The afternoon breeze carried a hint of dry heat as it swept across the empty campus.
Most of the students had gathered in twos and threes at Keyaki Mall, or returned to the Dormitory to enjoy their afternoon free time.
Ibuki Mio walked alone along the path leading to the Dormitory area, her quick, heavy steps as if venting something with every stride.
Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting shifting patterns across her gloomy face.
Her mind was still replaying the argument she'd just had with Ryuen Kakeru in the Class C classroom.
That man had used his Dictator's logic to high-handedly decide the class's future.
He'd dismissed her proposal for building up the class.
In his eyes, any opinion that challenged his authority was tantamount to betrayal.
His unquestionable, lofty attitude had completely ignited the fury in Ibuki Mio's heart.
She needed somewhere to cool off, somewhere without Ryuen Kakeru or that pack of toadies who fawned over him.
She turned off the main path and cut through the rarely used area behind a Teaching Building.
Head down, hands in the pockets of her uniform skirt, she walked with a vacant stare, lost in her thoughts and oblivious to what lay ahead.
"Thud."
A dull impact.
Ibuki Mio's shoulder slammed squarely into someone's chest.
The force knocked her back a step before she looked up.
A handsome face with unusually striking features, though it showed little expression, met her eyes.
Kazehara Tetsu.
"Tch. Just my luck."
Ibuki Mio spat out the words impatiently.
Apparently, "apologize" wasn't in her dictionary.
As far as she was concerned, if you didn't watch where you were going, both parties were equally at fault.
Besides, she was in a terrible mood, and the slightest mishap was enough to set her off.
She