I sat on a bench in front of the building where the meeting was hosted, letting the quiet of the courtyard sink in. Far off, the main gate was visible, and between us stretched the gently sloping path.

With final exams over, I expected more people around. It does feel colder than usual today. Maybe that's why it's so empty.

The meeting that wrapped up a few minutes ago was... well, something. It didn't exactly pique my interest, but it kept my attention.

After a brief welcome to the new members, the officers ran through a presentation, highlighting upcoming activities. The main focus was on one big event.

A month from now, the culture club will be teaming up with the student council to host a large school festival to celebrate the new year. As members, we'll be manning booths and managing the festivities.

Just what I needed—another loud, obnoxious event to disrupt my peace. I might need to find something else to do, but... I did promise Saki I'd help out. I'll at least stick around until after the festival.

From my bag, I pulled out a small book and started reading. Moments like these are what I enjoy most about the normal world. A quiet spot under a bright blue sky, a soft breeze on my face, and a simple hobby to pass the time. As trivial as it may seem, this is my golden standard.

"So you also read books, huh?" asked a familiar voice. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"

I tilted my eyes up, but I didn't even need to look to know who that overly pretentious tone belonged to. Standing at the other end of the bench was Taiyori Ayaka, along with a girl who seemed to follow her around everywhere.

"What do you want?" I sighed as I turned back to my book.

"Hah. What do you mean? We're clubmates now. I was just observing you to get to know you better."

"The Belle herself is giving me her undivided attention? How surreal."

"Think of it as nothing more than... a curious fellow student."

"Am I supposed to feel flattered?"

"That's up to you, but I would guess not since you despise me so much."

I couldn't help but let out a slight chuckle. "Is it really me who despises you? Or is it you who came to that conclusion after our first, less-than-stellar encounter?"

"Still hung up on that?"

"Was it not you who has been stabbing me with your eyes ever since?"

Her brows curled as a frustrated smile appeared on her face. "In all of my life, no one has ever spoken to me the way you do."

"A taste of the real world, if you will."

Taiyori Ayaka, huh? She carries herself in a way that commands attention, drawing the eyes of the oblivious who follow her without question. Am I really the only one who sees past that façade? She acts like a queen among a sea of peasants, and to her credit, it's working.

I’m surprised, honestly. All I've heard about her is that she's on the student council, she's beautiful, and she's highly coveted by many of the guys at school. Yet, no one seems to know about her status as the heiress of Yori Corp. I thought for sure she'd leverage that somehow.

"Hm... Perhaps if you apologize, I'll overlook it just this once," she said.

"And why would I do that when I've done nothing wrong?" I scoffed. "Are you that delusional to think that I would fall to the ground and kiss your feet like everyone else?"

"There you go again. Just like before, you have that irk in your tone as if you absolutely loathe me. You're not even trying to hide it either. That's fine, though. I wouldn't expect you to have the word 'respect' in your vocabulary."

"I think you're misunderstanding something. I don't loathe you, nor am I speaking like I do. Simply put, you failed to earn my respect. Instead, you did the exact opposite. After all, was it not you who blew up on me first?"

"I didn't mean to be disrespectful. You did help me. I'll admit that, but if it wasn't you, then some other bumbling idiot would've stepped up to do the exact same thing. It's happened way too many times for me to keep count, so surely you can understand why I was being so skeptical, hm?"

"Hah. A heads up would've been nice."

"Was it not obvious?"

"Clearly not."

Even though I wasn't looking at her, I could tell that the frown on her face was growing worse. It was bound to happen. People like her are one and the same. Born with a silver spoon and only value their own opinions while trampling over those who are less fortunate. It disgusts me.

"So?" Taiyori said.

"So what?"

"I'm still waiting for that apology."

"Did I say that I was going to give it?"

"No, but being able to recognize your wrongdoing and correct it is a skill that you should have. Maybe I was expecting too much out of you. That's my mistake."

I snapped the book shut between my fingers and closed my eyes. In all my years as an assassin, I've never been more irritated than I am now, and it's all because of one little girl. It makes sense, though. The small ones who act tough are always more infuriating than the big ones with the same energy.

"Let's get one thing straight, Taiyori," I muttered. "I'm not one of your followers. I don't know you nor what you stand for, and I sure as hell don't care enough to try. Sure, your name has popped up every now and then, but I've never been anything more than curious up until now. The only thing I feel towards you is indifference, so just forget about me and move on with your life. Rest assured, I'll do the same."

The surprised look she's giving me right now makes it seem like she has more to say, yet nothing left her mouth. I wonder if this was a reality check for her, an epiphany of sorts that not everyone is blind enough to simply fall for her at first glance. Hopefully, I'll be the first of many, but the world isn't kind enough to give me my way.

"You mean that?" she asked, clearly unsatisfied. "Every word?"

"Was it not obvious?" I asked as a mockery of her own words.

"Tch, you really are so impolite."

"I figured you wouldn't want to stay next to a nobody like me for long since you're so much better than me. Isn't that right?"

After a moment of glaring at me with smoke flying out of her ears, she finally turned away.

"Let's go, Misha," she grumbled.

"Y-yes!" the girl next to her said.

Just like that, they were gone. My mind flashed back to the conversation I had with Watcher two days ago. He wants me to get close to Taiyori? Yeah, right—over my dead body. She's way too dramatic for my taste.

And how am I the impolite one? I'm just matching her energy. She was the one who raised her voice first. I'm not in the wrong for doing the same, right?

Man... Now I'm pissed.

"Hey, Tsuki!"

I turned over to see Sakuno running over to me with two cones of ice cream in his hands.

"Damn, you look pissed," he noticed immediately. "Did something happen?"

"Just an unfortunate encounter with a shitty outcome," I muttered. "I don't think I've ever met someone teetering on the line of being so infuriating to the point where I literally don't know if I'm justified in killing them."

"Was it the Belle again?"

"Yeah."

Sakuno sat down next to me and handed me one of the ice cream cones. I took it and began licking off the top.

"So this is the normal world," I sighed exhaustively. "Kinda sucks."

"Ah, it ain't that bad," Sakuno chuckled. "People like her exist in the underworld too. Only difference is that she didn't commit any crimes."

"I get that, but it's so hard to just let it go."

"Patience, young one! There comes a time and place for everything."

"I know you're not the one telling me that when you almost broke a poor guy's arm."

"It was self-defense!"

"Sure."

As much as I hate to admit it, Sakuno is right. I need to work on my patience for that kind of stuff. It's normal, and it's going to happen again.

For my own sanity, I have to avoid Taiyori. Being around her drops my mood so badly, but something tells me that this won't be the last time I see her.