Eirin rushed into the contestants' tent, her heart thumping against her ribs, a frantic, terrified drum. The sound was almost as loud as the low, embarrassing growl from her empty stomach. She was alone. Of course. Everyone else had taken the lunch break she'd fled from. She sighed, a weary sound, and sank onto the chair in front of the mirror.
"Oh? Eirin, you're back so quickly."
The student council's secretary, a small, bustling figure, entered the tent, her arms full of props for the talent showcase. "Have you finished eating? Or did you barely touch your food?"
Eirin offered a weak smile, shaking her head gently. "I ate a little. Just enough."
"Wouldn't that be bad for you, though? You'll be dancing soon." The secretary's concern was a low, worried murmur.
The teenage girl shook her head again. "I don't eat much when I perform. It helps me feel lighter." The worried look on the secretary's face made Eirin sigh. "I'm fine, really."
