Although the new year had arrived, the season was still winter. Even at noon, the blowing wind was bone-chillingly cold, and exhaled breath formed mist. The frozen streets were heavily frosted, and the roads and sidewalks were slippery enough to fall backward if one ran carelessly. But still, it was just black ice.
-Crack.
As Seia stepped forcefully on the ground, the frozen puddle split into dozens of pieces. The splattered ice powder stuck to her legs and melted. Thanks to her white stockings, the wet areas were even more pronounced. In contrast, Nagisa's black stockings didn't show much, but the pure white ice powder was stuck thickly on her ankles and shoes.
Nagisa clicked her tongue and shook her leg. The ice powder fell to the ground with a rustle. Seia glanced at her but shifted her gaze forward again. Her briefly seen eyes were as cold as ice.
The atmosphere wasn't much different either. From the moment they left the hospital until now, Nagisa and Seia hadn't exchanged any conversation. As if it were natural, the two continued walking with expressionless faces.
The place they arrived at was a shooting range located inside Trinity Middle School. Although it was vacation season, the shooting range was operating as usual. Training dummies crowded the inside of private booths, and control panels emitted a blue light. Seia operated the panel of the private booth in the farthest corner. The tightly closed door slid open sideways.
"Come in."
Seia spat out as she entered the room. Nagisa followed her in without a word. -Zzziiing. The opened door closed again, leaving only the two inside the room. Nagisa unwrapped the scarf around her neck and stared at Seia.
"Didn't you say we should talk?"
"Yes."
"But this doesn't seem like a suitable place for conversation. Rather... it's a good place to fight."
Nagisa said while reaching toward the gun holster at her waist. Seia stared blankly at that sight, then tilted her head sideways. Her beautiful golden hair flowed to the side. Murderous intent surged in her pink and lime-green mixed eyes.
"I'll be honest. I don't like you. To the extent that I want to remove you from his side if possible."
"What a coincidence. I had the same thought."
-Click. Nagisa's finger moved. The pistol's safety was released, and the bullet in the chamber held warmth. But Seia didn't even blink. Instead, she took out the pistol strapped to her thigh. Pulling the cylinder, a blank round popped out of the chamber.
She continued speaking while looking down at the blank round rolling on the floor.
"I am different from Mika."
As if asking what she meant, Nagisa furrowed her brow. Seia lowered her head, only raising her eyes to stare at her.
"It means I may be jealous, but I won't recklessly thrash about just to possess him. What's important to me is simply being by his side in the final moment. Frankly, even if he brings in several women, as long as I'm the legal wife, I don't particularly intend to oppose his choice. If he's happy, I could give up a little of my own happiness."
"...."
"But I occasionally wondered. 'If Kenji shares affection with another woman right before my eyes, could I endure it?' Just thinking about it made me nauseous, but since it was just imagination, I thought I could handle that much when I grew older and matured. But...."
It was a ridiculous thought, Seia spat out and placed her finger on the trigger. Nagisa also snorted and checked the bullet in her chamber.
"...I never intended to share him from the beginning."
Love must be absolutely mutual. Sharing affection that's insufficient even when poured on just one person with others is a terrible thing. Sharing equal love? That's just pretty nonsense. Even people who keep multiple pets have favorites, so would lovers be any different? It would be even more extreme, if anything.
So sharing is impossible. If Nagisa and Seia's love wasn't sticky and heavy, it might have been possible, but that's a meaningless assumption. The weight of the word 'first love' was immense, and it had swollen to a size that couldn't be erased now. Without any permission, it had come on its own and built a nest. And a nest that would never fade.
Both of them. No, all three including Mika who isn't here. Even if their hearts are rejected by Kenji, they have no intention of giving up. Because their first love was far from innocent. Because it was a paradise (Eden) they must somehow seize.
"Now I think the same as you."
Seia continued, twisting the corner of her mouth.
"The very word 'coexistence' was a contradiction."
Seia raised her pistol. Nagisa looked at the muzzle pointed at her and hardened her expression coldly. She had a hunch, but she didn't think it would really come to this. She took a breath to steady herself, then immediately took a stance to respond.
But it was hopelessly clumsy. Both Nagisa and Seia lacked talent for combat. But that didn't matter right now. Seia needed someone to vent her anger on, and Nagisa wanted to crush the fox who dared act up without knowing her place.
Although they would never have considered it under normal circumstances, since Kenji was the cause, there was no need to change their thinking. Love is sweet, but that sweetness blinds people. So there was no retreat. Whether Seia or Nagisa, the love they held in their hearts wasn't small enough to step back and abandon their affection for him.
The two stared intently at each other. There was no further conversation. With each breath, their chests rose and fell repeatedly.
Three or four breaths were exchanged. Two pairs of eyes froze coldly. But the emotions contained within them surged roughly enough to burn the being before them.
Finally, when the fire demon reached its peak.
Flames shot from both their muzzles.
-Bang!
*
They said they'd go have a quick talk, but in the end, the two didn't return until night fell. Messages and calls went unanswered. They clearly intended more than just conversation. Kenji let out a deep sigh and stared out the window.
Tonight's sky was different from usual. Thick clouds covered the blue moonlight, making even the rings hazy. The sky had been full of clouds as if it would snow even during the day, and even at night, the weather didn't improve. It was unusual. Even on days when rain poured like thunder, the rings were clear, but today was a day when even that wasn't allowed.
Somehow that increased his anxiety, so Kenji clicked his tongue and turned his head.
The time was already approaching 11 PM. Lights-out had happened long ago, and the other two in the hospital room had fallen asleep a while back. Normally, he would have prepared to sleep by this time too, but unfortunately, he was too unsettled today to sleep.
"...Hoo."
He let out what must have been the umpteenth sigh. But the heavy weight on his chest showed no sign of easing.
'Crazy bastard.'
He recalled the words he'd heard just hours before. Kenji twisted his mouth at those words he wanted to refute but couldn't. True to the meaning of the words, Kenji thought of himself as a crazy bastard. An indecisive fool who worsens the situation. Put nicely, he was trash; put harshly, he was an idiot.
He could make excuses if he wanted. If he chose one of the three, it was obvious the other two would rebel, and the situation would clearly worsen more than now. The covert struggles would become increasingly overt, and friendship would turn into discord and animosity. Then both the person connected to him and the other two would definitely suffer serious stress.
Moreover, Kenji was now no different from a time bomb. Although the grace period had a few months left, he couldn't spend them leisurely. This was a bomb that couldn't be defused, a disaster that might swallow someone around him. Getting involved with someone in such a situation? It would only cause hurt. A relationship destined to break up soon only breeds unhappiness.
Thinking coldly, the current situation was indeed the best. Whether this was a judgment based on objective standards or a kind of defense mechanism, Kenji thought so anyway.
But he felt severe conscientious guilt. Although multiple complex reasons were mixed, toying with the precious feelings of three people was also painful for Kenji.
"Ah... damn it."
Kenji muttered softly and washed his face with cold water. Today especially, he missed the cigarettes he smoked on Earth. With just nicotine and tar sticking to his lungs, he felt his head would clear up more than now. Though it would just get cloudy again.
Damn it.
Kenji tightly closed his eyes and chewed on his lip.
It was too late to continue thinking. Okay, let's try contacting them again tomorrow. Maybe they'll come visit with Mika, all three together. If he asks Mika, she might help mediate between the two. No matter how Mika is, she wouldn't just smile happily alone at a good opportunity.
Thinking that, Kenji tossed and turned in bed to fall asleep. Twisting his whole body and forcibly erasing the thoughts rising in his head, he fortunately managed to fall asleep not long after. His breathing changed regularly, and his face settled peacefully.
But the sleep didn't last long.
3 AM.
At that hour when night owls are most active, Kenji frowned at the weight felt on his upper body and drowsily opened his eyes.
'What the, suddenly.'
He forced his heavy eyelids open and looked down at his upper body. Something squirming was resting on his torso. His eyes, accustomed to the darkness, soon identified what it was.
Golden hair. Fox ears sprouting from the head. A dull but cute face. Eyes mixed with watery pink and lime green. A faint, familiar scent. All of it pointed to one girl. Kenji blinked and murmured her name.
"...Seia?"
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