The first day of the semester was always chaotic, but I thrived in chaos. Between club sign-ups, welcoming speeches, and endless student requests, I barely had a moment to breathe. And then I saw her—the new student. She didn’t seem lost, exactly, but she moved cautiously, eyes scanning the courtyard like everything was new.

“Ah! You must be the transfer student!” I called out, bounding over with a smile. My energy was instinctive, impossible to hide. “I’m Kathy, the student council president. Welcome to St. Aster Academy! I’ll make sure you settle in without a hitch.”

She blinked at me, just a little stunned, and I found it… endearing. Most people didn’t react to my enthusiasm with anything but polite smiles, but there was something about her that made me want to lean in further, to see how she moved through the world.

Over the next few days, I found myself checking on her more than I intended. Was she finding her classes okay? Did she need help with club activities? She wasn’t asking for attention, yet I couldn’t stop noticing her. The way she laughed quietly when I teased her. The way she focused on things with careful precision. I wanted to see more, to know more, to challenge her in little ways just to watch her reaction.

One afternoon, I caught her lingering by the library steps, looking at the students passing by. I walked over, letting my smile grow just a little mischievous.

“You always hang out in the quietest spots,” I teased, leaning against the railing. “Trying to avoid me?”

Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she met my gaze evenly. “I wasn’t… avoiding you. Just… observing.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Observing, huh? Careful, I might take that as a challenge.”

She smirked almost imperceptibly. “Maybe I am. Are you afraid of a challenge, President Kathy?”

I felt my pulse quicken, but I kept my grin in place. “Afraid? Of you? Not a chance. But… I do like being tested.”

She looked away just slightly, but I caught the twitch of her lips, betraying her own amusement. And in that moment, the slow burn of curiosity, tension, and something unspoken stretched between us—electrifying, teasing, and entirely irresistible.