Chapter 292
Time scatters along with the tiny stars.
No matter how much you try to hold onto it, you can't.
Even if you want to turn it back, it's impossible.
Just as everyone has moments they wish to rewind, a girl lingering in the moment let out a sigh as she gazed at the brightly shining stars.
"Huaa..."
Sitting under the night sky, Yuria looked at the twinkling stars with a faint smile.
"...They're beautiful."
Thinking of someone she missed.
"So much that I want to have them."
She murmured softly, carrying a small desire in her voice.
For Yuria, the world was both difficult and delightful. After all, life couldn't always be filled with only good things.
Her father, who had been with her during her carefree days.
Her friends, who had stood by her during hard times.
And.
-Are you alright?
There was always someone who protected her unwaveringly, so she never thought of herself as unfortunate. Though hardships certainly existed.
There had been many events.
There had been many misunderstandings.
And she had committed many sins.
She had inflicted a deep wound on that person.
Under the starlight, Yuria gazed at the sky with somber eyes. The stars, embedded as if they were about to pour down, evoked both admiration and regret.
"Truly... so beautiful."
Sometimes, she thought about it.
The thought that she had been of no help to that person.
At the ball.
In the North.
And even when she faced the existence of the Apostle.
She hadn't been of any help at all.
Hanna, who was younger than her, had faced the Apostle without fear and drawn her sword. Mikhail had gritted his teeth and protected their friends.
Yet she had stood there, doing nothing, frozen in place. The realization left her feeling stifled.
That person had carried all the burdens, after all.
It was frustrating.
She felt like a fool, useless and stupid, weighed down by the vague reality that she might always be a burden. Her sighs carried a sting.
'I want to be helpful.'
Despite receiving so much help and immeasurable grace, Yuria despised her own incompetence for being unable to give anything in return.
No clear answer came to her mind, but compared to the love he had shown her, she had done nothing for him.
Doubts piled up.
The answers drifted further away.
Her feelings weren't like that, but the words she carelessly uttered lacked the weight of responsibility.
Yuria washed her face with her dry hands, trying to soothe the bitterness. No matter how much he said it was fine, the burden didn't disappear.
-Click.
Had she been lost in thought for too long? From far away, she heard the sound of a woman's footsteps. Despite the late hour, the steps were firm and heavy.
-Ahem...!
The sound came from the hill path.
Yuria slightly lifted her head to check the face of the approaching figure.
And.
-Eeeek!
She spotted a younger underclassman carrying a black bundle on her back.
-Why does this dormitory have so many uphill paths...!
-I swear, Shuen... When I become the Academy's top authority someday, the first thing I'll do is fix these hills...!
Shuen, drenched in sweat, was making her way toward the dormitory, a broad smile on her face.
-Hahaha... But it's fine. At least I won't have to worry about meals for three days! Even if the proprietress scolds me, there's nothing I can do! As a noble, embezzlement is practically a given! Bad habits are hard to break, you know.
-This Shuen is quite clever and seems like a model housekeeper! I wonder if even commoners think so!
-Oh-ho-ho... Hah... But it's so heavy...
Watching Shuen talking to herself in a cheerful voice, Yuria smiled softly and waited for her.
"..."
Because she was adorable.
It might seem strange to find a younger underclassman cute, but after seeing Shuen working at the convenience store recently, Yuria couldn't help but think so. She waited for Shuen to approach.
-What...? This lunchbox was something I hid to eat secretly...!
-Oh, was it?
-I can't believe it! Yuria-senpai, you're a hidden master of treasure hunting!
-No, it's fine. I can eat something else.
-I'm touched! I'll specially give you the leftovers!
-No, really...
-No way! This is a privilege reserved for someone wearing this uniform! Just accept the authority quietly!
Because she wanted to hear Shuen's story.
Thinking that it might ease her melancholic mood even a little, Yuria smiled as she waited for Shuen. When Shuen, walking with her gaze on the ground, passed by Yuria, she greeted her cheerfully.
"Oh! You're... no, wait! Yuria-senpai?"
"It's been a while, Shuen."
"Nice to see you!"
Shuen, wearing an expression as if she'd met her savior, spoke to Yuria.
"Have you had dinner by any chance?"
"Huh?"
"I have some leftovers...!"
"No, I already ate..."
Ignoring Yuria's words, Shuen placed her bundle on the ground and muttered, "This time, I'll give her a lot!" as she eagerly focused on sharing.
Yuria watched Shuen's actions with a contented smile.
"Inari sushi is off-limits..."
"..."
"Pork cutlet is also a no-go."
"..."
"Spinach lunchbox...! This one should be fine!"
Thinking that Shuen's treasure hunt might never end, Yuria cautiously spoke up.
"Hey, Shuen."
"Just a moment! I'll find a delicious lunchbox soon...!"
"Do you have someone you like?"
-Pause.
"You've seemed happy lately. I was just wondering."
"Hmm..."
Shuen tried to suppress the corners of her lips from curling up into a smile.
"Do I look happy these days?"
"Yeah... Every time I see you, you're always smiling."
"Hahaha... I see. You asked if I have someone I like, right?"
"Yeah. Do you?"
"Hahaha."
In response to the pleasant question, Shuen handed Yuria the pork cutlet lunchbox from the top of the bundle and answered.
"I recently found someone."
"Really?"
"Haha... That's right."
"You seem so mature."
"Hehe...!"
Shuen, who had no talent for hiding her emotions, nodded at Yuria's compliment and looked at the bench.
"Shall we eat together?"
"Shall we?"
"Not because it's too heavy... but I was just looking for someone to eat with. There's no one to eat with even if I go back to the dormitory."
"Then that's perfect for me."
"But what are you doing here, Yuria-senpai? It's so late already."
"Me...?"
Yuria gave a vague smile and softly answered Shuen's question.
"I just came out to get some fresh air because staying in the dormitory felt suffocating."
"Oh... Is this the kind of worry a third-year has?"
"Puhaha! Not really, it's just that I've been overthinking. I'm learning things slower compared to others."
"Hmm... It is definitely difficult."
Shuen nodded as she looked at Yuria, as if she understood the concerns Yuria had about her studies.
"I also get upset when I fall behind commoners—no, my peers, in grades. Anyway! What were we talking about?"
Yuria silently expressed her gratitude for Shuen's consideration and carefully continued the conversation.
"We were talking about someone we like."
"That's right. Someone we like..."
Every time the words "someone we like" brushed past her ears, Shuen's lips curled into a smile.
"Can I ask what kind of person they are?"
It was a conversation between girls.
The kind of conversation girls often have at this age.
Shuen, who had never had the chance to say such things to anyone, blushed and shyly spoke.
"He's handsome. So much so that he disregards the gap in status like it's nothing..."
"..."
"He's incredibly kind, never says anything mean, and he's amazing at fighting too."
Shuen spoke in a bashful voice, almost boasting about the man in her memory. It was an experience she could proudly share with someone.
"The man I like, you see, once put on a clown performance in the middle of a crowded street for me. Just so I wouldn't be sad..."
"Wow..."
"And when I was crying, he showed up and asked if I was okay. He even told silly jokes to make me laugh."
"He sounds like a really great person."
"That's right... At first, I thought he was just a passing pebble, but when I picked him up, he turned out to be a hidden gem. And he's super, super handsome too..."
"Of course, it's unrequited love, though."
Excitedly boasting, Shuen timidly added her last words and lowered her head.
"But it's okay. I, Shuen, believe that love isn't about waiting; it's about seizing it."
"..."
"I think if I hesitate, he might end up charming another woman!"
"You're amazing."
"Of course! I'm the proud eldest daughter of the Tetra Household...! This kind of challenge is nothing for me!"
Yuria smiled softly at Shuen's determination. She didn't know who the man was, but he seemed like an incredible person, just like the man she liked.
Kind.
So kind it was almost foolish.
Someone so considerate that he reminded her of the man she liked. Of course, he wouldn't surpass her own feelings for her man... but he seemed like a genuinely good person.
Yuria smiled faintly and cautiously spoke to Shuen. After all, if you hear something, you should give something in return.
"I also have someone I like."
"Yuria-senpai?!"
"Shh! It's a secret..."
"I love secrets. Even though I look like this, I can keep my mouth sealed tight."
In the empty park, Shuen's small voice and exaggerated head-turning made Yuria smile shyly as she carefully spoke.
"The man I like is also someone as wonderful as yours, Shuen."
"Ohhh..."
"He's incredibly kind."
"Eek!"
"His voice is amazing too."
"Eek!"
"And he's handsome."
"Eeeek!"
"He's really tall too."
"A prince on a white horse?!"
"Puhaha! Maybe. To me, he was like a prince on a white horse. He always appeared like a hero whenever I was struggling."
"That's so romantic!"
Yuria nodded with a small smile at Shuen's excited expression.
"Is it?"
"Of course! Though he probably can't compare to the person I like!"
"Hmm, is that so...? I don't think the person I like would lose to the one you like either."
"Now I'm really curious..."
Yuria spent a long time chatting with Shuen, sharing stories that were hard to tell others. Beneath the starry night sky, they exchanged questions and answers.
The last question was particularly memorable. Even though it hadn't been asked, they both carried the same worry.
"I want to repay him."
"Huh?"
"He did so much for me. He stopped me from making bad decisions and saved me when I was in danger."
"...Shuen."
"So I want to work hard and earn money...! And treat him to something delicious! Not from a convenience store, but from a really fancy restaurant!"
Yuria felt her lingering doubts vanish at Shuen's words. From the start, she had been looking at it the wrong way.
It wasn't about "how much can I sacrifice." Starting small was enough.
Yuria looked at Shuen's face and smiled brightly.
"Thank you."
The stars were so bright.
And then.
[The 'Awakening' begins.]
The moon was bright too.