A Day Without Disruptions

Reina sat at her workstation, the soft hum of machinery and the faint scent of chemicals filling the air. The glass beakers, filled with various experimental liquids, reflected the glow of her lab's overhead lights. For once, she wasn't rushing to complete an experiment or solve a complex equation. Today, she had made a decision—one that was rare in her ever-busy life.

Today, she was going to avoid trouble.

Recently, her once-quiet life had become far too lively for her liking. It all started when her intelligence was finally acknowledged by the entire school, and since then, things had spiraled out of control.

First, there were the two temporary students she had been forced to teach under the principal's orders. Then, the chaotic three-day school festival. Himari getting lost for the first time on campus. The unfortunate spill of her research. Her unexpected run-in with the cooking club president, Masaki. And countless other incidents that seemed determined to drag her into social interactions she hadn't asked for.

But not today.

Today, she had planned a simple, peaceful day—one where she could focus on her own work without unnecessary disruptions.

She took a slow sip of her black coffee, relishing in the silence.

And then—

Knock. Knock.

Reina's eye twitched.

The door creaked open slightly, and a familiar face peeked inside.

Himari.

Reina didn't move a muscle. She simply turned her head, her dark, piercing eyes locking onto her friend in a way that made it clear—she wanted peace.

Himari stiffened instantly.

Her instincts told her to retreat.

And so she did.

She slowly stepped back and gently closed the door without saying a single word.

For the first time in a long while, Reina felt satisfied.

She turned back to her desk, taking another sip of her coffee.

The Gazing Incident

Unbeknownst to Reina, the atmosphere around her had begun to change.

Her expression—while neutral to her—was seen as something entirely different by those around her.

It wasn't intentional, but the way she looked at people today carried an intimidating weight, like a queen surveying her subjects with cold, analytical eyes.

One by one, her classmates—those who had once started to grow comfortable with her—attempted to talk to her throughout the day.

And one by one, they all backed away in fear.

Himari, Ayumi, Hana, Kaito, and even Hiro—all of them tried.

But the moment they met Reina's unwavering gaze, something deep within them told them to abort mission.

Even the students who admired her brilliance found themselves whispering from a safe distance.

"She's really beautiful, but… she's terrifying today."

"Do you think she's angry? Did something happen?"

"No one make eye contact. We might die."

Of course, Reina didn't hear any of this.

To her, she was simply being neutral.

Masaki's Second Encounter

At lunch, Reina walked through the quiet hallways, feeling relieved that no one had approached her.

Then—

BUMP.

She felt it again. The familiar weight of someone colliding into her.

Her gaze shifted downward.

Masaki.

The cooking club president.

The boy who had caused one of her biggest chemical mishaps.

Masaki had been moving in a hurry, but the moment he realized who he had bumped into, he froze.

The last time this happened, he had thought Reina would kill him on the spot.

But now, as he looked up—

Those eyes.

They weren't angry.

They weren't annoyed.

But they felt… otherworldly.

As if he was an insect standing before something far beyond human comprehension.

His brain told him to move. To say something. To apologize.

But his body refused to cooperate.

For a full five seconds, Masaki remained completely still, like a deer caught in headlights.

Then—he bowed deeply.

Masaki: "S-Sorry, Reina!"

And without another word, he ran.

Reina blinked.

She had only looked at him.

Why did he run?

Oh well. Not her problem.

The Cookie Couple

Later that afternoon, as Reina sat on a bench near the school's garden, a cheerful couple approached her.

They were both students she had seen before but had never spoken to directly.

In their hands, they held a small plastic container filled with homemade cookies.

Boyfriend: "Hey, Reina! We made these cookies and wanted to share some!"

Girlfriend: "We thought you might like to try them!"

Reina's first instinct was to politely reject them and return to her quiet time.

But then—

She noticed their expressions.

They weren't just offering her cookies.

They were genuinely excited to share them with her.

For some reason, she didn't have the heart to turn them down.

So, awkwardly, she accepted the container with both hands.

She picked up a cookie, inspected it briefly, and took a small bite.

…It was better than expected.

For a brief moment, she considered giving a detailed critique of its texture, sweetness levels, and ingredient balance.

But instead, she swallowed and gave the simplest, most straightforward compliment she could think of:

Reina: "It's edible."

Silence.

The couple exchanged wide-eyed glances.

And then—

They beamed with joy.

Boyfriend: "She complimented it!"

Girlfriend: "Oh my god, Reina said our cookies are edible! That's amazing!"

They looked so unbelievably happy that Reina started to feel like she had said something incredibly significant.

…Had she?

She was just trying to say something nice.

Before she could question it further, the couple waved goodbye and left.

Reina stared at the container in her hands, slightly puzzled.

She had meant to compliment them, but had she actually done it?

Oh well. Not her problem.

She took another bite.

The End of the Day

As the school day came to a close, Reina finally felt at peace.

No one had asked her for homework help.

No one had dragged her into an unnecessary conversation.

And best of all—no chaos.

It was a perfect day.

She stretched her arms as she returned to her lab, feeling truly relaxed.

Just as she settled into her chair, she heard another familiar knock.

The door opened.

Himari stepped inside.

This time, she wasn't hesitant.

Himari: "Are you done relaxing?"

Reina leaned back slightly, exhaling deeply.

Reina: "Yes."

But this time—unlike before—her voice carried a tone of satisfaction.

Himari smiled.

She had a feeling today had gone exactly the way Reina had wanted.

And honestly?

That was enough.