Raylin Refuses to Lose
Raylin didn’t want to lose. On the mountainside temple beneath the crimson moon.
“Hah… hah…!”
“Hrk… hah……”
From the outer edge of the temple came the heated breaths of a man and woman. Warm, damp exhalations filled the air. Steam rose from their bodies despite the cool spring night. The red moonlight silhouetted the pair, their clothes half-loosened, faces flushed as though they had just finished an intense workout. Sweat glistened on their skin, making the moonlight itself seem pale by comparison.
—Thump! Thump! Thump!
Though their bodies differed, their hearts resonated as one. Without the slightest deviation, they beat in perfect unison, sending tremors through every limb. It was the Dragon Heart, brimming with warm, intense light.
“Haaah……♡”
“Hoooh-!”
Breeder and Sofia caught their breath, gazing at each other with flushed faces. No words were needed; they simply basked in the deep happiness of their shared feelings. That warmth lingered for a long while, their hearts swelling with every beat, the afterglow refusing to fade.
—Heehee♡
They smiled at one another. Breeder’s past could wait; it was something they could examine whenever they wished.
“Breeder… no matter what your past or true identity may be, I love you.”
“Hah, I feel the same—”
Just as the two were slowly savoring the lingering heat of their emotions, a clear voice cut through the moment.
“…Senior Sofia?! Where are you?!”
“……?!”
“Senior Sofia—! If you’re there, please answer!”
The voice was drawing closer, searching for Sofia.
“Huh? That voice……”
“Raylin? What’s Raylin doing here all of a sudden……?”
Sofia’s expression turned flustered as she recognized the voice. Breeder looked equally startled.
“Sofia? Ah, anyway, we need to fix our clothes first…!”
“R-Right…!”
—Rustle, clatter…!
The pair hurriedly straightened their disheveled clothes in the corner behind the temple, moving like recruits rushing to dress for morning roll call.
—Thud, thud, thud…!
“Senior Sofia~?! Whitey~?!”
Raylin’s voice grew nearer.
“Hohwa… Everyone’s in an uproar. Where is everyone hiding?”
Raylin sighed and muttered to herself while searching the temple grounds. As Sofia’s right-hand woman, she knew exactly where her senior was likely to be. That was why she had headed straight toward the secluded spot where Breeder and Sofia were meeting. Just around the corner, she would find them.
—Spin!
Raylin turned toward the darkest corner of the temple grounds.
“Hohwah-?! S-Senior…? W-Whitey, you too-?!”
Her eyes landed on the two figures. Just as she suspected, Sofia and Breeder stood there, both looking awkward, their clothes thoroughly wrinkled. Their presence in such a hidden place was suspicious enough, but the way they avoided each other’s gazes made it even more obvious. And then—
—Flash! Flash!
A deep crimson halo pulsed behind Sofia’s head, betraying her embarrassment and shyness.
‘Hohwaaa-? So they really… did it. I had a feeling when they said they’d stay behind alone. I can’t believe I let Senior steal the lead like this!’
Raylin’s intuition was sharp. A single glance told her everything. Realizing the truth from Sofia’s expression and the color of her halo, Raylin’s shoulders slumped. Normally she would have erupted in fiery protest, but because the other party was her respected senior, she couldn’t voice her complaints openly. All she could feel was the bitterness of being lower in rank.
“R-Raylin? What’s going on all of a sudden?! Weren’t you in the middle of the new-student welcome party?”
Sofia forced a calm tone, casually tucking her hair behind her ear as if nothing had happened. At the same time, she added, “Breeder and I were simply discussing dormitory and lounge management policies, so please don’t misunderstand,” which only made her sound more suspicious.
“Well… something came up that requires your personal attention, Senior.”
“Why? Is the party already wrapping up?”
“No. If things continue like this, all the new students are going to be forced to drink.”
“What? Drink…?!”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I specifically told Tina to keep things under control. Why is this happening? And with your abilities, you should be able to handle Tina just fine, shouldn’t you?”
—Fwoooosh…!
Sofia’s halo flared red as her expression turned icy. She was furious that Tina had ignored her orders.
“If it had been Tina acting on her own, I wouldn’t have come looking for you like this.”
“Hmm? Does that mean… the fourth-years got involved?”
“Yes. Specifically, Senior Diora, who just returned from the hospital.”
“What? Diora came back at this hour? On a weekend?”
“Apparently she couldn’t wait until next week and snuck out.”
Raylin shook her head with both hands raised, signaling that even she couldn’t stop someone like Diora.
“Hah? So that’s what happened.”
“I tried to stop her at first, but you know how Senior Diora is. It was useless. That’s why I came to find you.”
Raylin continued explaining everything while shaking her head in exasperation.
“W-Wait a second…! Then what about Derke?!”
“Huh? Whitey?”
Breeder, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up. Derke was nowhere to be seen.
“Well… I wanted to get her out if I could, but Senior Diora was watching……”
Exactly. No first-year could leave an event midway. Derke had been left alone without any senior to protect her.
“Then let’s go right now! Giving alcohol to that little one?!”
Breeder stepped forward, visibly agitated. The thought of Derke suffering through forced drinks was unbearable.
—Thud!
But Sofia blocked his path, extending an arm to stop him. She looked him in the eye and spoke.
“Breeder, stay here. I’ll handle this myself.”
“Sofia?”
“It seems I’ve been neglecting my duties as student council president after the pilgrimage. Don’t worry about Derke. As the one with the number-one ownership rights to you, I will take full responsibility and bring her back safely.”
“Hohwah…? Senior Sofia……?”
Sofia declared her position as number one with confidence and walked ahead. Having been the first to give Breeder her Dragon Heart and having shared both body and heart with him, she felt entitled to call herself first in line.
—Click, click, click…!
Her footsteps were more resolute than ever. Her chest swelled with pride, her shoulders squared. Simply having connected with Breeder filled her with immense self-assurance. Inside, Sofia was savoring a thrill of happiness unlike anything she had felt before. Though she kept it hidden, the corners of her mouth kept twitching upward.
“…Ah, right! And Raylin? Take Breeder and head down first.”
Sofia glanced back over her shoulder.
“To the dormitory?”
“Yes. You’ve both had a long day. Make sure he gets some rest.”
“Understood, Senior. I’ll gladly do that.”
“And Breeder, don’t worry too much. Get some sleep. We can finish what we were discussing later. The weekend is still long.”
Sofia shrugged, telling them to leave everything to her.
“Got it, Sofia. I’ll leave it to you.”
Breeder could only nod at her reliable demeanor. Besides, there was little he could do even if he went.
“Good luck, Senior-!”
Raylin waved at Sofia. Then she slowly extended her hand to the side……
“…Whitey? Shall we head down together?”
***
The nighttime mountain path was treacherous. Visibility was almost nonexistent. Breeder knew he could never have descended alone.
“U-Um… you can put me down now……”
—Thud, thud…!
His view swayed from a height far above the ground.
“Hmph, no. If you don’t ask nicely, I’m not putting you down.”
Raylin had forcibly given him a piggyback ride, insisting the dark path was too dangerous. She moved through the darkness with surprising ease, as if she could see perfectly. Her steps were steady, the ride comfortable. Thanks to Raylin, the descent was smooth and even warm.
—Creak! Thud!
She had carried him all the way into the night-duty room, right up to the bed, looking ready to lie down with him.
“Hey… Sis? Can you put me down now……?”
“Ahem…! You should have said that earlier!”
The word “Sis” seemed to satisfy Raylin, and she finally set him down. It was like a magic spell that made everything possible.
“Thanks for carrying me, Sis. You must be tired.”
“Hohwaa…? I could listen to you call me Sis anytime.”
“Haha, if it’s just the two of us, I don’t mind at all. Anyway, Raylin, thanks for everything today.”
Breeder expressed his gratitude in the way that suited Raylin best. He was thankful not only for the piggyback ride but also for her help earlier with the dessert. Without her, he would have lost to Marti. Beyond her SSR rank, Raylin was genuinely precious to him. At times, it really felt like he had gained a reliable older sister.
“By the way, Whitey? I’ve been wondering about something……”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“Earlier, you and Senior Sofia… you made a love pact, didn’t you?”
“Ah……?!”
“Don’t even think about lying. I figured it out the moment Senior called herself number one.”
“I knew it… you noticed.”
“Th-Then, Whitey! Did you two also… do that kind of thing……?”
Raylin asked with a worried tone. She already knew the answer but wanted confirmation.
“Huh? What do you mean by ‘that kind of thing’……?”
“You know! The kind of… hot adult conversation that comes with a love pact?”
“……”
“I’m asking because I already know, so don’t play dumb.”
Flames flickered in Raylin’s ruby eyes. Depending on his answer, that small spark could turn into a raging inferno.
—Nod, nod…!
Breeder simply nodded in silence. There was no point denying it now. Besides, it was bound to come out eventually.
“Hah, I knew it……”
Raylin’s expression turned wistful as she accepted the reality she had hoped to deny.
“Since we’re on the topic… would you make a pact with me too?”
“Huh? Sis? A pact all of a sudden?”
“Think about it! It’s not fair! Senior Sofia already has one, and even the new student Derke has a pact with you. Then what am I to you?!”
“Huh?”
“Don’t just say ‘huh’! I want a special relationship with you too!”
Raylin’s eyes burned with determination as she met his gaze at eye level. She refused to be left behind any longer.
“But a pact needs specific terms……”
“I’ve already thought of the conditions! So please don’t refuse.”
“……”
In the empty night-duty room, Raylin leaned in close, her ruby eyes sparkling like flames. The word “Sis” apparently wasn’t enough for her.
“Um, Sis? Can I ask what the terms would be?”
Breeder had no idea what kind of conditions Raylin might propose.