Yuzuru Nishimiya tensed up instantly.

In a flash, she entered full combat mode.

"Senpai, I bet you get really good grades at school, right?"

"Not really."

Damn it, damn it, damn it! Why does she have to say something so modest with such a calm and serious expression that it ends up sounding like she's actually top of the class?

This girl, who practically breathes expensive air, has the face of a model student and yet she's just as much of a slacker as I am?

But even if she is a slacker, Yuzuru, who had made it her mission since childhood to protect her older sister, suddenly felt like she'd just met her lifelong rival.

After switching seats, she ended up sitting next to the younger Nishimiya tiny, wary, and watching her like a hawk.

Yukino quietly wondered how Haruno would handle a situation like this, and tried to simulate her sister's approach.

Kids are always hesitant to open up. Haruno wouldn't ask something like, "Is there anything you don't understand?" outright.

She'd just naturally steer the conversation where she wanted it to go cutting off hesitation before it even had a chance to form.

"Math for second-year middle school…" Yukino tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, leaned in slightly, and glanced down at Yuzuru's workbook. "Oh, you're on this chapter already?"

She made a thoughtful face. "It's been a while since I reviewed this stuff... I've forgotten a lot of it."

Yuzuru's eyes lit up. She quickly pointed to the hardest problem on the page. "This one! I don't get this one at all!"

Yukino furrowed her brow. "Yeah… this one is tricky."

Of course it's tricky!

She'd spent forever on it without making any progress. It was the ace of nightmare-level questions!

Feeling smug for scoring a point, Yuzuru peeked sideways only to see the senpai beside her quietly working out the problem on a scrap of paper, her expression troubled. Then Yukino gave a soft, almost surprised, "Hmm."

"I think I've got an idea how to solve it…"

No way. Don't bluff now, Senpai!

And yet this problem that had completely stumped Yuzuru was eventually solved, though not without a show of effort.

"…That had to be a fluke. Try this one instead!"

Yukino looked even more serious now. "This one… might be harder."

"You're not going to back out now, are you, Senpai~?"

"This is tough…"

"If you can't even solve this, how could I possibly call you my sister?"

"If I do solve it, then you'll have to call me your sister."

So when Mrs. Nishimiya got home from work, the first thing she saw was her usually guarded and distant second daughter, cheeks puffed out in frustration, being head-patted like a kitten by a complete stranger.

"Senpai-sis is cheating! You're way too good at this!!"

"I'm not. I got crushed by over thirty points on the last mock exam."

"And what was your rank on that test?"

"First."

"You are cheating!!"

The unfamiliar girl's face remained calm as she took notes with one hand and gently rubbed Yuzuru's head with the other.

It looked just like she was coaxing a grumpy kitten who didn't dare fight back.

As Mrs. Nishimiya entered the room, Yukino stood up to introduce herself but the tiny one darted forward and beat her to it.

"Mom, this is my big sister's senpai from school! She's super amazing she ranked second in the entire grade!"

Even though Yuzuru had looked like she was about to explode earlier, she seemed to have taken quite a liking to her senpai after all.

Yukino gave a polite bow. "I'm Yukino Yukinoshita, a second-year student at Sōbu High. I was asked by the school to come by and check in."

She explained further: "Since Nishimiya-san just transferred into Sōbu High, the school's concerned about how she's adjusting. They wanted to make sure she's doing okay, and to see if there's anything she needs."

"Sorry for the sudden visit, Mrs. Nishimiya."

Mrs. Nishimiya had just come home from work and looked exhausted, but she welcomed Yukino warmly and even brought out some fruit she'd sliced up.

"For Shouko to get into Sōbu High, she's already received a great deal of support from both society and the school. I think it's better for those welfare resources to go to students who need them more."

She sat down and rubbed her calves with a tired smile. "I believe Shouko will adjust just fine to her new school life."

Yukino paused, momentarily speechless.

Meanwhile, the little one had scurried to her mother's side, as if she'd found her protector and escaped the clutches of her tormentor. She stuck out her tongue and made a face at Yukino.

When she didn't get a reaction, she quickly ran back over.

"Senpai-sis, what's Sōbu High like? It must be pretty amazing, huh?"

Just then, Shouko brought out the food from the kitchen and quickly interjected, "Sōbu High is amazing! Everyone's really nice right, Senpai?"

Yukino stood to help her set the dishes on the table.

She fell silent for a moment, lips pressed into a line, before softly replying, "Yes… Sōbu High is a great school. Everyone's really friendly."

Dinner at the Nishimiya house was simple and homey: pan-fried fish, vegetable soup, beef curry, and omurice.

"Sorry the food's a bit plain, Senpai…"

"It's already more than enough." Yukino picked up her chopsticks and, like everyone else, placed her hands together. "Thank you for the meal. I'll begin."

Dinner was quiet and peaceful but Yuzuru, who'd been pouting moments ago, had become rather chatty.

"Senpai-sis, Sōbu High must have tons of clubs, right?"

"There's a photography club."

"I I wasn't even asking about that!"

"Then that's all there is."

"Hey!"

Which earned her a gentle flick on the forehead from her mother. "Don't be rude to your senpai!"

"But she was the one being mean first!"

After dinner and a few more polite exchanges, Yukino stood and bowed.

Nishimiya Shouko walked her to the door and said quietly, "Thank you very much… Senpai."

But Yukino shook her head. "No I should be the one thanking you, Nishimiya."

"Huh?"

"I've always known the world has a lot of unfair things in it. And that feeling of helplessness is something I couldn't shake."

"But now… I think I know where to start."

Shouko looked up. The senpai who stood at the top of Sōbu High's social pyramid beautiful beyond words was bathed in the fading dusk light, her features blurred into something almost divine.

"All those lies I just told about Sōbu High… Before your little sister takes the entrance exam, I'll make them come true."

"Nishimiya, everything you went through won't happen again at our school."

And as the day sank into the deep hush of twilight, with no sun or moon in sight, Shouko stared at the girl before her.

It felt as if, right here on this very earth, another radiant sun or perhaps a moon had risen just for her.

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