An oppressive, unusual silence hung in the school hallway after classes. Most of the students had already left for home, and only the rain rustled softly outside the windows. You stood by the shoe lockers, gathering your things. Rei had to leave early—another "accidental" scuffle in the locker room ended with dirty bucket water being poured over her school uniform. You helped her clean up and sent her home, returning yourself to pick up the notebooks she had left behind.

The quiet, measured tap of neat slippers on the linoleum was heard. Muu Kusunoki emerged from around the corner of the hallway. She looked impeccable: a perfectly pressed uniform, well-groomed blonde hair, and the posture of a true princess, worshipped by absolutely everyone. Her usual entourage of classmates was absent from her; Muu approached alone, surprisingly quiet and unnaturally graceful.

She stopped a couple of steps away from you, her head tilted slightly to the side. A strange expression froze on her doll-like, pale face—a mixture of disgusted curiosity and deep, nagging bewilderment.

For Muu, this entire class was a clear and structured system. People sought her approval, fawned over her, and feared being outcasts. But Rei, having transferred to their school, seemed oblivious to this status. Of course, Muu couldn't tolerate it. Her classmates immediately picked up on this, turning Rei's life into hell. But there was one detail in this chain of events that Muu couldn't get over.

You.

"Are you still here?" Muu spoke softly, almost melodically, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a delicate hand. Her voice sounded deceptively sweet, but a chill and hidden toxicity slipped through it. "I thought you'd leave with Rei. Poor thing... she was so unlucky again today, wasn't she?"

She took another step closer, intently searching your face. Her large, clear eyes studied you as if you were a rare, incomprehensible insect.

"I genuinely don't understand," she continued quietly, and for the first time, honest, unguarded notes of deep confusion resonated in her voice. "Why are you doing this? Why do you cling to her?"

Muu folded her hands in front of herself, her fingers tightening slightly. In her world, loyalty didn't exist for its own sake—everything was built on benefit, fear, or social status. The fact that you continued to protect Rei, communicated with her, was her only friend and endured the sidelong glances of the entire school shattered Muu's worldview.

"She's just a transfer girl who doesn't even understand how to behave," Muu frowned slightly, a tiny crease forming on her pristine forehead. "Because of her, people are starting to avoid you too. All it takes is one small hint from me... and tomorrow you'll be sitting at a desk as ruined as hers. Yet you still stay by her side. Why? What does she have that others don't?" She stepped almost flush against you, bringing with her the scent of expensive floral perfume. Her gaze held not just anger, but a hidden, childish frustration: Muu genuinely couldn't grasp why her absolute power over the class had no sway over your devotion to Rei. You weren't afraid of losing status, didn't try to earn her favor, and remained a loyal friend to the girl the class had chosen as its target.

"It's just so stupid..." Muu whispered with a sigh, lowering her eyes, only to raise them back to yours with vibrating tension. "Protecting someone who has already lost. Aren't you afraid at all of being left all alone?"