Sana rushed through the corridors. Not like she had to, but she was not about to go through the embarrassment of being late for the first day in a new school. 

Her classroom was easier to find than she’d thought. After she gathered courage to step inside, she was surprised to find that even though she had come early, the classroom was already full of students, some with their faces buried in their books, some sleeping, some catching up with their friends.  

To her dismay, most of the vacant seats were at the very back of the classroom. Far from ideal for someone with a hard time understanding the language, such as herself. There was this one seat though, next to a girl who faced down at a book, in the front row.  

As she sat, she heard a fit of whispers behind her, making her look around. Almost everyone in the room stared at her, some with widened eyes, others with frowns. Did she have something on her uniform? Were they just trying to figure out their new classmate? 

“H-Hello.” Sana whispered, setting her bag on her new table. “Is this seat taken?”  

The girl barely moved her head, but at least it was enough for her eyes to meet Sana's. It didn't last a second though, as she looked away without saying a word. Sana frowned. Did she say something bad?  

Sana tried to focus on the class, but she couldn't help but steal occasional glances at the girl’s unique side profile. Just when Sana had been staring for maybe too long, the girl turned her head.  

“What?”  

“N-Nothing.”  

This time Sana was the one looking away, gulping. Much to her relief, the bell rang, indicating break time, and with it, the girl stood up and stormed out the room. Sana sighed, burying her head in her hands. New school, first day of the second year, and all she wanted was to make friends. Yet, she’d started by making someone uncomfortable. Great. 

Lunch break came at last, as Sana's stomach was starting to rumble in protest. Planning to make amends for whatever she’d done before, she turned to the girl, but before she could even open , she was out the door. 

Sana sat alone in the cafeteria and took a look around, finding some of her new classmates sitting together. It would be nice to have lunch with them, but she was too shy to approach such a big group. 

“Can we sit here?”  

Sana looked up to find two girls she remembered seeing sitting together earlier in class.  

“Y-Yes!”  

“We thought you could use some company.”  

Sana nodded with a small smile. “Thank you.”  

“I'm Myoui Mina.”  

“Son Chaeyoung.” 

Both of them were incredibly pretty, making her a bit flustered.  

“Nice to meet you, I'm Minatozaki Sana.”

"Oh, I'm also Japanese!" Mina said and when Sana was about to say something, Chaeyoung nudged her.

They looked at each other and approached Sana with their elbows on the table.  

“Why did you sit next to Yoda?” Mina's voice was low now compared to before.  

“Yoda? Is that her name?” Sana asked with an irked eyebrow.

Chaeyoung and Mina shared a look. "I'll pretend you didn't ask that. Her name is Zhou Tzuyu, we call her Yoda because of her huge ears. But that doesn't matter anyway, you shouldn't have sat there!” Chaeyoung said. 

“Why not?”  

“You're new here, so you don't know about her, right?” Mina asked, earning a nod from her. “She's a bully.”  

Sana blinked. “Why do you say so?”  

“She used to beat kids up in elementary school.”  

“This is a high school, how do you know she did that in elementary school? Were you in her class?” 

“Thank god, no!” Chaeyoung said.  

“It could be a lie then. You know how easy it is to start rumors in school.”  

“Thing is, there's a video. And we've seen it.”  

“A video?” Sana frowned.  

“Yes, someone filmed her hitting a girl. And it really is her.”  

“We're telling you because you need to take care with her.” Mina said.  

“Okay, thank you for warning me.” Sana gave them a small smile.  

As she looked away, her eyes found Tzuyu, sitting alone a few tables ahead, whose eyes were already on her. They locked for no more than a couple seconds, until Tzuyu looked down at her food. But Sana's eyes remained on her.  

Was she really a bully? She didn't know her, after all. But Sana was never a person to judge someone based on other people's opinions, so she would find out by herself. 

---  

It had been a week since school started. Sana naturally grew closer to Mina and Chaeyoung, and got to know some other classmates better as well. She couldn't say the same about Tzuyu, though. She was always alone outside, in breaks and lunch time, reading a book. The chances to even try to start a conversation were close to none, and if there was a slight chance, Sana would chicken out.  

She didn't get the feeling that she was a scary person, but their warning about her kept ringing in the back of her head whenever she tried to get closer. Why did she even want to get closer? Tzuyu never gave her any signs that she wanted to even talk, let alone be a friend.  

The bell for lunch time was about to ring, and the courage to finally speak to Tzuyu urged her forward. 

“T-Tzuyu.” Sana, called, standing up. 

She actually stopped, and slowly turned around. 

“Wanna go have lunch? W-With me, I mean.”  

Several seconds went by, and their eyes never left each other’s.  

“No, I-I’m sorry.” Tzuyu said, resuming her way towards the door. 

Sana sighed, allowing her lungs to get some air, because she had been holding it this whole time.  

“Sana!” She heard Mina’s voice. “Are you okay? What did Tzuyu want with you?” 

“Nothing. I’m okay.” 

“You sure? You seem... nervous.”  

“I’m fine! Just hungry. Let’s go?” 

--- 

As always, Tzuyu sat alone for lunch. Sana knew she rejected her request, but that didn't stop her from doing so anyway. 

“Where are you going?” Chaeyoung asked, seeing her going towards her table. 

“Sorry, you guys go ahead.”  

“Sana!”  

“It’s okay. I’ll meet you in the classroom later.”

Tzuyu was so focused on her food and her book that she didn’t notice Sana approaching. 

“Is this seat taken?”  

Tzuyu raised her head and her eyes widened.  

“I’ll take that as a no.” Sana smiled and took the liberty of sitting in front of her. "Why are you always alone? You should eat with someone sometimes.” 

“Why are you here? I told you I didn’t want to have lunch with you.” 

“I can sit wherever I want, and I wanted to sit here.” 

Tzuyu's chin dropped. She scoffed, shaking her head. 

“You should be having lunch with your friends, not with me.” 

“And what if I want to have lunch with you?” 

“Why would you?” 

“Why wouldn’t I?” 

Without an answer, Tzuyu closed her book and sighed. 

“You’ll have a bad reputation if you’re seen with me. Just go and leave me be. Your friends must be worried about you." 

Sana looked back and indeed, Mina and Chaeyoung were staring at them with frowns. She smiled and gave them a thumbs up, returning her attention to Tzuyu. 

“I don’t care about reputation, I’ll stay.” 

“Why are you insisting?” 

“Do you dislike me that much?” 

"I... Why would I dislike you?" 

"I don't know, you tell me. Why don't you want me around?" 

"I'm sure your friends already told you about me." Tzuyu looked down, playing with her food on her plate. 

"They did. And I don't care about it. I just want to be your friend." 

Tzuyu looked up again, meeting Sana's eyes.  

"B-But why?" 

"Do I need to have a reason? But okay, if you really don't want me around, I can leave." Sana said, preparing to stand, but a hand on her arm stopped her. 

"No!" Tzuyu said, louder than necessary. "You can stay." 

Sana's lips grew into a grin as she sat back.  

It had been a week since she had met Tzuyu, and she could finally see her smiling. 

--- 

"How many books do you read, really?" Sana asked. 

"I can read like three per week." 

"That's insane! Don't you do anything else?" 

"Study." 

Sana shook her head. "Don't you have any hobbies? Anything you like to do? Beside reading." 

"Not really. I play some games on my phone or watch some anime when I'm bored, but I generally prefer reading to that." 

"There must be something you like to do." 

Tzuyu looked away and that denounced her. 

“There definitely is! If you say it, I’ll tell you my passion.” 

“I... I like to sing.”  

Sana couldn’t help but smile. 

“Will you let me listen to it someday?”  

“No.” 

“Whyyyyyy?” Sana whined. “I bet you sing so well.” 

“How would you know?” 

“Because you have a pretty voice. I bet it sounds even prettier singing.” 

Tzuyu stared at her until she scoffed, looking away. 

“A pretty voice?” 

Sana wasn’t sure she was seeing right, but it seemed Tzuyu's face turned a bit redder. 

“Yes. It’s somehow deep and... soothing. It’s very pleasant. You should talk more.”  

“Okay, I will. But only with you.” 

“Why?” 

“You’re the only one that wants to talk to me.”  

Why did that feel so sad? 

“Don’t make that face, it was a self-deprecating joke. I’m used to it really. But enough about me, you said you would tell me your passion.” 

“R-Right. I love dancing.” 

Tzuyu smirked. “Will you let me see you dance someday?” 

“If you let me hear you sing, yes.”  

The smirk on her face vanished, making Sana laugh.  

“W-Who knows. But hey, there’s a dance club, you know. You should join.” 

“I know, Mina and Chaeyoung are part of the club, but I don’t know. Would you go see me?” 

“What?” 

“My performances.” 

“Oh, uhm, yes, why not.”  

“Then I’ll join.” 

Sana smiled, and she could be sure Tzuyu had blushed. And she looked so cute. 

“L-Look at the time, there’s not much left for class. I’m going ahead.” Tzuyu stood up. 

“Wait, I’ll go with you.” 

“Maybe you shouldn’t.” 

“Why not?” 

Tzuyu looked away. “People will start saying things about you if they see us arriving together.” 

“I don’t care about what people say or think. Let’s just go.” 

There wasn’t anything else Tzuyu could say, so she just followed Sana. 

---

Sana remembered a funny episode that happened at school back in Japan, and just when they stepped inside the classroom, Tzuyu let out a loud laugh. The whole classroom went quiet in less than a second, and when they looked ahead, all eyes were on them, even the guy that’s always sleeping in the back. 

“What, never saw a pretty girl smiling?” Sana said between her teeth, earning an elbow nudge on her arm. 

She made her way to their desk, pulling Tzuyu with her, and sat, looking back. Some went back to their lives, others still stared at them, whispering between each other, including Mina and Chaeyoung. 

“I told you.” Tzuyu sighed. 

“And I told you I don’t care. Let them talk.”  

As she prepared her things for the next class, she could feel Tzuyu's eyes on her.  

“What?” 

“I still don’t understand why you’re doing all of this, but thank you.” 

“You don’t need to thank me, I’m not doing any favor.”  

“And what was that pretty girl smiling thing?”  

Sana stared at her and could see the hint of a smirk on her lips. 

“I didn’t lie.”  

“Am I pretty, then?” Tzuyu rested her chin on her palm, making an attempt at looking cute, raising the corners of her lips.  

“Don’t get cocky.” Sana had to fake a laugh and look away, because her heart might as well burst out her chest. 

Tzuyu laughed. “I might if you keep saying things like that.”  

“I-I’ll make sure I won’t, then.”  

“Sure.”  

Much for Sana's relief, the teacher entered the classroom, saving her just in time. 

And when she noticed, classes were over. 

“Make sure you join the dance club.” Tzuyu said, standing up. 

“I will. You going home?” She asked, earning a nod. “Don’t read too much and sing more.”   

Tzuyu glared at her before walking towards the door, and just before stepping outside, she gave her a last smile. Sana smiled back and when Tzuyu was out of sight, she let out a sigh and closed her eyes, relaxing her body as it dove in the chair.  

“Minatozaki Sana.” Mina’s voice made her open her eyes and frown at them. “What in the world happened?”  

“Nothing happened.” Sana shrugged, a smile still lingering on her lips. 

“Nothing happened... Nothing happened?!” Chaeyoung threw her hands in the air. “You go and be nice to a bully?” 

“You guys have no idea what she’s like. Everyone can get into a fight, it’s not because of it that a person is suddenly a bully.” 

“But, the video-“ 

“I don’t care about the damn video. Do you guys know what happened? Were you there to witness it? A video taken out of context can become anything you want, you just need to make up some story.” 

“You don’t know and you weren’t there either.” Mina said. 

“Exactly, that’s why I’m not going to judge her just because of that.”  

Mina and Chaeyoung shared a look.  

“It was the first time we saw her smile.” Mina broke the silence that had settled in. 

“And you made her laugh,” Chaeyoung said. “She didn’t even seem scary anymore.” 

“Because she isn’t. But hey, tell me, are you accepting members in the dance club?” 

“I guess so, but we need to ask leader Momo. Why?” Mina irked an eyebrow. 

“I want to join. You have practice today, right?” 

They shared another look and nodded. 

“Great, I’m going with you, yes?” 

---

Since Mina called Sana to have lunch with the dance club, Tzuyu insisted she should go.  

The dance club were a fun bunch to hung out, and she was so glad she took her advice. 

“Yoda doesn’t stop staring,” Mina whispered close to her ear.  

“Hm?”  

“She made sure to sit where she could look at you. Is she controlling you?”  

Sana took a quick look around and there she was, a few tables ahead, her eyes fixed on her. When their eyes met, Tzuyu blinked and looked down at her book, and her hand made way to the back of her neck.  

“No,” Sana said. “I think you’re reading too much into it.”  

Tzuyu looked up again, maybe thinking Sana wouldn’t be staring anymore, but now she was trapped in her gaze. Sana smiled and with her hand resting on the table, she made a finger heart, waiting for Tzuyu to notice it. Sana knew she did when she shook her head and returned her attention to her book, but, and as always, the small smile crept on her lips. 

Mina grimaced and she looked like she was about to open to say something, but she was interrupted. 

“Sana-ya,” Jihyo called. “Wanna hang out with us after school?” 

“Nah, she will probably be busy with Yoda.” Mina rolled her eyes.  

“Y-Yoda?” Jihyo raised her eyebrows.  

“Yes, Sana's her new best friend, apparently. And probably the only one.” 

“Yah, Mina, stop it already. And no, I don’t have any plans today, I’ll go with you.” 

“It must be a miracle,” Mina whispered to Jihyo. 

“I can still hear you.” 

--- 

When Sana went back to the classroom, Tzuyu was already there, looking outside the window instead of having her head on her second book of the week.  

“Hey, how was lunch?” Sana asked while sitting. 

“Lonely.” 

Sana chuckled. “Did you miss me that much?” 

“And what if I say yes?” 

“You wouldn’t be lying.” 

Tzuyu dropped her chin, gasping. “You’re full of yourself aren’t you, Satang?” 

"Did you come up with that nickname? Nobody calls me that.” Sana hit her arm. 

"I think it's cute. How was yours, did you have fun?” 

“Yeah, I like to be with them.” 

“More than with me?” Tzuyu pouted. 

“And what if I say yes?” Sana smirked. 

“You would be lying.” 

“Now now, aren’t you full of yourself, Zhou Tzuyu?” 

She shrugged.  

“You’re lucky you’re right. They invited me to hang out with them after classes today.” 

“Oh, are you going?” 

“Since we didn’t have anything planned, yes.” 

Tzuyu nodded and looked outside again. 

“Are you mad?” Sana asked, not bothering to hide the mischief on her voice.  

“I’m not mad.” 

“Are you sad?” 

“I’m… no.” 

Sana approached and poked her cheek, making Tzuyu turn and glare at her. 

“You’re just throwing a tantrum then.” 

“Hey, I’m not a kid.” 

“Then don’t act like one. I’ll hang out with you tomorrow.” 

The frown on Tzuyu's face was replaced by a grin. Sana couldn’t help but laugh and pinch her cheek.  

“You really are a kid.” 

Tzuyu sulked, but let Sana win this time.  

“Sana, since when do you know Jihyo?” She broke the silence.  

“Hm, sunbae? I met her last week, she’s leader Momo's best friend. Do you know her?” 

“N-No.” 

“Then how do you know her name?”  

“Just… She’s a known sunbae and she’s part of the student council.”  

Sana stared at her as she prepared her things for the next class. It seemed that there was something more that Tzuyu wasn’t telling her, but Sana shrugged.  

--- 

“Good morning.” 

Sana looked to her side to find Jihyo walking beside her with a smile too bright for that time in the morning.  

“Sunbae, good morning.”  

“Let me walk you to class.” 

“Oh, you don’t have to!” 

“It’s okay, I want to. Did you have fun yesterday?” 

“Yes, lots, I’ve always loved arcades. Thank you for inviting me.” Sana bowed.  

“My pleasure. You’re our friend and great company, so expect us to invite you again in the future.”  

“Thank you, I’ll be looking forward for it.” 

Jihyo gave her another smile and they reached Sana's classroom.  

“Do you wanna have lunch with us today too?” 

Sana looked inside and met Tzuyu’s eyes.  

“Not today. I’ll be having lunch with Tzuyu.” She said, an unconscious smile growing on her lips. “But I appreciate the invite.” 

“Oh, yes,” Jihyo said, her voice changing into a lower tone. “You’re close friends, right?” 

“Yes. I guess people don’t understand her very well and because of that they’re scared or her, but she’s… she’s really sweet.” 

“I see. Well I’m glad she made a friend, especially you.” Jihyo gave her a small smile. “I gotta rush, I still need to go to the student council before first period. Have a good day, Sana.”  

“You too, sunbae.” Sana bowed and stepped inside the classroom, rushing to her seat.  

“Tzuyuuuu-yah.” 

She raised her head from her book and her eyes almost burned a hole through Sana's. 

“Why did Jihyo you to classroom? I can do that if you want to.” 

Sana stared at her. “Zhou Tzuyu is jealous, I see.” 

She rolled her eyes. “Jealous? Please.” 

“And she didn’t  me, we just happened to meet in the hallway and walked together.”  

“She already got to spend the whole afternoon with you yesterday and she stills walks you to your classroom.” Tzuyu mumbled, looking away. 

“You’re totally jealous.” 

“I’m not.” 

“I’m so totally not jealous.” Sana teased, imitating her voice. 

“Yah, I don’t talk like that.” Tzuyu glared, and Sana pinched her cheek. “And stop doing that.” 

“I won’t.” 

“So I won’t stop calling you Satang.” 

“Whatever.”