Ch. 236 The Story Only We Don’t Know
by AfuhfuihgsChapter 236: The Story Only We Don’t Know
September.
The second semester had begun.
Upon returning to Steele, there were several noticeable changes.
For one, as seen during the break, a barrier had been erected to block outsiders. The spatial distortions in the male dormitory had been resolved, and the single-room floors were now open.
Additionally, a small contingent of Holy Knights had been stationed there. Due to the incident on exam day, the Holy City had sent them as escorts. They were expected to remain until His Holiness graduated.
‘…Will she even graduate?’
Sugar could only shrug. Since Ianne and Leon had decided to share a double room, she figured it was only a matter of time. But what would Ione think if she found out?
Regardless, the changes weren’t limited to Steele.
They had also affected their proud, white-haired friend who attended the academy.
“Um… so… when the Pascla phenomenon occurs… ordinary dust… undergoes a change… seeping into ink and influencing it… which alters the originally intended magic circle… but if you reverse-engineer it… you can use it to…”
The lecture droned on, delivered by a professor who might as well have been a walking sleep spell.
Yet, Sugar kept her eyes open and paid attention.
-Scribble scribble.
She even took notes. She diligently organized the material in her notebook as she listened.
“Riley, I missed a part earlier… Oh, thanks.”
After class, she borrowed her friends’ notes to fill in the gaps. Back in her room, she memorized what she had reviewed before falling asleep.
She had truly become a model student, studying hard.
It had only been three days since the semester started, so more observation was needed, but even this much was astonishing.
There was another change, too.
“You two didn’t actually fight, right?”
“No, we didn’t…”
When Ianne cautiously asked, Sugar adamantly shook her head. Ianne scratched his head in bewilderment.
Because, unbelievably, Sugar and Riley had stopped sticking together!
No more sitting on laps, hugging, or any kind of skinship. They didn’t even hold hands, walking two steps apart instead.
“We get along great, don’t we?”
Even so, when Sugar cheerfully asked Riley, he nodded awkwardly.
Sugar had suggested this herself—”Let’s not cling to each other on campus. I want to focus on being a model student.”
Since she was suddenly acting so out of character, Riley had initially considered sending her to the infirmary.
‘No. I’m fine. Really. And honestly, this is how it should be.’
Everyone was stunned by her response. She was preaching about how students should focus on studying and behave properly—but this was Sugar.
Riley pursed his lips, recalling the first day of the semester. He still had doubts—was this change really okay?
“Hm? Did you two fight?”
“Huh? Fight over what? We didn’t fight.”
“Honestly, I’ve been curious since the semester started. You two are always together, but lately, you’re not.”
Professor Hubert, chimed in as he passed by. Rumor had it his candy business was booming, and he might quit teaching.
“Just because we’re not holding hands, you think we fought?”
“Hoho. Lovers shouldn’t fight. Come on, make up and get along.”
He handed them each a lollipop before walking off, as if pacifying children. Sugar tilted her head in confusion.
But this was only the beginning.
“Did you fight?”
“Did the students fight?”
“Hurry up and make up. This is awkward.”
“Don’t fight, just get along…”
After that, every professor who saw Sugar and Riley reacted the same way—despite the fact that they usually prepared to give them demerits on sight.
“We didn’t fight! We’ve never gotten along better! What kind of image did you even have of us?!”
On the way back to the dorms, Sugar stomped her feet in frustration.
“If they’re not going to give us demerits, they should at least stop poking their noses in!”
They had stopped being affectionate in public because they were told not to—and now the professors were acting like elementary school teachers, prying into their business.
Hmph. It’s not like we’ve stopped entirely.
In secluded spots or the Sugar Mill—which had been cleaned up since the semester started—they were still plenty affectionate.
“Ahaha… Calm down, Sugar. Go rest in your room. See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, Ianne…”
After dinner, the three people living in the male dorm escorted Sugar to the female dorm. “Can’t we stay out a little longer…?” Leon muttered, only to be dragged away by Ianne.
And then there was Riley. Sugar waved at him before heading inside, lingering just a moment longer under his watchful gaze.
Back in her room, she fed the Mirror Rabbit. Since she couldn’t leave them in the Holy City, she had brought them as familiars. The male dorm supervisor had been shocked when she presented one as the “culprit.”
Oh, she had even named them.
“Salt. Come here.”
A fitting name for their snowy-white fur.
Next was study time. She reviewed the day’s lessons, engraving them into her brain. It felt like her head might spill over any second, but she forced the knowledge in anyway.
Studying was bearable only because what came next was exercise.
She tied up her hair, stretched, and laid out a workout mat.
“Huff… huff…”
She held a plank, sweating as she endured.
Sit-ups, planks, squats—she had been doing core and lower-body workouts daily. It was harder than expected since she relied purely on physical strength, not mana.
That day, when she found out what Ianne had done…
Alone in the bathroom, she had cried in frustration, tears streaming down her face.
“Sniff… Hic… Why am I so pathetic? I want to squeeze Riley too… I want to devour Riley… Sob… Hic… I don’t wanna be weak anymore… Make it stop… Waaah…”
A solemn, unshakable resolution.
Seeing Ianne had been a wake-up call. Compared to her—who lasted until morning—she couldn’t help but feel inferior when her own consciousness faded so quickly.
So, she decided to at least build some muscle. “If I strengthen this part, maybe I can stimulate my partner more effectively?” The key was making sure they felt good, right?
“Haa… Done…”
After finishing a few more sets, she flopped onto the mat, catching her breath. The sweat made her feel refreshed, so she headed to the shower in high spirits.
Once clean, it was time for bed.
She’d attended class, studied, exercised—today had been fulfilling.
“I’m practically a model student-adult now…?”
Hehe. Smiling to herself, she slipped into her childhood friend’s oversized dress shirt (which reached her thighs like a mini-dress) and curled up in bed.
“Goodnight…”
Wrapped in his scent, she closed her eyes, drifting into a hazy, contented daze.
…
…
“I’m lonely…”
How much time had passed?
Sugar lay awake, staring at the ceiling. She’d kept herself busy all day, but now, the solitude was crushing.
What were the three people in the male dorm doing now? Ianne and Leon were probably fine, but—
Riley? Is he studying? Preparing for bed? What’s he thinking about?
Maybe I should’ve embedded a listening function in the ring instead of just recording.
She rolled onto her side, hugging her knees. Without realizing it, her fingers drifted to her choker. Fiddling with it was comforting—the smooth, specially crafted fabric was lightweight and stretchy, designed so it wouldn’t bother her.
If she channeled mana in a specific pattern, a signal would be sent to the piercing in Riley’s left ear. If he accepted, they could communicate.
“…It’s late. I’d just be bothering him.”
What if he’s about to sleep? Or already asleep?
Yet she couldn’t pull her hand away. The bed felt unbearably empty, the darkness—like something out of the Shadow Cult’s hymns—too frightening.
Mindlessly, she traced the choker’s inner edge, rubbing and fidgeting.
“…I should sleep.”
Tomorrow would be another busy day.
Just as she finally let go and closed her eyes—
Bzzzt—!
“Eeek?!”
A sharp vibration buzzed against her throat, making her shoulders jerk. Her heart leapt—giddy excitement spread through her chest.
“Ah! R-Riley!”
She scrambled to tap the choker, accepting the call.
[Sugar. Asleep?]
“No. Just lying down.”
[Connection works?]
“Yeah. What’s up?”
She answered brightly, but he hesitated.
[…No reason.]
“No reason?”
[Just wanted to hear your voice.]
“…”
She clutched her chest.
“M-My voice…?”
[Yeah.]
What do I do?!
“Uh… Ah… Aah…”
Her heartbeat was so loud he’d probably hear it.
[Why’re you being weird?]
“You said you wanted to hear me, so I’m making sounds! You’re the weird one, dummy!”
Words tumbled out unfiltered, her nerves buzzing.
[Haha…]
“What’s so funny?!”
(She loved his laugh.)
[How are you not surrendering immediately?]
“I surrender to you all the time!”
[That’s funny. I’m the one who spoils you.]
(She knew—he was always softer with her.)
“Doesn’t feel like it…”
[What’s that mean?]
“Just—be nicer to me…”
[Tch…]
(Fine. She’d be nicer too.)
“You in bed?”
[Yeah. Was gonna sleep after this.]
“…You sleepy?”
[Not really. Could sleep if I tried.]
Did you call because you were thinking about me?
“…Can we talk a little longer?”
[About what?]
“Just… stuff. Silly things.”
[What kind of silly things?]
“Any of them, because every single one of them is a precious moment with you.”
[You can go to sleep if you’re tired.]
“I’m not. And I won’t sleep before you do.”
[Why?]
Why? Obviously, because—
“I want to hear your voice too.”
Next Day, Afternoon
“Finally, lunch…”
Sugar stretched as she stepped out of the classroom, another diligent day behind her.
“Let’s drop our stuff at the lockers and grab some fooood…”
Yawning, she turned to Riley, who followed her to the cabinets.
A perfectly ordinary moment—no foreshadowing, no signs of chaos. Just peace.
“What’re we eating today?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted burgers yesterday?”
“Oh, right.”
As she answered, she reached for her locker. Beside her, Riley had already opened his and was stashing his things away.
“…Huh?”
Hearing his puzzled noise, she tilted her head.
“What’s up?”
Peeking over, she saw Riley holding a single envelope.
A pink envelope.
The moment she registered it, a floral perfume wafted out.
Sugar’s eyes darted between the letter and Riley’s face. The atmosphere flipped instantly.
“Heh… A pink letter…”
“…”
“So popular, aren’t you, Riley…?”
Her voice had gone icy. Riley swallowed hard.
What the hell? Early in the semester, maybe—but after spring, once he and Sugar were practically the school’s official couple, who’d dare send a confession letter?
As cold sweat formed on his brow, Sugar’s eyes widened, and she turned to her own locker.
“Well… why don’t you read it?”
Her tone implied “Read it and die,” but the moment she looked inside—
“…Huh?”
Now it was Sugar’s turn to sound confused.
Inside her locker lay a white envelope.
She picked it up, flipped it over—and found a heart-shaped sticker sealing it.
“Oh? A heart sticker…”
“…”
“So popular, aren’t you, Sugar? Why don’t you read it?”
Riley threw her words right back. Sugar broke out in a cold sweat.
What? What is this? Why is this in my locker? Why am I being put in this situation in front of Riley?!
Just then—
“Sugar! Riley!”
Ianne, who’d left the classroom earlier, came sprinting back, face pale.
And what he said next was unthinkable.
“There’s a rumor going around—you two broke up?!”
“I broke up with Riley?”
“I broke up with Sugar…?”
A fact neither of them knew.
Sugar and Riley had broken up!
[Sugar & Riley]
Relationships: 0
Breakups: 1
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