City. The sun had already set, and the golden hue of streetlights reflected on the wet pavement. Rina walked between Akira and Ren, her gaze wandering across the familiar streets she hadn't seen in years.
Ren broke the silence first, his voice gentle but curious.
"So, Rina… how was life in the other city? How was your school there?"
Rina hesitated for a moment. Her expression softened, and she let out a small sigh.
"It was called Mizuhara Academy," she said quietly. "It looked beautiful at first… but that place changed everything."
Akira and Ren exchanged glances, their expressions turning serious. Rina's voice grew faint as she began to recall the past — the city lights around them fading into the dim corridors of memory.
---
The gates of Mizuhara Academy were tall and pristine, polished to perfection. Rina had felt so nervous that morning — clutching her bag tightly as she stepped into a new life. Her father had smiled and said, "You'll do great, Rina." She believed him.
When she entered her new classroom, everyone looked at her with curiosity. The teacher smiled warmly.
"Class, we have a new transfer student joining us. Please introduce yourself."
Rina bowed politely, her voice trembling slightly.
"Hello everyone, I'm Hoshikage Rina. I moved here from Hoshino City. Please take care of me."
Before she could even raise her head, laughter erupted from the back of the room.
A girl with long silky hair and an elegant air — Saya Hoshino — smirked and whispered loudly,
"Oh, how cute! So formal! Are you from some tiny countryside school?"
Her friend beside her, Rui Amagawa, chuckled. "Yeah, maybe she still brings a lunchbox with rice balls every day!"
The class burst into laughter. Rina froze, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. The teacher scolded, "Quiet!" but the damage was already done.
When she went to sit down, Rui purposely stretched her leg. Rina stumbled, and Saya muttered with a grin, "Watch your step, transfer girl."
From that day onward, her nightmare began.
---
"They never stopped," Rina whispered as she told the story to Akira and Ren. "Every day was the same."
---
Lunchtime came, and Rina sat alone under a tree, unwrapping the simple lunch her father made for her. Just as she took a bite, a shadow loomed over her. Saya's expensive perfume filled the air.
"What's this?" Saya asked, pretending to sniff. "Homemade food? So basic."
Before Rina could reply, Saya tilted the box and dumped the food onto the grass. Rui laughed and added, "You forgot the dessert!" She poured a pink milkshake over Rina's head.
The other students giggled, their phones secretly recording. Rina's hands shook as tears welled in her eyes. She ran to the washroom, her hair sticky and wet, her heart breaking.
But when she pushed the door open, Saya and Rui were already there, waiting.
Saya held a trash bin. "You forgot your crown, princess." She dumped the garbage over Rina's head, the smell making her gag. Rui snapped photos, grinning.
Then Saya leaned forward, her voice a whisper of venom. "Cry one more time, and I'll make you regret it." She pressed her fingers into Rina's cheeks, hard. The sting made Rina wince — and then pain shot through her lip as Saya's hidden glass ring cut into her skin.
Blood dripped down her chin. They laughed.
---
That night, Rina told her father everything. He was furious, his hands trembling as he clenched them into fists. The next morning, he went to Mizuhara Academy and filed a complaint with the principal.
But the principal simply sighed. "Miss Saya's family is one of our major donors, Mr. Hoshikage. I'll talk to the girls, but perhaps your daughter should try to… adjust better."
Her father's anger was met with silence — and the bullying continued.
---
"One day," Rina said softly, "it went too far."
She was sitting in class when Saya whispered behind her, "I bet she can't even hear anything through all that hair."
Then Rina felt something cold press against her ear. It was a pen.
"Let's test that," Saya whispered — and she pushed it forward.
A scream tore through the classroom. Rina fell to the floor, clutching her ear as pain exploded through her head. Blood trickled down her neck. The others froze — no one moved.
That day, she thought her spirit would break.
But then someone reached out to her.
---
A boy named Sota. He found her crying near the gym and handed her a handkerchief. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked softly. His kindness was genuine, or so it seemed.
Over the next few weeks, he helped her with notes, sat with her at lunch, and walked her home. Slowly, Rina began to trust him. She smiled again, even if only a little.
Until one evening, everything shattered again.
She received a message from Sota:
> "Can you come to the gym after school? I need to tell you something."
Her heart fluttered — maybe he was going to confess.
When she arrived, the gym was dark. Sota stood by the window, smiling faintly. "Thanks for coming."
Then the doors slammed shut. Saya and Rui appeared, followed by their group of bullies.
"See? She really came," Rui said, laughing.
Rina turned to Sota, her voice trembling. "What's happening?"
Saya smirked. "Oh, didn't you know? Sota's my boyfriend. This was his idea."
Rina's heart stopped. She shook her head in disbelief. "No… that's not true…"
But Sota looked away, guilt clouding his face.
Saya picked up a dumbbell and slammed it against Rina's stomach. Pain exploded through her body. She fell, gasping for air, coughing blood. Rui kicked her face, shouting, "Cry louder!"
They left her there — broken, shaking, and bleeding on the cold gym floor.
---
"I told my father everything," Rina whispered, her voice trembling. "He cried with me that night. I couldn't sleep for days. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw them again."
Her eyes glistened with tears. "So he decided to take me back here. He said, 'You need to go back to where your heart once smiled.' He wanted me to find peace again… with you both."
Akira reached out, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "Rina, you're home now. You don't have to face that pain anymore."
Ren smiled, eyes soft. "Yeah. From now on, there's only laughter and joy. That's a promise."
They walked her home through the calm night. On the way, Ren stopped by a small bakery and bought a cake.
At Rina's house, they lit a single candle. The warm light flickered across their faces.
Ren grinned. "From today, only smiles, okay?"
Rina smiled through her tears. "Okay."
The candle's flame danced gently — like hope reborn.
For the first time in years, Rina felt safe.