Counseling Sessions
"These past few days, you know."
"...Huh?"
As usual, after classes, during our study group session. While Marie was explaining formulas to Malcolm, Sierra, sitting next to me, leaned in and whispered softly.
"...Aren't you and Marie getting close?"
"......"
A whisper so quiet it wouldn't reach Malcolm or Marie. I glanced sideways, and Sierra was looking at me with clear curiosity.
"Why do you think that all of a sudden?"
"It's not sudden— that's just how it looks."
I tried to brush it off, but her straightforward answer left me speechless.
She's right, it must be obvious.
It didn't really matter if it showed, though.
Just as Sierra said, lately Marie had been approaching me with unusual friendliness.
'Emil! Did you sleep well? Let's do great today too!'
'Emil, teach me this too... Huh? I, I forgot! One more time... please teach me...'
'Emil... are you heading straight back after today...? No, just...'
Her attitude had clearly changed since before the pop quiz.
And Malcolm's reacting differently too...
As a side effect, Malcolm—who used to cling only to Sierra—was now showing interest in Marie as well. Right now, he was even asking her to explain formulas instead of Sierra.
Smooth...
The moment our eyes met, Malcolm flashed a faint smile, so subtle it was hard to catch.
...Hoping I'll feel jealous, maybe.
Of course, having been on the receiving end of his tricks before, I spotted it immediately.
Malcolm was wary of my relationship with Marie right now.
In other words, things were going exactly according to plan.
"So? What's up with that? Come on, what is it?"
Sierra pressed me again as our eyes crossed with Malcolm's.
"Why are you making such a fuss? It's not like you."
"What's not like me?"
"...Hmm, someone who's only interested in studying and ignores everyone else."
"That's rude. I am interested in romance talk, you know? Don't treat me like some golem obsessed with books."
"Interested in romance...?"
"Of course. That's the main topic girls bring up. ...And I have more friends than you do."
"......"
Sierra hit the nail on the head, and I had no comeback.
Yeah, it was true I didn't have friends. Even if it was by choice, no friends meant no friends—I had nothing to say.
"So? ...Hehe, can't answer, huh? Guess there is something."
I stayed silent, and Sierra ran with it on her own.
This is tricky. Admitting it feels off.
It was obvious, really.
I had no intention of ending up with Marie in the end, after all.
Affirming Sierra's question now could lead to awkward situations later.
What to do?
After a moment's thought, I decided to deflect.
"What about you, then?"
"Huh? Me?"
"Malcolm."
"......"
"Sorry if I'm wrong, but from what I see, Malcolm's into you."
My choice seemed spot-on. Sierra went quiet, just like I had earlier, clearly pondering her response.
"...Why do you care?"
She threw the exact same line back at me.
Of course, I had a prepared reply for that.
"I'm interested in romance talk, remember?"
"...It's nothing. And Malcolm's just friendly with everyone. Unlike some people."
"Sure, whatever you say."
"...You're pissing me off."
"You started it out of nowhere."
"Urgh..."
Sierra shut her mouth with her signature pout, clearly stung.
She was smart enough to get my point.
Your question wasn't exactly pleasant either.
And as expected, Sierra dropped the Marie topic after that.
That aside, no progress between Sierra and Malcolm, huh.
I also confirmed Malcolm's state clearly.
Of course, it was obvious he was very aware of Marie now.
But from Sierra's reaction to my question, no events had triggered yet.
My worries hadn't come true.
In other words, stick to the plan.
That's when.
"What are you two doing? What's the talk about?"
Marie finished her one-on-one with Malcolm and approached us.
Sierra had been pouting, but suddenly grinned at Marie like something had clicked.
What...?
"Yeah, just some secret talk with Emil."
"...Huh?"
This jerk.
I glared, and Sierra met my eyes with a smirk.
She was getting her revenge in her own way.
And her intent was obvious.
"Secret talk...?"
Marie's jealousy.
She's screwing me over while checking Marie's feelings too.
As expected from the protagonist who earned runner-up valedictorian on pure skill, without my Easy Mode perks.
"What kind of talk...?"
Marie fell right into Sierra's trap, openly showing her jealousy as she sat next to me and tugged lightly at my clothes.
Her moist pink eyes pleaded up at me.
Like she was telepathing, ...Tell me too.
"Hmmm... as expected..."
Sierra smiled in satisfaction, her face full of certainty.
She'd pieced it together from Marie's reaction, just as planned.
That's when.
Crack...
The sound came not from the sides, but from in front.
Looking at the source, it was a snapped pencil lead.
"......"
Malcolm's gaze was on the problems on his desk.
But he'd clearly overheard us—his hand was tense, even trembling faintly.
This is... pretty good.
I smiled faintly at the sight.
The two women Malcolm was conscious of—Sierra and Marie—were giving off a weird vibe with me in between.
It had clearly gotten under his skin.
And at the same time.
I recalled that moment from the first loop.
The face of the guy who'd stolen Marie from me, kissed her, then beaten me senseless.
...Feels damn good.
It was a lucky hit, but thanks to Sierra's prank, I'd gotten a nice show.
。 。 。
"It was nothing. Just some dumb joke, like rock-paper-scissors."
"......"
Marie stared intently at Emil as he brushed it off.
His claim that it was nothing.
But Marie didn't believe him.
...What could their secret be?
It bothered her.
Even though she should be focusing on studying right now, that 'secret' gnawed at her.
And.
"Enough chit-chat. Let's focus again."
The sight of Emil sharing some secret with Sierra.
It stirred a strange anxiety in Marie's heart.
This feeling was all too familiar.
It feels like back then.
Damian's retreating figure as he headed to the study at Father's call.
The same anxiety she'd felt watching his back then welled up inside her.
And though she hadn't known it at the time.
Having gone through it once with Damian, Marie now knew what this anxiety foretold.
It was the signal that something might be taken away.
"......"
But.
Even knowing that, Marie could do nothing.
Should she grab him and demand an answer?
Like when she used to cling to her big brother as a child?
Would a 'no' reassure her?
If.
The answer was 'yes'...
"......"
Marie shook her head faintly.
I can't focus because of Emil.
This midterm was more important than anything to her.
She felt pathetic that, at such a crucial moment, her mind was filled only with thoughts of him.
Damian would surely look at her with disdain if he knew.
Something she absolutely didn't want to face.
But.
Still...
Emil still bothered her.
So after classes, once the study group wrapped up.
"Malcolm..."
"Yeah?"
After seeing Emil and Sierra off, Marie stayed behind alone with Malcolm for a moment to talk.
Consulting Malcolm felt natural.
Her longtime friend knew everything—from her status as an illegitimate child to her strained relationship with Damian.
So.
Marie wanted to consult him about this too.
"There's something I really want to say."
"......"
In the annex classroom bathed in orange sunset light.
Malcolm stared blankly at her words, then blushed faintly and scratched his head.
He nodded slowly.
"Yeah... what is it?"
Thankfully, Malcolm agreed to listen.
Marie smiled brightly, grateful to her kind old friend, and poured out her frustrated heart.
"E-Emil..."
"...Huh?"
"What kind of relationship do you think Emil and Sierra have?"
"...Emil?"
But.
The moment she brought up the topic, Malcolm's flushed face hardened coldly.
。 。 。
"So yeah, back then when big brother was leaving, suddenly I heard Emil's voice...!"
"......"
The two leaned against the classroom windowsill, standing side by side as they talked.
Marie's pink eyes sparkled with excitement.
Anyone could see she was thrilled as she recounted her story.
And.
Her longtime friend, listening silently.
Grip...
Clutched the windowsill where his hand rested with all his strength as he heard her joyful words.
What he felt was clear displeasure.
Making that face...
Not just his hand—his clenched molars ground hard.
She's talking about Emil... Marie...
Why did he feel this way?
He'd listened to her worries countless times before.
But being with her had never felt this unpleasant.
"S-So... lately, Emil's been on my mind, you know? ...Ah, you get it! This midterm's super important for me!"
"...Yeah."
"But I can't focus because I keep thinking about him...! What should I do? Got any good ideas?"
"......"
What should he say?
What would usual him say?
Just ask him. Or want me to ask for you?
But he couldn't say that like normal.
His head was a mess, dizzy.
Why did he feel this toward his childhood friend Marie?
Asking himself, the answer came instantly.
Jealousy? No.
This was possessiveness.
Marie, who'd been with him since childhood.
At some point, Malcolm had started seeing her as a little sister he had to protect and care for.
But.
Seeing her light up like that over another guy.
It turned his stomach.
So.
"I don't know for sure."
"Yeah!"
For the first time in his life, Malcolm.
"Sierra and Emil."
Instead of advice for Marie.
"...Don't they like each other?"
"...What?"
Gave a lie for himself.