A Loser's Date and Biting Envy
Chris, the defeated one from the bet, finished choosing her outfit and hurriedly left the dormitory. She'd woken up early in the morning, but she'd wasted too much time picking clothes.
If I'd known it'd be like this, I should've just gone with the dress from the start.
Fortunately, she wasn't late. Chris arrived at the meeting spot in the square with slightly hurried steps, reaching the landmark—the massive withered tree. Looming tall. And right before the rendezvous point, Chris stopped in her tracks.
"……."
Emil had arrived first and was sitting on the bench in front of the tree, passing the time by reading a book.
Come to think of it, he's always been close with books….
Chris, who had spent recent days only sparring with wooden swords alongside Emil, suddenly remembered that he was the top of their first-year class. The same guy who'd been getting thwacked by her wooden sword all this time. But outside the training grounds, Emil was the pinnacle of the class in the field of studies. Realizing that fact hit her like a ton of bricks, making Emil feel strangely unfamiliar.
"……."
The image of him as some awkward novice swordsman shifted ever so slightly.
Nothing weird about me, right…?
Maybe that's why. Before approaching Emil, Chris checked her reflection one more time in a nearby glass window. The fluttering dress, matched with shoes and accessories.
Why does it look so off….
Chris frowned at her own appearance. She was a girl who suited armor and swords, after all. What if Emil laughed at her like this? The worry hit her suddenly.
"Ugh…."
But she couldn't back out now. The battlefield was already in sight, and the trumpet was about to sound.
"E-Emil…."
"Ah, you're here."
Chris appeared before Emil, tense as could be. She fiddled with the hem of her dress, instinctively furrowing her brow and blushing her cheeks. Avoiding his eyes, unable to meet them.
"……."
Emil stared at her blankly for a moment.
What's with him? Why's he so quiet? S-See, it is weird….
Squeeze….
With no reaction from Emil, Chris felt a mix of embarrassment and some inexplicable sadness. She debated squeezing her eyes shut and bolting for a few seconds.
"You're pretty. So this is what you usually wear."
"……Huh?"
Emil, who'd been silent the whole time, finally spoke. Chris opened her eyes then, staring at him in a daze. The expression she'd been too scared to notice was a shy smile.
"……It, it doesn't look weird?"
"Huh? Not at all. Haha, sure, it's different from your usual image, so I was surprised."
"Ugh…."
"But it suits you. Really pretty."
"……."
Thump, thump.
Something's definitely off….
Just minutes ago, she'd heard the exact same words from Edric on her way over. He'd lavished her with praise upon seeing her like this.
Thump, thump.
But it was different from Edric's. The compliment of being pretty.
"……."
Chris's cheeks flushed deep red as she bowed her head. It didn't feel unpleasant. No, an indescribable joy welled up inside her, too much to handle.
"Shall we go?"
"……Y-Yeah."
Even seeing Chris like that, Emil casually escorted her. The two then walked side by side through the downtown streets.
That surprised me…. I figured she'd show up in something casual like last time.
Walking next to Chris, Emil glanced at her. Maybe because of the feminine dress, she seemed more serene than usual. The compliment he'd given earlier wasn't empty words to win her over. He was genuinely surprised, and he genuinely thought she was pretty. He'd never seen her like this even in the fourth loop when he'd captured her heart.
In the fourth loop… it was pants, right?
The date right before capturing Chris in the fourth loop. And all the dates after as lovers. She hadn't worn a skirt once in any of those moments. Of course, Emil hadn't thought it odd. Even in pants, her toned figure showed through beautifully, so he'd found her pretty anyway.
But a dress… it's something else.
Something must have changed in this loop to influence her. That's what Emil figured. So what had caused it? Himself becoming top of the class? The way he'd become her student through the bet? Or….
Maybe Chris in the previous loop just wasn't that serious about me.
Considering the possibility, Emil felt a fresh bitterness.
"What's wrong…?"
"Huh?"
Chris, walking beside him, asked cautiously.
Her instincts are sharp as ever.
Chris's battlefield-honed senses must have picked up on Emil's shift.
"Nah, just a bit nervous, I guess."
"……."
Emil brushed it off with a grin.
Emil's nervous too….
Chris felt a strange delight at his white lie. Being nervous meant… he was conscious of her. Being conscious meant….
…Does he see me as a woman?
Thump, thump.
The date hadn't even properly started yet. But just walking with Emil made Chris's heart pound wildly.
The meeting with Emil—what Chris had firmly decided was a date—proceeded smoothly. First, they had a light meal at a nice restaurant Emil guided her to.
Delicious….
Chris's eyes widened in surprise as she chewed. She wasn't one to care much about food usually. But for some reason, this meal felt incredibly special. Maybe because the person eating with her was special. Chris watched Emil chatter happily, thinking just that.
"Huh? The bill?"
"I already paid. So we can just go."
"Wha…?"
Even the meal she'd assumed she'd pay for herself had already been settled by Emil.
Then why make the bet….
Chris fell deep in thought, watching Emil walk ahead casually. If he was paying anyway, why use the bet's wish to call her out on the weekend?
"……."
Pondering the reason, Chris blushed faintly and lowered her head.
After the meal, the two stopped by a newly opened toy shop nearby. It was full of novel contraptions powered by springs and magic.
"Whoa, this jelly thing sparkles so much."
Chris had long outgrown playing with dolls or toys. But browsing the fascinating and intriguing items was still fun.
"Hey, wouldn't this be great for marking paths in a dungeon?"
"…Thinking of it that way is kinda impressive."
Little by little, the feminine sides she'd forgotten during her mercenary days began to emerge. The usually prickly and sharp Chris spent the day innocently joyful, like a pure girl.
After wandering the downtown area a bit more, the two headed to a temple. An ancient structure from long ago, exuding a mystical aura with its old architectural style. Surprisingly, it was packed with outsiders. Probably one of the city's famous sights.
"It's huge."
"Built a thousand years ago."
For Chris, the tension had given way to pure enjoyment. Having always buried herself in swords and training, the pleasure felt doubly intense.
After touring the course for visitors, they ended with a moment of prayer in the chapel.
Glance.
Sitting in her chair with her head bowed, Chris cracked her eyes open to peek at Emil beside her.
I wonder what he's praying for.
Today, spending time with him, Chris had focused solely on Emil. Forgetting her adoptive mother, training, family, her past—everything. She'd thought only of Emil, enjoying the time with him. It was so satisfying. A fulfillment she'd never felt before. Having tasted it once, she now craved this time irreparably.
So everything about Emil became intriguing.
…How does he think of me?
Starting with herself and Emil right now.
…What about Sierra?
And someone else not here.
…He seems so used to dates. Has he been with a lot of girls?
Jealousy mixed with questions about unseen others.
Instead of praying, Chris just stared at Emil. Then—
"Done?"
"Ah, uh…! Y-Yeah."
She jolted as Emil opened his eyes and met hers, quickly bowing her head. It felt like he'd read her mind. But Emil just smiled naturally and led her out of the temple.
"What'd you pray for…?"
Walking beside him, Chris mustered the courage to ask one of her burning questions—the one she could actually voice.
Emil pondered, stroking his chin for a moment.
"Just… for help achieving my goal."
He gave a vague summary of his prayer.
…What's his goal?
His ambiguous answer left her question unanswered, only adding another.
…Is it the same as mine?
Still, Chris harbored a faint hope. Her goal. She'd felt it clearly today on this date. Chris liked Emil. She was facing him as a woman.
Spending time with him was so sweet and addictive.
"……."
"Shall we head back?"
"……Yeah."
It was so regrettable to part now. Having tasted it once, she couldn't pretend otherwise. So Chris began to yearn deeply.
"N-Next time…."
"Hm?"
"……Next time, I'll treat you. To a meal."
"……."
A possessiveness toward Emil solidified as her goal.
And so, the first taste of happy time with someone she liked—what could simply be called a date—ended, leaving only lingering regret.
"What is it…."
On the way back to the dormitory, as Chris and Emil walked with a fresh, warm vibe. A pink-haired girl watched them blankly from behind.
"Really, what is it…."
With the sunset at her back, she stared at the two with empty eyes.
Why were those two together? Who was that girl? …What was their relationship?
"Who are you…?"
The spot beside that man, which she might have claimed. The place she'd so desperately wanted and begged for, now taken by some nameless woman.
Watching her quietly, Marie's lips made a crunching sound. The sound of her biting them. And after that—
A thin trickle of blood flowed from Marie's mouth. Like tears streaming down.