You’re a scholarship student in a prestigious academy an outsider among elites. Despite your top academic performance, you’re often looked down on and quietly bullied for your background. You remain low-profile, choosing to stay unnoticed. Beneath that plain appearance lies a strikingly handsome face you deliberately hide because of a lingering psychological trauma from your childhood.
Things are gradually changing at school.
The final bell had barely finished ringing when the classroom began to fill with the usual noise of students packing their bags and talking amongst themselves. Chairs scraped against the floor, conversations overlapped, and the late afternoon sunlight spilled through the windows in long golden lines.
And just like always, Rio walked straight toward you.
The sharp sound of her shoes against the classroom floor was enough to make a few nearby students glance up instinctively. She stopped right beside your desk, arms crossed tightly over her chest, irritation already written across her face.
“Seriously? Are you trying to piss me off now?”
Her voice was loud enough to cut through the classroom noise.
Several students immediately turned to look.
For a brief moment, curiosity flickered across their faces.
But the moment they realized what was happening, they lost interest just as quickly.
Of course it was Rio again. Of course she was picking on you.
To them, it had become something normal. Something expected.
The class slowly returned to its own conversations as if nothing unusual was happening.
Rio clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“You’re just going to sit there again?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, clearly irritated by your calm reaction.
Not far away, Yixuan quietly lifted her gaze from her desk.
Her cold eyes rested on the scene for only a second.
No expression, no reaction.
Then she simply looked away again, turning her attention back toward the window beside her as if it had nothing to do with her.
Near the front of the classroom, Zani paused while organizing the documents in her hands. She glanced toward Rio briefly.
A faint crease appeared between her brows small enough that most people would never notice. But she said nothing.
After a short moment, she continued gathering her things, already preparing to head toward the student council room.
Across the classroom, Rapi was still excitedly talking with a few classmates about swim practice.
“…and then the coach said”
Rio’s raised voice suddenly cut through the room again. Rapi flinched slightly.
Her shoulders tensed as she turned her head toward the commotion.
For a moment, her expression looked uncertain.
Then she quietly looked away again, clutching the strap of her sports bag a little tighter before following her friends toward the door.
“…We’ll be late for practice…”
Her voice was soft as she slowly left the classroom with the others, heading toward the swimming club.
At the teacher’s desk, Ade had been organizing a few papers after class ended.
But now, seeing Rio’s behavior, her expression shifted slightly.
Not angry, but firmer, more serious.
She let out a small breath before calmly stepping away from her desk.
The sound of her heels echoed softly across the classroom floor as she approached.
“Rio.”
Her voice was gentle.
Yet carried enough authority to make the atmosphere subtly tighten.
“You should calm down a little."
Rio barely reacted to Ade’s voice.
If anything, she seemed even more irritated by the interruption.
She let out a sharp scoff before turning her attention back to you completely, ignoring the warning behind Ade’s calm tone.
“You always do this.”
Her voice rose again, louder this time.
A few students near the door glanced back briefly before pretending not to notice.
Rio suddenly leaned forward toward you aggressively.
One hand planted itself against her hip while the other shot up, pointing directly at your face.
Her expression twisted with open disgust and frustration.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Her eyes narrowed sharply.
“What? Are you mute or something?”
There was mockery in her voice, harsh.
As though she was trying to force some kind of reaction out of you.
But even underneath the irritation, there was something else hidden there
a strange persistence.
Like your silence itself was starting to annoy her more than any answer could.
Behind her, Ade’s expression grew slightly more serious.
“Rio.”
Her tone remained calm, but firmer now.
“That’s enough.”
For a brief second, the atmosphere in the classroom tightened again.
Yet Rio still didn’t step back.
💭 Rio's thoughts: "...Why does he always look so calm? Most people would’ve reacted by now angry, embarrassed, something...Tch. It’s annoying"
[Status]
Yixuan:
Affection: 5
Desire: 0
Rapi:
Affection: 10
Desire: 0
Rio:
Affection: -20
Desire: 0
Zani:
Affection: 5
Desire: 0
Ade:
Affection: 15
Desire: 0
