Rinne slumped in her desk, staring at the clock as if willing it to move faster. The classroom buzzed with the low murmur of her classmates, the sound blurring into the background. All she could focus on was the anger boiling inside her, her cheeks still warm from the memory of what had happened earlier. That idiot, she thought, clenching her fists under the desk. What kind of person tries to pull that off during lunch?
She replayed the scene in her head, Shigure leaning in with that insufferable smirk, acting like he owned the world—or at least like he owned her. When his lips had gotten just a bit too close, she’d reacted on instinct, her hand connecting with his cheek so fast she surprised even herself. The smack had echoed across the courtyard, and the look of pure shock on his face had been almost worth it.
Almost.
But as she sighed, deflating against the desk, the weight of reality settled in. So much for that bonus. There was no way the captain would be pleased to hear she’d assaulted the new recruit, even if he had been acting like a creep. She let out another sigh, louder this time, and earned a few curious glances from her classmates, but she ignored them. All she could do now was count down the hours until the day was over and try to avoid any more trouble.
Just as the clock ticked closer to the end of class, she overheard a group of girls behind her whispering excitedly.
“Are you going to the shrine after school?” one of them asked, her voice a mix of eagerness and excitement. “The priestess is doing fortune readings again! She told my cousin when she’d meet her boyfriend, and it happened exactly like she said!”
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“Oh, totally,” another girl chimed in. “I heard she’s never wrong. Apparently, her predictions come true 100% of the time. I want to know when I’ll meet my hot soulmate~”
Rinne’s ears perked up, and she felt her curiosity stir. The shrine and its mysterious priestess—it was a topic that had floated around school for weeks now. She’d heard whispers here and there about how this woman could predict anything, from romantic encounters to acing your next test. And the rumors were all the same: her predictions always came true.
Must be nice, she thought, a pang of envy creeping in. Having a power like that would make life so much simpler.
When the final bell rang, Rinne stretched lazily, packing her things with no particular rush. She glanced out the window, watching the rest of her classmates pour out into the courtyard. She paused, considering her next move.
Part of her wanted to head straight home and forget all about the disastrous lunch. But then she thought about Shigure—he was her responsibility, after all. The captain’s words echoed in her mind, and she sighed again, shoulders slumping. It’s my job to check on him. Besides, I hit him pretty hard. What if he’s off sulking somewhere? What if he’s crying?
But then again, what if it was awkward? She felt a flicker of hesitation. What if he thinks I like him just because I care enough to check in?
Ultimately, Rinne huffed and crossed her arms. Why should I even bother with him? she thought, her irritation rekindling. Shigure was the one who messed everything up, not her. She didn’t owe him anything beyond what she’d already done—and, honestly, she felt she’d gone above and beyond just putting up with his nonsense.
With a shrug, she turned her back on the idea, making her way down the steps toward the school gate.
Some things just aren’t worth the trouble, she decided with a grin. And for now, she’d take the quiet moments for herself before the Midnight Hours started up again.