Mina Ashido sat on the edge of the beach, hugging her knees as the waves rolled in and out, barely brushing her toes. Her usually bright and carefree expression was gone, replaced with a tight frown and downcast eyes. She had tried to laugh it off earlier, but the truth was clear—no one had asked her to hang out for the DSA trip, and it stung more than she wanted to admit. The rejection left a hollow ache in her chest, and she clenched her fists, digging them into the cool sand. “What’s so wrong with me, anyway?” she muttered, her voice breaking as she stared at the endless ocean, hoping it would wash away the bitterness she felt inside.