Thanks to a special trait that I had inherited from my mother, I only needed to sleep four hours a day, unlike others who needed seven to ten hours. My family members were most likely already snoring, so I changed my clothes and dove into bed, falling asleep once my head hit the pillow.

~~~~~

"Yuri, join the track team as a hurdler, and you can't refuse," Akane commanded, cornering me on the rooftop during lunch at school.

H-how did this happen?! It was a perfectly normal school day, I got bullied, I ignored them, Ryuu annoyed me, I ignored him, so why am I getting cornered on the roof?! All I wanted was to eat my lunch peacefully for the first time in forever, so I took the leisure to pick the lock that leads to the school roof to have some time to myself.

But I drop my guard for one minute and somehow this crazy girl manages to find and sneak up on me.

I can't comprehend this situation.

"Errrr, Miss Akane, I wonder what you are implying?" I asked with a confused face, tilting my head to the side. "Forgive me for trespa.s.sing onto the roof, but I found the view very pleasing to the eye."

"I'm surprised how easy it is for you to lie."

"Hm? But nothing I just said was a lie."

That was true, I really did find the view from the roof much more pleasing than eating in cla.s.s.

"Arggggh," she groaned while covering her eyes and facing the sky, lacking her usual cheerful personality. "This is so troublesome…"

"I see that we both agree on that point, then I will take my leave."

"NOPE! Nada, I finally found a good chance and you just wanna walk out on me? No way."

"Miss Akane, is something of the matter? You look quite frustrated."

"And who's fault do you think that is?!?!"

"Unfortunately, I do not have a clue."

"You...is this just an act, or are you seriously this dense?!"

"I'm afraid it is neither of those options."

Our banter kept going back and forth, causing Akane to become more annoyed at the second while I had to hold back my laughter and keep my face expressionless.

Although I never expected this side of one of the most popular girls in the school. How very interesting hm?

"Whatever, we're just getting nowhere!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air as if surrendering.

"Let me just get to the point, you," Akane demanded while pointing her finger at me. "You will join the track team, you do not need to join in on practices or team meets. But you will partic.i.p.ate in the district, regional, and then national compet.i.tion for hurdlers."

"Oh my, I am terribly sorry, I think I've lost track of the conversation."

"No more playing dumb if you don't join I will expose your true ident.i.ty, as Lynx."

I froze at her statement, my trademark expressionless face morphing into one of shock and surprise.

How, when, where did she find out?! So early into the game, it should be impossible for anyone to know Lynx was actually me. I rapidly tried to figure out how Akane had found my username when she suddenly chuckled.

"Pffft, who knew that you could actually make such an expression!" She laughed out loud while holding her stomach. "Hahaha! That's hilarious!"

I guess there's nothing to hide anymore…

My face turned into one of obvious exasperation.

"You, you're such a kid, who knew that one of the most popular girls would actually have such a weird side to her?"

"Heh, everyone at school does, just like you. I guess you just don't pay enough attention to your surroundings to realize that fact."

This girl...although I did already finish my lunch, I needed her to spill the beans on how she tied me and Lynx together. But before I could say anything, she seemed to read my thoughts and interrupted me with a smirk.

"You were simply too careless you know?"

Careless…?

"Mhm, remember that one time your tattoo showed from the left sleeve while leaping over the back wall? Coincidentally, I was putting away files for my father when I saw it. Oh, that was a really nice jump by the way."

N-no way…

"Yup, you probably already know now. When I heard that Lynx had a hummingbird tattoo on her left hand, it was easy enough to put the two together! Especially after seeing your athletic ability."

"I got it, so why the track team," I responded, discarding the fake polite tone I used at school and switching to my normal one.

"Finally taking off that fake facade of yours huh. The reason why you will join the track team is that it will help promote the school and also raise our credits. The higher our reputation, the easier it will be for me to take control, since I'm the track team president."

"I see, then I will agree to your terms, as long as you don't reveal the fact that I am Lynx to anybody." I reluctantly said with a wry grin on my face.

Nothing I could do about it, at least I knew Akane's username thanks to the aimless chatter of my cla.s.smates.

Hearing my expected response, she giggled and gave her word.

"As long as you provide good results at compet.i.tions, you have my word I won't tell a soul about your little secret~"

"Mkay, then I'll take my leave, Miss Aphrodite."

Without listening to her response, I left the roof and headed to my next period.

Akane may hold something against me.

But I also held a much larger secret against her. Also, since I'm the chuuni-*cough cough*, the careful person I am, I recorded our entire conversation.

I silently laughed to myself while walking down the stairs.

She would pay for baring her fangs against me, better not underestimate the only female of the Mizuki family!