New Friend, New Partner

Still the same day. After their brief encounter in the bathroom earlier, the girl Lindsey had rescued invited her down to the school canteen on the floor below. The place buzzed with students in matching uniforms moving in every direction.

"Awm~ nom~ nom~" came the sound of the girl chewing.

"Eat up..." she said, sliding the food she'd just bought across the table toward Lindsey, who sat opposite her.

Lindsey said nothing. She just sat there with her eyes lowered, genuinely unsure of what to say. The girl leaned in a little. "Hello...?" she murmured, waving a hand in front of Lindsey's face.

"Huh? Oh! I — I'm not really into sweet food," Lindsey said suddenly, waving her hands in the air.

"Oh, really? Then just order something else!" the girl replied with enthusiasm, speaking through a full mouth.

Lindsey glanced off to the side. "I can do that?" she murmured, lacing her fingers together.

The girl nodded once. "Of course you can!" she said brightly.

It seems like... she doesn't remember me, Lindsey thought, studying her face.

After that, Lindsey got up to order something and came back to sit across from her again.

"So... your name is Lindsey?" the girl asked, tilting her head.

Lindsey nodded while chewing, then swallowed before answering. "That's right. And you?" she asked.

"I'm Alicia Bern," the girl answered, placing a hand on her chest with a confident little voice.

"Just call me Alicia," she added, flicking her hair back.

"Awm~" Lindsey took a bite. "Alright, alright," she murmured, nodding along.

"By the way — are you sure you're paying for all of this?" Lindsey asked, just after swallowing.

Alicia sat back up. "Of course! Don't worry about it," she said, waving it off.

"Think of it as my way of saying thank you," she added, her tone warm and reassuring.

"Awm~" Lindsey nodded. "Okay then," she replied simply, still chewing.

"You know... I've always had a weak body. I get sick easily," Alicia said, dropping her gaze with a sad expression.

"So I couldn't fight back against them," she continued, lifting her head to look at Lindsey.

"That's why I'm really glad you showed up when you did," Alicia added, tilting her head with a small smile.

Lindsey's cheeks went faintly pink. "I-it was nothing," she said quickly, blinking a few times.

"I don't want to be a burden to anyone..." Alicia continued, clenching her fist on the table.

"...So I want to pay you back, somehow — whatever it takes!" she said, gripping the hem of her skirt tightly.

Lindsey glanced at her sideways between bites. No question about it... she thought.

"You don't have to go that far..." Lindsey replied in a quieter tone, reaching over and covering Alicia's clenched hand with her own.

"I-I can't help it! I don't want to be a burden!" Alicia said, her voice jumping up a notch.

Lindsey tightened her hold gently. "Alright then — be my friend. That's enough," she said in a calm, steady voice, looking at Alicia with a warm smile.

Alicia's eyes went wide. "Oh... okay," she said slowly, blinking a few times.

"By the way — were you looking for your classroom just now?" Alicia asked, studying Lindsey with her head tilted.

Lindsey gave one nod without saying anything, her mouth too full to speak.

Alicia glanced around, humming softly. "Hmm... what class did you get?" she asked, leaning a little closer.

Lindsey reached into her pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper with her name and class assignment printed on it.

Alicia took it and read it over. "Oh! We're in the same class!" she said, her face lighting up.

"We'll sit together, okay!" she went on, bouncing slightly in her seat.

Lindsey responded with a nod.

After finishing up at the canteen, right as the bell rang, Lindsey and Alicia walked together in search of their classroom. They eventually found it on the second floor.

"Oh — are we late?" Alicia murmured, sliding the classroom door open.

A girl with short white hair came up to them. "Are you both in Class 1-F?" she asked, tilting her head.

Alicia nodded right away, enthusiastic as ever. "That's us!" she answered.

"Great! Then let me introduce myself — I'm Lucy Rosaline," the white-haired girl replied with a friendly smile, extending her hand.

"Oh! I'm Alicia Bern," Alicia said, pointing to herself. "And this is Lindsey," she added, gesturing behind her.

Lindsey dipped her head once. "Got it — I'll remember that," Lucy said warmly.

After that, Lindsey and Alicia were shown to their seats. They chose a spot still open in the corner beside the window — and of course, they sat together.

Lindsey looked around the room. "Thirty-two students in one class..." she murmured.

From what I've heard, Class F is the lowest-ranked class in the school. But since this is an elite school, it makes sense that there's still a hierarchy, she thought.

That's probably also why that girl was being bullied earlier, she continued in her head, glancing sideways at Alicia, who was already chatting away with the student beside her.

"Huh~" Lindsey exhaled.

"I just wanted a quiet life, and they go and enroll me in a place like this," she muttered, turning to look out the window.

For now, I suppose I need to think about what to do with Rita next...

---

# Flashback — Two Days Ago at the Houdoug Residence

One afternoon, Ryuu stopped by the unit where Lindsey was staying.

"Good afternoon, Lindsey!" he called out, walking in with a wave.

Lindsey, who had been lying on the sofa, lifted her head and turned. "Oh! Afternoon," she replied.

"Want to come over to my place now? My sister's there, and she says she wants to meet you," Ryuu said, tilting his head and extending a hand.

Without thinking twice, Lindsey nodded. They got into the car and drove to the Houdoug residence, which wasn't far.

When they arrived, Lindsey climbed out and walked slowly inside. Rita came out of the bathroom almost immediately and made a beeline for her — still damp, wrapped in nothing but a towel.

"Wow, so you're Lindsey!" Rita said, eyes sparkling as she grabbed both of Lindsey's hands in a firm grip.

Lindsey jolted. "Y-yes..." she answered, caught off guard.

"You're so adorable! I've always wanted a little sister!" Rita continued, pinching Lindsey's cheek.

Then she let go and turned around. "Because you're cute, I'll forgive you for yesterday," she added breezily, already heading toward the staircase without looking back.

Lindsey stood in silence for a moment, blinking a few times, before walking over to the sofa and sitting down.

"Have you two met before?" Ryuu asked, looking at Lindsey.

"No," Lindsey said casually, raising her shoulder — a clean, effortless lie.

A few minutes later, Rita came back down the stairs and jogged over to Lindsey on the sofa, dropping into the seat across from her.

"I heard from Dad that you're quite sharp — aren't you?" Rita started, resting her chin on both hands, elbows on the table.

"Not particularly," Lindsey replied briefly, chewing something in her mouth.

"Hmm..." Rita hummed in a teasing tone. She leaned forward toward Lindsey. "But I know your secret," she said, pressing one finger to her lips.

"My secret?" Lindsey asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rita gave a single nod. "That's right! I'm sure you haven't told Ryuu about this yet... that you were the one who put a stop to the..." Rita began — but stopped when Lindsey's hand suddenly closed firmly around her shoulder.

"Alright. What do you want?" Lindsey asked, releasing her grip slowly.

Rita smiled faintly. "Come on... can't we at least make a little small talk first?" she replied, raising her shoulder with a playful air.
Lindsey shook her head. "Unfortunately, I don't have time for that," she said flatly, one eyebrow lifting.

Rita sighed. "What a shame..." she murmured, raising her shoulder.

"Well then — I want you to be my partner... Lindsey!" Rita said, leaning forward.