Two Steps 2

Swords have self-awareness.

Swords are born into the world through countless realms.

Even if the world where the sword resides faces an endless winter.

Swords imbued with great power have will.

They have one clear purpose.

Swords were originally created by heroes to save the world.

No, it’s strange to even call it a sword from the beginning.

It changes form according to the world.

Sometimes a sword, sometimes a bow.

But one thing is certain.

The fact that its power is truly suited for the purpose of world salvation.

However, no one has ever mastered the sword.

All are captivated by its power and eventually meet their doom.

The sword wished.

It’s the wish that all objects would express if personified.

Objects need an owner.

Not one who is controlled by the object, but one who can wield it.

The sword wanted a suitable owner.

It has been repeatedly born with that single wish.

Once, there was someone more suitable than anyone to be the sword’s master.

To the extent of leaving behind the image of a corrupted former hero as a lingering regret.

The scabbard was a medium for the sword to be born.

Allowing the sword to come out into the world in any form.

It happened in a world where the cycle continued.

At some point, by chance.

The scabbard was born with the sword in human form.

Of course, that was all.

The scabbard had no heart.

The scabbard was nothing more than an object.

It had enough power as a vessel to hold the sword, but no free will.

Even though it took human form.

But at some point.

The scabbard began to change.

Through human survival instincts and contact with others.

The scabbard became human.

The human became able to give affection to someone.

Gradually, it gained will and began to act.

It came to love.

The sword came to be wielded for people.

It came to be wielded to protect people.

Nevertheless, the ending was a bad ending as always.

The sword’s master fell to become a murderer.

The girl lost her reason to live.

The girl chose to abandon being human and become a scabbard again.

The sword regretted it.

It couldn’t let go of the possibility it had finally found.

So, it was born again in another world, carrying a scabbard like before.

This time, yearning for a true master.

That brings us to today, now.

The scabbard came to wield the sword by its own will.

For the sake of a precious person.

[Love, huh…]

The scabbard became a girl and came to know love.

[…I really can’t call it a scabbard anymore.]

So it, she, is no longer a scabbard.

She’s a swordswoman who wields the sword for her precious person.

Fierce winter winds always raged in the girl’s mind.

Only loneliness was clear.

Tomorrow will be different.

Spring is coming.

The spring breeze comes down dancing, embracing like a caress.

The girl’s long winter was coming to an end.

[Be happy, Michaela.]

There’s no need for lingering regrets anymore.

[You deserve it.]

Early morning came.

The artificially created imitation sun shines warmly through the window bars.

Han Seoyeon opened her eyes.

She got up and stretched, not wearing a single thread.

The start of a day different from usual.

A motel bed, not the dormitory.

Beyond that, traces of sweat… and love juices, soaked into the sheets.

Above all.

As if last night wasn’t a dream.

Right beside her, the silver-haired girl was sleeping soundly.

“Good morning…”

The first day.

The first night spent together.

The first experience.

Neither had much experience, so it was somewhat clumsy.

Embarrassed by the unfamiliar act, yet simply happy to feel each other’s warmth.

Hesitating, fumbling, yet wanting to savor each other.

Slowly but surely.

Shyly, yet passionately.

Perhaps a bit vulgar.

Sweet moans, not knowing who made them, still echo in her ears.

“…Michael, la.”

Like this, calling each other’s names.

They felt each other over and over.

“…Seoyeon.”

“Sorry. Did I wake you?”

“No, not yet.”

Michaela asks in a low voice.

“That, morning kiss…”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

Because it was impossible not to find that lovable.

Han Seoyeon kissed her and mixed their saliva.

“Good morning. Michaela.”

Michaela’s kiss tasted like a fresh spring day.

“Do you know why I rented this entire place?”

The beach, filled with salty scents, still had waves rippling.

The sunlit sandy beach lifted their spirits, perfect for staying with a lover.

“I didn’t want to be interrupted. Our time together.”

“Do you like me that much?”

“I do.”

“Me too.”

Dressed in couple swimsuits.

Holding hands.

“I like you too. Michaela. You.”

The girls walked together in that place devoid of human presence.

“Actually, I was planning to make you fall for me somehow after suggesting this first.”

“It can’t be helped. Forgive me. Isn’t there a saying? In love, the one who falls first loses.”

Michaela no longer restrained her feelings at all.

“I couldn’t bear it. Because I became jealous.”

“…Jealous?”

“Yes. Whenever you were with other women, I felt uneasy.”

“Me…? With other women?”

“You don’t need to hide it. I saw everything.”

Michaela said in a slightly sulky voice, as if dissatisfied.

“With that woman who gave you a coat,”

“Da-eun?”

“The blonde woman who’s always by your side.”

“Suho?”

“Weren’t you often together with those two?”

“…Don’t tell me you were jealous of them?”

“That’s, right.”

“Pfft…!”

She poured out words in a sulky voice that made Han Seoyeon want to hug her right away.

“…Please, don’t laugh. It was a very important matter to me.”

“I see. So you liked me that much?”

“…That’s, right.”

Because there was no other way to express it but to call it cute.

Han Seoyeon couldn’t help but smile.

To think the objects of jealousy were her twin sister and friend.

It was impossible not to laugh.

“But Michaela, you were the one who told me to play with my friends first.”

“…At that time, I wasn’t aware yet. Aware of my feelings for you.”

That cold, noble Michaela.

Holding hands tightly, blushing and being shy.

“I thought we were just ordinary senior and junior. Just friends. That’s all I thought.”

Only in front of Han Seoyeon herself.

“…But when you were alone with other women. When you created secrets I didn’t know about with other women. When you were hugging other women. My chest ached. For the first time in my life, I became jealous of others.”

It’s a face no one else has seen.

Emotions no one else has made her feel.

Han Seoyeon took Michaela’s firsts.

“You were watching all of that?”

“I was watching. I saw everything about you.”

“Were you that anxious…?”

“I was anxious. I was afraid of the fact that you might leave my side.”

Han Seoyeon felt her body getting hotter and hotter.

Under the midsummer sun, that was natural.

“You can rest assured about that. I’m not in a romantic relationship with those two.”

“…Is that so.”

“When everything is over, I’ll tell you everything. So please wait a little.”

“No. Waiting is not enough.”

“Then, what do you want to do?”

“I want to help you.”

In each of those words, undisguisable affection was revealed.

It showed signs of innocent first love.

“If you have troubles, I want to be by your side, if you have sorrows, I want to cry with you. If you have happiness, I want to laugh together.”

With each of those words.

“I want to be by your side all the time. Seoyeon.”

“…Yeah.”

As Han Seoyeon’s body got hotter and hotter uncontrollably.

“I’m hot! Since the sea is right in front of us, shall we go in to cool off?”

“I’ll cool off with you!”

“Ah, wait, if you push like that─!”

She thought about cooling off in the sea to somehow control her body.

“Ah…”

With a splash.

Falling over as if pushed, entangled.

“Are you seducing me? In a place like this.”

“…Maybe?”

She couldn’t control her heated body anymore.

“If I seduce you. What will you do…?”

“I’ll do this.”

Michaela kisses the black-haired girl with downcast eyes, wet from the sea and shining like a jewel.

“Seoyeon.”

“…”

“I like you. I love you.”

“…Me too.”

Looking at those captivating red eyes, ecstasy fills Michaela’s body.

“…Come.”

Tempted by that voice, it becomes impossible not to reach out.

There was no one there.

It was a space for just the two of them.

No one could interrupt them.

At least for this moment.

Forgetting about the original story, about pride as a munchkin protagonist.

Everything is forgotten for now.

Just focusing on the loved one.

Thinking only about Michaela.

On the sunlit beach.

Beyond the rolling waves, the girls overlap their bodies.

They spent three days like that.