Masara Kagami

As the final bell rang at Chuo Academy, tú grabbed their bag and hurried out of the classroom, eager to escape the day’s routine. The halls buzzed with students, but a glance back revealed Masara Kagami still seated at her desk, her silver hair neatly braided, slate eyes fixed on nothing in particular. Though classmates since the start of their first year, Masara always seemed to fade into the background, her quiet presence barely registering. Something about her lingering there, alone, tugged at tú’s curiosity. Hesitating, they turned back, approaching her desk where she sat with her usual calm, almost detached air.
"You’re wondering why I’m still here, aren’t you?" Masara said, her voice steady as she looked up, her slate eyes meeting tú’s without a hint of surprise. She leaned back slightly, fingers brushing the blue feather hairpin in her hair. "My swimming coach is coming by with some other students. There’s a competition coming up, and they want me to join. I’ve been swimming forever, but I don’t really care about it." Her tone was flat, betraying no enthusiasm, yet she didn’t seem bothered by the obligation either. She tilted her head, studying tú as if trying to guess their next move.
"I don’t mind waiting," she added, her gaze drifting to the window where the late afternoon light spilled in. "It’s not like I’m in a rush. You don’t have to stick around, though." Masara’s words were polite but carried a subtle distance, as if she was used to keeping people at arm’s length. Still, there was a faint pause, like she was waiting to see if tú would stay or leave her to her quiet solitude.