"Mahima, it looks like your training is going well for the competition," my teacher said.

"Yes," I replied, "I'm able to practice with high quality, and my condition is perfect."

"That's great," he said, a smile spreading across his face. "This competition is for your third consecutive championship, Mahima. The teachers are expecting a lot from you."

"I'll do my best to live up to their expectations," I assured him, feeling the weight of their hopes on my shoulders.

"Hahaha," he chuckled, "I'm sure you'll be fine, Mahima! I'm already getting a banner ready for your victory."

"That's a little too soon..." I mumbled, feeling a pang of unease.

My victories in various competitions have made the Kendo club famous, and the teacher has been praised from all sides, apparently giving him a lot of power at the school.

"You got A ratings on all of your recent mock exams, right?" he asked, his gaze intense. "I'm hoping you and Miyachi will become our school's first ever students to get accepted into [University name]."

"...Yes," I managed to say, feeling like a chess piece being moved around on a board.

Grades, evaluations... This man is also only looking at the surface of me.

────

"Mahima-senpai, haven't you been practicing a lot lately?" a younger club member asked, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Well," I said, trying to sound nonchalant, "it's the final competition of high school. I have to push myself to this extent..."

"Wow, that's amazing," she said. "Good luck in the competition, Senpai. All the club members are cheering you on!"

"Yeah, I'll do my best," I replied, feeling the pressure of their expectations.

"Mahima-senpai is good at studying, she's the ace in club activities, and she has a great personality and appearance," she continued, her voice filled with awe. "She's perfect."

"...I'm not like that," I countered, feeling a surge of frustration. "I have plenty of flaws."

"Eh? No, no, no!" she exclaimed. "If you have flaws, Senpai, then I must have way too many! It's crazy!"

"It's cute and approachable to have flaws in human," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Really? Am I cute?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Yeah, you're really cute," I said, feeling a small smile tug at my lips.

"Yay!" she squealed, her face beaming.

It's not good to be perfect. It's only tiring.

────

"Sorry I'm late," I said, as I met up with Jin at the bookstore.

"No, I just got here too, so it's fine," he replied, his usual cheerful demeanor evident.

I had promised to go buy textbooks with Jin today for studying for the entrance exams.

"Jin, lately... I've been having some worries lately," I confessed, feeling the weight of my anxieties.

"What's wrong suddenly?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

While we were walking towards the bookstore, I couldn't help but spill it out to Jin.

Jin is also someone who is expected a lot from... Maybe he'll understand how I feel.

"I feel pressured by everyone's expectations... I feel like I'm going to be crushed under the weight of them," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

"...Huh. What's wrong with that?" he asked, his response surprising me.

"Eh?" I exclaimed, confused by his reaction.

I'm surprised by Jin's sigh-filled response.

"That's only natural," he said, his voice laced with a strange calmness. "You're everyone's role model, Reina. Isn't that what you should be striving for? I'm also expected a lot from, but I'm confident I can live up to all of it."

Jin says this with a confident expression. He looks so bright.

"I have high expectations for you too, Reina," he said, his eyes filled with genuine encouragement. "Don't let pressure get to you."

"...But what if I lose the competition?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"It's okay," he said, his voice reassuring. "You won't fail, Reina. You've never failed before."

Never failed before... That's right... I've lived perfectly up until now.

"I won't fail in club activities or the entrance exams," he said, his smile unwavering. "We'll go to the same university."

"...Yeah. Thank you," I said, feeling a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support.

"We're getting a little gloomy, aren't we?" he said, his voice laced with playful teasing. "Let's go find some textbooks."

"Okay," I replied, a small smile gracing my lips.

...Jin, like everyone else, is on the side that has expectations for me.

'I have high hopes for you.' 'I'm expecting a lot from you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'We're counting on you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'We're expecting a lot from you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I'm expecting a lot from you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'We're counting on you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'We're expecting a lot from you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I'm expecting a lot from you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'We're counting on you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'We're expecting a lot from you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.' 'I have high hopes for you.'

'Because Mahima Reina is perfect.'