"Yes, Isana-kun, that's exactly why it bothers me."
Megumi's voice was quiet and easy — the kind that was easy to miss if you weren't already paying attention. She looked at Ren with something between relief and disbelief. "I genuinely didn't expect you to notice me. Nobody else in the room did."
She'd been watching carefully during introductions. When her turn came, not one classmate had turned to look at her — only their homeroom teacher. And the teacher had moved on so quickly, Megumi wasn't entirely sure Rina-sensei had fully registered her either.
Ren had not only noticed her but seemed to have spotted something specific about her talent. That was new.
"My situation is a bit unusual," Ren said simply. "Anyway — it's nice to meet you, Kato-san."
The corners of Megumi's mouth curved upward, barely. "Nice to meet you too."
At least I won't have to be lonely. It was a small thought, but it settled warmly. Back at her old school, the people who noticed her could be counted on one hand, and most of them were teachers. Ren was the first actual classmate to actively start a conversation with her.
While they were talking, Yukino — who'd been facing forward, ostensibly minding her own business — turned around.
She'd caught Ren's description. Curious despite herself, she focused — really focused — and after a moment of genuine effort, managed to register the girl sitting directly behind him.
Her expression went blank for a half-second. What kind of ability is this? Without conscious effort, she'd had absolutely no sense that person was there. The girl was sitting right there, and Yukino had treated the seat as empty for the last twenty minutes.
"Hello," Ren said, noticing her attention.
Yukino pulled herself back into the moment. "Hello," she replied, and turned around.
That was it. Ren didn't push for more. Based on what he remembered, her personality in this world was probably a close match to the source material — pleasant company if you didn't force it, genuinely hostile if you did. He wasn't about to play that game.
Their corner settled back into silence. Ren pulled out his phone and resumed scrolling through technique tutorials.
Elsewhere in the classroom, several of their male classmates had made attempts to introduce themselves to Yukino and been efficiently dismissed. Word was quietly spreading: the beautiful girl was not approachable.
Lunchtime arrived without much ceremony.
As the bell rang, Ren stood up, glanced at Megumi, and offered: "Kato-san, you just transferred. Want me to show you the cafeteria?"
She looked up. "You don't mind?"
"It's on my way."
"Then — thank you, Isana-kun." She started gathering her things.
On an impulse, he turned to Yukino as well. "You're coming? You and Kato are both from the Sakura District — good chance to actually talk."
Megumi looked at Yukino with mild surprise. She noticed me too? That was unexpected.
Yukino paused — just slightly — then reached for her bag. "Fine."
They walked downstairs together: Ren in front, the two girls a step behind, already beginning to murmur to each other in low voices. By the time they reached the cafeteria, Ren had apparently completed his appointed duty as tour guide and was no longer needed in the conversation.
He didn't try to insert himself. They'd just met. That kind of comfort took time.
At the cafeteria entrance, they split to get food. Ren grabbed a tray, found a table, and had barely sat down before both girls appeared across from him with their own trays.
Megumi slid a bottle of water across the table toward him. "Here."
Ren paused. The small expectation in her eyes was quiet enough that declining would've been awkward. He took it. "Thanks."
The three of them ate in silence. No one forced conversation. It was companionable rather than uncomfortable, the particular peace of people who don't feel compelled to fill every second with noise.
Ren finished first — by a significant margin.
He capped the water bottle, stood up with his tray, and said, "Take your time. I'll head out."
He was already gone.
Behind him, Megumi watched the empty space where he'd been sitting. "Do boys always eat that fast?"
"Apparently it's normal." Yukino considered the question with unexpected seriousness. "Also, I think he was a little awkward sitting with us. We only just met."
She'd noticed the slight stiffness in him during the meal — nothing offensive, just the ordinary discomfort of being outnumbered by strangers. She could relate to that well enough.
Megumi thought about it and nodded.