"Uh, th-that… It's really that expensive…?"
Lia's heart sank at Bran's words.
This morning.
She was happily heading to the academy for club activities, as usual.
Perhaps it was because she was excited at the thought of seeing Emil again today.
On her way to the academy, Lia spotted Bran walking ahead of her.
'Whoa! Hi! Bran!'
'...'
Crash!
'Oh no! Wh-what? Did you drop it because you were startled? I'm sorry…!'
'...'
It all started when her mischievous side kicked in, wanting to startle Bran.
The prank was a success.
As a result, Bran stopped dead in his tracks and dropped the vase he was holding.
A vase with an elegant pattern, empty inside.
The price of that vase was beyond imagination.
"So… 20 gold coins…?"
"Yes."
"Ugh, that's two thousand silver coins…"
"When converted, that's right."
She felt like she was about to have a fit.
Lia didn't have the money to pay back such a large sum.
Of course, she couldn't ask her parents for help.
Because her parents were already struggling with the cost of medicine for her sick younger sister.
'What should I do…?'
Her breathing grew ragged, and her hands began to tremble.
Her mind went blank.
As if delivering a death sentence to the trembling Lia, Bran opened his mouth.
"It's a valuable item cherished by my family. So I can't just let it go. Compensate me."
"..."
Bran said this with his usual calm and emotionless face.
No consideration, no leniency could be expected.
"Uhm, over there… Bran… about that…"
Lia bit back the urge to cry and spoke with difficulty.
And at that moment.
"Whoo-hoo~! Hello! Good morning!"
A familiar voice was heard from afar.
Bran and Lia turned their heads simultaneously.
And simultaneously, their eyes trembled.
Sierra and… Emil.
"Ah, ahaha…"
Lia waved with an awkward laugh, while Bran silently watched the two.
Soon, as if on cue, both of them turned around and started walking.
"Uhm… Bran…"
"..."
"I'm sorry, but… could we talk properly after club activities…?"
"...Yes."
Bran nodded with an expressionless face, devoid of any emotion.
But inside, he was smiling.
…Because he knew she wouldn't be able to pay back that money anyway.
'It's okay, Lia. Nothing big will happen. I promise.'
Bran glanced at Lia, who was walking beside him.
Unlike her usual self, she looked intimidated and covered in anxiety.
Bran looked at Lia with eyes full of love.
But that love was…
…considerably twisted.
***
After club activities ended, I walked to the dormitory with Sierra.
"The two of them cleaning up afterwards… isn't that suspicious?"
"..."
Sierra mumbled that as she walked slowly beside me.
I could feel her glancing my way.
When I didn't answer, Sierra continued.
"I have a strange feeling… Hmm… Honestly, Emil, what do you think?"
"..."
"Are the two of them… perhaps involved?"
"..."
I didn't answer.
No, it wasn't that I didn't answer; I was lost in thought and missed the chance to reply.
'Could it be… that?'
As I listened to Sierra's voice, I recalled memories from my third regression.
"..."
And when I had nothing to say to her words.
"What's wrong, Emil…"
She halted.
At that, I also stopped and turned to look at Sierra.
Then, for some reason, Sierra, with a gloomy face, was looking at me.
"Uh, yeah…?"
"Did you really have feelings for Lia…?"
"…Uh, huh? Suddenly?"
"What kind of relationship Lia and Bran have… that's what's bothering you right now, isn't it?"
"...Huh?"
No, it's not.
Taken aback by Sierra's sudden attitude, I was momentarily speechless.
"No, I'm sorry… I shouldn't have asked something so obvious. I'll go…"
And when I said nothing, Sierra walked past me and started to stride away on her own.
"Uh…? No, wait, wait…!"
Only then did my body move, and I desperately grabbed Sierra's arm.
"What, why are you grabbing me?"
"No, why are *you* suddenly leaving?"
"It doesn't matter whether I go or stay. Do we absolutely have to go together?"
"That's not it, but…"
"...Not true?"
I felt Sierra's gloomy eyes sharpen instantly.
Instinctively, I shook my head.
"..."
"..."
Fortunately, Sierra didn't shake off my hand.
She stood still, held by me, without a word.
I also held onto her wrist and didn't let go.
"Uhm…"
Then.
The one who spoke first was…
"Emil…"
…Sierra.
"Listen… why did you grab me?"
"...What?"
"You haven't answered anything since earlier. You can at least answer this."
"..."
Sierra's question again left me speechless.
It's like this every time.
Sierra makes me flustered.
Perhaps that's why I trembled so much when I was in front of her.
'I need to say something…'
But the words wouldn't come out easily.
What kind of answer should I give?
Various assumptions came to mind.
The answer was among them.
…But, would it be okay to tell the answer?
"…Actually,"
"…Actually?"
If I said the answer, I felt a sense that there would be no turning back.
But.
"Actually, it's true that Lia and Bran are bothering me."
"..."
I spoke honestly.
Looking directly into Sierra's eyes.
At that, Sierra's eyes widened in surprise for a moment.
Then she quickly lowered her head, looking gloomy again.
However, my answer wasn't finished.
"But it's not what you're thinking!"
"...Huh?"
"I don't know why you're making such strange assumptions on your own…! I don't care at all whether Lia and Bran work out or not!"
At my urgent words, Sierra silently met my gaze.
On that face, which seemed to be waiting for what I would say next.
I gently avoided her gaze and, swallowing my embarrassment, opened my mouth.
"And…"
"And…?"
"..."
A step…
As I failed to continue speaking, Sierra gently stepped closer to me.
And she leaned her face towards me, who had turned my head away.
"...And?"
"..."
At that, I forced myself to meet her eyes and spoke.
"…And while Lia and Bran are certainly on my mind, if you were to leave alone right now…"
"..."
"…that would bother me far more."
"That's why I grabbed you. Satisfied?"
"..."
Having finished my answer, I released Sierra's wrist.
Now, come what may.
Go if you want to.
That's how I felt.
"..."
But Sierra didn't leave; she remained standing right in front of me.
When I glanced at her, feeling curious.
"Heh…"
Sierra was looking at me, her cheeks slightly flushed, smiling softly.
And then.
"Uh, huh?"
"Let's go!"
She took my hand.
"…What, you said you'd go ahead just now."
"Now I'm going with you?"
"..."
What should I do now?
'Is this okay…?'
I actually knew.
That Sierra had feelings for me.
Of course.
After all, I had pursued heroines five times, and even though I was betrayed, I had still succeeded in capturing them.
The expressions she showed me were familiar.
But precisely because of that.
I had continuously ignored them and tried not to care until now.
The fact that I had pursued heroines five times meant…
…I had been betrayed by those heroines five times.
'Is it human distrust…?'
Sierra wasn't bad.
She was probably a pure and good person.
That was the conclusion I'd reached from being with her so far.
If there was a problem.
It was myself.
"...Huh? Why?"
"..."
As I intently watched her, Sierra smiled shyly and tilted her head.
At that, I offered a faint smile and said nothing.
'Lia was like this too…'
I simply recalled the heroines who had betrayed me.
And among them.
I recalled Lia's third regression, which I was currently pursuing.
***
It was around the time summer vacation was almost over.
At that time, the [Summer Limited Board Game Club] created by Lia had no less than seven members.
Me, Lia, and Bran.
And four other students.
The reason the number differed from the current sixth regression was.
Because at the beginning of summer vacation, with only three members, board game activities were difficult, so Lia personally recruited people.
Thus, the club became active.
Everyone spent their summer vacation happily enjoying board games.
And as summer vacation was coming to an end.
"I like you, Lia."
"..."
I confessed to Lia, watching the fireworks exploding in the sky at the city's last summer festival.
To my confession, Lia…
"Hehehe… I won, didn't I? Since I got confessed to."
…accepted my confession with her usual playful laugh.
It was a playful smile, but her eyes seemed happy.
And at her acceptance, I was also very happy.
This time.
…This time, there would be no problems.
That's what I strongly believed.
"Uh, Emil…"
And my belief began to crumble…
…three days before summer vacation ended.
It began with Lia's suggestion, after all other club members had gone home and only she and I remained.
"Would you… like to play a game?"
Remaining alone in the clubroom, she placed her hand on mine and asked that.
"A game?"
"Yes… I found something fun…"
Until then, I hadn't thought much of it.
Just like usual.
It seemed Lia had found something fun again.
That's what I thought.
But.
"Hello, Emil. Welcome."
"...Bran?"
It wasn't just Lia and me playing the game.
"Why are you…"
"Well… because I prepared this game."
After returning to the dormitory, as promised with Lia, I went into the annex clubroom in the middle of the night.
Bran was waiting there with dim lighting.
And beside him sat Lia, her head bowed, unable to look at me.
To my dismay, Bran grinned.
He, who was always expressionless, was smiling.
And he said to me.
"You've become Lia's lover, haven't you? Emil."
"...Then why."
"Then you must love Lia, right?"
"..."
I looked at Lia for a moment, then glared sharply at Bran and spoke.
"What on earth did you do to Lia?"
To my question, Bran chuckled and replied.
"Listen, Emil. Why don't you play a game for Lia's sake?"
"...What?"
"If you win, I'll make everything as if it never happened."