episode_0068

A cafe inside the academy.

Today, too, Emily was guarding Carlisle’s side.

In fact, Carlyle doesn’t ask Emily to meet him first or contact him.

Yeah, but.

‘…The one who likes it loses.’

Emily began to put on a brave face. She began to gather courage.

I tried to have a conversation by standing next to the person.

I decided to start with something small like this and get closer to it.

I don’t want to miss the opportunity that Bianca Shamal gave me, the opportunity that Vita gave me-

This is Emily Swan’s very honest feelings.

Fortunately, recently.

My childhood friend Carlyle was not alone on the rooftop of the academy annex like he always used to be.

Because these days, I’m always thinking about something at a cafe.

Honestly, at first, Emily thought that her childhood friend Carlisle was worried because of the rumors that were spreading around the school, but that wasn’t the case.

Carlyle writing a letter.

Emily knows why Carlyle is writing the letter.

I don’t know if it was intentional, but he’s putting up such an iron wall. I can’t help but laugh.

My pride was also hurt a little.

It’s almost the weekend of our anniversary, the anniversary of our confession.

Carlyle looks like he’s about to confess something to someone that day. He’s said things like this before, as if in passing.

-We’ll see the outcome that day.

Emily Swan knows who that person is.

So, at first.

Emily thought it was too much for Carlyle to do this even though he knew what she was thinking. But that wasn’t true. She was being unreasonable.

Carlyle never once called him that. In fact, he sometimes showed a little discomfort.

Emily herself is forcing herself to stay by his side. She is using her position as his childhood friend.

But little by little, Emily begins to have a premonition.

So, little by little, as time goes by.

These past few days, I’ve been watching Carlyle Schultz thinking only of other people, even though I’m right next to him.

‘I… absolutely can’t… ‘

There is no room for interference.

He said that there was absolutely no place for him to interfere.

I have come to realize that Bianca Shamal has already taken up such a large space in my opponent that there is no room for me to squeeze in.

‘But, Vita…’

Emily bit her lip.

Actually, Bianca Shamal, originally Vita, likes Carlyle Schultz, but at the same time, doesn’t she want to give up on him?

Of course, Emily’s own slip of the tongue played a big role in the process.

I did feel sorry.

Really, I’m sorry.

But more than feeling sorry, my love for Carlyle is honestly greater, which is why I am doing such a selfish and fatal thing.

‘I know too…’

Emily knows it too, which might make her feel even more frustrated.

***

You must have tried hard to give up, you must have tried hard to push it away.

Bianca Shamal, that is. Vita Shamal, that is.

But the childhood friend in front of me shows no sign of giving up.

Even though I never said the name myself, Emily knew.

In Carlyle Schultz’s mind, there is only Bianca Shamal. In his sunken golden eyes, there are only thoughts of Bianca Shamal.

Confession day is this weekend. I’m drawing up plans for that day.

If you don’t open your mouth, the conversation will end.

Maybe Carlyle doesn’t hate himself.

But that’s it.

Because he is just a friend. He is tolerated by her being by his side right now, because she considers him a friend. Maybe she doesn’t have time to worry about herself at all.

‘…’

Emily, so she had a hunch.

No matter how much Bianca Shamal leaves, Carlyle will never be able to break away from Bianca. My intuition as a woman keeps telling me that.

Now Emily realized.

Even if Bianca Shamal disappears, he cannot win. He will probably never win Carlyle’s heart again.

“… Why did you do that?”

That’s a little unfair, Emily Swan asked.

“Bianca keeps on… ”

The other person keeps pushing you away, so why do you keep doing that? Don’t you have any intention of giving up?

“… I want to try.”

Carlyle answered.

“What if I get rejected…?”

“Still, I don’t think you’ll regret it. It’s better than not doing it at all.”

“… You might regret it, right?”

Emily Swan said.

“Even confessing can lead to regrets.”

‘Because we might not be able to maintain our current relationship.’

But Emily can’t possibly express her cowardly inner thoughts.

A sigh-like answer is heard.

“If you don’t tell them, nothing will change.”

Even if you get rejected, there’s nothing you can do about it. At least if you confess, even if it doesn’t work out, you might be able to understand.

Somewhat, even if it is forced.

That’s Carlyle’s value. Nothing changes unless you take action yourself. That’s why he ran away from the orphanage, and that’s why he’s in this situation now.

In the end, if you don’t take action, nothing will change, so it’s better to take action even if you end up regretting it.

After hearing those words, Emily got up from her seat in confusion.

“… I’ll go.”

“Okay, bye.”

Carlyle, again, doesn’t hold himself back at all.

Emily bit her lip as she walked out the door of the café.

I feel miserable. It happens to me when I feel like I like something.

There is no place to hide one’s own ugly heart, one’s heart that is becoming ugly.

Emily is so focused on Bianca Shamal that she doesn’t even notice herself. I gradually come to realize that.

‘Yeah, maybe…’

Emily’s mind changes.

Even if you don’t confess, and even if you do confess.

If you choose a direction that leaves you with regrets,

Okay, then.

Maybe it would be better to crash into something and break it. Only then can I give up this feeling, this feeling that will not be repaid.

One ending that was predetermined. An ending that would not change even if Bianca Shamal disappeared.

Rather, as she realized this, a determination gradually began to form within Emily.

Confession day this weekend.

Because there’s a perfect excuse to see the end.

***

“Is it already the final exam soon?”

“Ah, I don’t like it.”

A noisy classroom. The atmosphere is quite lively.

It was now Friday. The classroom was bustling with the upcoming event, ‘Confession Day’.

“Oh, too bad. It should have been a weekday.”

“Then only a few people would have monopolized the letters.”

“Anyway, I’m either at school or at home… ”

A giggling laugh.

Vita looked around the classroom and thought for a moment. It couldn’t be otherwise.

‘Now, really…’

As soon as this coming weekend passes, he will return to being a man.

To put it another way, the fact is:

Today is the last day that I sit in this classroom, in this seat, as ‘Bianca Shamal’.

Yeah, really.

Today was the last day.

Knowing that fact makes me feel emotional for no reason. It’s only on the last day that I have the time to look around.

A lively classroom atmosphere, cool morning sunlight.

Up to this point, it was a familiar scenery. After all, it was the academy I had been attending for almost three years.

But under Vita’s gaze, she looks down at her own school uniform.

A navy ribbon, a white, fresh blouse, and a slightly gray skirt with a check pattern.

‘… I don’t think I’ll miss it though.’

At the same time, I got used to it. I got used to it.

And next to him is his partner, Sasha Noah.

I was looking out the window, so we didn’t make eye contact. But somehow, I felt a little relieved. I could indulge in this sentiment a little more.

A partner with a lively personality and a very friendly friend.

With Sasha in class, Vita feels that she has been able to blend in well as ‘Bianca Shamal’ and has adapted well to the classroom.

‘Having Shasha here really helped me out a lot.’

Thank you, really.

‘…’

And then suddenly our eyes met.

Pale brown ponytail, ruby eyes.

At first glance, the cute impression of a squirrel-like schoolgirl, Sasha’s eyes widen.

Maybe recently like this.

Isn’t this almost the first time you’ve looked at Sasha?

“Ah… Bianca… ?”

Sasha smiles vaguely. Recently, Vita has not been responding well to Sasha, even to her close friend. She may feel awkward.

But I can see Sasha’s eyes rolling. She must be thinking of something to talk about.

“Oh, right! Are you studying these days? Final exams are coming up soon.”

What did Sasha do wrong?

There was nothing wrong.

It’s just that since that day, since the truth game, things have become awkward.

Originally, at that time.

Vita tried to apologize the next morning.

-I’m sorry about yesterday!

To Sasha and Emily.

Since I suddenly ran away while we were playing a truth game, I thought I would make a light apology for it.

I think Sasha would be very embarrassed too.

But after having ‘that conversation’ with Emily on the balcony.

The next day, I was just in a daze, so shocked that I missed my chance.

Because we passed it by without much conversation, things became awkward between me and my partner Sasha.

Besides, the condition continued to get worse after that.

“… Bianca, are you listening?”

But Sasha Noah, my lively partner, didn’t feel discouraged at all and talked to me every day, so Vita felt sorry inside. Of course, she was very sorry.

But at the same time, up until now, he had only been busy examining his own confused emotions.

I couldn’t care less.

But really.

‘Because it’s the last day.’

After confirming that Carlyle Schultz’s position was vacant.

Vita answered with a smile.

“Yeah, Shasha.”

***

I scratch my cheek awkwardly. It’s been a while since I’ve had a conversation, so it’s actually a little awkward.

“Of course I’m studying.”

Actually, I haven’t been able to study at all recently. When I answer like that, Sasha opens her mouth.

“Uh… Uh… !”

A look of confusion for some reason.

“D, finally…! You’re finally answering!”

Sasha shouts like that, drawing everyone’s attention.

“No, Shasha… ”

Vita was also very flustered. She looked around and saw that there was already a fight going on. Shasha’s sudden shouting had a great effect!

“Are you okay now…? Yeah, is that so?”

In an instant, tears welled up in Sasha’s eyes.

“Ah, no… why are you crying all of a sudden… ”

Vita was even more embarrassed. Before she knew it, her classmates had gathered around her.

“Bianca, you… ”

“Are you okay now…?”

Careful questions.

“Something bad definitely happened to you personally… ?”

“Hey, wait a minute…!”

Why are you so clueless? I didn’t know properly.

I hear that too.

“Ugh… Ugh… ”

Vita smiled vaguely, groaning slightly.

Well, to others, it might seem like there’s been a problem between Carlyle and me, and that’s what I’ve been doing lately.

Since Carlyle and I were always together, I tried to control myself later on, but the kids in the class probably knew about it anyway.

‘There’s a problem with Carlyle.’

That’s half true and half false.

Well, whatever.

Vita now realizes that she has been causing everyone so much worry. She definitely feels sorry.

So, Vita put her hands together as if praying and expressed her apology.

“Everyone, sorry…!”

Let’s lighten the mood.

“I’ve been bad lately… ?”

“Yeah, totally! You know what I mean, Bianca.”

Sasha is coming in excitedly from the side. That must mean that her expression looks okay.

“Are you okay now?”

Vita nodded again to her friends’ questions.

“Yeah, okay. I’m okay now.”

I feel, what should I say?

A little bit is good.

The reactions of friends around me.

Still, I think I’ve done okay as a high school student named ‘Bianca Shamal’.

So, I am grateful to everyone and feel sentimental all over again.

Vita hesitated for a moment, then spoke, perhaps somewhat impulsively.

“… Everyone, how are you?”

Let’s say goodbye.

His friends around him look embarrassed.

“… suddenly?”

“Where are you going? Bianca?”

“Is something wrong?”

Vita came to her senses again.

‘…Look at my mind.’

What did you just say?

It’s definitely a word that popped into my mind in the moment, but it’ll probably come across as strange.

“Oh, no.”

Vita set out to train.

“I’m going to my parents’ house on the weekend. I’ll be there a little during the week too… So goodbye for a bit! Something like that? ”

“Hey, what is it? I thought I was transferring schools… ”

Only then do all my friends burst into light laughter.

“Yeah, well. Something happened at home, but it worked out well. So I’m going to go out for a bit.”

“There was something going on at home… ”

“I’m glad it worked out well, Bianca.”

“Really, yes.”

Vita responded with a smile.

I’m not leaving at all. I’m coming back to school.

But this is the last time I’ll be with ‘Bianca Shamal’.

‘… Hello everyone.’

So, as Bianca Shamal, Vita was saying goodbye to the classroom she had grown attached to, and to her other friends.