"Let's go," I said to the expressionless person beside me.
"Sure."
I opened the front door and stepped out of the dorm.
The sky was still a bit dark to start the day's activities. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but its light had begun to show. The leaves around us were still wet with morning dew. The chill in the air seeped through the skin.
Nothing happened to me last night, no nightmares or side effects from my power. That made this morning much easier, with no negative effects on me.
Putri and I left early. After yesterday's battle, Putri decided to stay for the night. Or to be precise, Alysha and I forced her to stay.
Now, it seemed she had something to pick up from her boarding house before heading to school, which is why we left so early. I didn't have anything specific to do, so I accompanied her. It also served as a precaution to prevent another incident like last night.
We walked past the scenic spot that Putri had once shown me. The sunrise from there looked amazing. It wasn't too crowded or noisy. The atmosphere was peaceful and calming.
Along the way, we saw a few people exercising. Morning workouts seemed like a good idea, with such a great view; it surely benefited both body and mind.
As we approached the guardrail, I looked out over the city below. The city looked beautiful. The lights below began to go out one by one. The morning sunlight started filling every corner of the city. This place was perfect for sightseeing, I owed Putri thanks for showing it to me.
Putri came closer and stood beside me, looking at the same view. I glanced at her. Bathed in the morning sunlight, for some reason, she looked dazzling. She was already beautiful, but as I looked at her face, I found myself unable to turn away.
"What is it?" Noticing I'd been staring too long, Putri asked me.
"It's nothing," I replied awkwardly, averting my gaze. "I don't know why, but I just couldn't look away," I said it because I knew she would understand what I was thinking, even if I didn't say it, so I just said it out loud.
Putri didn't respond. The air between us grew awkward.
I shouldn't have done that earlier… What do I do with this atmosphere? I wanted to look at Putri's face and try to guess what she was thinking, but I held back because it was too awkward to face her again.
"Tell me, Nao. Why did you reject Violet's offer to help you?" Putri tried changing the subject.
Violet? Ah, last night. It seemed Putri had overheard my conversation with Violet yesterday.
"If I had to put it simply, it's because I didn't want to involve her in this," I said, lowering my head with a faint smile.
"She's a good person who helps those around her when they're struggling. If I told her, she'd blame herself because the problem we're dealing with involves her. I don't want her carrying a burden she doesn't deserve."
"You're a good person too, Nao," Putri replied.
"I'm not that kind of person. I'm only doing this because of a promise I made to someone," I said, still staring at the city view.
Putri looked at me, but said nothing more. She also turned her gaze to the city, lost in her own thoughts.
Several moments passed in silence. The mood remained just as awkward. We simply watched the city below.
"Hey… there's something I want to tell you," Putri broke the silence.
I looked at her and saw something rare. Her face looked the same as usual, but with a slight change; her cheeks were red, and though she looked toward me, her eyes avoided mine.
Her expression startled me, and for some reason, made my heart pound.
I could tell she was holding back her embarrassment. The awkwardness returned, but this time, Putri forced herself to speak. What's going on with this situation? I couldn't stay calm.
"What is it?" I asked, trying to push aside the uneasy feeling in my chest.
"I like you." Putri looked me in the eye and said it with conviction.
"Huh??" I responded in confusion, a short answer that perfectly reflected my thoughts at that moment.
What did she just say? Could I have misheard? We hadn't known each other that long; there's no way she really meant that.
"I'll say it again. I li—"
Before she could finish, I raised my hand to stop her from saying it again. So I didn't mishear it after all.
Don't want to hold back, she then began to reason.
"I know what you're thinking. Even though I've never truly paid attention to or been noticed by others, I'm not insensitive. Maybe this is admiration, but I know it's more than that. So I'm telling you honestly, I like you."
Regardless of me, she explained what was on her mind so directly.
Now what should I do? What should I say? My head was spinning with confusion. My heart was racing out of control, and my thoughts were a mess. But I also realized how happy I felt hearing her say that.
While I was trying to think of an answer, some images flashed in my mind. Violet's face appeared unexpectedly. And with it, I remembered something, I couldn't ignore my responsibilities just to chase my own happiness.
It was something I realized after Evan's death. How could I just disregard the death of my friend? Until I completed my mission, I couldn't open myself up.
"I'm sorry. I can't accept your feelings." With guilt, I tried to reject her without hurting her. "I don't,"
I was suddenly interrupted, and Putri began to speak.
"You don't have to explain." She spoke gently, with a rare smile on her face. "I knew you'd say that. I already knew the answer I'd get. I just wanted to express my feelings so they wouldn't weigh on me. But… don't blame yourself either. You can forget what I just said." Putri turned and took a few steps away, turning her back on me.
"Wait, Put—"
"It's fine, let's go. If we stay too long, you'll be late for your match."
Before I could finish, Putri started walking again, urging us to hurry.
I looked at her back as she walked away.
Even though she told me to forget what just happened, she was clearly holding it in. Her body trembled slightly; maybe she was trying to hide it by walking in front of me. This situation felt heavy for both of us.
This event would probably stay in my memory. "You can forget what I just said," she said, but I knew neither of us could truly forget it.
After that, we walked on, with Putri still in front. The atmosphere was so heavy, I didn't feel right talking to her or walking beside her.
We went straight to school. I asked about the item Putri said she needed to pick up, but she only replied, "It's fine," and kept walking.
I kept following her, saying nothing.
I knew it would be worse if I did something more, because now I realized the real reason she said she left something behind was just to confess her feelings to me.
I didn't know what would happen to our relationship next, but for now, I just wanted to let things settle before talking to her again.
When we got to school, we parted ways. She looks like the normal one, with her expression, but for me, it looks like she doesn't want me to think too much about it. Then we part ways.
I went to the arena's locker room to prepare for my match.
Damn, this might really mess with my head during the match. I wasn't blaming Putri, but I couldn't forget or push this out of my mind.
**
Regarding the bet I made with Alysha, I had to admit my feelings.
This is what happened yesterday, when Alysha and Putri talked with each other without Naozumi around.
"Putri, you're part of the Magic Community, right? Even if my brother doesn't say it, he probably suspects something. He trusts you."
Earlier, when talking to Alysha about the Magic Community, she figured out that Putri was one of them. Because of that, Putri explained her situation and asked Alysha to convince Naozumi to quit the tournament, but Alysha turned the tables on Putri with a bet.
"I can't convince my brother," was what Alysha said.
Putri thought Alysha was trying to take advantage of knowing Putri was in the Magic Community, but her guess was wrong. Alysha just wanted to confirm something with her.
"Then I'll force him to," I said. That's how our bet began.
"Want to bet?"
"Bet?" I asked, confused.
"Yes, a bet. If you succeed in convincing my brother, I'll grant you one request, anything you want," Alysha said confidently, without hesitation.
"What if I lose?"
"If my brother brings you back here, you lose. And you have to confess your true feelings."
Of course, Putri didn't expect that last part. Her true feelings? About Naozumi, her real feelings. Putri thought about it for a moment, trying to understand.
"You like my brother, don't you?" Alysha asked.
Like? If she meant whether or not I liked him, then yes, I did. But…
"Like in a deeper sense. You think about him and want him by your side until the end. More than the kind of 'like' you'd have for your hobbies."
I see. What Alysha said made sense. I liked Naozumi more than anything I'd liked before. He was someone I'd waited for a long time. Someone who understands me well. Someone who wanted to be with. Even if my feeling right now is not that sort of love yet, I'm certain it will evolve eventually.
My mind, trying desperately to make sense of it all, began to reach backward, sorting through moments and memories like flipping pages in a worn book.
Every time Naozumi appeared in those memories, he was doing something for someone else. Something selfless. Something that hurt him, yet he never once hesitated. And more often than not, that someone… was Violet.
He watched over her. Protected her. Quietly, stubbornly, without seeking thanks or praise.
The way he spoke to her. The way he looked at her, like she was carrying something he wanted to help shoulder. The way he moved when she was near, instinctively positioning himself like a shield.
I had seen it all, and in a way, I understood it. Violet was kind. She was warm. She radiated the kind of light people wanted to be near. Even I couldn't say I disliked her.
But I wasn't like her.
I lowered my head slightly, the weight in my chest growing tighter.
"But I already know the answer," I said, lowering my head.
"That's why we're making this a punishment. If you lose, it'll sting a little, right?" she said with a big smile.
She did it on purpose. I knew Alysha must have done this on purpose. She must've known about Naozumi and Violet's situation.
"You're surprisingly mean, Alysha."
"Well, this is my true self. I only care about my family. Oh, and that includes you, you know?" she giggled.
Me? But I was just an outsider who only recently got to know them. What did Alysha mean by that?
"So what'll it be? Want to bet?"
"Alright, sure." I agreed without thinking much.
And that is how I end up doing my confession because I lost my bet.