Chapter 78: Youth

Ｒｅａｄ ｏｎ Ｋａ​ｔＲｅａｄｉｎｇ​Ｃａｆｅ

What was Sugar like in the past?

Honestly, there’s no need to go that far back—just a few days ago is enough.

As soon as she reunited with Riley, she found his growth arrogant and, as usual, tried to crush his standing with a slightly mischievous and suggestive prank.

Of course, she was utterly defeated.

With a defensive ability close to zero, she was too vulnerable to counterattacks—there was no helping it.

Since then, “hierarchy adjustment” had become a painful memory for Sugar. Besides, she just really enjoyed being around Riley. That so-called lovey-dovey feeling was too pleasant to put aside, so she pushed it far to the back of her mind.

But you know, if you provoke her like this—if you stir up this bold woman’s heart—wouldn’t she burn with passion again?

That day they reunited. That thing that happened just the other day.

The way he—h-he, he, he—whispered so close to her ear, his breath, his lips, his voice, his scent—ugh, ughh.

Her ears felt like they were burning. How could he do such a thing with such a casual expression?

And yet, that incident was entirely Sugar’s own doing. She had misunderstood Riley’s words about keeping some distance and, feeling hurt, got worked up on her own. She let herself be swept away by emotions she didn’t quite understand and got annoyed.

In the end, it was all because “Sugar cherished Riley too much.”

Just thinking about it made her angry.

‘No, of course, I know Riley treasures me too. But when he acts like that, it’s annoying. It makes it seem like I’m the one clinging to him.’

As if he were saying, “Since you’re so hung up on me, I’ll graciously stay single, just for you. Heh.”

Sugar clenched her teeth.

She knew it all. The way his gaze subtly lingered on her thighs, how his hands wandered when he hugged her, the way he tried to act indifferent but let his desires slip through.

She let it slide because he was a man—because she understood that was just how it was. She pretended not to notice, choosing to maintain the boundaries of “just friends.”

Not that he ever seemed to remember how he used to rub himself all over her—but whatever.

Sugar, for her part, liked to think she was actually a rather understanding person.

And yet, he dared to make that kind of face?

‘Arrogant… so arrogant…’

She didn’t like that he had the upper hand in their dynamic.

Sugar’s brain kicked into high gear. Riley’s grown-up personality, her own arsenal of tactics, a way to shake up this rigidly established relationship.

She considered everything as her mind began running a fierce calculation.

She hated studying, but she was surprisingly sharp when it came to this kind of thing. Scheming was her specialty.

And in the midst of her thoughts—an idea flashed in her mind.

Not a dirty one, a completely wholesome idea.

Yet one that would let her torment him physically under the guise of an innocent act and at the same time, she’d get plenty of natural skinship.

Sugar’s eyes widened as she let out a soft “Oh…” in realization. She was almost scared of her own brilliance.

This would be her payback. No, not revenge—healing.

A little bit of comfort, generously provided by the ever-understanding Sugar in the midst of their exhausting daily lives.

“…Hey, Riley.”

“What.”

Just as Riley, looking smug, was about to go back to whatever he was doing, Sugar softly spoke up.

“Can you spare some time at lunch?”

“We’re always together anyway.”

“No, just the two of us. Somewhere with no people, there’s something I want to do.”

“…”

Riley frowned slightly.

He could practically hear the gears turning in her head. Just the two of us, somewhere with no people?

He had fallen victim to this scheming woman’s antics too many times since childhood to not be suspicious.

Still, he nodded.

Whatever Sugar was planning, he was confident he could handle it. He knew she was weak to being pushed back, easy to handle. He’d play along just a little.

So, Riley simply answered, “Alright.”

******************

When they slipped into the lecture hall, the professor was already taking attendance.

As always, the seat next to Ian was empty, so Sugar took it immediately.

‘…Huh?’

But Ian’s expression was odd.

She just stared blankly ahead, not even acknowledging Sugar and Riley’s arrival. Normally, she would have at least said something.

‘Is she still worried about the two-person dorm situation?’

Sugar glanced at Ian, then turned her gaze to Riley, who simply shrugged.

No choice but to focus on class for now.

Once attendance was over, the lecture began.

Today’s first class: Astrology.

“The positions of the stars are crucial. Whether they are visible or not influences things. You all dream at night, don’t you? Dreams are also affected by the stars, dreams are imagination while asleep. Now, you’ve heard something similar before, right? Magic is imagination—grasping one possibility out of infinite entanglements and manifesting it into reality. If we apply that to dreams, then… can we really say a dream is just a dream?”

The professor, a woman with her hood pulled low over her eyes, continued her lecture.

Sugar idly spun her pen, half-listening while finalizing her lunch plan.

.
.
.

After class.

The three of them decided to eat at the campus cafeteria today.

With Ian sitting across from them, looking oddly flushed, Sugar and Riley tilted their heads in confusion.

The saint, staring blankly, was pressing a lettuce leaf against her cheek instead of eating it. Not even her mouth—her cheek.

‘It really must be because of the two-person dorm situation.’

Riley had the same thought Sugar had earlier in the lecture hall.

A grown woman, disguising her gender, forced to share a room with a man. No wonder she was stressed.

The only alternative was rooming with Riley, but that was obviously out of the question.

Not just because Sugar would never allow it—though that was terrifying enough—but also because, beneath her usual demeanor, Sugar’s feelings for Riley ran deep.

Riley glanced at the white-haired woman beside him.

He hadn’t expected her to be so possessive.

To him, Sugar had always felt lighthearted—like a spring breeze.

But those eyes, that expression, the raw emotion she had shown…

“You’ll stay closest to me, right?”

“You can’t do this with other girls…”

“…”

The memories from the other day flooded his mind, the way her face had melted with dazed longing.

Sugar was a woman and to Riley, she was definitely a woman.

When she pressed herself against him like that—soft, warm, intoxicating—his patience wavered.

His feelings, buried since childhood, had only grown with time. The years they spent apart made his longing more profound, just as it had for Sugar.

But he refused to admit it outright.

No way. Me? Why would I feel that way about her? This isn’t like that, right?

Maybe because of all the pranks she pulled on him as a kid, there was still a bit of resentment. So he reacted a little crookedly, repaying her teasing with his own smugness.

She was probably fuming right now, thinking “Riley is so arrogant!” and plotting her next move.

Who was really the arrogant one here?

She was always the one provoking him first.

Even as he sighed in exasperation, he knew—if he had to choose the most precious person in his life, he wouldn’t hesitate. It would be Sugar.

The reason he hadn’t been able to visit her all this time—the years of training, the endless journeys.

Especially last year into this year—those weren’t just for training.

He had been chasing after the Order and the things he had witnessed—there was so much he had to tell Sugar.

However, seeing her so happy, seeing her enjoy school life, made him hesitate. Maybe he could wait a little longer.

“Why are you staring, Riley…?”

Sugar’s voice was soft as she looked at him questioningly.

Without a word, Riley popped a cherry tomato into her mouth.

Her lips closed around it, and as she pulled back, the fork brushed against them slightly.

“…”

Sugar blinked in confusion, chewing.

Riley glanced at the fork once, then went back to eating.

Ian, who would normally comment, was still rubbing lettuce against her cheek.

It seemed her greatest trial in life was about to begin.

Ian, who always hangs out with this perverted couple, a saintess who has stepped out into the world as a man.

Due to an unusual phenomenon on the male dormitory’s single-room floor, temporary relocation to double rooms had been arranged. The dormitory head assigned the rooms as they saw fit, but Ian was called aside separately.

‘So… it seems we’ll have to use double rooms. What does Your Holiness think…?’

‘Please treat me as just another student.’

‘Ian, what do you think…?’

‘Well… I don’t mind. But who will I be sharing a room with?’

At the time, Ian was deeply troubled. Sharing a room with a man? It would be somewhat easier if it were Riley, who knew her secret, but he’s her best friend’s boyfriend.

Even if she has no feelings for him, she can’t do something that would upset Sugar just for her own comfort.

If she were to make that choice, she’d undoubtedly be killed.

While she was lost in thought, the dormitory head spoke up.

‘Well, there’s a student named Leon. You know him, right? The one chosen by the Saint’s staff…’

‘…I’ll be sharing a room with him?’

‘That’s how it’s looking. He’s been using a double room all along and since there’s an odd number of students, he’s been using it alone. So… the staff has randomly assigned rooms and paired you two together. Alternatively, we could pair you with Riley, who came with you?’

‘No, no, no. I’ll go with the assigned arrangement… But is there any chance I could use the double room alone?’

‘If Your Holiness wishes it, I’d like to accommodate you, but… we’re short on rooms since we’ve had to move all the single-room students to double rooms… I’m sorry.’

‘It’s fine, then there’s no other choice. And please, just treat me as any other student.’

‘Understood. I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience…’

And so, starting today, she’ll be using a double room. After today’s classes, she’ll have to move her belongings to Leon’s room.

For a while, she’ll have to share a room.

A man and a woman sharing a room.

‘What kind of scandal is this!?’

Because of this, her brain is overloaded, and she’s just pressing the lettuce against her cheek.

The Saint, revered by the entire continent, the noble bloodline of a divine being, is now lost in thought, a sight both pitiful and heart-wrenching.