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

Lina stood in front of the abandoned building, her yellow eyes scanning its façade. Despite its size and sturdy structure, the place gave off an eerie emptiness. It was clear no one lived here—no lights in the windows, no sound of life from inside. It was just... silent.

This building had been Lina's refuge for the past two months. She couldn't bring herself to stay at the Millennium Science School dorms, not when she wasn't even attending classes. The thought of returning there filled her with unease. It wasn't her place.

With a heavy sigh, she stepped inside the building, her footsteps echoing softly in the quiet halls.

The first time she stumbled across this place, she had been in awe. It was enormous, with countless rooms and hallways, as if it had once been home to a bustling crowd. Yet, not a single soul seemed to know of its existence. She had found it by pure chance while running from the Millennium Science School grounds.

Even now, as she walked through the empty halls, she couldn't help but marvel at its size. It was far too large for someone like her, and yet, it felt oddly fitting.

"This place... it's a good place," she murmured, her voice bouncing faintly off the walls.

Her eyes caught the faint lettering on the building's entrance as she passed by it SCHALE.

"Schale, huh?" Lina muttered, letting the name roll off her tongue. It sounded vaguely familiar, like something she might have heard before, but she couldn't quite place it. "Did I hear that name somewhere before? ...Maybe not."

Lina pushed open the door to the room she had claimed as her own. When she first arrived here, it had been just a plain, empty space—bare walls, a simple bed frame, and not much else. But over the past two months, she had slowly transformed it into something more personal, something that felt a little more like home.

"I'm back," Lina mumbled to no one in particular, her voice tired.

Kicking off her shoes carelessly, she let them clatter against the floor as she walked toward the bed. Without hesitation, she flopped onto it, landing with a soft plop. The mattress welcomed her weight, and she buried her face into the pillow, rubbing against its soft fabric like a lazy cat.

Turning her head to the side, her yellow eyes landed on the digital clock sitting on the nightstand. Its red numbers glowed dimly in the room's light 10:27 PM.

She let out a loud yawn, stretching her limbs slightly before settling back into the bed. "I'm too lazy to take a shower...," she muttered, her voice trailing off.

Within moments, her breathing slowed as her exhaustion caught up with her. The light in the room remained on, casting a warm glow over Lina's sleeping form. The soft sound of her breaths filled the space as the night in Schale carried on quietly around her.

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Soft, golden light filtered through the curtains, spilling into the room and casting a gentle glow over the walls. Morning had come, but the quiet of the space remained undisturbed.

Lina lay sprawled out on the bed, her body facing down against the soft sheets. Her white hair spread messily around her, catching the morning light in soft strands. Her breaths were steady and calm, her face relaxed as she drifted in a deep, peaceful slumber.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by the shrill sound of her phone ringing.

Ring ring.

Lina let out a small groan, barely lifting her head. Instead, she grabbed the pillow beside her and pressed it firmly over her ears, muffling the noise.

Ring ring.

The sound persisted, insistent. Lina rolled onto her side, her body shifting under the covers as she tried to ignore the disturbance. Her white hair fell across her face, and she muttered something incoherent in her sleep, clearly unbothered by the call.

The phone continued its rhythmic chime, filling the otherwise tranquil morning. But Lina, stubbornly wrapped in her cocoon of sleep, showed no signs of waking anytime soon.

Ring ring.

The persistent sound finally forced Lina to stir. With a groggy groan, she sat up on her bed, her white hair tousled and sticking out in every direction. Her yellow eyes narrowed into a glare as they locked onto the offending device.

Reaching over, she grabbed her phone and glanced at the screen. The name Yuuka flashed brightly..

Lina scowled. Without a second thought, she tapped the button and turned the phone off entirely, cutting the ringing short. She tossed it back onto the table and flopped back onto the bed, pulling the blanket over her head.

She closed her eyes, hoping to drift back to sleep. But it was no use. The irritation had seeped into her mind, and no matter how much she tried, her body refused to relax.

Grumbling softly, Lina pushed herself up again, her shoulders slumped in defeat. "So annoying..." she muttered under her breath.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she stood up and shuffled toward the mirror mounted on the wall. Her reflection stared back at her—a petite girl with messy white hair, sharp yellow eyes and a yellow halo floating above her. Barely past 140 centimeters tall, she looked as if she could be mistaken for a middle schooler rather than a high school student.

She sighed deeply, the kind of sigh that carried the weight of frustration and resignation. The girl in the mirror mirrored her every move, a quiet reminder of the strange body she now inhabited. Turning away, Lina muttered, "Whatever," and walked toward the door.

She opened it with a soft creak, stepping into the hallway. The building was silent as always, with only the faint hum of the morning air filling the void. Barefoot, she made her way down the hall toward the bathroom, her footsteps light against the cool floor.

"So cold..." Lina muttered as she hugged herself tightly, her bare feet padding softly against the cool floor as she walked toward the bathroom.

The air in the hallway felt crisp, almost biting, as if the emptiness of the building amplified the chill. You might wonder how a place like this—seemingly abandoned and devoid of any residents—could still have running water and electricity. And yet, here Lina was, relying on those very things to make her stay bearable. She didn't question it much anymore.

Arriving at the bathroom, Lina pushed the door open and stepped inside. The tiled walls reflected the faint morning light spilling in from the small window, creating an oddly serene atmosphere.

She began removing her clothes, letting them fall to the floor in a careless pile. Her shirt, then her shorts, until she was left standing bare in the quiet space. The cold air brushed against her skin, but she paid it little mind as she walked over to the shower.

Turning the knob, she let the water flow freely. A sudden burst of cold splashed against her, making her shiver for a moment, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she stepped fully under the stream, allowing the icy water to cascade over her.

Her face tilted upward, eyes closed, as the cold drops ran down her pale skin and soaked her white hair. She stood there in silence, letting the water wash over her, almost as if it could cleanse not just her body but the weight she carried within her.

The chill wasn't unpleasant—it was refreshing, almost grounding. For a brief moment, Lina let herself exist only in the sensation of the cold water, shutting out the thoughts that usually clouded her mind.

"If moments like this could last forever..." Lina whispered to herself, her voice soft and almost wistful as the cold water continued to cascade over her. For a fleeting second, she wished for time to stop, for this quiet, detached peace to never end.

But moments like these never lasted. With a small sigh, she reached for the shower knob and turned off the water. The steady stream came to an abrupt halt, leaving only the sound of faint drips echoing in the tiled room.

Grabbing the bottle of shampoo, she squeezed a small amount into her palm and began lathering it into her white hair. Her fingers worked through the strands methodically, ensuring every inch was covered. The faint scent of the shampoo filled the air, a small comfort in her otherwise plain routine.

Once her hair was thoroughly soaped, Lina turned the shower back on, the cold water flowing over her again as she rinsed out the suds. The shampoo washed away, leaving her hair clean and slightly heavier from the dampness.

After finishing her shower, she stepped out, water dripping from her as she reached for the towel nearby. Wrapping it loosely around herself, she padded over to the sink and stood before the mirror.

Lina grabbed her toothbrush and squeezed a line of toothpaste onto it. She began brushing her teeth, her movements slow and deliberate. As she brushed, her eyes wandered toward the cup sitting near the sink. Picking it up, she rinsed it thoroughly under the running tap before filling it with water.

Putting the toothbrush aside, Lina took a mouthful of water from the cup, gargling and spitting it out. She repeated the process a few more times until the minty taste of toothpaste was completely gone from her mouth.

Once finished, she placed the cup back by the sink and stood there for a moment.

"Alright," Lina muttered to herself, as she took her damp clothes from the floor and tossed them into a basket by the corner.

Still wrapped in her towel, she walked out of the bathroom, her bare feet lightly tapping against the floor as she made her way back to her room. Once inside, she stood in front of her wardrobe, pulling it open with a faint creak.

Her yellow eyes scanned the rows of clothing, and she began to carefully pick out her outfit for the day. First, she grabbed a simple white t-shirt and a jacket to go over it. Then, her hand hesitated as it hovered over a pair of bear-patterned panties.

Her face flushed slightly at the sight of the design. "Why...?" she muttered, embarrassed, but quickly shook her head and ignored the thought. With a sigh, she slipped them on, followed by a pair of small shorts. To complete the look, she grabbed a skirt to wear over the shorts for extra cover.

Standing in front of the mirror, Lina gave herself a once-over, adjusting her jacket and smoothing out the fabric of her skirt. She nodded to herself, satisfied with the outfit.

"Time to do the part-time job," she said quietly.

Grabbing her phone from the table, Lina pocketed it and stepped out of the room...

(A/n: shorty)