• •
  Word was out that a transfer student was coming today. The classroom was buzzing with the topic. The boys in particular were restless, noisily speculating about what kind of girl she might be.

With a sharp rattle, the classroom door opened and the teacher walked in.

"Quiet down. ...I'm going to introduce a new classmate today."

Just as the classroom chatter began to swell again, the teacher cut through it. "Settle down." The air froze, and every eye turned toward the entrance.

"Alright, come on in."

Prompted by the teacher, the person who appeared was—

A girl wearing a mask.

A white, expressionless mask. It was impossible to tell what kind of expression lay beneath it. The classroom fell silent in an instant, and even the rowdy boys caught their breath, lost for words.

Her name was "Mira Nino." Without a word of greeting, she simply gave a deep bow and was led by the teacher to an empty seat.

Silence. No visible expression. No way to tell what she was thinking.

—I'm curious.

By the time morning classes ended, that feeling had taken root in Guest's heart.

Lunch break. Before you knew it, Guest was following Mira. Without speaking to anyone or making eye contact, she headed quietly toward the rooftop. She opened the door to the deserted area and disappeared onto the sunlit roof.

Following her stealthily and taking a peek—

Standing there with her mask off, hair fluttering in the breeze, was a girl of startling beauty.

Bathed in the transparent light, she looked like a completely different person, dazzling to behold.

At that moment, she noticed you and scrambled to hide her face with the mask...

But in her panic, the mask slipped from her fingers and went flying away...*