In the bright afternoon, the expansive school field buzzed with energy. Boys kicked a football back and forth while the girls chattering and gossiping with each other. The sky was clear, carrying the faint scent of freshly cut grass.
Yuuki and her brother, Einosuke, sat quietly on a bench near the school building, shaded by the large trees that blocked the harsh sunlight. Einosuke lounged casually beside her, hands resting lazily on his knees.
"So how did your first day go, brother?"
Einosuke asked, turning his head and looking directly at Yuuki.
Yuuki sighed with tiredness, her shoulders dropping as if all her energy had been drained.
"Absolutely stupid. I couldn't talk with my friends whom I knew. Don't know how to explain this to Reika and get girls as friends."
Hearing this, Einosuke burst into laughter, unable to hold it back.
"HAHA!! It's obvious, brother. You are now a girl. It takes time to adjust."
Yuuki's death glare stabbed straight at Einosuke, sharp and dangerous, and Einosuke immediately stopped laughing. But Yuuki continued to breathe heavily as she looked at the boys playing football in the distance.
"I know, but it feels awful. I became popular in class, and a lot of boys wanted to talk with me. It's disgusting for me."
"Yeah, I get it, your face is super cute now…"
Einosuke said, lowering his voice and trying to comfort Yuuki.
Suddenly, Reika Emi came forward to Einosuke, her footsteps light. Her face was pale with worry.
"Hello Einosuke, today Yuuki was absent. Is he okay?"
Emi asked softly, her voice full of concern.
Yuuki turned her face away from Emi, refusing to look at her.
"Damn it! I am already beside you, Emi!!"
Yuuki thought while tightening her fists in frustration.
Einosuke smiled awkwardly, small drops of sweat appearing on his face as he saw Yuuki's reaction. He stood up and looked at Emi.
"Oh yes, my brother is facing difficult problems nowadays, so he can't come."
"Eh? Difficult problems? Is Yuuki truly okay?"
Emi widened her eyes with nervousness, stepping slightly closer.
Einosuke looked around, avoiding her gaze, trying to find the right words.
"Well um… yeah, I mean brother is sick. So it takes time to recover. Don't worry, sister Emi, brother is totally okay."
Hearing this, Emi breathed out with relief as a smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you, Einosuke–"
Suddenly, Emi gazed at Yuuki, who had turned her face away and was sitting stiffly.
"Oh hey! Aren't you that new transfer student Yuumi Takaichi?"
Emi said cheerfully, her mood instantly changing.
Hearing this, both Yuuki and Einosuke's bodies jerked. Yuuki stood up while forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Oh of course! I am Yuumi Takaichi. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, I am Reika Emi."
"Good luck, brother. I hope you can handle this."
Einosuke thought with an awkward face, watching silently.
"I saw that both of you talked so friendly. Is Yuumi Einosuke's girlfriend?"
Emi asked innocently, tilting her head.
Hearing this, both Yuuki and Einosuke's heads dropped. Yuuki's color drained completely while Einosuke panicked inside.
"Uh… no, of course not. Actually… she is my cousin. Yeah cousin!!"
Einosuke said while panicking, his words coming out too fast.
Emi nodded while giggling lightly.
"Oh I see. This is why Yuumi‑chan's face is similar to Yuuki."
Hearing this, Yuuki froze. Her body became rock‑still as Einosuke stared at Yuuki with an understanding face.
The school bell rang loudly through the area. Hearing that, Emi turned, preparing to enter the class. She held Yuuki's hand without hesitation.
"Come on, Yuumi‑chan. Class will start now. Good bye, Einosuke!"
Saying this, Emi stepped forward while holding Yuuki's hand tightly.
"I never wanted this. Not her as a friend!!"
Yuuki thought while her body moved unwillingly as Emi pulled her along.
"Brother is really facing more difficult problems than before…"
Far away, Einosuke thought while walking toward his classroom.
While in the middle of the class, a female teacher aged around mid‑forties, with black waterfall‑like hair, yellow eyes, and a white‑brown shirtdress, was writing math on the green board. Writing the math solve on the board. Yuuki was sitting on a bench. A math book was opened. But her mind stuck on thought .Mitsou had a pen resting on his mouth. Mitsou was writing while focusing on the class.
"I wonder what Mitsou will think if I reveal my true identity."
I wonder what Mitsou would think if I revealed my true identity… Yuuki thought, imagining the scene.
In her mind, a white background appeared where only she stood in front of Mitsou. Mitsou burst into laughter. "Whahah!! Bro, you turned into a cute girl?! Man, I'm falling for you!" he said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
Yuuki shook her head sharply, erasing the thought from her mind. "No, no! That would be stupid. He is my best friend who I always… always be with… damn it!" she thought, her expression annoyed and determined.
Mitsou suddenly felt cold air crawl over his body as Yuuki's sharp gaze on him. His body slightly trembled.
"HUH?! Feels like someone is targeting me…"
Mitsou thought while looking around.
Behind him, Jinpei noticed Mitsou.
"Hey, is something wrong?"
Jinpei asked with curiosity.
Mitsou looked behind.
"Uh… um nothing. I felt something strange…"
Mitsou said awkwardly as his eyes gazed toward Yuuki.
Yuuki instantly turned her face away from Mitsou. Yuuki's black shiny long hair covered her face like a curtain. Seeing this, Mitsou raised his eyebrow suspiciously.
"Was she staring at me?"
Mitsou thought, then he focused on the board again.
Yuuki laid her head on the desk. Her shiny hair spread over her shoulder and back, hiding part of her face.
Beside her, Haruko noticed Yuuki's tiredness. She leaned toward Yuuki while sitting on her bench.
"Yuumi‑chan. Are you feeling bad about something?"
Haruko whispered softly.
Yuuki looked at Haruko with a forceful smile.
"I am okay. Just feeling tired."
"Really? But you look depressed."
Haruko said with curiosity.
Yuuki looked at the board while the teacher continued explaining math.
"Depressed… yeah really I am so depressed. Only if I can tell them about me… then I can be relieved."
Yuuki thought while looking at Haruko. She smiled gently.
"Yeah you are right, Haruko. But I decided."
Yuuki said with a confident smile on her face as she pushed herself upright.
"Maybe I should tell them. After all, they are my best friends. Emi‑chan will also accept me."
Yuuki thought, her black eyes filled with hope, while Haruko stared at Yuuki without understanding.
"Yuumi‑chan sure acting strange… is she really okay?"
Haruko thought.