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[Sorry, I have something important to tell you. But the student council suddenly had some issues just now. Can you wait for me in the activity room at the far right of the third-floor corridor? I'll make you some black tea~]
"What? If it's something important, why not just tell me at home..."
Alya gently pressed the screen off and sighed. Masachika Kuze sitting beside her heard her muttering and asked curiously, "Who are you talking about? Your family?"
"Oh, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever told you about my sister, have I? My sister Masha is also at this academy, working as the secretary of the student council."
Alya looked up and explained to the tall and elegant boy, slightly taller than herself. Strangely, Kuze and she had known each other for quite some time, but whether by coincidence or not, it seemed they never had the chance to formally introduce her sister to him face to face.
Alya was entirely unaware that the boy she liked had an inseparable connection with her sister and explained casually.
"She asked me to wait for her for a bit. After she finishes with student council matters, she has something to tell me. I need to head over now. I'll introduce you two when there's a chance."
"Oh, Alya's sister..." Kuze stroked his chin. "…Why not just tell you at home directly?"
For some reason, today he was unusually restless, uneasy, as if something major was about to happen. Especially when he heard the name "Masha" come from Alya's mouth, that indescribable irritation in his heart grew even stronger.
He had met that person before. The academy's Madonna, the goddess under everyone's gaze. Wherever she went, she was the center of attention. Soft brown long hair, graceful appearance, proper manners, gentle attitude... almost embodying every beautiful quality you could think of, making all other girls seem like they belonged to a different dimension.
From afar, if the younger sister Alya was like a crystalline, untouchable iceberg beauty, then the older sister Masha was a warm, gentle, and affectionate sunshine maiden. The two sisters walking side by side formed a striking and beautiful sight on campus.
Because of this, Masha was constantly pursued. Rumors said she had been dating a boyfriend for a long time and rejected all confessions, breaking many boys' hearts. But to this day, the Madonna had remained pure and unblemished; no one had ever seen the so-called "boyfriend" Masha mentioned—some savior-like figure who had conquered the gentle angel.
So, some unwilling suitors were itching to make a move but held back. After all, offending such a beauty might lead to being torn apart by countless admirers.
What kind of matter would keep the younger sister at school instead of talking it through at home?
Kuze looked up toward the setting sun outside the window, his ominous feeling growing stronger.
After staying up late last night, he vaguely remembered having a nightmare during a nap in class. In the dream, Alya, Yuki, and a few others appeared, with faintly fluttering brown hair. They seemed to be shouting something, shedding tears, yet also appeared joyful, faces flushed, naked bodies trembling. Behind them was a large, bloated shadow in pitch black, slowly invading their bodies. No matter how he called out, it was of no use...
Then he woke up, stood up and shouted in front of the teacher and classmates, attracting everyone's attention. Even though he sensed fingers pointing and whispers behind his back, he couldn't respond, big beads of sweat falling down.
What exactly did he see...
"So, so, even club activities are ending now, isn't it better to go home early, Alya ?"
Because of this ominous feeling, Kuze even stayed behind to wait for Alya after she finished her student council tasks. Unexpectedly, as they were about to leave the school, Alya's phone rang. It was a message from her sister telling her to stay behind. Kuze felt his hairs stand on end and strongly urged the hesitant white-haired girl.
"It's going to get dark soon. It's dangerous for a girl to go home this late. You can see her at home anyway, so why not just send a text saying you're going home later?"
Alya hesitated, also sensing something off about her sister today. To be precise, when Masha came home tired yesterday, faced with questions about why she hadn't answered calls or messages for so long, she only showed a gentle smile, no different from usual.
Nothing special happened at the student council today either, right? She was fine when she left just now, so why the sudden delay...
Alya, who was also the accountant for the student council, recalled what she saw in the activity room and the faint but inexplicable metallic smell lingering around her all day. She couldn't figure it out.
"Recently, mom and dad haven't been on business trips, so maybe she doesn't want them to hear about it." But deep down, since it was her real sister, Alya reluctantly made an excuse for Masha's behavior. "It's okay to come back late. Besides, if I go back first, wouldn't sister have to go back alone? That's just as dangerous, right?"
"Well..."
Kuze was speechless, feeling as if he had shot himself in the foot and wishing he had chosen another excuse. Seeing his dazed and foolish look, Alya giggled, covering her mouth.
To be honest, it was quite surprising that he waited so long in front of the activity room today. Although she had a lot on her plate and barely finished it all at this hour, Kuze patiently waited until she finished, much to the surprise of the passing boys, whose gazes became dangerous.
Alya, known as the "Lone Princess," had only Masachika Kuze as the male friend she was relatively close to. The only reason he had managed to live quietly till now was due to his hopelessly useless otaku appearance, making all the other boys relax.
But today the sun rose in the west, and the salted fish suddenly attacked. This shocked and angered Alya's admirers, who began to closely watch every move of this newfound number one rival.
Meanwhile, Alya joked on the surface but felt sweet inside.
Her feelings for Kuze had long been unveiled by her sister during their sisterly night talks. From initial shyness and panic to now pretending not to care, Alya was gradually realizing that she harbored a different kind of feeling for this earnest, handsome, tall, and dashing boy.
She only resented that someone never got the hint and stuck like glue to his childhood friend, Yuki Suou, a sly fox spirit who drove the second daughter of the Kujo family crazy, gnashing her teeth and biting her handkerchief. What was so good about that scheming, fish-raising, endlessly handing out "good person" cards fox spirit that made him so obsessed every day...
And yet today, Kuze waited for her for several hours, causing the only tsundere white-haired princess to soften instantly, her stubborn hair antenna swaying shyly and sweetly.
"Why are you so clingy today (Russian)..." The dreamy silver-white girl lowered her head, as if ice had been dyed with bashful pink. "But, I'm happy when you spend more time with me (Russian)."
Kuze trembled all over, then helplessly relaxed. At this point, he couldn't say it out loud, so he just played dumb. "Alya... what did you just say again?"
"You're such an idiot, getting jealous over my sister. Totally useless and wasting your efforts."
Alya pulled down her eyelids and made a silly face, looking quite pleased with herself.
"Don't worry, Marsha probably has something she doesn't want mom and dad to hear and wants to discuss with me. She'll come back after it's finished, you go ahead first."
"Well... alright then, be careful going back." Hearing it all, Kuze could only nod helplessly. "I'll head back now, bye."
"Mm, bye."
Kuze lowered his head and slumped as he headed downstairs. He had tried everything he could think of and had no choice but to let Alya go.
Oh well, it's just some sisterly private talk. It shouldn't be a big deal.
Strangely, once he made this decision, his mood seemed to lighten. The oppressive unease and restlessness vanished in an instant. Although it felt as if a piece was hollowed out inside, Kuze's mood improved, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
Even once hailed as a "child prodigy of the Suou family," he was inevitably limited by his experience and age. At this moment, Kuze did not yet know that before serving a sentence, prisoners were just as anxious and fearful as him; but when the final judgment came and everything was irreversible, a calm relief would follow.
Only after everything settled did Kuze recall the moment and realize it belatedly. However, that was a story for another time.