Chapter 10: Jealousy

“Marie, I’m sorry.”  

“What for…?”  

“That… a few days ago, during swordsmanship class.”  

“…”  

After class had ended.  

Marie was facing Malcolm in an empty classroom, at his request, after the other students had left.  

Normally, she’d be in the annex by now, dealing with study group matters.  

“…Why are you apologizing to me for that?”  

She already wanted to see Emil right away.  

Her time was being delayed by Malcolm, the one who had hurt Emil, and that made Marie feel uneasy.  

Worse still, she couldn’t even understand why he’d brought it up.  

Her voice carried the discontent brewing inside her with ease.  

“No… it’s just…”  

Malcolm quickly picked up on her anger.  

*This isn’t how it was supposed to go…*  

Lately, the two of them had been distant.  

It wasn’t as if they’d fought outright, but still.  

Malcolm was jealous of how close Marie was to Emil.  

And Marie was angry at Malcolm for hurting Emil.  

That was why Malcolm had called her aside today—to mend their strained relationship.  

But despite summoning the courage to do so, Marie still faced him with a cold expression.  

“That apology… did you give it to Emil?”  

“What?”  

“You hurt Emil, didn’t you? Have you apologized to him?”  

He hadn’t.  

After that sudden accident that day, when Emil had been taken away injured, Malcolm had let it slide without a word.  

Normally, Malcolm would’ve apologized to Emil right away.  

But the Emil of now—  

The Emil who had that kind of relationship with Marie—Malcolm couldn’t bring himself to apologize to him, deep down.  

And so, he hadn’t.  

That’s why, in response to Marie’s question, Malcolm stayed silent.  

“…Ha.”  

And that silence only made Marie feel worse.  

“I don’t get it, Malcolm.”  

“Marie…”  

“The you I know is a kind person, and you’re good at swordsmanship. So why did that mistake even happen? …Was it really a mistake to begin with?”  

There was no proof that Malcolm had hurt Emil on purpose.  

But for some reason, Marie had a hunch.  

She couldn’t confidently explain why if asked.  

Yet, having spent so much time with Malcolm, she’d become sensitive to the smallest changes in him.  

And to Marie’s words, laced with suspicion, Malcolm couldn’t offer any response, as if confirming her doubts.  

“I don’t know what’s going on, but… I have no intention of accepting an apology from you when you haven’t even apologized to Emil. …I don’t even get why you’re apologizing to me in the first place.”  

“Marie…”  

“I’m going. The others are waiting. …You can come if you want.”  

With those final words, Marie walked past Malcolm and left the classroom.  

You can come if you want.

In other words, it was fine if he didn’t.  

Malcolm stood rooted to the spot, unmoving.  

He clenched his fists tightly.  

Thinking of Emil—the reason his relationship with Marie had soured—his face twisted in frustration.  

***

Tap, tap.

‘Was I too harsh…?’  

As she walked down the hallway, Marie recalled Malcolm’s sad expression from moments ago, her own face uneasy.  

But she soon shook her head, banishing the image from her mind.  

‘No, Malcolm’s the one in the wrong.’

If he’d been in the right, he would’ve surely argued back against her suspicions.  

Malcolm hated being falsely accused, after all.  

But he hadn’t, which was as good as admitting her doubts were correct.  

That made it even harder for Marie to forgive him.  

To think he hurt Emil… on purpose.

What she felt was betrayal.  

She didn’t know why he’d done it.  

Maybe Emil had wronged him first, for all she knew.  

But even so, Marie couldn’t forgive Malcolm.  

To her, Emil was that important.  

Thud.

As that thought swirled in her mind, Marie stopped in her tracks, her cheeks flushing.  

‘But what right do I have to forgive or not forgive…?’

For a moment, she felt ashamed of her anger.  

She and Emil were just friends.  

Not family, not best friends.  

Not lovers.  

It was just Marie harboring feelings for Emil.  

That’s why she felt a little embarrassed for getting so mad at Malcolm.  

It was as if she, with her unrequited love, was acting like Emil’s lover, getting angry on his behalf.  

‘No. I’ll make it happen.’

But soon, with a determined look and flushed cheeks, Marie started walking again.  

So what if they weren’t lovers now?  

She’d make it happen.  

If not now, then later.  

More than anything,  

Marie had recently started to feel that possibility.  

“…Hehe.”

Thinking of that possibility, Marie giggled to herself, her cheeks reddening again.  

It was from a few days ago, during a one-on-one tutoring session with Emil.  

When she’d asked him what kind of person he liked, his answer had been:  

“Someone who gets good grades on this midterm.”  

A warm smile and the beautiful glow of the sunset.  

Recalling that moment, Marie’s heart felt warm.  

If you think about it positively… he was talking about me, right?

With a beaming smile, Marie walked down the hall, replaying Emil’s words in her mind.  

Emil knew.  

He knew how Marie was approaching this midterm—with what kind of determination.  

Her goal is to get good grades and prove herself to her older brother.  

And Emil had said it:  

That he liked someone who’d do well on the midterm!  

Common sense says that’s not an ideal type!

Not an ideal type, but a hint about the person Emil had feelings for.  

If she thought about it very positively,  

That person was none other than Marie herself.  

“Heh, hehehe…”  

Lost in that hopeful fantasy, a silly laugh escaped her without her realizing it.  

The mood that had sunk because of Malcolm just moments ago began to lift again.  

Lately, Marie had been experiencing this strange phenomenon often.  

When she felt down, or when memories of her brother or family occasionally came to mind,  

Thinking of Emil would instantly brighten her mood.  

It wiped away anxious, painful memories completely.  

It was like magic.  

And that’s why Marie was falling for Emil even more.  

In some ways, even more than she’d relied on her brother as a child.  

This midterm… I’ve really got to do my best.

As she crossed to the annex and climbed the stairs, Marie steeled herself once more.  

Unlike before, when it had been tinged with just tension, this resolve was now filled with hope, joy, and excitement.  

A little while later,  

Marie arrived at the classroom for the study group.  

“Inhale… exhale~.”  

She stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath.  

Relax.  

She had to meet Emil calmly and naturally.  

She wanted to show him only her best self.  

As she mentally prepared, picturing her ideal self like a form of self-hypnosis,  

“Emil…”  

“Mmm…”  

Two voices came from inside the classroom.  

…Emil, and Sierra. 

In an instant, Marie’s excited heart sank coldly.  

It felt like a rock had slammed into her chest.  

Why?  

It was only natural for the two of them to be there.  

But the sudden sound of their voices filled her with an ominous feeling.  

It was a warning bell from her feminine intuition.  

More than anything, Sierra’s voice from inside sounded different from usual.  

It was almost like…  

Like Marie herself lately, with her feelings for Emil—  

Fluttering, nervous, and brimming with tender affection.  

A girl’s voice.  

“I like you…” 

That voice  

Delivered a shocking confession to Emil.  

In that moment, Marie’s eyes turned cold as she stared at the classroom door.  

What had she just heard?  

A confession?  

No matter how she thought about it, that’s what it was.  

Sierra… to Emil…?

And then, the words from Emil that had been making her happy until now flashed through her mind.  

“Someone who gets good grades on this midterm.”  

Her ominous feeling began to taint even her happy memories with doubt.  

Sierra was the second-ranked student in their grade.  

In other words, the person most likely to get good grades on this midterm—  

Aside from Emil himself—was Sierra.  

Her unease flared up like a spark igniting a pile of straw.  

Her heart pounded with anxiety.  

Sierra had just confessed to Emil.  

Would he accept it?  

What would Emil say to that confession?  

Don’t accept it… don’t accept it…  

Without realizing it, Marie glared at the door with hollow eyes.  

She bit her lip hard, her hands trembling.  

And then,  

“Sure…”

At Emil’s response, Marie felt the strength drain from her legs.  

But Sierra’s voice followed.  

“…Hehe, how’s that? I nailed it this time, didn’t I?”

In an instant, it snapped Marie’s darkening mind back to clarity.  

…Huh?

The conversation continued.  

“Hmm… maybe 70 points?”

“Did getting hit by Malcolm mess up your head or something? That was a solid 100!”

70 points…? 100 points…?  

The exchange she’d thought was a confession veered into a strange direction.  

“Be honest. That made your heart race 100 points’ worth, right?”  

“Quiet down. Let’s just start studying.”

“Whyy~? Man up and answer properly!”

Listening to them, Marie realized she’d misunderstood.  

It wasn’t a confession.  

Sierra’s voice had returned to its usual teasing tone with Emil,  

Making it clear that the “confession” had been a joke.  

But even so, Marie still felt something uneasy lingering in her heart.  

Even if it was just Sierra teasing Emil,  

What if Emil ended up flustered by her?  

What if he started imagining Sierra as pretty?  

What if he thought she was a good person?  

Emil…

He might end up liking another girl.

Even though her calmed heart had settled, dark emotions began to stir again.  

She’d realized it was a misunderstanding, but now that she’d felt that possibility,  

Marie could no longer ignore it.  

“Alright, it was pretty good…”

That’s why Marie—  

Before Emil could be swayed any further by that girl’s tricks—  

Scrrt.

Opened the door and stepped between the two of them.  

A cold silence.  

Their expressions were like they’d been caught doing something they shouldn’t have.  

Marie looked at the two of them impassively.  

Especially at Sierra, whom she regarded with a chilly gaze.  

And then—  

Step, step.  

As if to make a point to Sierra,  

She walked over to Emil’s side and sat down next to him.  

Smile.

She beamed at the two of them.  

“Hehe, sorry, I’m super late, aren’t I?”  

***

Scratch, scratch…

In the classroom with just the two of us, the only sound was the pencil scribbling something down.  

It was after the study group had ended.  

The tutoring session with just Marie and me was quieter than usual.  

Normally, Marie would ask me all sorts of questions while solving problems.  

But today, she didn’t.  

She focused solely on the problems, not asking me anything.  

Not even making small talk.  

And so—  

This is awkward…

I was enduring a pretty uncomfortable atmosphere.  

Malcolm didn’t show up today—could that be why…?

I tried to think of one possible reason for Marie’s silence.  

But I soon shook my head.  

I already knew that couldn’t be the reason.  

This was just me denying reality.  

She probably heard that conversation…

The real reason for Marie’s silence was likely the playful exchange I’d had with Sierra earlier.  

Marie must have overheard Sierra’s fake confession meant to fluster me.  

After all, she’d walked into the classroom right after that conversation started.  

I quietly watched Marie as she worked on her problems.  

Then I noticed her shoulders trembling slightly, even though her eyes were fixed on the book.  

She seemed focused on her work, but it was clear she was very aware of me sitting beside her.  

At least it doesn’t seem like her feelings have cooled off.

My one worry was this:  

The failure of my strategy.  

If Marie had overheard my banter with Sierra and misunderstood, it could ruin everything I’d been working toward.  

But since it didn’t seem like her feelings had faded,  

I couldn’t just leave things as they were.  

My goal was to get Marie to confess to me.  

If I let this drag on, she might end up waiting for me to confess instead.  

I stared at Marie for a moment, pondering what to say.  

Then—  

“Emil…”  

“Huh? Y-Yeah?”  

Marie, who’d been silent until now, glanced at me cautiously and spoke.  

“I… can I make one selfish request?”  

It was the first thing she’d said since the study group ended.  

A selfish request.  

Was she quiet this whole time because she was thinking about that…?* 

What kind of request could it be?  

“Uh, yeah… it’s fine, so go ahead and tell me.”  

I nodded, and Marie fidgeted with the pencil in her hand, closing her mouth for a moment.  

It looked like whatever she wanted to say was really hard for her to get out.  

But after a brief pause—  

“Well…”  

She turned to face me fully.  

With a flushed face, she glanced at me nervously.  

And with trembling lips, she carefully voiced her request.  

“D-Don’t… get too close with Sierra…!”  

“Huh?”  

It was definitely—  

Something you could call a selfish request.  

And Marie, who knew that better than anyone, teared up and bowed her head right after saying it.  

“S-Sorry…! For saying something like this out of nowhere…! Y-You’re shocked, right? Sorry, I’m sorry…!”  

“No, it’s fine. I mean, I was a little surprised, but…”  

“Ugh, I’m sorry…”  

Marie’s face turned bright red from embarrassment, and she looked at me with teary, pink eyes.  

“I-It might sound weird, but… when I see you getting close with Sierra, it makes me feel all mixed up inside, and I can’t focus on studying—!”  

“Oh… I see…”  

“Ugh, I’m sorry… You’re not upset, right? For me to suddenly ask something like this…”  

“No, no, not at all. It’s totally fine.”  

Of course, I was caught off guard.  

Should I take this as a confession…?

Her statement, when you broke it down,  

Was basically like saying, “I’m jealous.”  

In a way, it was as good as admitting she liked me.  

That’s what threw me off.  

Should I really treat this as a confession?  

It feels like I’ve fallen into a trap in a chess game…

If I agreed to her request right now,  

She might take it as me accepting her confession.  

But if I rejected it here and now,  

She might think there’s no chance and give up on confessing altogether.  

That’s why—  

I couldn’t answer easily.  

“U-Ugh…”  

Of course, the longer I hesitated, the more anxious Marie’s expression became.  

I couldn’t even take too long to think it over.  

So—  

I made a decision and looked at her.  

Carefully choosing my words to escape this trap as best I could.  

“Okay.”  

My answer was, for now, a yes.  

“…R-Really?”  

At that, Marie’s tearful face brightened, and a smile mixed with joy and shyness spread across it.  

I smiled back at her gently.  

“Yeah, if it’s something that’s getting in the way of your studying, of course I should.”  

“Huh? Oh, y-yeah, r-right…! Hehe…”  

Safe… maybe?

Hiding my unease behind a natural smile, I watched Marie closely.  

After hearing my response, she fidgeted with her fingers, turned back to her book,  

And glanced at me with a shy grin.  

“Thanks… Emil. It’s a weird request, but you agreed to it. Th-Thanks to you, I feel lighter now.”  

After that, Marie focused on her book again and started solving problems.  

Looks like there’s no problem…

Seeing her happily studying, even swinging her legs a little, I let out a quiet sigh of relief.  

It didn’t seem like she’d taken it as me accepting a confession or rejecting her.  

For now, my strategy with Marie seemed to be holding steady.  

Jealousy, huh…

Having narrowly escaped a crisis, I propped my chin on my hand and looked at her.  

Unlike earlier, Marie now had a much lighter expression and was smiling.  

Every now and then, she’d glance at me, meet my eyes, and giggle again.  

Watching her like that—  

I recalled the Marie from my first playthrough.  

***

“Emil… stop it…”  

It was after I’d confessed to her and we’d become a couple.  

“But…”  

“Malcolm’s just my friend! My childhood friend I’ve known forever! You know that, Emil!”  

“Even so, I can’t just accept you two being alone together so late!”  

“Why are you even suspicious of that…! I’m telling you, there’s nothing between me and Malcolm!”  

I’d thought we’d reached a happy ending after starting a relationship with Marie.  

But then, seeing Malcolm get close to her afterward filled me with unease and frustration.  

And to that, Marie had looked at me like I was strange, pleading with an aggrieved expression.  

“Emil, you’re being so weird!”  

“Marie…”  

“Malcolm’s my friend! He’s like family to me! sob, how can you suspect us like that?”  

“That’s not what I—”  

“Your jealousy is too much—it’s overwhelming!”  

***

Remembering that day, I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.  

“Emil?”  

“Hm? Oh, no, it’s nothing.”  

“What’s that~? You were thinking something weird, weren’t you?”  

“Uh… maybe a little?”  

“What were you thinking about?”  

Marie, who’d been working on her problems, looked at me with curious eyes after hearing my laugh.  

I answered honestly.  

“You.”  

“…Huh?”  

Her eyes widened for a moment, then her cheeks flushed as she shyly tapped my arm.  

“Seriously, don’t tease me~!”  

I laughed and apologized at her grumbling.  

But in my mind, I was still recalling those memories with her.  

You treated me like some jealousy-crazed weirdo, but in the end, you went to Malcolm just like I thought.  

I couldn’t help but find it funny.  

And yet—  

That same girl, who wasn’t even my girlfriend now, was showing jealousy and asking me not to get close to another girl.  

Feeling both absurdity and amusement at that, I smiled and looked at Marie.  

And Marie, interpreting my smile differently,  

Blushed shyly and smiled back at me.  

***

Author’s Note

Thank you for reading!  

If you enjoyed it, I’d really appreciate a like, bookmark, and comment!  

Comments especially give me a lot of motivation to keep writing! Thank you.