St. Lucia's Institute for Girls is many things: regal, ridiculous, and full of contradictions. It's the kind of school where you can sip imported jasmine tea and dodge a flying shoe within the same five minutes.
I was hoping to keep my head down. But somehow, my life has become… entangled.
Specifically, with a certain group of girls from Iris House.
---
The Usual Chaos
Take Minami Tsukishiro, for example. She's our unofficial leader. Think: if chaos had a favorite child, it'd be her. Always smiling, always scheming. Her version of morning greetings involves plotting how to rearrange the school announcement speakers to blast jazz.
Then there's Chihiro Kagawa — the eye of the hurricane. Stoic. Tired. Probably has a backup plan for when Minami accidentally declares war on the vending machines again. She's the vice leader, the strategist, and the only one Minami listens to... occasionally.
Rei Tachibana, on the other hand, is what happens when charisma becomes a problem. She flirts with everyone, regardless of faction. She once got slapped and complimented in the same ten seconds. "Balance," she said.
Makoto Kurose doesn't say much. Rumors say she once punched out two seniors from both factions at once. Others say she just looked at them and they fainted. Either way, no one messes with her.
And then there's Riku Hayashi — conspiracy theorist, chaos gremlin, and my personal migraine. She's convinced there's a secret underground tunnel system beneath the school… and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised anymore.
---
The Escape
Naturally, I've tried to avoid them.
Every day I tell myself: Just walk the long way. Maybe hide in the library. Try not to breathe too loudly.
And yet somehow, I always end up back here — sitting in the courtyard, watching Minami argue with a squirrel and Riku trying to convince Makoto that she's a clone.
Because this place? It's the neutral zone.
---
A Curious Smile
There's only one thing keeping me grounded.
One face.
One moment I look forward to every day.
Right in the middle of the courtyard, just before our respective chaos begins.
Airi Shiranami.
She's always surrounded — quiet girls in Primrose uniforms trailing behind her like petals. But when she sees me?
> "Good morning, Morishita-san," she says, soft and kind.
Today, I smile a little longer before answering.
> "Good morning. You sleep okay?"
Her eyes flicker with surprise — then warmth.
> "I did. Thank you for asking. And you?"
> "Still trying to survive breakfast," I say with a grin.
And for a second, nothing else matters. The benches. The noise. Even the factions.
> "We should—"
"HEY! WHO STOLE OUR TREE BENCH?!"
We both pause.
In the background, two groups of students — one from Iris House, the other from Primrose Union — are now circling a stone bench under the largest cherry tree. Words are exchanged. So are dramatically folded fans.
> "Oh no," I mutter.
> "Again?" Airi sighs, just as a Primrose girl is dramatically pointing a hand fan like it's a weapon.
Suddenly, I feel Riku grab my sleeve. Chihiro appears behind her, arms crossed.
> "Saki. Bench war. Emergency. Let's go."
> "But—"
> "Minami just threw a donut as a warning shot," Chihiro adds.
On Airi's side, one of her classmates has stepped forward, gently tugging her elbow.
> "Shiranami-san, it's not safe. Iris House is being rowdy again."
A few other Primrose girls whisper nearby.
> "Is she talking to that girl from Iris?"
> "Why?"
Airi turns to them, calm as always.
> "It's nothing. We were just saying hello."
I want to protest — to finish our conversation — but Chihiro's already dragging me backward.
Our eyes meet one last time.
> "Later?" I mouth.
Airi gives a tiny nod before she, too, is pulled into the order of her world.
---
Queens Descend
The courtyard falls into chaos. Fan duels. Leaf-blower threats. Minami is yelling something about "territorial rights."
Then — like the eye of a storm — silence.
All heads turn.
The student council has arrived.
Three girls walk down the path like it's a runway of judgment. Their armbands gleam with golden embroidery, marking them as authority incarnate.
> "Whoa," I whisper. "Are those—?"
> "Yup," Riku says, eyes wide. "Council's here."
> "You mean like... the real council? I thought they were mythical."
> "They are," Chihiro deadpans. "And now the myths are mad."
The one in front — tall, composed, and terrifyingly graceful — steps forward.
Yukiko Saionji, the Student Council President.
"Explain," she says. Just that. One word. And the chaos freezes.
Behind her, a quiet, efficient-looking third-year — I think her name's Kozue Shiraishi — is already pulling out a notepad.
And next to them, a second-year with icy eyes and posture so perfect it looks painful — Mari Kurashiki, the Treasurer, watching everything like she's about to write a scathing report to the gods.
They don't even yell.
They just exist.
And like magic, the Primrose and Iris girls begin retreating, mumbling apologies, fixing benches and collecting fan shrapnel.
> "They didn't even raise their voices," I whisper.
> "They don't need to," Chihiro murmurs. "They're the student council."
> "Did I see a girl bow twice?"
> "You probably saw Mari glare."
> "Okay, fair."
As the last of the chaos is swept away (literally — Kozue is somehow organizing a clean-up crew mid-glare), I finally exhale.
---
That evening, the sun dips low, casting the courtyard in gold.
Airi's there again — somehow already waiting.
We sit side by side on the steps of the gazebo.
> "Did you survive the fan duel?" she asks.
> "Barely. I think I got cursed by a poem someone recited mid-battle."
She giggles.
> "And you?"
> "Just questions," she shrugs. "Apparently, I shouldn't be seen with you."
> "Scandalous," I grin.
We sit there, shoulders not quite touching.
Saying nothing.
Saying everything.
---
The Watcher
From the shadows of the third-floor balcony, Saeko Yuzuki sips her tea.
Beside her, Mika Komori adjusts her glasses, scribbling notes on a tiny pad.
> "So," Mika says. "Another fan duel?"
> "That's not the headline," Saeko hums.
> "Then what is?"
Saeko leans on the railing, eyes twinkling.
> "A Primrose darling and an Iris rogue... sharing smiles in the sunset."
She turns to Mika.
> "Mark my words. Things are about to get interesting."
---