Third person point of view 

 "It's Seiun-chan! Yay!"

"I told you she was in our class! I checked the list like, a hundred times!"

"Welcome to Kunugigaoka!"

In an instant, the room burst into life, students crowding around her with excited chatter. Ginka, ever the performer, kept her smile bright, waving to each of them as if she were at a fan event. She had expected the attention—welcomed it, even.

But as the noise surrounded her, one thought lingered in the back of her mind. They don't see me as their classmate.

They saw her as Seiun-chan—the idol. Not Asano Ginka.

Though that didn't bother her as much as it is not within her plans to stay in Class 3-B for long.

"Settle down, everyone."

Their homeroom teacher, Sawatari-sensei, tapped the desk for silence, and the students rushed back to their seats.

Ginka exhaled softly, smoothing down her uniform as she sat. At least now, she could breathe.

"As you all know, Kunugigaoka operates under a strict academic hierarchy." Sawatari-sensei continued, tapping the table to catch their attention. "Your standings are determined by exam scores. The top 50 will be publicly posted after each test."

A ranking system. A competition.

The kind of environment where you were either exceptional—or invisible.

Ginka felt her stomach twist.

With the current number of students per class, she would have to be within the Top 40 to even reach Class A. And that wouldn't even be enough. If she only barely makes it, then her father would only deem it meaningless. She lets out a deep sigh. It already took so much of her to make it to Class B. How much more should she need to exert herself to meet them at their level?

She raised her hand, flipping her notebook open before writing, ["So it's the same format as the entrance exam?"]

"Correct. We encourage healthy competition, after all."

Healthy?

Ginka resisted the urge to laugh. To her father, competition wasn't about improvement.

It was about survival.

And if she wanted to prove herself to him—if she wanted to be more than just a disposable name in the Asano family—she couldn't just pass.

She had to dominate. She had to reach Class A.

And even then—that might not be enough.

"I vote Asano-san for class rep!"

The words startled her. Ginka blinked, realizing she had been lost in thought. They were already at that point of the discussion?

"No objections here! I think it would be fun to have such a vibrant person in charge."

"Hold on, is that really a reason to pick someone? The role comes with great responsibility."

"Are you saying Seiun-chan isn't capable?!" Ginka sweat dropped. She couldn't really blame them for thinking so especially with how childish she presented herself on screen.

This was exactly why she had to work harder. They weren't nominating her because they thought she was capable. But rather... 

"Wouldn't it be weird if an Asano wasn't in a leadership role?"

It's that.  Her last name, carrying more weight than she ever could. She kept her expression neutral, but inside, heart wrenching. 

This wasn't about her.

It was about what people expected her to be. Still—she needed this.

If she played her cards right, she could use this role to climb even higher. So, with a small, practiced smile, she nodded.

 "Well, that's settled then." 

 Which felt rather disturbing in a way. As they mostly believed only in the Asano capabilities rather than her own. She shakes her head and lightly slaps both cheeks before falling into deeper pessimism. She'll just take this as an opportunity to prove them that they didn't make the wrong choice.   

Kunugigaoka didn't ease students in. The first morning was Mathematics. Then Chemistry. By the time the lunch bell rang, Ginka felt like her soul had left her body.

She barely noticed as her classmate, Hashizume Kakeru, shook her shoulders. "Seiun-san, come back! Don't cross the bridge just yet!"

"Stop shaking her, idiot!" another classmate scolded, karate chopping him. "If Asano-kun hears about this—"

The room fell silent for a second.

Ginka didn't miss the way they tensed at her brother's name.

Of course, that was enough to steer fear in their hearts. They may have not seen the Asano dark side, but they already know very well of what he can do if he is actually angered. Especially that they see how much he treasures his sister. 

"We'd all be dead," someone muttered.

["I'm alright."] Ginka sighed, quickly pulling out her notebook. ["I just didn't expect things to move so fast."]

If she hadn't studied ahead of time, she would've been completely lost.

That thought terrified her.

Her classmates exchange glances which only made her nervous even further. They looked confused. Ah, they must have not expected her to have a hard time. 

 But now she would be seen as the lesser Asano. 

 However, she does ease up a bit upon seeing them smile at her warmly. They were just worried.

["Is there something wrong?"] Now she couldn't help but ask. 

 They look at each other again, wondering who would do the talking. One eventually answers anyway. "We were under the impression that the Asano's are some kind of monsters so talented that don't show any hardship through anything. It's just refreshing seeing you all.. normal. Just shows how human you guys could still be."

Ginka didn't know how to react to that so she just smiles in response, with that ill feeling growing in her heart by the day.

They meant well. They were trying to be kind. But the words made her stomach churn.

Normal.

She didn't want to be normal.

Normal was mediocre. Normal meant being overlooked.

She had spent years building a name, an image, a legacy.

If she wasn't special—then what was she?

"Kyaaa!" 

 Their conversation gets interrupted with the squealing both indoors and outdoors. It was Asano Gakushu, politely knocking on the class door.   

"Oh? Have I interrupted something?" Gakushuu asked smoothly, his presence effortlessly commanding.

"N-No, of course not!"

Ginka barely had time to react before her bag was shoved into her arms, and she was gently pushed toward the exit.

"Enjoy your first school lunch, Seiun-chan!"

They waved excitedly as they watched the twins walk away leaving the premises. 

Ginka blinked. ["They just kicked me out."]

"They were excited to see me, I suppose." Gakushuu smirked.

 She couldn't help but roll her eyes. It would have been nice if she got to bond further with her classmates. Besides, it was a little awkward talking to her brother right now. ["Are you still upset with me?"]

He didn't ask what she meant.

Ginka was talking about their previous exchange. He'd be lying if he wasn't. 

"It's not something I ponder about deeply. You are free to do as you wish." 

 ["But?"] His face tells her that there was more to that. 

 "While I am now satisfied that you now share the same desire for the thirst of power, it's rather disappointing that you do that not for your own but to curry favor."

She had spent so long chasing approval. 

Her father's. Her mother's. Her fans'.

But when had she ever wanted something just for herself? Was there ever a time when she wasn't simply trying to be worthy of someone else?

"You're making good connections," Gakushuu admitted. "They'll be useful later."

Useful. That's what people were to him. That's what she had become, too.

"But I wonder, Ginka." She stiffened, and even stopped in her tracks as he continued. "How much of yourself is left?"

For a moment, she almost wrote something in response.

But blanked out. Because she didn't have an answer.