If there was an award for the most hopeless student in class, I would probably fail that too.

My name is Mina Kurose, and unfortunately, my grades are living proof that effort doesn't always equal success.

Yep, that's me.

You might be wondering why I'm saying this, so let me explain.

I have studied day and night for as long as I can remember. I don't know what it's like to watch the latest movie premiere, follow the new J-pop idols debuting next week, or spend hours doing things normal teenagers enjoy.

Because apparently, my life was created for one purpose.

Studying.

I've been doing it for eighteen years, and do you know what I have to show for it?

An F.

I still remember the day my teacher asked me to solve for X.

I stared at the question for five whole minutes.

"Find X."

Who was X? Why were we looking for him? What did he do?

It wasn't my fault the question was unclear.

So I told my teacher to ask the person she recently blocked for cheating on her.

Her ex.

Before you judge me, hear me out.

I didn't know.

But somehow, that moment earned me a permanent place at the bottom of the class rankings.

A VIP seat reserved just for me.

I still don't understand how I made it to my final year of high school.

But one thing is certain...

I am special.

I giggled to myself.

"Mina! Hurry up, you're going to be late! And stop talking to yourself. I wonder when you'll finally get a friend."

That's my mother.

"I used to be the beauty queen of my school, you know."

"Okay, Mom. I get it."

I've heard that story a million times.

But anyway...

I'm late.

I grabbed my bag, hopped onto my bicycle, and headed to school like I always did.

Head down.

Not because I was ashamed, but because I didn't want to bother anyone.

The bell rang just as I entered the classroom.

Perfect timing.

Ms. Yuri walked in with our test papers and started calling out the results.

I already knew mine.

Another F.

Or at least, that's what I expected.

"Mina Kurose... D."

I froze.

A D?

I looked at my paper like it was a miracle.

I did it.

My hard work was finally paying off.

I was still the girl who sat by the window, writing random thoughts in the margins of my notebooks...

Especially thoughts about him.

Ren Akiyama.

The golden boy of our school.

The person everyone admired.

And my first love.

Of course, someone like him would never like someone like me.

That was impossible.

Until that day.

After Ms. Yuri left the classroom, I heard a voice.

"Mina."

My heart stopped.

Ren Akiyama was standing in front of my desk.

"Can I borrow your eraser?"

An eraser.

He wanted my eraser.

It wasn't exactly a romantic moment, but for someone like me, it felt like a scene from a movie.

Everyone stared.

Then, before I could say anything else, Ms. Yuri returned.

"I almost forgot. We have two new students joining our class."

The door opened.

"Hello, my name is Yuna Shimizu, and this is my twin brother, Kaito Shimizu. Let's all be friends."

She smiled.

And for some reason...

It felt like the whole classroom became brighter.

After introducing themselves, Ms. Yuri told the twins to find their seats before leaving the classroom.

There were plenty of empty seats.

So imagine my surprise when Yuna Shimizu walked straight toward me.

"Can I sit here?"

My face probably looked like I had seen a ghost.

Was she serious?

It was obvious I was the person everyone avoided. Even Nia, the second-top student in class, had already warned her.

"She's a creep."

"Hello? I don't like that," I said.

Then I pointed at myself.

"But she's not completely wrong. I might steal your things and never return them."

I smiled proudly.

"And just so you know, my grades are terrible. I have a VIP seat at the bottom of the rankings."

"So... is this seat taken?"

I blinked.

"After everything I just said?"

Yuna nodded.

"It's not taken."

"Great!"

She sat beside me like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Then she pulled out a paper from her bag.

"Look at this."

I looked down.

My eyes widened.

"No way... you got a D in your transfer exam?"

She laughed.

"Yep. I'm not that good either."

"After years of studying?"

"Exactly."

"No way. Me too."

For some reason, I smiled.

People stared at us.

They weren't used to hearing me talk this much.

Sure, I answered people when they annoyed me, but having an actual conversation?

That was rare.

"Can you show me around the school during lunch?" Yuna asked.

"I don't know this school either."

"Oh right. Then I should introduce you to my brother, Kaito."

She pointed toward the back of the classroom.

"He's really smart. People say he's handsome too, but I don't see it. He's just annoying."

As if he heard her, Kaito looked over.

For a second, our eyes met.

And my heart stopped.

It felt like a god had just looked directly at me.

"No."

I quickly looked away.

"I can't fall for someone else. That's cheating, right?"

I nodded to myself.

"Yes. Definitely cheating."

---

The math teacher, Mr. Eugene, entered the classroom.

Math.

My greatest enemy.

I was already bored.

I turned slightly and noticed Yuna eating snacks.

She felt me staring and turned around.

"Want some?"

"Huh?"

"It helps me concentrate. Try it."

She smiled.

"My mom said if I don't graduate and get into college, she'll take away my makeup room."

She sighed.

"So my solution is simple. Eat good food and maybe my brain will work."

I stared at her.

"That's... a lot to take in."

The teacher suddenly coughed.

"Anything you want to say should be said in front of everyone."

I froze.

"Seriously?

I only said a few words.

Meanwhile, she had been talking the entire time."

"She's new," Mr Eugene said and continued.

"She doesn't know the rules yet and then you should have told her the rules."

"She did.That's why she spoke up."

Mr Eugene looked at me.

"It won't happen again, teacher. She was only explaining."

I was stunned.

She defended me.

Someone actually defended me.

"Very well. Mina, you may sit."

I gave the teacher a small glare before sitting down.

A few minutes later, Yuna pushed her snack box toward me.

"Try it."

I accepted.

Not because I wanted it.

Definitely not.

Because she was being thoughtful, and wasting food is wrong.

That's all.

I'm a very thoughtful person.

Turns out...

It actually worked.

I understood the lesson better.

---

Finally, lunch arrived.

The best time of the day.

One thing my mother was amazing at was cooking.

And I inherited her passion for food.

She's the cook.

I'm the person who eats the food.

I opened my lunch box proudly.

Chicken rice, tofu, buns, noodles, eggs, and sushi.

A masterpiece.

Then I noticed Yuna staring.

I swallowed.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"You're going to finish all that without sharing?"

She held up her rice ball.

"My mom said this is my diet food until I get into college."

I laughed.

"You can have some."

"Really?"

"Of course."

I moved my lunch to the middle.

The moment she tasted it, her eyes widened.

"Oh my word. This is amazing!"

"Right? My mom is the best."

"I need more!"

"Sure. I'll bring more tomorrow."

"You're the best!"

She handed me some of her seaweed rice ball.

"Try this."

I smiled.

"Thanks."

Then Kaito appeared and placed two juice boxes on our desk.

"You don't have to do that."

"You're sharing your food with my sister. It's the least I can do."

"Thanks, Kaito."

"Don't get too comfortable with my kindness."

He walked away.

For the first time in a long time...

I felt accepted.

And it was kind of nice.

But I still liked my own company more.

Right?

...Right?

So, it turns out Yuna isn't that bad.

After lunch, she spent the rest of the break fixing her makeup or whatever girls do. Personally, I think makeup is a waste of time.

Anything I don't use is a waste of time.

Period.

A few classmates gathered around our desk, suddenly interested in Yuna. She spoke in a sweet voice I could've sworn disappeared the moment she sat next to me.

Honestly, it was terrifying.

Then she announced she wanted to use the restroom.

"Okay?"

"Come with me."

I blinked.

"There are literally five other girls here. Pick one of them."

"Why would I do that? I consider you my friend."

Friend.

Did she just say friend?

"And you promised to show me around the school."

I couldn't even respond.

I just stood there while everyone stared at me like I had suddenly become the main character.

Hold on.

Is this one of those stories where the weird girl becomes popular?

Do I become the beauty queen next?

Will I abuse my newfound power?

The possibilities were endless.

Yuna snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"We're here."

I had somehow followed her all the way to the restroom building.

While she went inside, I waited outside in the hallway.

That's when I saw him.

Ren Akiyama.

Holding a basketball under one arm.

He was probably heading to practice.

I tried to look cool.

Emphasis on tried.

Instead, I nearly tripped over my own feet trying to find the perfect pose.

Why?

Why do I always betray myself when I need me the most?

Then he noticed me.

"Hi, Mina."

HE SAID HI.

TO ME.

"Hi! How are you doing?" I replied with what I thought was a charming smile.

It wasn't. I was furious and even kicked the air until I heard her voice 

"Oh my God," Yuna whispered beside me.

I nearly jumped.

"What?"

"You like him."

"What? No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"..."

"Fine! I have a crush on him! Happy?"

She grinned.

"I'll talk to him for you."

"Are you insane?!"

I grabbed her arm.

"He doesn't know, and I'd like to keep it that way!"

By the time we returned to the classroom, lunch was over and our homeroom teacher had arrived.

For the rest of the day, Yuna kept asking the same question.

"How long have you liked him?"

I ignored her.

"Months?"

Silence.

"Years?"

Nothing.

By the final bell, I had mastered the art of pretending she didn't exist.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

"Mina! Wait!"

She caught up to me outside the school gates.

"Where do you live?"

"Not your house."

For a moment, I was proud of that response.yeah you all reading no that was funny...no? Okay moving on.

She, however, was not impressed.

"Very funny."

"I know."

"I'm serious."

"I'm riding home now. We'll see each other tomorrow."

"But I want to meet your mom!"

"...Why?"

"Because I'm hungry."

She dropped to her knees dramatically.

"Please! Have mercy on a poor transfer student!"

"Get up! People are staring!"

"Only if you let me come!"

I sighed.

"Fine. Where's your bike?"

"I don't have one."

Of course she didn't.

"My driver is supposed to pick me up, but this is more exciting."

I stared at her.

Rich.

She's rich.

The signs were there all along.

"Hop on."

Surprisingly, it was her first time riding a bicycle.

The entire ride home consisted of her screaming every time we hit a bump.

---

The moment we walked into my house, my mother's voice echoed from the kitchen.

"Mina! Take this to the neighbors! They need to try my new recipe!"

"Welcome home Mina how was school"."great mum "...I greeted myself since my mum wouldn't 

"I brought a friend."

Silence.

"Is it a dog or a cat?"

"What?! No! It's a human!"

My mother stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Mom, I am capable of making friends."

"Debatable."

"Mother!"

"Hi, Mrs. Kurose!" Yuna said with a bright smile.

My mother froze.

I heard something metal hit the floor.

"Oh my goodness..."

She slowly pointed at Yuna.

"You're real."

"I've been trying to tell you that!"

"Sit! Sit down immediately!"

Yuna sat down without hesitation.

"What would you like to eat?" my mother asked.

"Everything."

My mother gasped.

"I like her already."

"Me too," I admitted.

"Where are you going?" Yuna asked as I started backing away.

"My room."

"I'll come with you!"

There was no stopping her.

The moment she entered, she looked around excitedly.

"It's so cute!"

"It's tiny."

"It's tiny and cute."

"Very funny."

"I'm serious!"

Then her eyes landed on a framed photo sitting on my desk.

She picked it up.

"WAIT."

Too late.

"OH MY GOD, IS THIS YOU?!"

"It was taken years ago!"

Tiny Mina stared back at us from the frame with missing front teeth and an unfortunate haircut.

"You were adorable!"

"Give it back."

"No."

"Yuna."

"No."

Before I could wrestle the frame from her, my mother called from downstairs.

"Dinner's ready!"

The moment Yuna tasted my mother's cooking, she nearly cried.

"Mrs. Kurose, you're beautiful, talented, AND you cook like this?!"

My mother blushed.

"Oh, stop it."

"No, seriously. Can I live here?"

"See? She gets me," my mother said proudly.

I watched the two of them laugh and suddenly realized something.

This was the first time my house had ever felt this lively.

As Yuna prepared to leave, she suddenly held out her phone.

"Your number."

"What?"

"Friends exchange numbers, Mina."

Friends.

That word again.

I slowly took her phone and entered my contact information.

When she looked at the screen, she laughed.

"You saved yourself as 'VIP Bottom Rank.'"

"It's my title."

For the first time in eighteen years...

There was finally someone else in my contacts.

And somehow...

I didn't hate it.