I sat blankly on my bed after waking up in the morning.
Yesterday, I rejected Lia's confession.
Since the 'Memory of Despair' perk had activated, that was clear.
'…Will she be okay?'
It wasn't that I was particularly worried about Lia's feelings.
After all, I was doing this precisely so she would recall betraying me and feel even a little guilt.
What I was worried about, however, was.
Lia's heart breaking, and… in what way she would return.
I was worried about that.
'Mari started to become obsessive, and Chris said she wanted to be used by me.'
I couldn't predict how Lia would approach me.
…Will she get angry?
…Or will she cling to me while crying?
"Hmm… either way is troublesome…"
I just hoped it would pass quietly like this.
Of course, I knew well that wouldn't happen.
"..."
Somehow, it bothered me more than with Mari and Chris.
Why was that?
I sat on the bed, deep in thought.
And what came to mind was, naturally, Sierra.
…Her face, as she smiled and walked past after seeing Lia and me together yesterday, came to mind.
"What now, after all this time…"
I suddenly felt like a fool.
I had been betrayed five times.
Five times I struggled and did my best to be happy, and this is how it turned out.
Yet, I was trying to like someone again.
I couldn't help but laugh.
…Even though I couldn't trust anyone anymore anyway.
"Shall I go out…?"
Sunlight had already streamed through the window, and the murmuring of students began to be heard from outside the door.
Matching that, I also got ready and left the dormitory.
Fortunately, Lia wasn't waiting in front of the dormitory or anything.
Thanks to that, I walked blankly towards the academy for a while.
Then.
"Ah…"
Just then, I spotted Sierra coming out of the girls' dormitory.
"..."
"..."
She also met my eyes.
Somehow, it felt like this was the first time this had happened.
Was it because Sierra usually appeared with a surprise?
'Should I do something too?'
While I was thinking such foolish thoughts and staring blankly at Sierra.
"..."
She quickly turned.
Sierra simply turned her body and walked away.
"Huh…?"
At that, I blurted out a foolish sound in surprise.
Only one thought came to mind.
…Why didn't she say hello?
Normally, Sierra would energetically approach, saying, 'Ah~! I missed my chance, I should have come out a bit later!'
The expression I just saw on Sierra's face wasn't that bright smile.
Nor was it the sullen expression she sometimes showed.
'Is she… angry…?'
It was such a blank expression that I couldn't feel any emotion from it, to the point where I wondered that.
"..."
"..."
Footsteps echoed.
In the end, I followed behind Sierra, leaving only questions.
As I walked, countless thoughts came to mind.
Among them, the one that bothered me the most was.
…Should I go up and talk to her?
'No, but if she's angry, bothering her might just make her feel worse….'
And the next thing that bothered me the most was.
…Why was she angry, exactly?
'I didn't do anything….'
Thinking that, I felt wronged for a brief moment.
"..."
But soon after, something that I suspected was the cause flashed through my mind.
…What happened yesterday.
Sierra seeing me walking home with Lia.
'Surely… no, no… it couldn't just be for a reason like that…'
For a moment, I denied that reason in my head.
"..."
But I wasn't a fool either.
No, perhaps I was trying hard to remain a fool.
━That the reason Sierra was angry was because I walked home with Lia.
That it was a reason filled with such intense affection.
I might be denying that.
"..."
But unfortunately, I couldn't be that stupid.
I knew.
Why Sierra was acting coldly.
Footsteps.
"..."
"Oh…"
And before I knew it.
I had arrived at the academy, following Sierra.
While I was agonizing, the chance to make a choice had slipped away.
Footsteps.
Just like that, Sierra ascended the stairs alone and entered her classroom.
Without looking back even once.
"..."
What choice should I have made?
Was it right to talk to her?
If I talked to her?
What would I say if I talked to her?
"..."
I stood blankly in front of the main building's entrance for a while, not knowing the answer.
Sierra had been in a bad mood since morning.
Why was that?
It wasn't that she was particularly ill or anything.
The reason was clear.
"..."
Jealousy.
She had welcomed such a gloomy morning because of a simple emotion like that.
Finding it trivial and embarrassing, Sierra curled up in bed for a while, burying her face in her pillow.
And now, inside the academy classroom.
…The lecture wasn't sinking in.
"..."
Normally, it would be a class she needed to listen to even more diligently to snatch the top rank from Emil.
'…Why didn't he talk to me?'
With a frustrated heart, she pouted and looked up at the innocent sky.
'…He could have at least said hello first today.'
Thoughts filled with nothing but dissatisfaction.
Then, a bad thought came to mind.
'No way…'
What came to mind was that moment yesterday when she was waiting for Emil.
The moment she saw Emil walking out with Lia.
Sierra hesitated for a moment, unsure what expression to make.
She had clearly confirmed that Lia had feelings for Emil that morning.
Even Chris, and Mari too.
Witnessing their interest in Emil, her heart became consumed by anxiety.
And it was then that she witnessed it.
Emil walking affectionately with Lia.
"..."
Her eyes welled up for no reason.
She was in class right now.
She shouldn't cry, but she was frustrated that tears welled up on their own.
'What's their relationship….'
Lia had feelings for Emil.
That was something she had clearly and certainly confirmed.
If so, what about Emil, who was walking intimately with her?
What did Emil think of Lia?
'...Why didn't he talk to me this morning?'
Thinking about that made Sierra's heart even gloomier.
She felt like going back to the dormitory and just sleeping.
Only unpleasant, anxious assumptions came to mind.
Such feelings only grew larger because Emil had simply ignored her that morning.
If only he had talked to her.
…Then it could have just ended as simple jealousy.
"..."
Anxious thoughts spiraled, one after another.
Emil laughing with Lia.
The two of them walking intimately.
The two of them looking embarrassed.
And finally, even Emil falling in love with Lia.
"Ugh…"
At the imagination that kept resurfacing on its own, even when she didn't want to recall it.
Sierra pressed her lips together with a dissatisfied expression.
Perhaps.
She might have to prepare herself.
She thought so.
And so, the first period passed, then the second, and then the third and fourth, all while she was steeped in gloomy emotions.
Sierra arrived at lunchtime.
"..."
She didn't particularly feel like eating.
But after thinking bad thoughts all morning, she was hungry.
With a light rustle.
Just like that, Sierra stood up from the classroom, where all the students had left, and headed for the door.
Then.
"Waaah—!!"
"Kyaaaah—!!"
At the sudden noise, Sierra screamed.
"..."
"Ha, see, you got scared too. I told you I'm not a coward, didn't I?"
It was Emil.
"..."
"What, why?"
Sierra looked at Emil, clutching her pounding chest in surprise.
Emil then replied curtly.
"...Ugh."
Sierra subtly frowned.
And then she walked past Emil.
"Huh, huh? W-wait!"
"..."
She heard Emil calling from behind her, but she didn't stop.
Because she was in a bad mood.
…No, honestly, she wasn't exactly in a bad mood, but.
She was displeased.
…It didn't seem like she was displeased either.
She was angry.
…Of course, there was no way she was angry.
How could he be so insensitive? When someone was feeling such gloomy emotions.
…She was glad he talked to her.
Like that, Sierra walked down the corridor without looking back.
Actually, she didn't want to leave so heartlessly.
In truth, she wanted to laugh and chat with him, since he had approached her.
The foolish part of her heart kept making her act on her own accord.
…Sierra was most angry at that pathetic part of herself.
Just then.
"Just wait a moment—!!"
He grabbed her arm!
"Ugh…!"
Emil had approached and grabbed her arm before she knew it.
It was different from the morning.
Emil had approached and grabbed her, even though she was trying to leave without saying a word.
Unlike a moment ago, he looked at Sierra directly with a hurried expression.
At his gaze, her heart inexplicably pounded, and her face grew hot.
"W-what was that… playing a prank on someone."
"It was wrong to play a prank, but hearing that from you makes me feel a bit wronged, you know?"
"..."
"Anyway… that's not what I wanted to say."
"…Then what is it?"
A curt tone came out for no reason.
She shouldn't be like this.
She was starting to dislike herself even more.
Why did she keep doing this?
If she could just make these gloomy feelings disappear, everything would flow peacefully.
And Emil too…
He didn't need to try so hard for someone as troublesome as her.
"I'm sorry…!"
"Huh…?"
Sierra, who had been falling into endless self-loathing with such thoughts.
"I'm sorry, …I said."
"..."
Her eyes widened at Emil's sudden apology.
She looked at Emil with a clueless expression.
He avoided her gaze and lowered his head, looking intimidated.
"..."
Emil's cowering figure, which she didn't often see.
That sight somehow looked cute.
"Sorry, I apologize."
"...For what?"
"Just, anything that made you feel bad."
"..."
Sierra was about to ask what specifically, but she closed her mouth.
…Because she was the one who had done wrong, yet Emil was bowing his head and apologizing on his own.
"Still, I want to make an excuse."
"...Huh?"
"Whatever you're thinking, it's not that."
"..."
"So, it's troublesome if you misunderstand. It's troublesome if you're angry, and it's troublesome if you avoid me."
And Emil looked at her with unwavering eyes.
…Did Emil know?
That when he looked straight at her with such endlessly pure eyes, it was hard to suppress her desires.
"..."
Sierra tried to suppress her trembling heart and looked at Emil with moist eyes.
Her face was flushed to an uncontrollable degree, and she worried if the pounding of her heart could be heard.
Amidst all that.
Sierra, after hearing Emil's sincere words, finally opened her mouth slowly.
"Lunch…"
"...Huh?"
"...I want to eat it together."
"..."
At those words, Emil's face, which had been tense, relaxed into a blank expression.
But regardless.
Sierra slowly poured out the feelings she was experiencing now.
"Today, …tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and the day after that too. …Will you eat with me?"
"..."
"I don't want other kids to join us. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Yeah…"
"Will you do it?"
"..."
She swallowed her embarrassment and spoke the honest words welling up in her heart.
And Emil, upon hearing Sierra's honest words.
Let out a small laugh and nodded his head.
"I want to too."