The procedures for purchasing the apartment were cumbersome and took quite some time.

Fortunately, the apartment was already fully furnished — all they needed to do was bring their bags and move in.

Shino's mother didn't ask any questions. She simply smiled and happily cleaned the apartment from top to bottom.

She carefully made a bed for her daughter and even brought over the pillow that Shino had been using for years.

Shino was, in truth, someone who could only sleep well in familiar surroundings. In a strange new place, she would definitely have trouble sleeping for the first few days.

When she left home before, she hadn't taken anything with her. But now, she could finally use that same pillow again — a small comfort that meant a lot.

They stayed busy until dinner.

Originally, Shino's mother planned to cook, but Shino stopped her.

Instead, she dragged her mother to the apartment next door and introduced her to the young man living there — Haruto.

The three of them had dinner together in Haruto's apartment.

That night, lying on her familiar pillow, Shino felt more at ease than she had in a long time.She fell asleep quickly — deeply, peacefully.

=====

The next morning — Monday.

After waking up, Shino put on her school uniform and got ready to leave.When she opened her bedroom door, she was greeted by the smell of freshly cooked rice drifting from the dining table.

For a moment, she simply stood there in quiet warmth.

After breakfast, Shino set off for school.

It wasn't as dramatic as something out of a novel.

Even though she felt like she'd been reborn, she didn't throw away her glasses. She still looked like an ordinary local girl — only brighter somehow.

The darkness that used to hang over her had lifted. Still, it didn't make her the center of attention. No one really noticed.

=====

After class ended, as Shino was about to leave, a group of girls blocked her in the corridor once again.

"Go help us finish our classroom duty, Shino-san," one of them said with a grin.

But this time was different.

Shino calmly shook her head.

The delinquent girls froze, stunned.

The leader immediately scowled, her face twisting in irritation.

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you refusing me? Don't forget your place!" she hissed, lowering her voice menacingly while gesturing as if holding a pistol.

Usually, when she did that, Shino would pale in fear — trembling, sometimes even running to the bathroom to vomit.

But not today.

Shino simply shook her head again, calm and composed.

Even though classes were over, a few students stayed behind to watch, sensing something unusual.

Feeling her authority challenged, the delinquent girl's expression darkened.

"Hah, since you don't know your place, don't blame me," she sneered. "I got something amazing from my cousin… Let's see how you react when you see the real thing."

She reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out a black pistol.

The shape looked real — metallic sheen, heavy finish.

She aimed it straight at Shino Asada.

The other girl expected panic — maybe tears or fainting. Usually, just miming a gun gesture was enough to terrify Shino.

But this time, Shino didn't even flinch.

She stepped forward instead, until the barrel of the gun was almost touching her forehead. Her expression was calm, steady — as if the weapon didn't even exist.

The tension in the air was suffocating.The delinquent girl's hands began to tremble.

"W–What are you doing…?" she stammered.

In one swift motion, Shino grabbed the gun from her hand.

She examined it — checked the magazine, pulled the slide, weighed it in her palm. Then she calmly held it by the muzzle and handed it back.

"The workmanship's not bad," she said evenly. "But the counterweight's off. The real Norinco Type 54 pistol weighs around 800 grams empty. With a full magazine, it's about a kilogram. Yours feels almost two — too heavy. The rifling's a little crooked, too. But I guess it's just a model — can't expect perfection. Also, if you actually wanted to shoot, you'd need to flick this safety off first. Otherwise, the trigger won't move."

With that, Shino turned and walked away without looking back.

The delinquent girl stood frozen, her mouth open, eyes wide. Then the fake gun slipped from her trembling hands and hit the floor with a clack.

She sank to the ground, overwhelmed by Shino's presence.

=====

Once Shino turned the corner, she unconsciously quickened her pace. Though she'd faced them head-on, her heart was still pounding.

Still — she'd done it.

For the first time, she'd stood her ground.

And when she walked away, without fear, without turning back — she looked cool.

A faint smile appeared on her lips as she gave herself a quiet thumbs-up.

When Shino exited the building, she paused.

A crowd had gathered near the school gate — groups of students chatting, whispering, craning their necks to look outside.

Something unusual was happening.

As Shino got closer, she saw why.

At the gate stood a tall cherry blossom tree — its season long past, its leaves now fading with autumn. The wind stirred, sending withered petals swirling through the air.

Beneath that tree stood a young man.

The breeze tousled his hair, but it only added to his charm.His features were sharp and striking — sword-like eyebrows, clear eyes like starlight. His tall, lean build drew every gaze like a magnet.

Beside him sat a sleek black sports car — its body gleaming like polished steel. Even though Shino knew little about cars, she could tell instantly that this one was expensive. The design was so elegant, so powerful, it looked more like a creature than a machine.

And then she recognized his uniform.

Sobu High School.

A prestigious academy. A school so elite that, to ordinary students, it felt like a distant legend.

The young man stood quietly under the tree, calm and poised. Even though his presence was commanding, it didn't feel arrogant. It felt natural, effortless — like the wind itself.

Students nearby whispered excitedly:

"He's so handsome… like a noble straight out of a manga!"

"That's Sobu High's uniform! He's rich and smart?!"

"Do you think he's waiting for someone?"

"I asked him! He said he's waiting for… Asada Shino-san!"

The words hit Shino like a spark.

She froze — cheeks flushing pink.

And then, as she looked up, Haruto's eyes found hers. He smiled.

That smile had the kind of warmth that made the world pause. Girls nearby even screamed.

Two classmates hurried over, whispering excitedly:

"Asada-san, who is that?"

"Your… boyfriend?"

Shino didn't answer. She just lowered her head and walked quickly toward the gate.

The moment she stepped outside, Haruto moved to meet her — tall, composed, almost radiant in the soft autumn light.

Behind them, a chorus of envious voices followed:

"Ahhh!"

"So lucky!"

"It's not fair!"

Shino sighed softly.

"What an exaggeration…" she muttered.

Haruto coughed lightly. "Because I was worried you might get bullied again… I might've gone a little overboard."

He wasn't being modest. Haruto knew well that his looks were almost unreal — the kind that drew attention no matter what he did.

Usually, he tried to stay low-key.

Talent, wealth, and charm all at once could make life… troublesome.

Otherwise, he'd be drowned in love letters daily.

But today, because he came to pick up Shino — because he knew what she had faced — he'd allowed himself to stand out.

Hearing that, Shino couldn't help but laugh softly.

She had expected him to act aloof, to say something casually arrogant like "This is just normal for me."

She didn't expect him to admit it so honestly.

And somehow, that made her heart feel even warmer.