Mira thought she was starting to get used to Saint Elara Academy.
She was wrong.
It happened during lunch.
She had just bought a small juice from the canteen when voices behind her stopped her in her tracks.
"Why would anyone want to be in Section H?"
"They're all failures anyway."
"Even the transfer student looks out of place."
Mira's fingers tightened around the carton.
She didn't turn around. She didn't need to. She already knew those voices—students from an honor section, uniforms crisp, confidence loud.
"She probably ended up there because she couldn't keep up," one of them laughed.
Each word felt heavier than the last.
Mira walked away quickly, her steps uneven, heart pounding too fast. The noise of the canteen blurred into a dull hum as old thoughts crept back in.
Maybe they're right.
Maybe I don't belong anywhere.
When she returned to the classroom, Section H was unusually quiet.
Jade noticed immediately.
"Hey," she said, frowning. "What happened?"
"Nothing," Mira replied too quickly, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Jade didn't push—but she didn't look convinced either.
Later that day, as Mira sat by the window, she watched other sections walk past together—laughing, confident, admired.
Section H stayed behind.
Not because they wanted to…
But because no one ever waited for them.
Mira lowered her gaze to her desk.
For the first time since transferring, the warmth she felt yesterday cracked.
And she wondered—
If everyone already expected Section H to fail…
Was it wrong that she was scared they might be right