LUNCH BREAK – ROOFTOP (CONTINUED)
INTERCOM (O.S.):
"Natsuki. Staff room. Now."
I flinch.
REI:
"What did I do?"
NOKKO (floating lazily):
"Existed."
INT. STAFF ROOM – AFTER LUNCH
Ms. Tsuda sips her instant coffee like it owes her money and also cheated on her.
MS. TSUDA:
"So,"
(she glances between me and Shino like she's spiritually drained)
"since you two are representing our class at the Quiz Bee, you'll be doing joint prep."
REI (blinking):
"Joint?"
MS. TSUDA:
"Yes. Library. Today after school. Together. No excuses."
Shino doesn't react. Not a twitch.
I, however, am panicking in emotional Morse code.
NOKKO (whispers):
"Academic bonding. Primitive but effective."
AFTER SCHOOL – LIBRARY
We sit at a table by the window.
Sunlight bleeds through yellow curtains. The air smells like books and quiet judgment.
Shino's side: organized.
Neat notebooks, a tablet, highlighters, tabs in five colors.
My side: looks like a motivational speaker gave up halfway through.
SHINO:
"Alright. Basic recall. General info."
REI:
"Wait—already? Don't I get a warm-up? A snack? Maybe emotional support?"
She ignores me.
SHINO:
"What's the capital of Vietnam?"
REI:
"Uhh… Vientiane?"
SHINO:
"That's Laos."
NOKKO (in ear):
"We are off to a promising start."
SHINO:
"Name three noble gases."
REI:
"Sadness, anxiety, and… Mountain Dew?"
Shino exhales like she's deleting me from her memory.
SHINO:
"Argon. Helium. Neon."
"How are you still alive?"
REI (muttering):
"I ask myself that too."
She flips the page.
Time passes. Maybe an hour.
I sweat through every question.
Nokko feeds me some answers, and sometimes... false ones, just for chaos.
REI:
"You said Saturn has rings. That's right, right?"
NOKKO:
"Correct."
REI:
"Then why did you also whisper 'Cinnabon' as a hint?"
NOKKO:
"I wanted to see what you'd do."
Shino slams her book shut.
SHINO:
"Natsuki."
I flinch like I'm about to be graded emotionally.
SHINO:
"If you're not going to take this seriously, go home."
REI (quiet):
"I am. I just… I suck."
She blinks.
That lands.
SHINO:
"That's the first honest thing you've said."
REI:
"Do you want me to leave?"
She hesitates. Then pushes a second notebook toward me.
My name's already on it.
Inside: color-coded summaries, charts, simple explanations.
REI (soft):
"Wait… did you make this?"
SHINO:
"No."
(pause)
"…Okay, yes. But not for you. I was just... organizing."
NOKKO (quietly):
"She's lying. She created it last night. It took her 3.7 hours."
REI:
"Why?"
SHINO (looking away):
"I don't like losing."
NOKKO (murmurs):
"Liar."
I don't press.
But the air feels… different now.
Not warm.
Not cold.
Just human.
INT. CLASSROOM – NEXT DAY
As I walk in, voices float from across the room.
CLASSMATES:
"Hey, Rei, how's your training going?"
"Bet you cried into a flashcard."
REI (flatly):
"Actually… I know all the noble gases now."
They freeze.
CLASSMATES:
"Wait, what?"
"You serious?"
"Who are you and what did you do to Rei?"
NOKKO (glowing smug on my wrist):
"Look at that. A measurable improvement."
From across the room, Shino glances at me.
Not cold.
Not warm.
Just... curious.
And maybe—just maybe—
Slightly impressed.
END OF CHAPTER 3