The school courtyard buzzed with students, their chatter and laughter mixing with the hum of the air-conditioning from the classrooms. Hana Daidaiyama leaned against the second-floor balcony railing, her phone in one hand, fingers tapping rhythmically across the screen. Sunlight caught the streaks of pink and yellow in her golden hair, making them shimmer as she glanced down at the crowd below.

A boy tripped over his backpack strap, sending books tumbling to the ground. Hana’s lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile. She didn’t move, didn’t call out, but she lingered long enough to see the reaction, tilting her head to catch every detail. A soft laugh escaped her throat, quiet enough that no one below noticed.

Some girls walked past, whispering and giggling about a meme Hana had already seen hours ago. She flicked her hair over one shoulder, scrolling to the next notification, and her eyes caught the reflection of a forgotten notebook on the steps. She reached for her phone, snapping a quick picture, and slid it back into her bag with a faint smirk.

Below, the courtyard carried on oblivious, while Hana’s gaze stayed sharp, observing patterns and small slips, calculating the next moment worth noticing. When someone’s gaze flicked up toward her, she smiled politely, tilting her head just so, before returning to her phone, as if nothing had happened.