The beginning of a new academic year always brought a different kind of energy to the school.

The elite girls' high school was one of the most prestigious schools in the area. Only girls studied there, and the students came from families who could afford to send their daughters away from home for a better education.

Just thirteen minutes away from the school stood a large student dormitory, almost like a condominium. Many students lived there because studying at such a prestigious school meant leaving their homes and staying close to campus.

The new Grade 10 session had finally begun.

It was a bright morning.

The school bell rang loudly through the building.

Ring! Ring!

Students rushed through the corridors, talking excitedly about the new session. Some were looking for their classrooms, while others were catching up with their friends.

But then, something strange happened.

The noise slowly faded.

A girl was walking through the corridor.

She walked with confidence, her long ponytail moving gently behind her. Her uniform was perfectly neat, and a student-council badge was attached to her chest.

There was a warm smile on her face.

Her name was May.

As she walked past the other students, several girls began whispering.

"That's May."

"She's from the student council."

"She always looks so perfect."

Although many girls talked about her, very few dared to approach her directly.

May continued walking until she noticed someone ahead.

"Siri! Wait for me!"

The girl turned around.

It was Siri, May's close friend and roommate at the dorm.

May hurried toward her.

"Why are you walking so fast?" May asked.

Siri laughed.

"We're going to be late."

May glanced at her and then remembered something.

"Did you lock our room properly?"

"Of course I did," Siri replied. "Don't worry."

The two girls continued toward their classroom.

After a moment, Siri suddenly remembered some news.

"Oh, by the way, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"A new student is joining our school."

May's eyes showed a little curiosity.

"A new student?"

"Yes. I heard she's special admission."

"Special admission?"

Siri nodded.

"I don't know much about her. I only heard that she's here because of photography."

May smiled slightly.

"Photography?"

Before Siri could explain more, they reached the classroom.

May entered and waited while the other students gradually made their way inside.

She had no idea that the new student they were talking about was about to become the person who would turn her school life upside down.

The First Encounter

May stood in the corridor, waiting for the remaining students to enter the classroom.

She wasn't in any particular hurry.

Then—

Someone came rushing down the corridor.

The girl was moving so quickly that she didn't notice May standing in front of her.

Thud!

She stumbled into May.

May looked down.

Her shoes were dirty.

For a moment, she simply stared at them.

Then she slowly raised her eyes toward the girl.

The girl looked surprised too.

"I'm sorry," she said.

May frowned.

"Sorry?"

The girl nodded.

"I didn't see you."

But May was already irritated.

"Look at my shoes!"

The girl looked down again.

"I know. I'm sorry."

But instead of accepting the apology, May began criticizing her.

"You should watch where you're going! What kind of person runs through the corridor without looking?"

The girl didn't seem frightened.

She simply stared at May.

"I already apologized."

May's eyebrows furrowed.

"And you think saying sorry fixes everything?"

The girl's expression changed.

She clearly wasn't going to stand there and listen to May insult her.

"Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

That sentence was enough.

The argument became louder.

Neither girl wanted to back down.

Students began gathering around them.

Then, before anyone could stop them, the argument turned into a fight.

They grabbed each other's hair.

"Hey!"

"Look!"

"They're fighting!"

The students began cheering and shouting around them.

May's reputation was quickly going downhill.

And among the crowd, one girl seemed especially happy.

Lamp.

Lamp had always disliked May.

She couldn't stand seeing May receive attention, respect, and praise from everyone.

So watching May lose her temper in front of everyone was almost entertaining for her.

She smiled as the fight continued.

"Go on, May," Lamp muttered under her breath.

But the fight didn't last long.

A stern voice suddenly echoed through the corridor.

"STOP!"

Everyone went silent.

The vice head of the school had arrived.

Both May and the other girl immediately stopped.

The vice head looked at them with disbelief.

"What exactly are you two doing?"

Neither girl answered.

"Both of you. Come with me."

The Office

The two girls stood silently in front of the vice head.

The vice head looked directly at May.

"May, what were you thinking?"

May lowered her head.

"You are a student-council member. Is this how you are supposed to behave?"

May felt embarrassed.

"I'm sorry."

The vice head sighed.

"Why are you behaving like a child?"

May didn't answer.

"I'm giving you a warning," the vice head continued. "If you don't behave properly from now on, I will take this badge away from you."

May immediately looked at the badge attached to her uniform.

Her expression fell.

She had worked hard for that position.

She didn't want to lose it.

Then the vice head turned toward the other girl.

Her expression suddenly became different.

"Oh..."

She looked at the girl's information.

"You're the special new student."

The girl nodded.

"Yes."

The vice head smiled.

"Your name is June, right?"

"Yes."

"I heard you were specially admitted because of your photography skills."

June nodded again.

"That's right."

"We're very happy to have you here. I hope you'll do well."

May looked at June.

So this was the new student Siri had been talking about.

June.

The girl who had ruined her shoes.

The girl who had argued with her.

And the girl who had just gotten her into trouble on her very first day.

May looked away.

June did the same.

Neither of them knew that this would not be their last argument.

It was only the beginning.

Same Classroom

After leaving the office, May and June returned to their classroom.

The teacher was already standing at the front.

"Everyone, settle down."

The class became quiet.

The teacher smiled.

"Before we begin today's lesson, I'd like to introduce someone."

June stood beside her.

"This is June. She is our new student. Please make her feel welcome."

The students looked at her curiously.

Some whispered among themselves.

May sat beside Siri and watched silently.

Siri leaned toward her.

"That's her."

May gave her a look.

"I know."

The teacher continued introducing June before pointing toward the empty seats.

"You can choose a place for now."

June looked around the classroom.

Then she walked toward the back.

She sat down on the last bench.

May watched her for a moment.

She couldn't explain why, but something about June irritated her already.

Perhaps it was the argument.

Perhaps it was the way June hadn't been intimidated by her.

Or perhaps it was simply because their first meeting had gone completely wrong.

May turned toward the front of the classroom.

She had no idea that the girl sitting quietly at the last bench would soon become one of the most important people in her life.

And June?

She had no idea that the confident girl she had just fought with would become impossible to ignore.

By Midnight_Bloom

The next morning, May sat beside Siri in their classroom, quietly talking about the previous day's incident.

Siri glanced at her.

"You really fought with the new student on her first day."

May rolled her eyes.

"She started it."

"You two both started it," Siri corrected.

May was about to answer when the teacher walked into the classroom.

"Everyone, settle down."

The students quickly returned to their seats.

The teacher placed her books on the desk before looking around the classroom.

"Today, we're going to change your bench partners."

The classroom immediately filled with murmurs.

May looked confused.

"Why?"

The teacher smiled.

"It's a school rule. Whenever a new student joins the class, we change the bench partners so that the new student doesn't feel awkward and gets a chance to make friends."

The students began whispering excitedly.

The teacher continued explaining the system.

"Everyone will receive a number. Students with matching numbers will become bench partners."

The number slips were passed around the classroom.

Everyone checked their numbers.

Siri looked at hers.

"Looks like I'll be sitting with someone else."

May sighed.

"So I'm losing my bench partner."

Siri laughed.

"Don't worry. You'll survive."

May looked down at her own number.

Five.

She glanced around the classroom.

"Who has number five?"

No one answered.

May looked around again.

"Seriously? Who has number five?"

Still nothing.

She became increasingly frustrated.

"Where is number five?!"

Some students began laughing.

May stood up and started looking around the classroom.

Then she noticed someone sitting at the back.

June.

She was completely asleep.

May walked toward her.

"Hey."

No response.

May looked at June's desk.

There was a small number slip sitting there.

5.

May's eyes widened.

"You've got to be kidding me."

June was her bench partner.

May didn't even bother arguing with fate.

She picked up her belongings and walked toward June's seat. She tried to move her things closer to June and shift into another position on the bench.

Just then, June slowly opened her eyes.

She looked at May.

Then she looked at May's belongings.

Her sleepy expression immediately disappeared.

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

May looked at her.

"I'm sitting here."

"Why?"

"Because we're bench partners."

June stared at her.

"No. Get out of here."

May crossed her arms.

"I will not."

June frowned.

"I don't want to sit with you."

"Do you think I want to sit with you?"

Their voices quickly became louder.

The entire class turned toward them.

Some students started laughing.

Others whispered excitedly.

It seemed that the rivalry from yesterday had already returned.

Siri covered her face with her hand.

"Here we go again..."

May and June continued arguing while the whole class watched them like they were enjoying a free show.

Neither of them realized that this ridiculous bench arrangement would bring them much closer than either of them wanted.

---

The Dorm

That evening, May and Siri returned to their dorm.

The dormitory was only a short distance from the school, and students often returned there after their classes and activities.

May and Siri lived on the third floor.

As they were walking toward their room, they discovered something they hadn't expected.

June was going to live in the same dorm.

On the fifth floor.

May stared upward.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Siri laughed.

"Looks like you can't escape her."

May shook her head.

"This is getting ridiculous."

Over the next few days, May began noticing something.

June often returned to the dorm late.

She was usually busy with photography sessions and practice, which meant she sometimes came back long after the other students had already returned.

One evening, May suddenly had an idea.

A mischievous smile appeared on her face.

She looked at the extra room key she had.

Then she looked at June's key.

An idea came into her mind.

A prank.

May quietly swapped her extra key with June's key.

She couldn't help smiling.

---

2:00 A.M.

Later that night, June finally returned to the dorm.

She walked toward her room, exhausted after her photography practice.

She inserted the key into the lock.

It didn't work.

She tried again.

Nothing.

June frowned.

"What?"

She tried several more times, but the door wouldn't open.

It was already very late.

She couldn't wake the dorm manager at that hour.

So, with no other choice, June sat down outside her room and waited.

Eventually, exhaustion took over.

She fell asleep sitting there.

---

Meanwhile, on the third floor, May woke up in the middle of the night.

She was thirsty.

Still half-asleep, she got out of bed and went to get some water.

Then she suddenly remembered something.

The keys.

May's eyes widened.

"Oh no..."

She had forgotten that she had swapped June's key.

She hurried upstairs.

When she reached the fifth floor, she looked down the corridor.

There was June.

Still sitting outside her room.

And she was asleep.

May froze.

She stared at her.

For a moment, the mischievous feeling disappeared.

She felt guilty.

"Oops..."

May quietly walked toward June.

She carefully took the key and returned it to June's hand.

Then she unlocked the door as quietly as possible.

She made sure not to wake her.

After opening the door, May stepped back.

A few moments later, June slowly woke up.

She looked around sleepily.

Then she noticed that her door was open.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh, thank goodness."

She quickly stood up and went inside.

May watched from a short distance away.

A small giggle escaped her.

She quietly returned to her own room.

As she climbed into bed, she couldn't help smiling at the thought of her prank.

And soon, she fell asleep.

Neither May nor June knew that their little rivalry was slowly becoming something much more complicated.

By Midnight_Bloom

The next morning, May stood in front of the mirror, getting ready for school.

As always, her uniform was neat and perfectly arranged. She fixed her long ponytail and attached her student-council badge carefully to her chest.

She looked at herself one last time before picking up her bag.

"Siri, I'm going to school."

Siri, who was still getting ready, waved at her.

"Okay! I'll come afterward."

May nodded and left the room.

She walked downstairs and stepped outside the dormitory.

For once, she hoped the day would be peaceful.

Unfortunately, luck had other plans.

As May walked along the road, she noticed a large puddle of water nearby. She deliberately stayed away from it and continued walking along the other side.

Then—

SPLASH!

A bicycle suddenly passed by the puddle.

Dirty water flew through the air and landed all over May's uniform.

May froze.

She slowly looked down at herself.

Her neat school dress was now covered in muddy water.

She looked like a duck that had just fallen into a puddle.

"WHAT?!"

The girl riding the bicycle didn't even realize who she had splashed.

She was listening to music through her earphones.

She stopped for a moment, looked back, and said,

"Sorry!"

Then she continued riding away.

May's eyes widened.

She recognized the voice.

"JUNE?!"

But June had already gone.

May stood there, staring at her ruined uniform in disbelief.

"That girl!"

She was furious.

She quickly hurried toward a nearby tap and tried washing the dirty parts of her dress.

But the stains wouldn't come out.

May looked at the time.

Her eyes widened.

"I'm going to be late!"

She grabbed her things and ran toward school as fast as she could.

---

The Late Arrival

When May finally reached the school, she was already late.

Unfortunately, the teacher was standing at the entrance, checking the students' uniforms.

The teacher looked at May.

Then looked at her stained dress.

"May!"

May stopped.

"Yes, ma'am..."

"What happened to your uniform?"

May lowered her head.

"I... had an accident."

The teacher frowned.

"You're a student-council member. You should be setting an example for the other students."

May clenched her fists.

She was already furious.

And now she was being scolded because of something June had done.

Her anger toward June grew even stronger.

---

The Photography Hall

Later that day, students had gathered in the school hall.

Some were dancing.

Some were singing.

Others were helping with different school activities.

At one side of the hall, June was busy working on a large photography project.

She was completely focused on her work.

She had no idea what was coming.

May entered the hall.

In her hand was a bottle filled with water.

But it wasn't ordinary water.

May had mixed ink and water inside it.

She had only one thought in her mind.

Revenge.

She spotted June.

A mischievous but angry expression appeared on her face.

She walked toward her.

Lamp noticed May approaching June.

She immediately understood what May was planning.

A perfect opportunity had appeared.

Lamp quickly went to inform the principal.

"Ma'am, you should come to the hall."

Soon, the principal arrived.

May didn't notice.

She walked straight toward June.

"June."

June looked up.

"What?"

May didn't answer.

She suddenly splashed the ink-water mixture all over June's dress.

The entire hall went silent.

Everyone stared.

June looked down at her ruined dress.

Then she looked at May.

May stood there, still angry.

But before either girl could say anything, the principal stepped forward.

"May!"

May's expression changed.

She turned around.

The principal looked extremely disappointed.

"What are you doing?"

May's confidence disappeared.

"Ma'am..."

"You are a student-council member, yet you continue behaving like this!"

May remained silent.

The principal shook her head.

"I have warned you before."

The students watched silently.

Then came the words May had feared the most.

"From today, the student council for this new session will be led by Lamp."

May's eyes widened.

"What?"

"I'm taking this badge away from you."

The principal removed May's student-council badge.

May stood frozen.

She couldn't say anything.

Her eyes dropped toward the floor.

Around her, whispers began spreading through the hall.

"Did you hear?"

"May lost her position."

"Lamp is going to be the student council now."

May could hear everything.

But she didn't respond.

She simply stood there, ashamed and hurt.

June watched her quietly.

For the first time, she didn't feel victorious.

She felt bad.

---

After Everyone Left

By evening, the school had become quiet.

Most of the students had already gone back to their dorms.

May sat alone on the stairs.

Her head was lowered.

The student-council badge was no longer attached to her uniform.

Siri eventually found her.

"May..."

May looked up.

"Come on. Let's go back."

May didn't answer immediately.

She simply stared ahead.

Siri gently called her again.

"May."

Finally, May stood up.

But even as she walked away with Siri, the events of the day remained in her mind.

The argument.

The ink.

The principal.

And most painfully—

the loss of her student-council badge.

Meanwhile, somewhere else in the school, June was thinking about May too.

Their rivalry had started as something almost ridiculous.

But now it had gone too far.

And neither of them knew what would happen next.

By Midnight_Bloom