The definitive midterm grades were released the next day.
'I did it….'
Mari, after checking her report card, gave an emotional smile and hugged the report card to her chest.
'With this, I can finally achieve it….'
What she had always dreamed of since entering the academy.
It was Damien Oppa's acknowledgment.
As an illegitimate child, Mari had only ever had Damien by her side since childhood.
Her goal was to be acknowledged by him, who had somehow grown cold towards her.
Then, surely, they would be like before.
She would be able to get along well with Damien.
But.
"..."
For some reason, Mari, having confirmed her target grades, felt her cheeks flush and her heart pound.
Surely, until now, Damien had been her most desperate goal.
Now that she had received good grades.
Another man's face kept popping into her mind instead of Damien's.
She swallowed hard.
Mari buried her face in her arms on the desk, hiding her flushed cheeks.
'I'm really… doing it now.'
As the matter came directly before her, she began to tremble uncontrollably.
'I'm… confessing.'
Not a reconciliation with Damien.
Only the confession to Emil flickered in her mind.
It was strange.
Surely, her relationship with Damien, her family, should have been her top priority.
Since when?
Just when did Emil grow so large in her heart?
…The first time he approached her, offering to form a study group with her?
…Or when he stopped Damien on the rooftop?
…Perhaps it was the moment she was hit by Malcolm and collapsed.
From a certain point.
Before she knew it, Mari found herself thinking of Emil every time.
'I like him….'
Even now, after checking her report card.
Mari thought of Emil, her face flushed, as she lay slumped on her desk.
Perhaps it was because her heart was so full of Emil.
"Oppa."
"..."
Afterward, during lunchtime, Mari wasn't nervous at all when she called Damien out again.
Of course, there was excitement.
The excitement of being acknowledged.
But she wasn't nervous.
Certainly, when she had called him out before to show him her quiz results, she had been so scared.
Now, she wasn't afraid at all.
Why was that?
When she pondered that question, Emil's face still came to mind.
"These are… my midterm grades."
"..."
Mari held out her report card to Damien.
Damien took the report card with an indifferent expression and checked it.
'What kind of reaction will he show?'
This moment.
It was the moment she had always dreamed of for the past few years.
The moment she had imagined and wished for countless times unfolded before her eyes.
In those imaginations, Damien either smiled brightly or glared coldly.
But either way, it didn't matter.
Mari thought so.
Then.
"You've changed, Mari."
"...Huh?"
Damien, who folded the report card neatly and returned it to Mari, said that.
That was completely unexpected.
"Are you talking about my grades?"
"No, your aura."
At Damien's words, Mari tilted her head.
At that moment, Damien smiled faintly.
"..."
It was Damien's smile, which she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Your grades are excellent, but I like this changed aura of yours."
"…W-what part are you talking about?"
"Since childhood, you've clung to me too much."
"Ah…."
"It's good to see that part has changed. That part is more commendable than your grades."
Eagerly desired praises poured out from Oppa's lips.
But the reason wasn't her grades.
Her changed aura.
Mari, who had blindly chased Oppa until now, no longer chased him.
Then Damien, who had pushed her away.
He gave a soft pat.
"You've worked hard."
Instead, he smiled and gently stroked Mari's head.
They had grown closer.
She had achieved the dream she had longed for.
"Sniff…. Th-thank you."
Tears flowed naturally.
But unlike before, these were not sad tears shed to gain Damien's attention.
Tears of joy.
Damien looked at Mari with a pleased expression and said.
"Is this also thanks to that guy from before?"
"..."
That guy.
At the words that came from Damien's mouth, Mari momentarily held her breath and flushed.
Then Damien, with a knowing look, turned his back and left.
"He's a good friend. If you invite him over to the house later, let's have a meal together."
The door clanked shut, and Mari was left alone on the rooftop.
Damien was gone.
Normally, that fact would leave a corner of her heart empty and anxious.
Her heart pounded, pounded.
"Ah…"
Mari, with a flushed face, clasped her hands tightly over her chest.
Her heart, which should have felt empty, was filled with warmth.
Emil's face still came to mind.
'Now all that's left is… the confession.'
. . .
Confession.
To convey her feelings to Emil.
When she first realized her feelings for Emil, Mari resolved to confess to him.
She had certainly resolved to do so…
'H-how do I confess…?'
As she was about to put it into action, Mari's mind became muddled, and her ability to think declined.
The most overwhelming feeling was anxiety.
She was now feeling the anxiety she should have felt for Damien, for Emil instead.
'Is it okay to confess…? What if he rejects me…? What if he dislikes me…?'
Numerous worries that hadn't crossed her mind when it was merely a vague goal before.
They blocked Mari's vision.
In truth, there was no guarantee that the confession would succeed.
However, even so, Mari wanted to convey her feelings.
'It's okay….'
Thus, she tried hard to calm her heart and encouraged herself.
'It'll be fine.'
The basis was her memories with Emil.
His warm smile looking at her, his voice encouraging her when she was anxious.
'Emil must also… see me in a good light.'
Based on those memories, she dispelled her worries.
"Phew…."
She wanted to be lovers with Emil.
She wanted Emil to be hers alone.
To do that, she had to confess.
Because if she didn't confess, nothing would happen.
"Alright…!"
Mari steeled her resolve with a small voice and stood up.
The current time was after school.
Today, the day the midterm grades were released.
Most study groups took time to celebrate their hard work and mutual help.
Mari's study group was no different.
Therefore, she moved from her seat and headed to the annex building.
The door slid open.
As she opened the classroom door with a trembling heart, the members she always met were seated there.
"Ah, Mari~! How was your exam?"
Sierra greeted her with a bright smile.
Emil, already knowing the results, was smiling contentedly.
'Malcolm is… not here.'
Her childhood friend wasn't there.
Of course, that was expected.
He hadn't participated in the study group at all recently.
She thought he wouldn't show up today either.
More importantly, Malcolm wasn't what mattered right now.
Mari calmed her trembling heart and approached them, smiling as naturally as possible.
"Yeah! It went really well!"
And she naturally sat next to Emil.
Afterward, small talk revolved around Sierra.
The conversation mainly consisted of congratulations and checking grades.
"By the way, how did you do this time, Sierra?"
Mari asked what she had been curious about throughout the conversation.
After all, Sierra had always devoted herself to studying during the study group, saying, 'I'll get first place this time!'
And in response to Mari's question, Sierra smiled brightly and showed her report card.
"Ta-da."
A confident look.
At that sight, Mari checked the rank section of the report card.
The number 2 was clearly written there.
"Wow, that's amazing! You're second again! …Oh."
"Yeah, I did well, but I failed."
"Oh, it's, it's okay, Sierra. You'll definitely get first place next time."
"Haa… I wonder…"
At Mari's comfort, Sierra let out a small sigh.
Then she gave a disgruntled smile and glared at the man next to Mari.
"Because there's such a formidable person holding the top spot."
At her words, Mari was surprised and looked to her side.
Emil, receiving the gazes of the two women, gave an awkward smile with an uncomfortable expression.
'Emil got first place again…. That's amazing….'
Of course, she had expected Emil to get good grades.
Still, getting first place again was truly remarkable.
'Can someone like me… really confess?'
Mari realized the gap between Emil and herself anew.
Again, anxious thoughts began to creep up.
'N-no…!'
Mari gently shook her head, shaking off that worry.
She shouldn't hesitate.
She should bravely take one step forward.
Because Emil was so wonderful, someone else might snatch him away.
"Hey…! Everyone worked hard together this time…! Sh-should we do something to celebrate?"
Mari brought up an idea she had thought of beforehand as the conversation was winding down.
"To celebrate? What are we going to do?"
At Mari's words, the two people looked at her with curious expressions.
"Let's go out for dinner. I know a good place. How about it?"
Mari answered as naturally as possible.
Then.
"Hmm… Dinner, you say…"
Sierra, who heard Mari's answer, smiled with a subtle expression.
Just as Mari was wondering what she was thinking.
"Sorry, I don't think I can make it."
Sierra apologized with a mischievous grin.
"Huh? W-why…?"
"Yeah, I have an earlier engagement. I'm really sorry…. It's not that I don't want to go, but it's a really important appointment…"
"Ah… I see."
Mari instantly became dispirited at the unexpected response.
'If Sierra can't go… then Emil also….'
If the plan went awry, she wouldn't be able to confess today.
But.
"Instead! You two go!"
"Huh…?"
Sierra said that with a bright smile.
And seeing the surprised Mari, she smiled faintly.
A look that seemed to know something.
Mari was subtly moved by that look.
'Sierra….'
She realized immediately.
That Sierra, who had noticed her feelings, was being considerate of her.
"Well, everyone worked hard, and I'll get going first! Let's go together next time! Bye!"
Afterward, Sierra waved goodbye to the two with a mischievous grin.
Mari and Emil, left standing alone in the hallway, waved back at Sierra.
Then they gently looked at each other.
"Shall we go?"
And Emil, meeting Mari's eyes, said that with a gentle smile.
"Y-yeah…"
With Sierra's help, they naturally ended up on a date alone.
At that fact, Mari felt her heart pounding wildly.
'Now, I-I really have no choice but to do it….'
Steeling her resolve.
Mari, who had run simulations in her mind countless times.
Afterward, she left the academy with Emil and headed to a restaurant downtown.
. . .
The meal was excellent.
It couldn't be otherwise.
Because she had taken time last weekend, when she should have been focusing on studying, to scout out good restaurants.
"I didn't know there was a place like this."
"Is it good…?"
"Yeah, I like it."
"Heh, that's a relief…."
Therefore, Mari smiled shyly, watching Emil happily eat the food that had been ordered.
Afterward, the two had a pleasant conversation on various topics.
"So, I even received praise from Oppa."
She didn't forget to report what had happened with Damien.
After all, Emil's help had been a huge factor in that matter.
When she said that she thought her relationship with Damien would improve, Emil genuinely rejoiced for her.
Seeing that sight.
Mari caught a glimpse of hope.
'I think it'll be okay….'
Of course, a slight feeling of unease still lingered.
Enjoyable conversation.
An affectionate atmosphere.
As they were on a date, looking at Emil, she didn't feel like he would reject her.
"It's on your cheek, Mari."
"Huh? Ah…!"
Feeling Emil's gentle touch as he wiped her cheek with a napkin, Mari felt like her heart would burst.
To the point where she could no longer bear it.
'I like him….'
She wanted to quickly convey this pounding heart to Emil.
'I like you… Emil.'
And she wanted to hear from him too.
'I like you….'
She wanted to hear that Emil felt the same way.
Therefore.
After the meal, in the evening.
On their way back to the dormitory, while walking together down a moonlit path.
Mari stopped Emil.
"W-wait a moment…"
"..."
She grabbed his clothes with her hand and bowed her head.
Due to her trembling heart and flushed face, she couldn't look him straight in the eye.
But.
"I… have something I want to say to Emil."
No matter how embarrassed and nervous she was.
Because she could no longer suppress these feelings, Mari gathered her courage and lifted her head.
"What is it?"
Emil was still looking at her with a gentle smile.
Certainly, it was a dark evening, under the moonlight.
But his smile was so dazzling that it was hard to look at him directly.
But Mari didn't avert her gaze.
Forcefully holding back what felt like tears from nervousness.
She spoke with difficulty.
"Th-this time… Emil helped me so much."
"Yeah."
"So… I'm incredibly grateful. Thank you…."
"It was nothing."
But the true feelings she wanted to say didn't come out.
'This isn't it….'
She flushed and tightly clenched her trembling hands.
This wasn't what she wanted to say.
Of course, she was grateful to him.
But what she wanted to convey wasn't this.
Therefore, once more.
Mari took a deep breath.
And squeezed her eyes shut.
"So I… I-I like Emil━!"
"..."
Fearing he might not hear, she inadvertently shouted loudly.
After shouting.
'I said it…!'
Now that there was no turning back, Mari spoke unhesitatingly.
"I like Emil, who is kind to me…! It's not sudden…! I've always thought that all this time…."
"..."
Emil's answer didn't come.
Was he waiting for her?
Thinking that, Mari spoke all her feelings to the end.
"So…"
Just one more word.
She just needed to utter this one word.
"So… I want to be in a good relationship with Emil…."
Her heart pounded, pounded, pounded.
Her heart pounded more violently than ever before.
Her face was hot, and her eyes were red from nervousness.
She desperately wanted to run away, but she couldn't.
Because she had to hear Emil's answer.
And then.
"...Mari."
To her heartfelt confession, Emil smiled faintly.
At that smile, Mari momentarily felt hope.
She impulsively thought, *It's done.*
But.
"I'm sorry, I don't think that'll be possible."
"...Huh?"
The answer she received was cruel, unlike what she had expected.