"Oh."

"Hi! Shion!"

The redhead's cheerful greeting was accompanied by a little wave. 

"Hello...Elinka." I awkwardly paused midstep, only shuffling closer to the girl when someone brushed against my back while passing through the double doors. The bustling lecture hall didn't do much to drown out my startled thoughts.

Why is she standing here? Class is about to start! I came late just to avoid her but what is this?

I uncomfortably loosened my tie before promptly retightening it, still fumbling with it when I finally responded to her beaming smile. "Why are you standing near the entrance? Where's your partner?" 

Her grin changed as she gave a small shrug, her green eyes looking up at me after flitting down to my tie. "He said we should enter the class together today, since we're partners. I think he mentioned something about it being 'good luck'." 

I made a sound of understanding, finally forcing a stop to my tie fiddling after the heroine took a couple more peeks. "You agree with him? About it being good luck?" 

My mind unconsciously drifted off to Augustus's expression on Saturday as I scanned the classroom, my gaze ultimately settling on the smiling girl in front of me.

Right...'good luck' in what exactly?

"Well," Elinka chuckled shyly, her briefcase bouncing against her knees, "It seemed like it made him happy, so I can agree with him."

"That's nice of you." I nodded at her surprised look, then shot a polite smile and tilted my head at the rows of chairs, "Then, I'll go take a seat now."

The protagonist stuttered half a word, although I pretended not to notice as I speedily turned away. 

Please let me go, please let me go, please let me go...

Unfortunately, I wasn't let go; my feigned ignorance only gifted me five steps before I was startled once more. 

"Sh-Shion!" 

A gentle tap to my arm stopped me, my head swiveling to see the heroine's red cheeks and disconcerted brows. 

"Shion," she repeated, moving her hand to push a strand of hair behind her ear, "Actually, I was wondering whether we could sit together today?" As if feeling my oncoming rejection, the young woman didn't give me time to speak and swiftly continued on, "It's just-, I'm just nervous, you know? For the presentation. I think having a friend at my side would really help. And I didn't have time to find many other friends...."

A friend? 

I wasn't exactly sure what I felt at the word, although confused incredulity was probably the most obvious emotion. Still, watching the embarrassed girl rapidly blink and switch her gaze between me and something over my shoulder - all while rambling on - softened that feeling just enough to have me waver. And that waver, of course, lead to the inevitable. My hand clenched over my briefcase, a tiny sigh left me, and one single word escaped my lips: 

"Okay."

"....so I just thought that it would- What?" Elinka's dialogue jolted to a stop, the protagonist giving me a wide-eyed stare. "'Okay?'" 

"Okay."

She didn't say anything for a few seconds, her astonished countenance unchanging. Then, as if straight from the pictures of the game, her lips rose up, pearly teeth flashing and eyes joyfully squinting as she gave me a sweet smile. 

"Okay!" 

***

"Elinka! Thank you for waiting!" The prince approached with a laughing greeting, showing off a confident grin. He glanced at me, facing the heroine once more before doing a quick double-take and observing me again. The guy came to a stop at the redhead's side, hands in his pockets, his examining eyes pausing on the ring on my pinky. "Sorry, I don't recognize you. You are?" 

"Shion Maliki." I forced a thin smile as I outstretched my hand. 

"I asked her to sit with me, for comfort." Elinka's explanation was followed by an upbeat titter. 

"Ah," The blonde's grin imperceptibly weakened as he shook my hand, smoothly introducing himself, "My name is Augustus Ervinhart. Nice to meet you." 

Doesn't seem like it. 

"Likewise."

Augustus looked away, his perfect expression returning as he faced Elinka and outstretched an arm to gesture at the hall. 

"Shall we?"

"Sure!"

The duo went first, the golden boy swiftly jumping into conversation with the protagonist. The young woman mirthfully nodded along, peeking back at me once in a while as we made our way to one of the front rows. 

Everyone must be really nervous today - Augustus's presence didn't cause a commotion like it usually does. I guess it's not surprising, considering the stakes. 

My eyes shifted from the prince's back as he slowed and nodded at the two people sitting near the edgemost seats. 

Yeah, it's not surprising to be nervous today. It's completely natural, Shion. Completely natural to be nervous right now.

"Hello, Elinka," Yohan's polite greeting took a monotonous tone. "Who's this?" 

Augustus responded before I could, first offering Elinka an empty seat at his side as he gracefully plopped down next to love interest #2. 

"Her name is Shion Maliki. She's Elinka's friend."

"Nice to meet you," I gave a cordial little bow and sat down, glancing at the black-haired girl sitting by Yohan. The villainess, however, barely paid me any mind, her eyes trained on the redhead at my left for a beat too long. 

"Ah," Yohan's mask flashed as he peered at Augustus, who only gave a subtle shrug. 

Hey, hey, I know I'm no heroine, but I still have my own pride.

The masked eccentric seemed to contemplate something, a few moments passing before he looked at me again. "I suppose I'll introduce myself. My name is-," 

A loud series of clicks interrupted his introductions, my attention snapping to the front. A rather disheveled-looking Freyda was hurrying to the podium, her bun just a tad untidy and a pocket on her briefcase unclasped. 

"I apologize for my tardiness, class." The principal cleared her throat, the hall descending into silence as she reached the podium. She unpacked her briefcase, pulling out various folders and binders and what looked to be a stick of lipstick, then grabbing the latter and shoving it back into the bag's pocket. "Something unexpected came up. Moving on: I hope you all are aware that today is the day of your presentations. Half of you will present today, and half tomorrow." Her red lips formed a wrinkled smile, something that, when paired with her serious bespectacled gaze, was not welcoming at all. "I hope none of you relied on the possibility of presenting a day later than the due date, as I will be calling up groups randomly." Then, as if to prove her point, the old woman lifted up a hollow, tubular object, making a show of shaking it and then daintily pulling out...a wooden stick with something written on it. 

I practically felt the lecture hall's tense and icy atmosphere melt a degree.

Popsicle sticks. How...

"...Fancy." 

A quiet giggle briefly broke through my thoughts, causing me to look at the girl at my left. Elinka's green eyes twinkled as she studied me, and if I didn't know better I would've called her current expression a bit teasing. 

"I know, it's also not what I was expecting!" she whispered. 

"Oh?" I perplexedly muttered back, barely paying any mind to Freyda's subsequent announcements. 

Did I say something out loud?

"Now then! When I call your names, please come to the front. You may either use my laptop or your own and connect it to the projector...."

I carefully pulled my phone out of my chest pocket, unlocking it and sending a short text. I distractedly noticed that the room's lights had been dimmed. 

"Are you prepared?"

"So, the first group: Brittany Ji and Aarav Sankruth! Keep in mind that your ten minutes will begin the moment your presentation is projected."

It wasn't long until my phone screen lit up, displaying an equally short response. 

"Yes"

My eyes traced the letters until the screen faded back to black, the two presenters beginning their presentation with loud and boisterous voices. 

Is he only a machine gun in person? Or does he just dislike me? Though, it's perfectly reasonable for him to dislike me.

"Stop." 

The order wasn't particularly resounding, but it was enough to freeze the air. It seemed like everyone - even Augustus - was gawking at the old principal, who was now standing cross-armed by the wall. 

"Yes?" One of the presenters - the girl with a neon hairclip - answered skittishly. 

"What is this presentation about?" 

Clip girl peeked at her partner, who anxiously mirrored her expression as his smile shook. 

"W-well, it's about the history of King Edrin's reign and his impact-"

"Enough. Next!" 

"What?" Clip girl's question ended in a high-pitched squeak. 

"You did not follow the prompt. Please return to your seats. Next!" Principal Freyda didn't seem to notice the pair's dumbfounded looks as she casually sauntered up to the podium, pulling out another damning popsicle stick and naming the next victims. 

Clip girl and her partner eventually left the front of the hall, their presentation switched with the next pair's. The class moved on, but the ambiance had morphed, twisting into a strained, hushed icicle that pushed down on everyone's souls.  

"This is...," 

"...terrifying," I finished Elinka's muted commentary, a warm exhale noiselessly sweeping past my lips. 

I wasn't going to be the one speaking, but my presentation had become that much more intimidating. 

A/N: Thanks for reading and commenting! Thoughts?