Blue Archive: Do I look like a student to you?

The phone Lina had thrown away lay forgotten on the rooftop floor, its black screen reflecting nothing but the night sky above. Suddenly, it lit up, its glow cutting through the shadows, and a ringtone echoed softly.

Lina yellow eyes glancing toward the phone, but she chose to ignore it. She hugged her knees to her chest, resting her chin on them, letting the ringing fade into silence.

A few minutes passed, and the screen dimmed.

But then, it lit up again. The ringtone broke through the quiet once more, persistent, as if the caller refused to give up.

Lina let out a frustrated sigh, the sound heavy with resignation. She pushed herself to her feet and walked slowly toward the phone.

The screen glowed brightly in the darkness, displaying the name of the caller: Hayase Yuuka. Lina stared at it for a moment, her fingers hovering over the screen.

Instead of answering, she swiped her finger across the screen and declined the call. The phone's glow dimmed once again, leaving her alone in the faint light of the stars.

Turning away from the device, Lina walked to the edge of the rooftop. She gazed out at the sprawling city below, its endless lights twinkling like a reflection of the sky above. The view was breathtaking, yet it brought her no comfort.

Another ring echoed through the quiet rooftop. Lina's yellow eyes flickered toward her phone, glowing insistently. This time, she sighed deeply and picked it up, her finger hovering over the screen before finally swiping to answer.

"Lina Astra, you finally answered my call!" Yuuka's sharp voice burst through the phone, carrying both relief and frustration.

Lina stayed silent, her lips pressed into a thin line as she held the phone to her ear.

Yuuka's voice continued, firm "You should have come to class two months ago! But you didn't even bother to show up, and what's worse, you've been missing for two whole months! No word, no explanation. Just gone!"

Lina felt the weight of Yuuka's words, but her heart clenched as the frustration she had buried for so long rose to the surface. "I… I don't like school…" she finally muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yuuka let out an audible sigh, exasperation clear in her tone. "If you don't like school, that's one thing. But disappearing for two months without notice? Do you have any idea how reckless that is? You've made everyone worry about you!"

Lina bit her lower lip, her fangs pressing into the soft skin as she swallowed the retort bubbling up inside her. She wanted to yell, to tell Yuuka that she didn't understand—couldn't understand. How could she? Yuuka wasn't the one ripped from her world, her body and life turned upside down.

But Lina held back. If she said that, it would only drag Yuuka deeper into her mess, and Lina didn't want that. She didn't want to explain something that no one could ever truly understand.

Yuuka's voice softened. "Tomorrow, come to the student council. Got it?"

"…Okay," Lina replied quietly.

With that, the line went silent, and Lina stared at the screen for a moment before closing the call. 

Lina turned her gaze back to the view from the rooftop, her heart heavy. The lights of Kivotos stretched endlessly before her, but they brought her no sense of belonging. Tomorrow, she thought. Another day to face this unfamiliar world.

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Lina walked down the street, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket. Her yellow eyes stayed fixed on the ground ahead, not daring to meet the gazes of anyone around her.

Wherever she went, she couldn't escape the sight of other students—groups of friends chatting and laughing together. Their carefree energy felt like a world away from her own solitude.

Further down the street, she passed a child holding their parent's hand. Their laughter rang out as they walked, their conversation full of warmth and joy.

Lina's chest tightened. Her steps quickened, and she tilted her head down to avoid catching anyone's attention.

By the time she slowed, she realized she had unknowingly wandered in front of Angel24, the convenience store famous among students in Kivotos.

She paused, about to turn and leave, but her stomach suddenly growled, breaking the quiet.

"I'm hungry…" Lina muttered to herself, a small sigh escaping her lips. Resigned, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The warm, fluorescent light of the shop greeted her as the bell above the door jingled softly. Lina made her way to the front counter, where a timid voice quickly greeted her.

"W-W-Welcome, customer!"

Behind the counter stood a girl who looked like she was still in middle school. Her small stature, soft features, and the way she fidgeted nervously gave her an air of innocence.

Lina's eyes instinctively flicked to the girl's forehead, and without thinking, she muttered aloud, "Big forehead…"

The girl blinked at her in surprise, her nervousness giving way to a shy glance to the side. She looked away, clearly unsure of how to respond.

Lina froze as the realization of her words hit her. Her eyes widened slightly, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. "I'm sorry… That was rude of me," she said, her voice softer than before.

The girl glanced back at her and shook her head quickly. "I-It's fine," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lina then wandered the aisles of Angel24, her eyes scanning the shelves. Her stomach growled again, urging her to hurry. She grabbed a melon bread from the rack and a bottle of strawberry milk from the nearby cooler. With her selections in hand, she made her way back to the counter.

Sora, still standing nervously behind the register, straightened up when Lina approached. The girl glanced at Lina's items and quickly began scanning them. The soft beeps of the scanner broke the silence as Sora carefully placed the melon bread and milk into a small plastic bag.

The register beeped again, displaying the total [412 yen]

"T-That would be 412 yen…" Sora stammered, her voice quiet and uncertain.

Lina pulled out her wallet and looked at her cards. "Do you accept credit card here?"

Sora nodded quickly, her hands clasped together as if bracing herself for the next step.

Lina swiped her card through the machine and waited as the screen processed the transaction. After a brief pause, the confirmation tone rang out, signaling that the payment had gone through.

She reached out, took the plastic bag from the counter, and gave a small nod of acknowledgment before turning to leave.

Just as Lina stepped through the door, she heard Sora's timid voice behind her. "T-Thank you for coming. P-Please come again."

Outside Angel24, the cool night air greeted Lina as she stepped onto the street. The city lights illuminated the surroundings, casting a soft glow on everything. She held the plastic bag tightly in one hand as she walked, her eyes scanning the area aimlessly.

After a short stroll, she spotted a park bench nestled under the faint light of a streetlamp. Without much thought, she approached it and sat down.

Placing the plastic bag beside her, Lina reached inside and pulled out the melon bread. She carefully opened the plastic wrapper, the sweet smell wafting up as she tore a piece off with her teeth.

"Sweet," she murmured to herself after taking the first bite, the sugary flavor melting on her tongue.

Next, she reached for the strawberry milk. Twisting off the cap, she took a small sip, the creamy sweetness washing away the dryness left from the bread.

For a moment, she simply sat there, staring at the bustling street ahead. Cars rolled by, and the occasional sound of laughter or conversation reached her from passing pedestrians. Yet, despite the lively view around her, Lina felt a quiet stillness in her heart.

Bite by bite, sip by sip, she finished her simple meal, the warm melon bread and cool strawberry milk bringing her a small, fleeting comfort.

(A/n: I like strawberry milk)