Chapter 240: The Romantic

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“What should I do…?”

No matter how hard she tried, it just wouldn’t work.

The petite young woman stomped her feet in frustration.

Ailune Mail. The daughter of a long-standing Altair Kingdom noble house.

Smaller even than Sugar, with an inward-curling black bob cut. Her bright, darting eyes resembled a squirrel’s, though they were usually hidden behind her bangs, making her face difficult to see.

Despite her appearance, she was a second-year student at Steele and a member of the Student Council.

Using her position, she had secretly taken a surveillance device from the first-year cabinet corridor. But now, with requests for its return growing more insistent, she was growing increasingly anxious.

“My goal isn’t accomplished yet…”

Not yet. Not yet.

She kept trying, but nothing worked.

The image of the two people she’d seen earlier on the street flashed in her mind. Her chest ached at the memory, and she clutched her clothes tightly.

“How on earth can I put things back the way they were…?”

With a pout, Ailune began devising her next gift plan.

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

Monday Evening.

Sugar sat at her desk, spinning a pen absentmindedly. Her eyes flicked to the calendar in the corner, her leg bouncing impatiently. The fourth week was highlighted in pink, and she smirked at the sight.

“Hmph… Confessing at a time like that is what amateurs do when they need an excuse…”

Before her lay ticketing forms and a stack of miscellaneous books:

• How to Succeed in Confessing
• Capturing the Heart of Your Crush: For the Lovestruck Girl
• Dating Manual
• For Those Who Find It Hardest to Say “I Love You”

“Confessing is just… something you do when the moment feels right. It’s not that complicated…”

She wiped her sweaty palms, forcing a calm expression. The frantic spinning of her pen betrayed her nerves.

When were the most nerve-wracking moments in life?

• Five minutes before exam results are posted.
• Five minutes before course registration.
• Five minutes before ticket sales open.

Right now, it was the last one.

She was trying to secure tickets for Sky Park, an amusement park still in its early stages of operation, where only a limited number of visitors were allowed in daily for smooth management.

“Why bother with that? You could just fly with magic.”

The words of her childhood friend from Friday echoed in her mind. Though it was less teasing and more genuine curiosity.

No sense of romance at all.

…Or was she wrong? He did have a knack for setting the mood when it mattered.

Or maybe her fluttering heart was just being weird again.

She didn’t know.

Either way, she wanted to go with him. She wanted to hear him say, “This is fun.” To hear him admit he was enjoying himself. To surprise him.

She’d never been, but she was sure it’d be fun.

“I’m glad I came with you.”

She wanted to hear him say that.

As for confessing… she wasn’t sure yet. For now, it was just friends hanging out.

Just hanging out!

“Well… the reviews are good.”

She’d spent the whole weekend researching—ticketing methods, park facilities, the best ways to enjoy it.

“…It’s just a coincidence. It’s not like I’m booking because it’s Dahlia Week or anything.”

She muttered to herself, despite no one listening.

Well, except for Mirror Rabbit Salt, who was curled up on a cushion nearby, snoring softly.

“Peep.”

The white fluffball had its ears tucked in, looking like a round little cloud.

While one “seasoning” (as she called her familiar) was peacefully asleep, the other was sweating bullets, focusing all her energy.

Current time: 6:58 PM. Two minutes until ticket sales.

Two sheets of paper lay on the desk—one for Saturday, one for Sunday. Weekdays were out since she had school.

At least Steele was close enough for a day trip.

If you went east from here, you’d reach the Eastern Desert where the elves lived, but before that was a stretch of abandoned land—now repurposed into Sky Park.

“Haa… haa…”

One minute left.

The ticketing process was simple: Write down personal details, preferred date, and group size (max four) on the paper, then activate a dedicated magic circle at the right time.

If successful, the paper would transform into a provisional ticket. After payment confirmation, it’d become official. The latest technology, courtesy of Sky Island.

30 seconds left.

“Please let me succeed. Please let me succeed…”

She placed her hand on the paper, praying to the Saint.

Reaction speed. Luck.

Ticketing depended on both.

10 seconds left.

…

Then, the moment arrived.

Sugar’s eyes widened.

“…!”

“Ugh… Hng…”

She finished her workout on the verge of tears. It was an exercise routine meant to strengthen her core and lower body.

Not that she was crying from exhaustion—no, she was crying because the paper hadn’t changed despite activating the magic circle.

In other words, she’d failed to secure the tickets.

Sniffle.

Even though she’d claimed she wasn’t booking for Dahlia Week, her tears betrayed how much she’d secretly wanted it.

Was my prayer to the Saint ignored? she wondered. Or was it because I, the Evil God’s Saintess, dared to pray at all?

After drying her tears, Sugar headed downstairs to the changing room, stripping off her clothes before fastening a White Tree gourd around her ankle.

Normally, she washed up in her room, but today, she needed a change of scenery—the bathhouse would do. Between the ticketing failure, the rumors, and the gift incident, too many things were grating on her nerves.

The mark is embarrassing, but whatever. Let them see.

It was proof of his possessiveness, after all.

Wait… Right now, there are rumors that Riley and I broke up.

Would people misunderstand the origin of this mark…?

“…”

She shook her head.

I’m close to Riley. I like Riley. That’s all that matters. Who cares what they think?

Of course, she loathed the idea of other girls clinging to him because of the rumors.

And the boys approaching her? Disgusting enough to make her skin crawl.

Even the stalkers who silently left gifts at her door were annoying.

“Just act like you did in the first semester—clingy, shameless, downright indecent. Flaunt how ‘close’ you two are. The stalkers will lose interest and back off.”

Ian’s words suddenly resurfaced in her mind.

Easier said than done…

Who’s going to cover the demerits for that?

Sugar let out a muffled groan under the shower spray. She’d resolved to be a Model Student Sugar, but that was crumbling fast.

And… it’s not just me who’d get penalized.

She wouldn’t care if she were the only one receiving demerits. But if Riley got dragged into it too? Unacceptable.

I’m already enough of a nuisance to him.

If I push it further, he’ll start resenting me.

…But maybe we could at least hold hands?

The professors seemed to turn a blind eye to that much.

If they walked around hand in hand, rumors of “They made up” would spread naturally. The pests would back off.

I’ll bring it up tomorrow.

Sugar grinned. Lately, their affectionate displays had dwindled, leaving her feeling lonely. This would fix that.

Holding hands—such a trivial thing. A casual, everyday contact they’d done since childhood.

Yet her heart pounded at the thought. Her palms tingled in anticipation.

That warm, large hand enveloping hers—the comfort of it. The reassurance that this was where she belonged.

Just thinking about you makes me feel better…

You send me crashing to the ground one moment, then soaring to the skies the next. Your existence dictates my world.

I want you to take responsibility for that.

But is that too selfish a wish?

“…”

With a deep breath, Sugar stepped out of the water. No more moping. She resolved to pull herself together.

And that’s when it happened.

…?

A vaguely familiar figure caught her eye. Someone she’d brushed past last Friday.

A female senior from the Student Council.

Sugar steadied her breathing. She’d been meaning to track this person down—now was the perfect opportunity.

Be the stepping stone for my recovery.

Her wet footsteps echoed as she approached.

A sharp glint in her eyes, shadows tangled under the bathhouse’s harsh lights, swaying with her movements.

The senior seemed to sense her presence, flinching and turning—but Sugar didn’t stop.

At the same time—a snap of her fingers.

—Click.

“Huh?”

“Eek!”

“What’s going on?”

Darkness swallowed the room in an instant.

Had the bathhouse lights gone out? Been covered? Or—consumed?

An unplaceable chill seeped into the steam-filled air.

—Flicker.

But the blackout lasted only a moment.

“Ah, they’re back on.”

“Did someone mess with the switch outside?”

As everyone sighed in relief, shrugging it off—

Something was happening in the corner.

“Oh dear. Are you alright?”

When the lights returned, Sugar was gripping the senior’s wrist.

“You should stay still when it gets dark. It’s dangerous to move around.”

Her smile was sweet as she helped the other girl up—but the senior’s sharp, stifled gasp gave her away.

So you do have a guilty conscience.

The way she trembled, refusing to meet Sugar’s eyes, said it all.

“Now that I look at you, your face seems familiar. Have we met before?”

Sugar’s questions were innocent, but her steps guided the senior into a corner. With each advance, the senior shrank back, shoulders shaking, until—

Thud.

Against the wall.

“This is also fate… May I ask for your name? I don’t have many same-gender friends. Let’s get close.”

“…Ah, Ailune… Y-You can call me Lune…”

“Yes, Senior Lune. There’s something I’d like to ask.”

“…”

“Do you… have anything you want to say to me?”

“Ah… Um… Well…”

Sugar curled the corner of her lips.

Then, Lune’s pupils darted—once to Sugar’s eyes, once to her lips, once to her collarbone, once to her chest—before spinning away in a fluster.

“Y-You’re… too close…”

“Senior. You’re part of the Student Council, right? This might be sudden, but could you spare a moment? A friend of mine has been receiving… unpleasant favors lately, and I’m trying to find the culprit.”

“Ah…”

“That’s why I went to check the hallway surveillance, but—what perfect timing—the Student Council had taken it. A week ago. The same week the ‘gifts’ started appearing. Ah. How unfortunate.”

“…”

At her silence, Sugar placed a hand on her shoulder.

“By the way, the Student Council must be swamped… Your shoulders are so stiff.”

“Eek…!”

“Even the dining hall’s pudding overflow issue got dumped on you… I remember your expression when handing out snacks to students. It wasn’t great.”

(Sugar hadn’t actually seen it—she’d been hiding in the hallway vent to catch the culprit.)

But judging by how Lune’s lips trembled, it was spot-on.

“Ah, now that I think about it, it wasn’t just stress, was it?”

She whispered it into her ear.

“You were antsy because you couldn’t slip away to stash gifts in the lockers, right?”

As she spoke, Sugar’s smile faded.

“You’re quite petite. Hands this small could fit into any narrow gap. Scissors, knives—snip-snip with the thread.”

Her already cold voice turned icy enough to send shivers down the spine.

“What do you think, Senior?”

I know everything. You’ve been caught—just admit it.

Lune’s body trembled violently before she abruptly bowed her head.

“S-Sorry, I’m sorry…!”

Huu.

Sugar sighed indifferently. So the female culprit’s found.

“But… I just wanted to reconcile you two…”

Sugar’s eyes narrowed at the words that followed.

What nonsense is this?

“Huh? What? Reconcile?”

She voiced her confusion.

We barely even know each other, don’t we?

Then Lune cautiously spoke again.

“I-I’ve wanted to ask for a while… Why did you two fight?”

“What?”

“If you’re still burning with enough jealousy to stalk like this… why not get back together…?”

Even as Sugar made a what-are-you-talking-about face, Lune barreled on.

“I’m sorry for saying this out of nowhere… It’s not my place, I’m sorry… But I was so curious. You and that blonde friend were so clingy… Such a perfect couple… So why…?”

“Senior, I think there’s a misunderstanding—”

“You even gave him lower-abdominal massages outdoors—”

“KYAAAAH!”

What kind of nonsense are you spouting outside?! Are you insane?!

Sugar frantically clamped a hand over her mouth. But Lune didn’t stop.

“Why did you fight…? Why break up…? Watching you two flirt was the highlight of my day…”

“L-Let’s change locations to talk—”

“Please make up… Make up… I’ll pay you, I’ll pay anything you want…!”

“Why are you kneeling?! Get up first!”

Seems the week-long stalker wasn’t a love rival after all.

Just a hopeless, obsessive shipper.

Translator Note

ahahahaahahaha… Lune is so cute she’s a top tier character now I love her ehheehehehehehe