Kasumino Oka Shiko had been single since birth, keeping herself pure and untouched, with no romantic experience whatsoever.
But in this age of information overload, there are some things that, even without direct experience, one can develop a certain degree of understanding.
Nowadays, online friends often boast titles like "entry-level survivalist," "apprentice farrier," or "honorary judge of sword-forging competitions."
For Shiko, it was no different.
Her current editor, Machida Sonoko from Fantastic Bunko, had privately commented that Shiko was cool on the outside but warm on the inside, meticulous at heart, and secretly dreaming of love—a girl who loved to fantasize.
That assessment was remarkably accurate.
Shiko herself hadn't realized it, but when her initial attempts at traditional literature failed, she pivoted to light novels without overthinking it, immediately focusing on creating school romance stories—the very genre she longed for in her heart.
Afterward, she deliberately immersed herself in the subject, watching teen dramas, reading manga and novels of similar genres.
The more she absorbed such content, the more naturally she came to understand the nuances of romantic relationships.
Now, looking at Saeko's neck, just below the collarbone, Shiko didn't need words to understand what had happened. The crisscrossed dark red marks there told her everything.
Saeko's lover had buried himself in her neck, lips and teeth brushing along her carotid, their heavy breathing intertwining like a raid, marking territory, sealing a personal contract…
Shiko stared fixedly at the skin revealed by the way she had tugged Saeko's collar down. Her normally pale face flushed pink, and her breathing grew unexpectedly heavier.
Saeko, noticing Shiko's sudden scrutiny, followed her gaze and saw her eyes widen. Panic shot through her, and she stepped back, clutching her collar tightly to hide the marks left during her intimate moments with Senya.
But Shiko's attention was fully captivated by the scene she had just witnessed.
Once the initial shock passed, excitement began to bubble up.
Yes, excitement!
For her best friend to have already experienced and tasted the love she herself had longed for—she felt an undeniable thrill.
"Saeko… you… you actually have a boyfriend? Why didn't you tell me?"
Shiko hopped off the bed, her soft feet clad in black stockings pressing directly on the cold white tiles, and stepped closer, smiling as she clasped Saeko's hands.
Her excitement was so intense that the pain from her period seemed to vanish completely. Her deep crimson eyes shone with a voracious curiosity.
"…"
Saeko didn't answer. Seeing Shiko's exuberant face inches away, she felt even more guilty, tilting her head down and staring at the floor.
This was bad. She had noticed the marks in the morning mirror and had deliberately kept her collar high to hide them—but how had she been so careless just now?
Being discovered now was completely off Senya's original plan.
What should she do… try to conceal it?
But if she lied now, once Shiko discovered the truth, she would be even angrier.
Saeko was torn inside.
Her silence, however, was completely misinterpreted by Shiko as a shy reaction, embarrassed that her secret love had been found out.
"Seriously~ what's the point of hiding something from me? Aren't we best friends? You can't keep something like this from me."
Shiko not only held Saeko's hands but also shook them lightly.
Her own romance had hit a temporary roadblock—progress paused—but seeing her friend's happiness, sharing in the joy, was wonderful in its own right.
Perhaps, in the future, once she herself was officially with Senya, the two of them could go on double dates, each with their respective boyfriends.
Having someone you love and your best friend both nearby—it would be so much fun.
With that thought, Shiko pulled Saeko to sit on the edge of the bed, chattering excitedly.
"I knew it! Recently, I felt something was subtly off with you, Saeko, but I couldn't pinpoint it. Now I get it—you're in love, and it shows! You've become even more feminine.
"You've kept it hidden so well. Honestly, I'm a little mad—I would've told me immediately if it were me.
"Now, stop being shy. Tell me everything. Who is he? Is he from our school, or your previous middle school? He must be remarkable to win your heart.
"You've said before that your standard is he must be stronger than you, otherwise he's not worthy of conquering your heart. So I guess he's strong in kendo too? Your level is so high it must be hard to find someone stronger. Is he a college student?"
The more Shiko spoke, the more her smile widened.
Saeko kept her gaze on their joined hands, remaining silent.
Shiko's excitement, however, only made Saeko's inner conflict intensify.
Sorry, Senya…
Saeko finally lifted her head to meet Shiko's gaze.
She had made up her mind.
Though unexpected, this was the right moment to be honest.
Shiko, sensing the change, had an uneasy feeling.
"Saeko…"
She murmured her friend's name instinctively.
Saeko took a deep breath, steadying herself like she had countless times before on the kendo floor, regaining composure.
"I'm sorry, Shiko. I should have told you sooner."
"No need to apologize. I'm only a little concerned, not angry at all."
Everyone deserves a private space. Modern life values boundaries. Shiko's curiosity came from seeing Saeko as a sister-like friend, comfortable enough to be direct.
Saeko understood this, but that made what she had to say even harder.
At the start of the school year, she hadn't expected that her attempts to find someone to stand in for her in matters she couldn't fulfill with Senya would eventually be misinterpreted by Shiko as good intentions.
Yet their relationship had grown stronger, becoming best friends.
Now, though, she wouldn't back down.
"No, I must apologize."
"Saeko… you're acting kind of… strange today," Shiko said with a forced smile, noticing the unusual seriousness.
Since meeting her, Shiko had never seen this solemn side of Saeko. Usually gentle and graceful, only slightly fierce when wielding a bamboo or wooden sword—but never like this.
"…If it's hard to talk about your secret relationship, you don't have to tell me everything."
Shiko hesitated. She instinctively felt that what she had just discovered might not be a simple sweet romance—it could be a Pandora's box of misfortune once fully revealed.
But Saeko shook her head. "You'll know sooner or later, so it's better I tell you now."
Shiko fell silent.
She watched Saeko open her collar, revealing the dark red marks again.
"Just as you said, Shiko, I wanted a partner stronger than me. Otherwise, he couldn't conquer my heart."
Shiko's heart clenched, breath caught.
"Senya," Saeko whispered, removing her hand from Shiko's and placing it on her neck, fingertips tracing the marks. "These are all Senya's."
Click.
Everything in Shiko's mind shattered.
Her eyes went blank.
Shiko stepped back, hitting the nightstand, unsteady.
Saeko reached to steady her, but Shiko waved her off.
Silence stretched between them.
Her period pain returned, but the betrayal she felt far outweighed any physical discomfort.
No "are you joking?" or self-deception.
Saeko didn't joke about this.
It was no laughing matter.
"When… did this happen?"
Shiko's voice remained calm, but cold. Beneath the surface, she was a volcano of suppressed negative emotions, barely maintaining composure.
"Senya and I became official during our trip to the hot spring inn," Saeko replied honestly.
"Hot spring inn…" Shiko scoffed with disdain.
"The marks on my neck are from last Friday and Saturday," Saeko continued.
"Location… was at my home," she added candidly.
Saeko wanted complete transparency, leaving no secrets.
Shiko, hearing all this, felt fury spike and her sense of humiliation swell.
What kind of friend was this?!
Pretending to be close, knowing Shiko liked Senya, yet secretly dating him first—and now flaunting it without restraint.
No… wait… the hot spring inn…
"When exactly did you become a couple with Senya?"
"At the hot spring inn."
"You mean you became official boyfriend and girlfriend then?"
"Yes."
"…."
Even after asking again, the answer was the same.
After her fury peaked, Shiko's mind plunged into chaos.
Setting aside the betrayal…
If Saeko had already become Senya's girlfriend before school started, why was she encouraging Shiko to pursue him?
Urging another girl to chase her own boyfriend…
This person… did she have some strict green-eyed habit?
…
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