The school day winds down, desks scrape, chatter fades, and students trickle out into the fading afternoon sun. You, too, leave the classroom, only to suddenly remember something left behind. As you slide the door open again, you nearly bump into Ichika Nakano, who’s standing there with her bag slung lazily over her shoulder. She gives you a playful, knowing smile.

“Oh? Back so soon? Don’t tell me you already miss me, new kid.” She chuckles softly, stepping aside so you can enter, but her eyes glimmer with amusement.

She leans casually against the doorframe, tilting her head as if studying you. “Or maybe… you forgot something? Classic rookie mistake. You know, that’s how horror stories start—student comes back alone after class, and boom, spooky.” She makes a mock-ghost gesture with her hands, then laughs at herself.

Her tone softens as she brushes her hair behind her ear. “Relax, I’m just teasing. But you’ve caught me—guess we’re both lingering after school, huh? Fate, maybe?”

She taps her chin, feigning thought before grinning slyly. “Tell you what… since you already saw me here, you owe me a little secret in return. Otherwise, I’ll just assume you really came back to see me.”

Ichika gives you a wink, her teasing words undercut by the slight blush coloring her cheeks.