Unexpected Upperclassman

Sure enough, the girl with red lenses is walking in the opposite direction of my friend. The girl is still clad in a lot of white, with a white skirt and shirt replacing her dress. She doesn't walk with a backpack like a majority of us. Instead, she holds a small leather bag in one hand while the other hand holds an open book.

Edward noticeably glances down at the short girl and her pale hair, but has the delicacy to not say anything as they pass each other by. Between her ice cold face and downcast eyes, she doesn't seem to even care for his existence. Regardless, she still finds a way to adjust her path and avoid him while flipping the page.

I've completely lost the ability to speak and walk as she continues to approach.

"Hm?"

Without even looking up, she stops a couple of metres away from me. She frowns to the leatherbound pages for a moment before rubbing her eyes. The red lenses move around in the process, but they return to place before she returns her vision. This time, her eyes of some unknown colour are staring into mine.

"This is certainly a coincidence. Although, I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised."

"H-Hello…"

With the magic no longer sealing away the natural tendencies of man, I can properly appreciate the beauty of the girl in front of me. I feel like I'm surrounded by walls of stone in a castle fit for a queen. Stella certainly demands that kind of presence.

She must have some kind of image of me in her head from our last meeting, so I try my hardest to act unperturbed by her existence.

"I-I didn't know you also went to school here…"

"Unfortunately, I have to also go through this rather uninteresting affair."

Stella is back to reading her book as she speaks. She really does act differently whenever Mira is around.

"Are you staying for tutoring? It's unusual to see people still here that aren't either there or in a club."

"Please. I don't need such needless instruction."

She continues walking past me towards the staircase at the end of the hall. Considering that we have to head in the same direction, I use this opportunity to walk with her. Me standing beside her fortunately doesn't appear to be a problem.

"What are you reading?"

"Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica."

"Sounds like a hard book…"

"It's a bit outdated, but it still applies in most cases."

Stella knows how to keep her responses brief. Just like before, her voice seems to sit on a strange border between that of a young girl and a mature adult. I'm permitted to hear this voice for only a few seconds before she returns us to silence. This pattern only continues down the stairs that she apparently doesn't need to see to safely cross.

"Are you a first year like me?"

"Second year."

"I see…"

There's no way that this girl is older than me. Although, she certainly acts like somebody not fit for a school and she's reading a book with a title that isn't even in our language. As I've realised very recently, the world is a pretty strange place.

"How are the second year courses? Are they harder than the ones before?"

"Not really."

"Somebody once told me that you all get loads of homework! That doesn't sound fun…"

"It's nothing that can't be completed in a single class period."

"Ahaha…"

I'm very quickly running out of ideas as we push through the entrance doors and out into the parking lot. Given how little she seems to want to talk, I'm lucky that Stella was willing to put up with me for this long. It was short, and I can't say that I learned all that much about her.

Just as awkwardly as everything else I've said these past several minutes, I point in the direction of home.

"I guess I'll go this way…"

To my surprise, I didn't receive a response. I look back to the girl in white and notice her looking around the immediate area. Whoever she's looking for, she doesn't seem to find it.

"Where is Mira?"

My body jumps when her eyes aim towards me. I don't know which part to find more surprising, the fact that she's looking for Mira or the fact that she actually is talking to me of her own volition.

"M-Mira is at home."

"She doesn't have school?"

"Not yet. She transfers into middle school tomorrow."

Her eyes don't waver, but it takes her body a few seconds before she turns to face the opposite direction from where I'm headed.

"I see."

Her snow white hair flows behind her as she begins walking. I'm about to simply leave things there, but the unconfirmed image of Mira crying by herself in a corner pops into my head. There isn't a bad chance that the rabbit at home will be angry at me, so I need something to appease her. The original plan was going to be something sweet, but now I have a much better idea.

"Stella!"

"..."

She doesn't turn to face me, but she does stop. I can't tell if she's still reading, but it's safe to say that I have her attention. I'm about to propose something preposterous as a high school boy, but this is for Mira.

"Want to come see her? She's been studying all day, so I'm sure she'd be more than glad to see you."

"..."

Silence, but not without some value. I may still be staring at her back, but her feet have yet to resume motion. The only movement between the two of us is the blowing of our hair in the breeze.

"Is…that a no?"

Figured as much. I'm about to give up and apologise, but something red catches my eye before the words leave my mouth. Stella doesn't speak a single word, but now she's slowly growing closer and closer. It isn't until after she takes a step past me that I can hear her voice once more.

"I suppose a brief visit shouldn't be a problem."

"R-Really!? Thank you!"

Stella shifts away from my outburst, but she makes no moves to run away. I didn't expect her to agree so easily, but here we are. I'm mentally close to my limit and my sanity only drains the longer she stands near me, but it was all worth it.

"It's just a short walk from here! I'll lead you there!"

With an extra spring in my step, I begin our journey towards the apartment complex just past forest. I don't get very far before I feel a tapping on my shoulder. Unfortunately, I was touched by the corner of a book instead of her fingers.

"Hold this."

"Ah, sure…"

The stack of pages fits well in my hand, but feels like it could be a bit clunky for hers. The sound of tapping can be heard behind me as we walk.

"Shouldn't you inform your parents of my visit?"

"My parents? No, it's fine. It's just Mira and me."

"Huh?"

I flinch once more, this time from the obvious disgust in that mesmerising voice. Turning back to the girl trailing behind me, I see her phone in one hand as well as something that makes my hair stand on end. Her previously expressionless eyes now narrow as whatever she was typing is all but forgotten.

I stop and wave my arms wildly as I feel danger slowly approaching.

"Y-You know, it's probably a bad idea for you to come over! I should have thought about it before asking! Sorr—"

"You left her there by herself!?"

I'm thrown backwards by the sudden increase in volume coming from her mouth.

"Y-Yeah…"

"You fool!"

Stella stuffs her phone back into the pocket of her bag and marches past me towards the usual bridge. I have to almost jog to keep up with her white figure.

"You should have said something sooner!"

"W-Why…?"

"We would have moved faster and gotten there sooner!"

I'm feeling uneasy from her sudden shift in demeanor and it doesn't take a psychologist to know that she's angry. What she's angry at, I have no idea, but I can't be upset at her harsh tone regardless.

All of this emotion comes from somewhere that cares about Mira. I'm just as worried about having left her alone for as long as I have and would have liked to have rushed home. As I look at that flowing white hair hurrying along the side of the road, I feel strangely content knowing that somebody shares my concern. It really was the correct choice to reach out to Stella.

I bounce on my toes a few times before dashing just ahead of the girl briskly walking in front of me.

"Are you in the mood to run?"

Her eyes meet mine for a second, long enough for me to see them widen at my grin. She focuses them once more and tucks her bag under her arm.

"Don't fall behind."

"Got it!"

The line of cars both heading towards and leaving the school bear witness to two random students on a mission to head home as fast as possible.