The morning sun was gentle. The streets were quiet.
As Shinichi made his way toward school, a soft mewling sound caught his attention. On a low wall nearby, a milky-white kitten stirred from its nap. It arched its back in a long stretch, tiny paws twitching, before letting out the cutest yawn imaginable.
Unable to resist, Shinichi crouched down and reached out gently, scratching under its chin. The kitten leaned into his touch, purring like a motorboat—a small but soothing sound that made his heart swell.
"Heh… you're so soft," he murmured with a smile.
Suddenly—
"Guess who!" a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind, squeezing lightly.
Shinichi stiffened in surprise and turned his head, only to be met with a familiar smirk.
"Ah, good morning, Megumi."
The girl behind him stepped into view.
Megumi Nakamura.
Megumi wasn't just anyone—she was his childhood friend, someone who had grown up just two blocks away from his house. She had been part of his daily life since kindergarten—always loud, always blunt, and always honest to a fault. Alongside Akane, the three of them had once been inseparable.
Now, at 16, Megumi stood taller than Shinichi—5'6" with the confidence of someone who knew her strengths. Her body was athletic, toned from years of sports practice, with long legs and a proud posture. Yet despite her tomboyish energy, she carried a raw, undeniable beauty.
Her pale skin glowed under the morning sun, and her uniform—while technically the same as everyone else's—looked rebellious and carefree on her. A short skirt, shirt untucked at the waist, top buttons undone, and a crimson tie hanging loosely around her neck. Her straight, dark-brown hair flowed down her back, a few strands falling over her soft, expressive eyes, which shimmered a warm hazel-brown.
She had a reputation: friendly, outgoing, and incredibly competitive—especially with other girls. But when it came to boys, she couldn't stand them. She openly called them annoying, loud, and "too sweaty." All boys… except one.
Shinichi.
Whether it was his gentle demeanor, his small frame, or the way he resembled a little sister more than a boy, Megumi had always treated him differently—teasing him, protecting him, and always staying by his side.
"Such a cute kitty," Megumi cooed, crouching beside him. "Let me pet it too!"
She reached out her hand eagerly, but the kitten hissed, its fur puffing up in alarm before bolting down the sidewalk and vanishing behind a hedge.
"…Eh?" Megumi blinked, stunned.
"Are you okay?" Shinichi stood up, glancing at her.
"Y-Yeah, don't worry. I'm totally not heartbroken that the adorable kitty just rejected me…" she said with a dramatic sigh.
But the corner of her mouth twitched downward. Her eyes lingered on the spot where the kitten had disappeared.
Shinichi gave her a small, understanding smile. "It probably just woke up grumpy."
They continued their walk in silence, side by side. The atmosphere was just slightly off—something hanging unspoken between them.
Eventually, Shinichi broke the quiet. "Um… Megumi?"
"Yeah?"
"Well… yesterday, during class duty—you said you wanted to ask my opinion on something, but then you never got to it…"
"Oh, that?" Megumi looked ahead quickly. "Don't worry about it. It wasn't important."
Shinichi frowned gently. "You're lying."
Megumi flinched.
"I could tell from your expression yesterday. It was important, wasn't it?"
There was a pause.
"…You really make it hard to dodge things, you know?" Megumi muttered, letting out a breath.
Then she smiled faintly. "Alright. I'll tell you… but give me some time, okay?"
Shinichi nodded. "Of course."
As they walked further, the soft breeze rustled the tree branches, and the sound of other students chatting ahead signaled that school wasn't far.
And then—Shinichi spotted her.
Graceful. Elegant. Untouchable.
Akane Takahashi.
She walked with poise and purpose, her posture straight as an arrow. Her long, jet-black hair was tied into a perfectly styled ponytail, swaying gently behind her like a silk ribbon. Every piece of her uniform was in flawless order—blazer pressed, red ribbon tied perfectly at the collar, and the silver crest of the school shining proudly on her chest.
At 5'10", Akane towered over most girls and even many boys. Her figure was impossibly well-proportioned—curvaceous and commanding, with a full bust, slender waist, and long, elegant legs. Her sharp violet eyes glimmered with intelligence, and her fair, porcelain-like skin added to her otherworldly aura.
She gave off the presence of someone from high society. A perfect lady. The kind of person people looked up to but dared not approach casually.
And yet… she had once been the girl who played with Shinichi and Megumi without a care—the one who made up secret games with them during summer breaks. But ever since the start of high school, an aura of superiority seemed to surround her, making her feel unfamiliar. Still, they believed that their Akane still existed—just hidden beneath the layers of perfection.
"Ah, there she is!" Shinichi waved. "Hey! Akane!"
The student council president turned toward the voice. For a split second, something flickered in her expression—her gaze darkened as it swept over Megumi and Shinichi walking together. But just as quickly, it was gone. A warm smile replaced it.
"Good morning," she greeted, her voice smooth and clear, like the gentle chime of a wind bell.
"Good morning!" Shinichi replied brightly.
Megumi, who just moments ago had been relaxed and teasing, suddenly shifted. She straightened up, shoulders stiffening, her mouth pulling into a more neutral expression.
"M-Morning, Akane," she muttered. Her voice was lower than usual.
Shinichi caught the change. Megumi wouldn't meet Akane's eyes. A slight blush dusted her cheeks. That awkward tension again—the same one that had started creeping into their trio's friendship about a month ago.
Akane, meanwhile, stepped up to Shinichi. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she inspected him—then without a word, reached out and adjusted his tie with elegant fingers.
"There. Perfect," she said.
Shinichi's face flushed. "T-Thanks…"
Then Akane turned to Megumi. Her expression immediately cooled.
"Your shirt's unbuttoned… your tie's a joke… and your skirt's short enough to be illegal," she said with sharp precision. "You're violating four parts of the dress code. Again."
Megumi stared at the ground, letting her bangs cover her face.
She nodded once, wordless.
Shinichi's mouth opened, but no sound came out. Something about the scene felt heavy. Uneven.
Akane crossed her arms. But just as she looked like she'd add more, Shinichi stepped in.
"U-Um, Akane? We should probably get going. We'll be late if we don't hurry."
"…You're right," Akane said, stepping aside.
She began walking ahead, her posture never faltering.
Shinichi followed, and Megumi trailed silently behind.
As they passed through the school gates, Shinichi glanced back and whispered, "Don't take her words too seriously. That's just her way."
"I know," Megumi muttered.
"…Though you really do need to show less skin."
"I'll think about it," she replied flatly—but her fingers tugged at her skirt just a little.
…