Reina stood in the middle of her lab. Her eyes were sharper than usual. Her hands moved books, papers, and boxes around. A cold look, but inside she felt uneasy.
Reina: "It's gone… Where is it…?"
She whispered to herself. She didn't even know what it was. But her instinct told her she lost something important. She searched every shelf. Every drawer. The floor. The table.
Reina: "Where is it… I swear I put it on the table…"
She crouched down, looking under the desk. Nothing. Her tools were untouched. Her books were neat. But something felt missing.
Then—knock, knock.
The door opened. Himari peeked inside. Her eyes widened when she saw the mess. Books stacked on the floor. Papers everywhere. Reina's usual perfect lab was a storm now.
Himari: "Reina… What are you doing…?"
Reina didn't look up.
Reina: "Finding something."
Just two words. Short. Cold. But her voice was uneasy.
Himari stepped in quietly. She started picking up papers. She didn't ask more questions. She knew Reina wouldn't answer right now.
But Reina couldn't find it here. Her instinct said not here. So she stood up suddenly. Himari flinched when Reina's chair fell back. Reina didn't care. She left the lab fast.
[Scene: Classroom]
Class was still going. The teacher paused when Reina pushed the door open.
All eyes turned to her. Reina never came in like this. Never during a lesson. She didn't say sorry. Didn't explain. She walked straight to her desk.
Ayumi whispered to Hana. Hana looked worried. Kaito's pen stopped moving.
Reina pulled open the drawer. Nothing. She checked the small space under the chair. Nothing.
Her eyes showed something no one ever saw. Worry. Even fear. Her lips pressed together tight.
Reina stood up. She looked around once—her eyes sharp, but her brows pulled down in worry. She didn't say a word. She walked out just like that. The door clicked shut.
Ayumi: "…Did Reina just panic…?"
Hana: "…She did."
Kaito: "…What did she lose…?"
But no one knew. They just knew if Reina couldn't find it, they couldn't help much now. Maybe at lunch.
[Scene: Back in the Lab]
Reina pushed the door open again. Her steps were heavy now. Himari was on her knees near a shelf. She looked up.
Himari: "Still can't find it?"
Reina didn't answer. She dropped to her knees, looking under the workbench. Her heart was beating fast. Why can't I remember what it is?
Then she saw it.
A small light caught her eyes under the table. Silver chain. Small round moon.
Reina's eyes widened. Her breath caught in her throat. She crawled forward and picked it up. The chain was cold in her palm. The moon pendant glowed softly in the lab light.
The Moon necklace.
The one she got from the Science Fair when she was still a first year. The one she bought at the Space Fair alone—but ended up bumping into Ayumi, Hana, and Kaito that day. It was a simple thing. But she kept it close since then.
Reina sat there for a moment, holding the necklace tight in her hand. Her chest felt warm. She almost forgot it.
Himari watched quietly. She didn't speak. She just smiled a little when she saw Reina's face relax.
Reina: "…Found it."
Himari: "I'm glad."
[Scene: Lunch, Reina's Lab]
The lab was calm again. Reina sat at her desk, turning the Moon necklace in her fingers.
Knock. Knock.
This time, the door opened carefully. Ayumi peeked inside first. Hana behind her. Kaito too.
Ayumi: "Um… Reina? Are you okay? We saw you… earlier…"
Reina didn't speak at first. She looked at them with her usual cold eyes. But this time her cold eyes were normal—no worry, no fear.
Reina: "…I'm fine."
Ayumi let out a small sigh of relief. Hana smiled. Kaito nodded too.
Himari stood beside Reina's desk and smiled at them.
Ayumi: "Can we… stay here for lunch?"
Reina wanted to say no. She looked at them. She looked at Himari. She remembered Himari's words about being friendlier.
She sighed.
Reina: "…Do what you want."
Ayumi, Hana, and Kaito smiled and came in. They sat on the floor and the chairs, unpacking their bento boxes. They chatted softly, careful not to make a mess of Reina's things.
Reina sat back down at her desk. She placed the Moon necklace on the corner, like a tiny piece of her memory.
Ayumi offered her a rice ball. Hana gave her some tea. Kaito pushed a small pack of sweets near her hand.
She didn't say thank you. She just ate quietly. But inside, she felt something calm.
She liked the silence. She didn't mind the noise either. She just let it be.