#nare

Mikage Reo knew that wasn't true. Of course she did-she was the top student of her class after all. Just because some stupid motivational video said it, the science wasn't undone.

The odds were infinite- endless like stars that shone in the sky, uncountable like the grains of sand that stuck between her toes, and never-ending like the money flowing from her trust fund.

"Greed" was a foreign concept to Reo. Having been born in a family that could single-handedly fund the entirety of Japan for the next 10 years or so, she was raised in a place where all her wants were answered immediately. As a result, those "wants" could never turn into "needs", now that her family's travesty had bled through her bones.

Her 'family', yes, a bond that could only be talked about in a sardonic tone, or in a formal setting for namesake. There was nothing "familial" about what went on inside the ominous setting of the Mikage Penthouse, which towered over Tokyo with its head held high in pride.

All this talk about pride, when her own parents refused to look her in the eye after she confessed to finding comfort in women, finding love in a way nobody in her family had ever before.

The word 'disappointment' fell like a burden on her shoulders at an age when having fun and exploring life was the norm. No- after all that they had done for her, she couldn't let them be disappointed in her, even it wasn't truly her fault.

So Reo decided to be the best version of herself- uptight, organized, and always busy. At least that way, she could fit somewhat inside the mould her parents had carved out for her, even if it wasn't perfect.

That way, at least she could take her mind off the pretty girl in school ..right?

Nagi Seishiro was far from a perfect student. She was messy, unorganized and her supplies looked like they had been sucked into a chaos void. And somehow that chaos void had also managed to suck in Reo Mikage's infatuation.

Nagi's snowy hair fell over her droopy eyelids, which were drooping in response to the prolonged math class on Monday. She shifted from a sitting position to finally sprawl her limbs across the wooden desk, yawning.

Reo looked over to the lazy female, who was clutching her desk like a koala.

Awww, that's kinda adorable.

Wait if Mr. Nakamura catches her she's dead meat.

"Pssst, Nagi if you fall asleep Mr. Nakamura's gonna call your mom again."

Nagi in her usual fashion turned her face to the side slowly and answered "Perfect."

'"Perfect?! Nagi, your mom's gonna be mad at you"

"My mom never calls me anyway, so win-win for me ..eh" Nagi said slowly, scratching her head.

"Oh" Reo said, clearly dumbfounded by the sudden confession and looked slightly guilty too.

Nagi noticed and sluggishly rose up from the desk in response. She dragged her hand over to the side of Reo's braid, tucked in a stray strand of hair and said

"Don't worry your pretty head about it...it's fine."

Shocked and flustered, Reo looked away, the wildfire-like blush spreading across her cheeks to her ears betrayed her when Nagi proceeded to say

"You're turning kind of red ... are you okay ?"

"Yep, yep, I'm okay, totally o-okay." Reo replied in a hurry

"What a hassle.."

Reo Mikage stood as the anti-thesis to all the principles that Nagi Seishiro promised to adhere.

Hardworking? Check

Motivated? Check

Determined? Check

Willing to solve hassles? Check

Everything Nagi Seishiro stood against- yet she couldn't help but be curious about her. What exactly drove her to be so excited about everything?

When her eyes went wide like saucers, those purple gems gleaming like they got hit by the first ray of sunrise.

'Ugh, what a hassle.' Nagi thought to herself.

But she couldn't help but feel a small tinge of ....something... when a classmate got too close too Reo.

Before she knew it, her arm had already grabbed Reo's elbow and was tugging towards the exit.

"This is a hassle.....let's just leave." Nagi said in a lazy tone

"Wha-Why so suddenly?!"

"Because....um..." Nagi struggled to formulate an excuse when she looked outside the window and saw the other students leaving for the sun festival.

'Wait .... the sun festival-Perfect'

"Uh..because we'll be late for the sun festival."

"Since when do you care about that?"

"Does it matter? Let's just go."

"Fine- have it your way"

Reo agreed to rendezvous with Nagi on top of the hill overlooking the city- a view words were not enough to describe.

Waiting on the hill, she heard the familiar crunch of worn out leather boots and looked back to see Nagi waving from down the path towards her.

And - "Wow..." was the only sound Reo could mutter as she saw Nagi in a creamish-teal colored yukata. Her fluffy hair was tied up in an updo topped with a lilac flower as the shorter strands fell on her face, framing her as a sort of delicate winter flower.

She looked ethereal to say the least.

"Nagi, you-you're all dolled up and you look sooo beautiful ! All the boys are gonna have their eyes on you now!! We need to find you a potential boyfriend now!

"No.. no, we don't." Nagi replied shortly

"Wha-Nagi-"

"I said I don't want a boyfriend..I-I just want you."

"Ha, nice joke there. But I'm-"

"It's not a joke."

She grabbed both my shoulders and met my eyes in a focused stare.

"I like you, Reo."

Her eyes were sparkling as she said it. Pupils dilated, and she was close enough that her breath fell against my lips.

Wait

'She likes me!'

'She likes me back!'

'Oh'

'She likes me back.'

'The flashbacks of every fight I'd ever had with my parents played across my vision like a horror I didn't ask for.'

Disappointment. Can't be a disappointment.

"Nagi... I-I ...well-"

"It's okay Reo, you don't have to say anything. I don't care you don't like me back-I just wanted to get it off my chest because .....it's a hassle."

'No , no I like you too Nagi .'

'Why's my stupid mouth screwed shut?'

'Why can't I tell her I like her back?'

'When will I grow a fucking spine?'

Yet her eyes were still watching Reo, albeit now they were glassy from ... well, Reo didn't want to know exactly what.

"See you tomorrow, Reo" she said as she let go of my shoulders and started walking downwards the hill, her yukata blowing through the wind and the lilac flower bobbing against her head.

"Na..gi" Reo muttered, watching her go, water started circumsising her tearline, threatening to open the flood gates with one more sob.

Tomorrow never came. Nagi Seishiro suddenly switched schools to everyone's surprise.

And Reo, well, she dealt with it- just like she always did. Business always had its ups and downs and she'd have to get used it.

But Nagi wasn't business- she was never business.

Every conversation, every piggyback hallway ride, every stupid joke about the teachers, every stolen glance, every accidental touch was something imprinted in Reo's mind- a time-bound treasure whose effect was still there.

Reo finally learnt what it meant to need something- to need "affection" and the greed for it.

So yeah, lightning might strike the same person again.

But true love doesn't.