Arthur's thoughts drift as he stares at the empty desk beside him. Could it be for a transfer student? The idea intrigues him, but he quickly brushes it aside, focusing on the teacher who has just entered the room.
She greets the class with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm."Good morning, everyone! I'm Miss Grace, your new homeroom teacher. I'm excited to be here and to get to know all of you better this year." Her voice is gentle.
Miss Grace continues, "Before we begin, I'd like to introduce a new student who will be joining us. Please, come in."
All eyes turn to the door as it creaks open. A girl steps inside, her posture straight and poised. She's strikingly beautiful, with an aura of elegance. Her expression is distant, almost icy.
"This is Nora," Miss Grace announces. "She's transferring from a prestigious school, so I'm sure she'll have no trouble keeping up. Nora, why don't you tell us a little about yourself?"
Nora nods, her voice calm and composed as she says, "I'm Nora. I recently transferred here. That's all."
The brevity of her introduction leaves the room in a brief silence. Arthur, however, is more intrigued than ever. There's something about her demeanor that challenges him—he can't quite put his finger on it, but it's enough to keep his eyes on her.
"Thank you, Nora," Miss Grace says, breaking the silence. "You can take the seat next to Arthur. And Arthur," she adds with a knowing smile, "please help Nora with anything she needs. He's top of the class, Nora, so you're in good hands."
Nora walks to the desk beside Arthur, her movements graceful. As she sits down, Arthur sneaks a glance at her. Her face is as unreadable as ever, her eyes fixed on the front of the room.
The lesson begins, but Arthur's mind is elsewhere. He introduces himself to Nora during a quiet moment, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm Arthur. If you need any help, just ask."
Nora looks at him briefly, her eyes like ice. "Thank you," she replies coolly, then turns her attention back to the lesson.