Rinne walked with a slight bounce in her step, the morning light filtering through the canopy of cherry blossoms that lined the narrow streets of her neighborhood. Her school bag swung lazily over her shoulder, the strap slung in an intentionally cool way as she strode forward.
Her sweater—soft and fashionable—was perfectly matched with her pleated skirt, a combination she knew was effortlessly cute.
She thought back to what the captain had told her last night. This is the responsibility of the strong. A small smile tugged at her lips. “Captain is right… everyone in this world is born with a strange power that can’t be explained,” she muttered under her breath.
They called it “sorcery”—a blanket term for the unexplainable abilities people possessed.
But, she thought, her eyes narrowing slightly, most of these powers were laughably weak. A lot of people could barely light a candle or float a spoon with their “magic.”
But Rinne? She was different. Exceptionally so. That was why, despite still being a high schooler, she’d been recruited into the Yashu-tai. She glanced up at the blue sky, her eyes sparkling with pride. It’s only natural, she mused.
Someone as talented, and as beautiful as me, of course, would be chosen. The pay was pretty sweet too. The thought made her giggle a little, and she hugged herself, feeling the warmth of her own importance.
Rinne Walking [https://i.imgur.com/yDsfW7m.png]
Her school came into view, its brick walls dappled with the soft light of early morning. She slipped through the gates and into the hallways, where she felt the eyes of the students on her as she walked past. She heard their whispers, felt their glances.
They’re all talking about me, she thought smugly, and a self-satisfied smirk crossed her face. Of course, they are. Who wouldn’t want to be me, after all
As she approached her classroom, Rinne’s thoughts were interrupted when she opened the door and nearly walked into a wall—or rather, the captain’s chest. Startled, she stumbled back a step. “C-Captain… What are you doing here?”
The captain’s tall frame filled the doorway, his presence instantly commanding. “Rinne,” he began, “there’s a new member of the Yashu-tai who’s just transferred to your school. Since he’s your age, I’d like you to show him around.”
Rinne’s face fell, her eyes narrowing. What the hell? She felt a prick of irritation. She liked being the only member of the Yashu-tai at her school—it was part of her whole mystique. The idea of having to babysit some new recruit, a transfer no less, rubbed her the wrong way. But the captain didn’t seem to notice her sulking expression as he turned on his heel, gesturing for her to follow. She trailed after him, her steps dragging as she tried not to glare at the back of his head.
Eventually, they stopped by a boy sitting by himself in the hall, his nose buried in a book. The captain placed a firm hand on the boy’s shoulder, pulling him around to face Rinne. The boy’s eyes flicked up—brown and unassuming, but sharp, like he was sizing her up already. His hair was a messy dark mop, and his expression was that of someone who’d rather be anywhere else. He wore all black, from his jacket to his pants, the kind of outfit that screamed edgelord.
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Rinne barely hid a sigh. Great. One of those.
“This is Shigure,” the captain said, introducing the boy with a nod. “Shigure, this is Rinne.”
Rinne plastered on her best smile, the one that she knew was disarmingly cute. “Hey there,” she said, extending a hand. “Looks like we’re gonna be teammates!”
Shigure stared at her hand for a moment, his face utterly blank. Then, he shrugged dismissively. “Whatever,” he muttered, turning his gaze away like she wasn’t even worth his time.
Rinne’s smile twitched. Oh, this guy. Her hand dropped to her side, and she could already feel the annoyance bubbling up. She crossed her arms, puffing out her cheeks in a pout as she watched him turn back to his book. I already hate him.
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The air was filled with the mingled scents of blossoming flowers and freshly cut grass, a serene backdrop to the lively chatter of students enjoying their lunch break. Rinne walked a few paces behind Shigure, her footsteps light on the paved path that wound between the school buildings. Her eyes flicked to the side occasionally, noting how the sunlight danced on the leaves, how the sky was a perfect canvas of azure brushed with wisps of white clouds.
Shigure moved with an air of indifference, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His brown eyes, deep and unreadable, glanced back at her. "Why are you still following me?" he asked coolly.
Rinne almost missed a step, momentarily flinching at his directness. The murmurs of nearby students reached her ears, whispers and giggles suggesting they thought the two might be an item.
She could feel their curious gazes like a weight on her shoulders, but she pushed the discomfort aside, forcing a bright smile. "I'm supposed to be showing you around," she replied, infusing her tone with as much cheerfulness as she could muster.
She recalled the captain's words before he left that morning: "Take good care of our new member, Rinne. Do that, and I might see about getting you a nice bonus at the end of the month."
The thought of that bonus made her heart skip a beat. She imagined the things she could do with it—a shopping spree in Shibuya, perhaps, or that fancy bag she'd been eyeing. The very idea was enough to steel her resolve. Just endure this a little longer, she told herself. It's worth it.
Trying to break the awkward silence, she ventured, "So, where did you move from?"
Shigure stopped walking and looked up at the sky, his expression distant. "I don't know," he said slowly. "I've been... isekai'd into this world." He clenched his fist tightly, his gaze fixed on some unseen point beyond the clouds. "All I know is that I'm destined to save this world from the evil that plagues it."
Rinne stared at him, her smile frozen in place. Internally, she battled the urge to roll her eyes. Great, she thought. He's crazy. She tried to maintain her composure, reminding herself of the bonus dangling like a carrot at the end of a stick.
He continued, seemingly oblivious to her skepticism. "Normally, this is the part of the story where the protagonist meets his love interest." He turned his gaze to her, eyes scanning her from head to toe. "Is that why you're following me so closely? Do you have a crush on me?"
A flush of heat rushed to Rinne's cheeks—not from embarrassment, but from rising annoyance. The audacity of this guy! Before she could formulate a polite response, he added, "If you want to be my woman, you've got some work to do."
That was the final straw. Rinne felt a spark ignite within her, and before she knew it, she had grabbed Shigure by the shoulders, shaking him violently. "Listen here, you delusional edgelord!" she exclaimed, her eyes blazing.
"Do you want me to isekai you again? Because I can arrange that!"
Around them, students had begun to stop and stare, some whispering, others laughing at the unexpected spectacle. The soft rustle of leaves and distant chirping of birds seemed to fade as all attention focused on the two of them.
Shigure blinked, a hint of surprise flashing across his face before it settled back into that infuriatingly calm demeanor.
"Feisty," he remarked, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Perhaps you are worthy of being by my side after all." He said as he closed his eyes and leaned in for a kiss.
She smacked him. Hard.