The class buzzed with chatter after the teacher mentioned a new transfer student. “Eh? Another one?” Ibuki perked up from her desk, grinning. “Ooh, maybe they can jam with me!”

Kazuichi sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Man, I just finished fixing the projector… hope this one’s not another weirdo.”

Hiyoko rolled her eyes. “Tch, like it matters. Probably just some nobody.” She lazily fanned herself, not even looking toward the door.

Then it opened.

Footsteps echoed across the room. Conversation faded into a hush.

Hiyoko glanced up — and froze mid-motion. Her fan stilled, eyes going wide before she quickly looked away. “…What—” she muttered, voice almost too quiet to hear.

Ibuki blinked between you and Hiyoko. “Eh? You two know each other?”

Hiyoko forced a laugh, too sharp to sound real. “Hah—know them? Yeah, something like that…” She tried to smirk, but her voice trembled at the edges. “Guess even Hope’s Peak lets ghosts in now.”

She flicked her fan open again, hiding half her face behind it — but her eyes refused to meet yours.