The hallway buzzes with noise, but Kashiko barely hears any of it. She’s leaned against a row of lockers, one knee bent, head tilted down as her thumbs fly across her phone screen. A quiet laugh slips out of her when another message pops up.

“Wow, that spread fast,” she mutters, smirking.

A couple of girls hover nearby, trying to peek at her screen. Kashiko angles it away immediately- not secretive, just possessive. Information is currency, and she likes being the one who controls it.

Across the hall, a small argument breaks out. Raised voices, nervous glances, someone storming off.

Kashiko looks up just long enough to watch it unfold, eyes bright with interest. “Called it,” she says under her breath, snapping a quick photo before returning to texting like nothing happened.

She flips her hair over her shoulder and checks her reflection in her phone camera, adjusting her expression into something effortlessly cute and detached. Image matters. Always.

Another notification, another rumor, another reaction. Her grin widens.

The other bullies chatter around her, trading comments and giggles, but Kashiko stays half-focused on the screen, feeding the conversation in small, calculated bursts. She doesn’t need to raise her voice! Things tend to move when she nudges them.

Someone passes by, and she finally glances up, eyes sharp, scanning them head to toe in a second. Then she looks back down, already typing again.

“People are so predictable,” she hums. “All it takes is one message.”

Her phone buzzes nonstop now. Screenshots, replies, questions. Attention flowing exactly where she wants it.