The morning air flowing through the classroom was as noisy as ever.

When I slid my finger across the white nanomaterial desk, my math assignment unfolded into the air as a hologram.

The rows of formulas I had methodically finished last night as an obligation were lined up, emitting a pale blue glow.

“…Sigh.”

Letting out a small breath, I dropped my head onto the desk.

If I had to choose between glaring at equations first thing in the morning or dropping three or four monsters with a right straight, the latter suited me far better—and was much easier.

“—Shizuku. Good morning. You look a little tired.”

Suddenly, soft warmth pressed against my back.

Rin, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, pressed herself close to me, resting her chin on my shoulder and bringing her nose near my neck.

“…Rin. You’re too close.”

“Just a little. When I smell you, Shizuku, I feel relieved that you’re safe today… Your shoulders are still stiff. I’ll loosen them for you.”

From my upper arm to my shoulder, Rin began carefully kneading my muscles as though checking each fiber.

An almost obsessive level of skinship.

But in the precision of her fingers that detected last night’s fatigue, there was her own form of deep affection.

Our classmates were so used to this sight that no one even bothered to look anymore.

“Gooood morning! Shizuku, Rin-chan! You two are all fired up this early!”

With an explosive cheerfulness, Aoi claimed the space in front of my desk.

She deftly brought up her tablet and displayed the latest ranking chart.

“I saw it, Shizuku! Last night’s subjugation log! You broke your fastest-clear record again! …But look at these comments. ‘Plain but reliable.’ That’s the kind of evaluation that never climbs! We need something flashy!”

“…I handled it reliably. That’s enough.”

When I answered curtly, Aoi dramatically slumped her shoulders.

“That craftsman mentality is such a waste.”

It should have been just another ordinary stretch of time—as nothing more than a normal high school girl, not a magical girl.

“Himuro-san. There’s a third-year senior at the entrance. She’s asking for you.”

At a classmate’s voice, I lifted my head.

A third-year? Me?

I had no idea who it could be.

I wasn’t in any clubs, and I’d never had cross-year interactions in all my time here.

“…I’ll be back.”

I gently but firmly peeled Rin off my back.

She clung to my sleeve in protest, but eventually let go, albeit reluctantly.

Carrying a vague sense of unrest, I walked toward the classroom entrance.

She was standing there.

Smaller than me.

Yet the aura she wore was insolent, overwhelming.

Her uniform was styled almost like a costume, adorned lavishly with frills.

Without a word, she slowly looked me over from my feet to the top of my head, as if appraising merchandise.

“…Hmph.”

The sound slipped from her thin lips like something spat out.

“So you’re the 158th place ‘Musclehead Knuckle.’ In person, you’re even plainer than the numbers suggest.”

Musclehead.

The word hit so unexpectedly that I lost my voice.

I always thought my method—dropping monsters by the shortest, most efficient route—was the smartest way.

To think it was seen as mere brute force.

'…I’m a musclehead?'

Confronted with an evaluation I had never once considered, my pride took a quiet but definite hit.

“…What do you mean? Musclehead?”

“Oh? You don’t realize? Hiding behind the word ‘efficiency’ while boring your audience. Just punching is nothing but ‘labor,’ not magical girl work. That’s why you’ll never escape three digits. If you want to stay one of the ‘faceless masses’ forever, that’s fine.”

She curled her lips in a victorious smile.

“Come to the rooftop after school today. I’ll change that dull, efficiency-only future of yours.”

“…Wait, what?”

“Don’t be late. I’ll teach you thoroughly how outdated your fighting style is. Be prepared.”

With that, she turned on her heel without waiting for my response.

Her frills fluttered as she disappeared down the corridor like a passing storm.

Aoi and Rin rushed up to me, faces pale.

“Shizuku! Who was that!? That rude little senior was unbelievable!”

“…Shizuku. What did she say to you? Did she do something strange? …If she keeps that up, I’ll make sure she can’t come to school ever again.”

Real anger burned in Rin’s eyes.

Aoi was already furiously tapping her tablet, searching through waves of information for the girl’s identity.

“Hey, Shizuku. Do you know that sharp-tongued senior?”

Still shaken from being called a musclehead, I slowly shook my head.

“…No. I don’t know her at all. Seriously, who is she?”