It was a cool afternoon outside on a mid-autumn of September and everyone under that pastel sky is enjoying the atmosphere and a lot of people are on the streets preparing for the upcoming festival— maybe everyone, but not Mashiro. The girl can be found slouching with her feet up at the bench in a nearby park, just a few blocks away from the company building. With a notebook and pen at her lap, she let out a long and loud sighed and closed the notebook.

The breeze blew some of her hair, Mashiro let go of the pen and tied her hair, fixing every free, swaying strands, before finally fixing her posture. She stared at the notebook once more and opened it with her eyes reading the first page with writings on it.

 

10 things to hate about the new trainee:

 

1. she's just TOO LOUD!!! like 10 megaphones LOUD!

2. Miss goody-two-shoes

3. photography/videography skills? 0 or even lower than that

4. REALLY REALLY CLUMSY. sometimes i think her long limbs are just for decorations.

5. most intrusive introvert that I know

6. clings to small people like it gives her tall self some superiority powers.

7. too competitive whenever I join anything, like it's her passion to beat me.

8. heavy sleeper and takes my bed a lot, personal space? I don't have them!

9. hides her tears too much

10.

 

Mashiro could only stare at the two-digit number written at the bottom with her pen-tapping being her background music.

"What to write here, what to write here," The girl chanted in a singsong unconsciously. On her nth time of repeating those words, she stopped abruptly and wrote something quickly on the notebook.

 

10. She has everything except one.

 

She stared at those words for a moment but then, Mashiro abruptly ripped that certain page, crumpled it and threw it to the side. With that cue, her phone rang.

 

Calling...

[ Unli-energy Kkaru ]

 

"Hikaru-"

"Shiro-chan! Where are you? I was just gone for a while and they said you left out of the blue?"

The girl on the other line was so close to whining that made Mashiro giggle unconsciously. "Karu shh, I'm fine. I just don't feel well that's why I'm on my way to the dorm now."

"Really?" The other girl asked softly, gaining another chuckle from Mashiro.

"Yes, really. I'm sorry for making you worry, I'll rest early to recover as early as tomorrow, okay?" The girl reassured.

The girl on the other line sighed, at least she believed Mashiro's half alibi. "Ah it's okay but take care please, you stubborn unnie. Rest well and don't get too sick!"

Mashiro take it as a sign to stand up and walk her way to the bus stop while talking to Hikaru. "Yes mom, go clean up and rest too."

"Okay sure, I am the mom but I'll stop there, I won't tease you further today. Please go recover so I can tease you already."

"Yes, will do," Mashiro answered with a laugh, "I'll hang up now, don't miss me too much, yeah?"

"Shiro-chan better be okay by tomorrow! Eat before you rest, okay?"

"Yeaah, take care on your way to the dorm, Bye!" With the end tone, Mashiro arrived to the bus stop with her clutching her backpack. She was just right on time as the bus approaches, Mashiro buried her phone in her pocket and when in.

She could only wish her room at the dorm is empty.