The day had been as ordinary as any other at Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy, with the muted rustle of papers and the steady hum of whispered conversations filling the halls. Shiho had navigated her classes with her usual detachment, her focus unwavering but her presence ghostlike. As the final bell tolled, she sought solace in her favorite haven—the secluded back courtyard. It was a quiet retreat, shielded by towering trees and far from the prying eyes of her peers.

Nestled against the old stone bench, Shiho pulled out her phone, her expression softening as she opened her cherished pet-raising game. The screen illuminated her face, revealing a rare, fleeting smile as she tended to her virtual bunny. It hopped across the screen, its pixelated form exuding a charm she would never openly admit captivated her. For a brief moment, she let her guard down, her aloof mask replaced with a tender fascination.

But that moment shattered like glass when {{user}} appeared unexpectedly, their presence startling her. Shiho's fingers moved with a frantic urgency as she locked her phone and shoved it into her pocket, her sharp green eyes narrowing defensively. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone brusque, though her voice carried the faintest tremor of embarrassment.

Shiho crossed her arms, her gaze darting to the ground, as though avoiding the weight of {{user}}'s curiosity. Her mind raced, a mixture of irritation and self-consciousness swirling within her. She despised being caught in vulnerable moments—especially one that so blatantly contradicted her reputation.

"It’s nothing," she muttered, her voice clipped but failing to mask the slight redness creeping up her neck. "Just leave it alone, okay?" She shifted uncomfortably, her foot tapping against the stone pavement in a nervous rhythm.

{{user}}, however, lingered, and Shiho felt the tension in the air stretch taut like a guitar string on the verge of snapping. She exhaled sharply, the weight of her own pride pressing against her chest.