The sound of rain tapping against the window was the first thing Yukian noticed when she woke up. The room was dim, the gray morning light barely filtering through the curtains. The alarm clock beside her bed flashed 8:01 AM, but she had been awake long before it rang. Sleep rarely came easily.

She sat up, rubbing her tired eyes. The blanket felt heavier than usual, like it was trying to hold her down. For a moment, she considered lying back down, skipping school, and staying in bed forever.

But she knew that wasn't an option.

Dragging herself to the bathroom, she splashed cold water on her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror. The same dull eyes. The same dark circles. The same empty expression. Her long black hair was a tangled mess, but she barely had the energy to fix it. She tied it back into a loose ponytail and brushed her teeth without thinking.

After changing into her school uniform—a stiff white button-up shirt, a navy-blue blazer, and a pleated skirt—she stepped out into the hallway. The apartment was silent. It always was. Her parents had already left for work, not bothering to wake her up or even say goodbye.

She slipped on her shoes, grabbed her schoolbag, and stepped outside. Cold air hit her immediately, and the drizzle soaked through her thin socks as she made her way to the bus stop.

The bus ride was quiet. Yukian sat near the window, watching raindrops slide down the glass as she rested her chin on her palm. Around her, students chatted with their friends, but no one acknowledged her. It was as if she didn't exist.

By the time she reached the school gates, her stomach was already twisting. She walked through the halls, keeping her head down, hoping to get to her classroom before—

A hard shove sent her stumbling forward. Her bag slipped from her shoulder and hit the floor, books spilling out. Laughter followed immediately.

"Oops, my bad, Yukian-chan."

Her hands clenched into fists. She already knew who it was before she even looked up.

Hoshino Reina.

Perfect hair, perfect face, perfect uniform, and the cruelest girl in school. She stood over Yukian with a fake, apologetic smile, her voice dripping with amusement. Students gathered around, whispering, laughing, watching—but none of them helped.

"You should really be more careful," Reina said, nudging one of Yukian's books with the tip of her polished shoe. "Tripping over nothing? That's kinda embarrassing."

Yukian swallowed hard, forcing herself to reach for her bag, but before she could grab it, a foot slammed down on her hand.

Pain shot through her fingers.

"Oops," Reina giggled, tilting her head. "Did that hurt?"

More laughter. More stares.

Something inside Yukian cracked. Her hands shook as she pulled them back, curling her fingers into fists. The humiliation burned inside her, but she knew fighting back wouldn't change anything. It never did.

So she stood up, grabbed her bag without saying a word, and walked to class.

The whispers followed her all the way down the hall.