When transferring schools, there's bound to be some growing pains to get over.

In this case, I mistakenly assumed a full class schedule for the day, when in reality, they were truncated to afford time for festival preparations.

With no Student Council to keep me entertained, and no real desire to head back, I make a point of wandering the school building to familiarize myself with it a bit more.

What students and staff remain keep to the lower floors, so the upper levels are mostly silent – or they would be, were it not for the rhythmic click of something against the hallway floor.

The sound immediately reminds me of Ibarazaki and her prosthetics, but this is much lighter and gentler, so it can't be her.

As I turn the corner, I finally catch sight of the cause – a tall, blonde girl with a white walking cane.

"Hello there," she calls out.

For a second, I find it strange that she does so, but it makes sense; I didn't expect to run into her, so presumably she had a similar expectation about me.

"Hello, yes…"

We come to a halt in front of one another. She's almost my height, easily towering over Shizune and Misha. Her features and her hair color imply she's not entirely local.

"…I guess I should introduce myself, then. Toru Mitsuaki, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Setou Lilly," she nods, "You must be new to the school."

"You're right…" I start, but then curiosity gets the better of me, "But now I'm curious as to how you'd know that."

She chuckles:

"Well, it wouldn't do to reveal all of my mysteries at our first encounter, Toru-san."

"Please, just Mitsuaki is fine, if nothing else, that trend has been beaten into me by the class rep."

"Then let me astound you once more," she gives an enigmatic smile: "You're part of 3-3, Hakamichi's class."

So they know each other, well enough for Lilly here to be familiar with Shizune's MO.

"Well, after a trick like that, I don't think this was an accidental encounter at all."

She seems to consider something for a while, then taps her cane against the ground – a satisfying thunk rings out.

"No, I don't think so either. Are you busy right now?"

I'm really not, so a diversion is welcome.

"Not really, I was just exploring."

"Then, if you'll follow me, I have a friend I'd like to introduce you to."

"Sure thing… but how'd you guess the class I'm in?"

"I'm familiar with the two members of our school's student council. Having something beaten into you sounds like one of them."

She leaves the statement there as she walks us to an empty classroom.

"Please, sit down, I'll prepare some tea."

A year ago, I'd have leapt to do it for her, but now that my own eyesight is mostly gone, I understand how insulting that would've come across as.

Instead, I lean back into a chair and take of my glasses, letting the world melt away into an incoherent blur.

It's not long until she's sat at the desk, with a pair of steaming cups:

"Please, enjoy."

It's matcha, which must have been a feat to get used to making. I'm kind of impressed.

"So…" I start, having taken a couple of sips of the tea: "You must be from one of the specialized classes, then?"

I was about to add 'the ones I dodged' but decide against it.

"Why yes, Miyagi-sensei's 3-2."

"I almost ended up being your classmate."

"Oh?" she seems surprised with the implication, "I assume then…"

"You're probably right," I smile, pushing the glasses over to her hand. She lightly touches them, then nods.

"I see."

I blink a few times, unsure if I'd heard her correctly. It's about then that her poker face finally gives way, and she smiles:

"I imagine you have a very shocked expression right now."

It's funny, though I don't know whether it's good natured funny or grim funny.

"I can't imagine this is the first time."

"Absolutely not."

As I think on what to say next, the door creaks open, and a willowy, dark-haired girl comes in, stopping dead still when she notices me:

"Uhm… L-Lilly…"

"Hello Hanako, come in, I believe you two haven't been introduced."

I recognize the silhouette of this girl, I realize – she's Ikezawa-san, the girl who does all her assignments alone and sits in the back of my class.

"This is the third guess today, Lilly," I observe.

Not hearing any steps, Lilly continues:

"Come now, your tea will get cold."

Carefully, like a small animal moving under direct human observation, the girl sits down.

"H-Hello, I-I'm…"

"Ikezawa-san, right?" I offer.

"Y-yes," her voice falls, and I feel like I've made a misstep, but without being able to see their expressions, I'm not sure.

Then, after a second, her posture seems to shift:

"Your glasses…"

"Blind without them," I assure her, "but I deliberately requested not to be assigned to the specialized class."

"If you don't mind me asking, what led you to that decision?"

Makes sense that Lilly would like to know. The reason sounds a bit silly in retrospect, but I guess it's how I justified it to myself.

"I guess it helped me feel better about the transition."

If I'm in a specialized class, I'm defined by my blindness – or at least, that's how I felt. It feels a bit of a trivial distinction now that I'm considering it.

"I understand. This was perhaps meant to be, then."

"W-What do you mean, Lilly?"

"I choose to believe running into Mitsuaki today is a sign – we both have something in common with him."

A disability and our class, respectively.

I think I can guess at the context of how Setou knows Shizune and Misha – she's attentive and her intuition is on point… that kind of person gravitates to leadership and logistics, so I figure maybe she's a class representative or a former member of the Student Council?

If so, however, I'd really like to know the story of why she's not anymore.

Still, I'm not sure why she wanted to introduce me to the skittish and solitary Ikezawa – she feels like she needs a light touch, and mine is anything but.

"A sign?"

"I've told you I'll have some last-minute things to attend to on the day of the festival, so I won't be able to meet up with you at the dorm. I was planning on asking him to help us find one another in the crowd after it's done."

She turns to me:

"Would that be alright?"

This girl is definitely on Shizune's level – I'm almost certain now that they have some kind of major history.

"I'd be happy to."

Plus, I'd be paying her back for the tea, effectively.

"…Okay."

Hanako doesn't really have much to say after the fact.

Lilly runs me through some details about where she's likely to be in the morning, and we designate a time when I can pick up Ikezawa in front of the girls' dorm.

Some time passes, and soon enough, our cups run empty.

"Thank you for the tea, Lilly."

"Think nothing of it."

She's much more polite and formal with Hanako around, I notice, and it begs the question which of the two Lillies is the mask… the bold wit or the gentle lady.

I do have a feeling that, having run into her and being aware of the link with the Council, I'll end up revisiting the subject at some inevitable point in the future.

I carefully make my way to the door, putting on my glasses. Perhaps the reason Ikezawa seems comfortable around Lilly is because of Setou's blindness… leveraging the same feels a bit inauthentic, but it's the only way I feel like I can try and build some baseline level of trust with the girl, at least enough to do Lilly the favor of chaperoning.

"Goodbye for now. I'll be in front of the dorms at 8:15, as agreed."

"Goodbye."

"Yes! G-Goodbye…"

I'm hanging out with the Student Council tomorrow… I don't think it's wise to bring this up with them just yet, though.

Shizune knows the full story, I don't. She likes to have full control of the situation, and the way our dynamic has gone so far, my thing is being an uncontrolled element.

Makes me wonder if she'll just push me away when she accepts that I won't follow the script. The cynical part of me is considering the possibility.

Obligatory Lilly chapter. With how prominent she is to Shizune's story, the feature is inevitable.