Mystery

"I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier. I'm Reina-" 

She stood behind me with an air of serene confidence, a subtle smile gracing her lips. Her long, Dark Pink hair cascaded over one side of her face, elegantly revealing only one eye, while the other remained mysteriously covered. It was difficult to tell if the color was a deliberate choice or a gift from nature.

Her hair seemed untouched by the world, pristine and flawless, as if the very wind held back in reverence. Her voice, soft and soothing, enveloped me like a warm embrace, reminiscent of a mother’s gentle tone. She exuded an ethereal quality, almost angelic. Just as she began to introduce herself, her words were cut off, leaving an intriguing sense of anticipation in the air.

"Cody Agati. I wasn't done talking with you."

Mika, as she approached me, suddenly stopped. Her expression remained neutral, and her tone was somewhat commanding. I turned my gaze to Reina, who was looking at Mika calmly, maintaining her own expression. Her eyes held a still gaze. Her lips wore a thin smile. 

"Where are you going?" Mika asked.

"For a walk," I said.

"Do you mind if I accompany you?" Reina said, shifting her gaze to me. 

Mika flashed her gaze on Reina, her eyes seeming perplexed as if saying, 'What?!'

"I would like to pick up where we left off in our conversation earlier."

"Is the topic confidential. That it doesn't need a third party's appearance? I can exclude myself if I-"

"No. its fine by me," Miku said hurriedly, stopping Reina's words immediately. 

"Is it fine by you if we both accompany you along?" Mika said. Both women gazed at me with understanding patience. Perhaps miku didnt want to reina to feel left out. Little did I know that their presence would soon transform my entire school experience.

"Its alright. I don't mind." I said.

I exited the classroom as Mika and Reina followed behind. We walked the hallways, passing nearby students in casual idle chatter. Silence stood in the air between the three of us as no one decided to break the ice to speak. I welcomed the silence until a voice suddenly spoke.

"So, do you intend on continuing our previous conversation, Mika?" 

Mika remained silent, her gaze ahead. I thought my voice didn't reach her, but she began to speak. 

"Hmm, well, about what the professor said that the class was going to be 'tested', though you said she meant examination. Are there any other clues you can come up with?"

"It was a suggestion, but do you remember when I told you that I had no clue about what the teacher meant?"

"OH! Right." Mika yelps softly. going silent, appearing to be lost in thought.

"Reina, do you-" Mika said to Reina.

"Hm?"

Reina turned her head slowly, acknowledging Mika calmly with a subtle smile.

"nevermind" Mika spoke sharply, as if forgetting what she was going to say.

"Alright, but I'm welcome to give my views, which is topic related."

Mika sighed softly as she averted her gaze to the side. Reina's smile stretched slightly as silence filled the air between us. I wondered if she was amused.

"Where are we going?"

"For a stroll? Didn't you say you wanted to accompany me?" I said.

"Right. If you don't mind i was hoping we'd stop at the cafe, if you don't mind checking it out. its alright, you don't want to," Mika said.

"Not at all. I was thinking about stopping by."

Casting a glance over my shoulder, I focused on Reina, who was in contemplative silence. Her eyes, unwavering, fixed on the surroundings silently.

"Reina, do you mind stopping at the cafe?"

Reina cast a fleeting glance in my direction. "Not at all. That’s an excellent choice; I’m more than happy to join you," she replied, her gaze drifting away thoughtfully. Her answer slipped out hurriedly. Perhaps she savored the warmth of a cozy drink, but there was no hesitation in her step as she confidently followed my lead.

I wonder if she was probably excited about the cafe? I wondered if I should ask, but I held myself back instead.

We reached the location of the building, which was three stories tall. The aroma of the coffee beans and cocoa filled our nostrils as the scent filled the area. 

We entered the building. A cling! sounded as we opened the door, which I noticed was a small bell by the door, which seemed convenient to me.  

As I entered the space, my eyes widened slightly. The area was filled with students—both upperclassmen and lowerclassmen—mingling together. I thought I might go deaf from the loud conversations that filled the room. Most students gathered around tables, chatting boisterously with coffee cups in hand or sitting on the tables beside them. Some students stood with friends, sipping their beverages, while others were alone, engrossed in their school-issued phones or lost in thought, gazing at something or staring into space.

I steeled myself and navigated through the bustling crowd, with Miku and Reina following closely behind. As I weaved past the students, my eyes were drawn to a striking figure sitting alone at the far corner at the end of the room. With her legs elegantly crossed, she sipped from a steaming mug, her gaze fixed on the world outside. Her smooth, dark chocolate skin exuded a tranquil beauty that captivated the eye. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow against her complexion, as if nature itself were celebrating her presence. Her long black hair flowed effortlessly, framing her face, and she wore the upperclassman uniform with an air of effortless grace.

My, what beauty.

She glanced at me for a slight moment, then glanced back to the outside through the window, remaining calm and serene. Damn. 

As we reached the end of the room, there was an elevator.

"Want to check out the building?" 

"Okay," Reina said.

"Fine. lets" Mika pouted softly. slightly exasperated.

There were three clearly marked buttons for each floor, alongside a mysterious blank button positioned below the third-floor button. This unmarked button stood out, intriguing and inviting curiosity, leaving one to wonder about its purpose and significance.