After her meeting with the principal, Chloe followed the teacher down the hallway, her nerves humming with excitement. When the classroom door slid open, dozens of faces turned toward her.

Teacher: Class, we have a new student joining us today. Please welcome Chloe Tanaka.

The room instantly brightened with smiles and greetings. Chloe bowed politely, her heart fluttering at the warmth of it all.

Teacher: Chloe, you’ll be sitting… there.

The teacher gestured to an empty desk, the one directly beside Sora.

A few students exchanged uneasy glances, and some even whispered under their breath, but Chloe didn’t notice. She simply smiled, placed her bag down, and turned to her seatmate.

Chloe: (cheerfully) Hi, I’m Chloe. Nice to meet you!

But Sora had her gaze fixed forward and didn’t even bother to glance at her.

Chloe blinked, her smile faltering slightly.

Chloe: (softly) …Okay then.

Confusion lingered, but she shook it off. 

Chloe: (to herself) Maybe I came off too strong...? I'll try again later. 

When lunch came around and after Chloe had her tray filled with food, she looked around and spotted Sora again, seated alone at the corner table and was surprised that she had an entire table all to herself. She observed for a few seconds hoping to see someone join her but everyone who passed made sure to stir clear of that table. So she decided to go there by herself. Balancing her tray in her hands, Chloe walked over with that same optimism.

Chloe: Mind if I sit here?

But Sora didn’t even look up but Chloe began to feel like it would be a bit odd to not sit after coming all this way and it didn't look like there were any free seats left in the cafeteria. So she eventually took her seat while looking at Sora who still hadn't looked up at her at all. 

They both ate in silence and as they did, Chloe looked around and noticed a few people staring at their direction and some making gestures which confused her and then looked at Sora who still ate quietly and hadn't looked up at all. 

Chloe: (to herself) Why are they all looking at us like that? (looks at Sora) Is it because of me or her? 

The silence continued until Chloe finally broke the silence in an attempt to try and communicate with Sora once more.

Chloe: So… um, how’s the food here?

But Sora still didn't reply and Chloe tilted her head, puzzled. Finally, she sighed and gave a little shrug. 

Chloe: …Guess not.

She sat in silence, deciding not to let it ruin her day and then she came to the conclusion that everyone was most likely staring at her because she sat at the same table with Sora who must've had quite the reputation to warrant those steers. 

*******

Their school always closed around 2PM in the afternoon so as to allow the students to participate in their various club activities. Most people who weren't interested in clubs were allowed to go home early. 

But not Chloe.

Instead, she made her way to the faculty office and signed up for the swimming club. After meeting the coach of the team, Ms. Cordae, a tall woman with silver hair and sharp black eyes, led Chloe to the school gym and took her to the indoor swimming pool. 

Moments later, Chloe was standing by the poolside, excitement practically buzzing from her fingertips as she watched all the students move around the swimming pool ready to swim or already in the act of swimming. The coach who had left to find the swimming team's captain came back and introduced her to Ava, the team’s captain, a tall girl with shoulder length blonde hair, sharp eyes but an encouraging smile.

Ava: Hey there. 

Chloe: Oh.... Hi. My name is Chloe. Chloe Tanaka. 

Ava stretched out her hand to shake Chloe and she took it willingly as she finally found someone who wasn't as cold as the other person she had met today. 

Ava: Nice to meet you, Chloe. I'm Ava and I'm the swimming team captain. I heard you wanted to try out for the team. Come on, let’s see what you’ve got.

Chloe was shown to the changing room and she quickly put in her swimming trunks which she had packed the night before and got into the pool once the coach and Ava had given the order. 

The water welcomed Chloe like it was her home. Stroke after stroke, she moved with practiced ease, cutting across the pool in clean, powerful lines much to the surprise of the people there. By the time she climbed out, the team was clapping, some already grinning and patting her on the back.

Ava: (smiling) Not bad at all. Welcome to the team.

The girls laughed as they “initiated” her with playful splashes, the mood light and electric. Chloe felt her chest swell as she felt like this was where she belonged.

But as the laughter died down, her gaze drifted.

At the far end of the pool, a lone figure swam, sharp and precise. Water parted around her in clean arcs, her form flawless.

It was Sora.

Chloe: (quietly) …She’s amazing.

Ava followed her gaze and when they rested on Sora, her expression tightened.

Ava: Oh... her. That’s Sora Fujimoto. She’s… the best we’ve got. She's won medals even before high school. But don’t let that fool you, she’s impossible to deal with. She thinks she’s better than everyone else. That’s why no one likes her.

Chloe frowned slightly, watching the girl’s steady movements through the water and took in what Ava had just said and suddenly those stares she was received from before suddenly began to make sense. 

Chloe: She doesn’t seem like that… she just seems… distant.

Ava hesitated before lowering her voice.

Ava: That's because you just got here and haven't seen the rest of her. She's always like this... But recently it got a lot worse. 

Chloe: Recently? What happened? 

Ava sighed and watched Sora dive into the pool again and then began to speak. 

Ava: She had a younger sister once. She wanted to be just like her and she always followed her here every time she had practice. But... She passed away toward the end of last school year. 

This completely shocked and took Chloe completely off guard as she didn't expect the story to get dark really fast. 

Ava: That was three months ago and nobody knows the full story about how she died but… most think it made her attitude towards everyone worse. 

Chloe’s chest tightened as she remembered Sora ignoring her in class, at lunch… and wondered if it all came from that pain.

Chloe: (softly) Maybe that’s why she is the way she is…? 

Ava: (firmly) Whatever the reason, take my advice, stay clear. Trust me, you don’t want to get tangled up with her.

Chloe let out a nervous laugh.

Chloe: …Kinda hard when we sit next to each other every day.

Ava winced.

Ava: Yikes. Good luck with that.

Chloe smiled faintly but her thoughts stayed with the lonely swimmer slicing through the pool. Then, as she turned her head, she noticed someone else sitting near the edge of the pool. 

It was David.

He sat quietly on the benches and his eyes were fixed on Sora, his expression unreadable in a way that Chloe had never seen before. And what surprised her more was him trying to communicate with Sora after she got out of the pool but she ignored him once again.

Chloe: (puzzled) What was that about?