Chapter 23

After walking for about 10 minutes out of the Academy, students returning home dispersed in all directions, leaving the surroundings quiet.

In the distance, there were just a few people strolling along the tree-lined streets at dusk.

Rusika and I had been walking in silence since leaving the Academy.

The gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze was oddly loud.

It had been a long time since I had returned with anyone other than Tirisia.

“…”

I glanced at the twin-tailed girl next to me, who was walking with her mouth shut.

What on earth was bothering her so much?

Her profile looked like it was filled with considerable discontent.

I guessed that there had been some change in her spirit because of my parting with Tirisia.

After all, having been friends for so long, there must have been something hard to accept, even if we parted on good terms.

I needed to hear exactly what was on her mind, but starting a heavy conversation with Rusika, who seemed uncomfortable, didn’t seem like the best idea.

Better to lighten the mood with some casual chit-chat first.

“It’s been a really long time since it’s just been the two of us returning like this.”

“…Yeah. It has.”

Honestly expressing my feelings brought no change to her expression, but Rusika nodded in agreement.

Before I started dating Tirisia, the members on my way home were me, Tirisia, and Rusika all together.

Having been friends for ages, it was only natural for her to always be included in our little trio.

But after I became an item with Tirisia, Rusika began to keep a little distance from us.

She chose to act separately during lunchtime or on the way home like this.

She said it was because she didn’t want to be an obstacle between us.

Both Tirisia and I wished that she would do the same as always, but Rusika had a stubborn side that didn’t easily reverse her decisions.

I thought it was her own principle.

It mustn’t have been easy for her to distance herself from friends she had always been with.

But she cared more about the future of the two of us than those feelings.

Although she always elevated Tirisia while putting me down, it was actually Rusika Rafisle who worried and cheered for our relationship more than anyone else.

So, I could roughly guess why she was so mad.

“Just last year, it was normal for the three of us to chat and go back together.”

As I spoke while looking up at the tree leaves that were fluttering just like before, Rusika gazed in the same direction.

“Right. Back then, this way home was one of those little joys that I looked forward to every day.”

“Exactly. By the time we finished talking about what happened at the Academy, we’d already be at the parting place.”

Rusika’s expression softened a bit, and a bittersweet smile appeared on her lips.

“It was really…fun, being with you and Tirisia.”

“Same here. Honestly, I still want to have fun like that.”

Rusika only used our full names when she got serious.

Then, in a small voice that came from her tiny lips, she continued.

“So, I really…made a big decision to step back and support you both.”

“…”

“Why did it turn out like this?”

With those firm words, her light pink eyes fixed on my face.

“Rusika…that’s…”

“Do you know why I made that decision?”

As I tried to explain, Rusika cut me off.

Whatever I was going to say would just be a repeat of what I mentioned during lunchtime, so she had an attitude of either listening to me or speaking on her own.

“…Why?”

As I whispered the question, Rusika shook her head while staring down the road ahead.

“It’s not because Erto, you are someone who suits Tirisia.”

“…Okay.”

“Of course, I don’t mean to say you’re a bad person… but I’ve always said it. The other party is the only daughter of one of the country’s top noble houses, and she’s perfect in looks, talent, and character.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

The word “perfect” stuck in my throat like a thorn, but I silently listened to her speak.

“Tirisia, if she puts her mind to it, could arrange a political marriage with the future head of another noble house. That might be someone who will become a major pillar of the country someday.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Do you understand how much Tirisia, who carries the entire honor of the Bruerd family, would have to give up to dream of a future with an ordinary guy who isn’t particularly special?”

Rusika wasn’t trying to discuss class like Seldienne right now.

She was simply comparing the situations and feelings of each individual before talking about status.

“…I know well.”

Of course, I had understood all of this from the start.

I didn’t just get swept up in adolescent feelings and started dating Tirisia.

I too stood at the starting line, determined to overcome all those gaps.

I wasn’t just awkwardly sitting close to Tirisia Bruerd with some flimsy mindset.

“…”

At my honest admission, Rusika wore a pained expression.

But the words that kept coming from her mouth carried the harsh reality.

“Erto, you’re definitely a good person. But you’re not the kind of guy who suits Tirisia.”

“Then…why did you support us…no, why did you support me?”

Why had she acted in the opposite manner while denying my position this much?

Peering into her eyes, hoping for her to share her true feelings, a warm smile came back to me.

“Well, I wanted to cheer on that kind of Erto.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been watching from the side. The way you both look at each other. So I know. The person Tirisia feels the warmest and most comfortable with has always been just you, Erto.”

“…Me?”

“The fact that Tirisia chose you means she wanted you that much. She needed you, Erto. The kind, supportive person who always stands by her.”

“But that alone…seems contradictory to what you’re saying.”

“Of course, it’s not just that. The main reason why I support you, Erto, is because I believe you will overcome all the gaps with Tirisia.”

“Huh?”

My eyes widened in shock at the sudden compliment.

It was quite shocking for me to hear such sincere words from Rusika, who was usually full of sarcasm and biting remarks.

“Tirisia is a girl in a high position, but she’s also someone who has to guard an incredibly lonely place. Many people are afraid to even approach her.”

As she said that—Rusika poked my chest with her fingertip.

“But, you, who grew up as her childhood friend, didn’t see Tirisia as the Bruerd princess but treated her simply as your friend. Not in a relationship that weighs benefits, but just as ordinary people.”

“That’s…couldn’t that be called escapism? Just forgetting about each other’s differences with a naive mindset?”

At my rebuttal, Rusika nodded as if she agreed.

“If you kept that mindset forever, then yeah. But Erto, you chose to develop a deeper relationship with Tirisia. That choice isn’t a decision that can be made without considering the underlying issues.”

“I guess…so.”

Thinking about it, Rusika’s tone suggested she understood my intentions from the beginning.

Her genuine feelings slowly began to make sense to me.

“You, who treat Tirisia as the person she is, while knowing her family and status, are the one who took a step forward. That’s you, Erto. Isn’t it?”

Rusika looked at me with eyes filled with encouragement and warmth.

Her words were completely true, but I couldn’t be confident in that gaze right now.

“Rusika, I…”

“Having watched all of that for a long time, I wanted to believe. That you, Erto, were someone who dreamed of a future with Tirisia wholeheartedly. No matter how big the gap between you two, I hoped you would be the one to make her happy.”

“…”

“Tirisia wants you, Erto. You want Tirisia too. What more do you need? You have the right. No matter who denies your relationship, I still wanted to believe in it. If soulmates exist, this must be it. This is my biggest reason for supporting you, Erto.”

“Rusika…”

“Do you understand this feeling of mine? Erto.”

“Yeah, I completely…understand.”

Yeah, I got it.

I understood why Rusika stepped back to watch over Tirisia and me.

The resolve to hold the audience seat while giving up her own happiness, clapping cheers toward the stage.

With my current sincerity, I understood all that.

But—this conversation wouldn’t end here.

“Then, based on what I just said, I have a request for you, Erto.”

Thud!

Rusika stepped forward and blocked my path.

Our gazes locked together, her light pink eyes met mine.

On the face of the girl I looked at, there was anger and a heavy determination.

“Don’t break up. Take it back.”

Coincidentally, we had stopped right in front of the fork where we would part ways to our separate houses.

As if the answer to this moment would determine the relationship between her and me.

“Rusika…”

I took a deep breath and revealed the conclusion I had already arrived at.

“I’m sorry.”

I understood what kind of feelings she had for trying to stop me, but

I was really sorry, and truly regretful, but

her request was now in a realm I couldn’t fulfill anymore.

It was impossible.

The thought of not breaking up with Tirisia… of getting back together, would never happen in this world again.

That matter had already flown beyond my grasp, out into the void.

So I shook my head.

“That can’t happen.”

“…?”

A massive turmoil rose in those light pink eyes.

“Why?”

A short question.

All I could provide was a response that carried no substance.

“As I said at lunchtime. I have nothing more to say.”

“Erto…you…you…!”

The oil of confusion and doubt ignited into a massive flame after I sparked the ember of my rejection.

“Is your conclusion really…that? You won’t regret it?”

She asked, suppressing her anger as if to give me one last chance.

“Yeah. I won’t regret it.”

“Ha…!”

With that, a storm of uncontrollable red electricity surged from Rusika’s entire body.

With her face full of burning anger, she shouted at me.

“I must have misjudged you! I never thought you’d be this pitiful of a man!”

“…”

“I believed in you! I truly thought you had the will to overcome any difficulties…!”

Her words were the anguished cries of someone betrayed.

“Now you want to run away? Was your feeling for Tirisia worth so little?”

Each of her words hit me like a stone, pounding against my chest.

But that couldn’t turn the impossible into possible.

All I was capable of was shaking my head with a blank expression.

“Stop it. My answer won’t change.”

“You really…! Don’t you see how I feel…!”

Rusika took a few strides toward me and lifted her palm.

All I could do was close my eyes.

“This…!”

…

After waiting a moment and not feeling any shock, I opened my eyes again.

“Ah…”

There stood a miserable girl, her two eyes overflowing with heartbreaking liquid.

She was trembling with clenched teeth, unable to truly hit me due to her softhearted nature.

“I…I…!”

“…I’m sorry.”

With a final apology to her, I felt a smack!

At last, a sharp shock struck my cheek.

It wasn’t very strong, but it felt more like sadness than anger.

“Hic…”

As Rusika withdrew her hand, she turned her back to me and quietly whispered while wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

“I’m really disappointed. Don’t talk to me again. You pathetic jerk.”

“…Okay.”

With that, she bolted past the fork and disappeared from view.

Left alone under the trees, I stood dazed for a moment, gazing up at the sky.

“Sigh…”

It would be great if it would rain a little.

It was a damn clear day.

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