I found myself sitting in one of the booths of the diner on Jabberwock Island deep in thought as I played with the chopsticks in my ramen dish. The steam curled gently from the bowl, fogging my glasses slightly as I stared at the noodles without really seeing them. Ever since I had arrived, I instantly noticed how strict and abrasive Mahiru was around all the boys... but not with me. She was a bit softer, similar to how she was around the other girls. Hadn't she mistaken me for a girl this whole time!? It was a possibility, but an unlikely one. The diner smelled of soy sauce and fried food, with the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore outside.

I turned back to my meal, leaning over to take a bite of my noodles when a shadow fell across the table. "Hey, you want some company?" Mahiru's voice cut through my thoughts. I抬头 to see the photographer standing beside the booth, her camera hanging loosely around her neck. Sunlight streamed through the window behind her, illuminating the slight smile on her face.

"Hiyoko is busy elsewhere practicing her dancing for the party and I was wondering if you'd wanna hang out a bit," she said, already sliding into the seat across from me before I could answer. The wooden chair scraped slightly against the floor, and I caught a whiff of her citrus shampoo as she settled in. Maybe now I could finally ask her why she was so friendly towards me, what made me so special!? My heart raced at the thought as I set down my chopsticks.