Couple Breaker
One peaceful afternoon, I was heading to the cafeteria with my friends for lunch.
“Kenneth. Congrats! I heard you can use sword energy now?”
“When did that happen? Weren’t we friends? You should’ve told us!”
“Uh, uh? S-sorry.”
Abel and Yas congratulated him while Kenneth awkwardly glanced around, looking uncomfortable. It was an unbelievable sight.
‘How did things end up like this?’
It had been nearly two months since I’d locked Kenneth away in the Priuli mansion. When he finally said he’d had a breakthrough, we started talking, only to get caught by Abel and Yas. Thanks to those two overly friendly idiots, they were now grilling Kenneth nonstop. At this rate, it looked like they were going to eat lunch together too.
‘He’s not going to become a permanent member, right?’
If I left that idiot next to Abel, who was under constant watch by the Church’s paladins, there was no telling when he’d be exposed. While I was worrying about it, Yas suddenly switched targets from Kenneth.
“Luan. Come to think of it, you know about that, right?”
“What now?”
“Abel’s going on a date with Yuni this week, isn’t he?”
“A date?”
“Yeah. What was it again? The silver grass festival on the mountain? He said they’re going to see that.”
This was a development that didn’t exist in the game. Startled by the unexpected variable, I quickly turned to Abel.
“Abel, is that true?”
“Yeah. It’s true. Actually… I think I like Yuni. I realized it when she protected me at the clock tower last time. So I’m planning to confess this time!”
“…Confess?”
“Yeah. Yuni’s pretty, after all. It’s fine now, but who knows when she’ll get a boyfriend. So I just want to confess. I even asked the other guys, and they said there’s a good chance!”
“…I see.”
What the hell was going on? In the game, Abel would always act like a eunuch and awkwardly brush off any suggestive events with the heroines, but now he’d turned into a real man. There had to be someone who didn’t exist before influencing him—specifically, Yas’s influence.
Under my gaze, the guy smugly tilted his chin.
“What?”
“You egged him on, didn’t you?”
A smile spread across his lips. Grinning like a villain whose identity had been exposed, he stroked his scruffy beard and spoke.
“Hah! Egged him on? Watch your language. I just gave him a little courage, that’s all.”
“What exactly did you say to make him like this? Normal persuasion wouldn’t have worked on him.”
“Nothing special. I just reported every single day about the male students talking to Yuni.”
Having someone whisper anything in your ear every day would drive you crazy, but if it was about the girl you liked, there was no way you could ignore it. It must’ve been pretty torturous. But that alone wouldn’t have been enough to break Abel’s eunuch tendencies.
“Bullshit. You obviously added all sorts of unnecessary details. Like how Yuni’s cheeks turned red, meaning she’s got a thing for him, or how some guy’s eyes were checking out her chest.”
“Huh? How’d you know? Kyaah! As expected of you. Figuring out my thoughts in an instant. That’s my friend!”
“Fuck off.”
I quickly denied the disgusting feeling of “You’re one of my kind!” and made a decision.
‘I’ll have to tail them secretly.’
I figured the escorting paladins would protect them just fine, but I couldn’t just sit back with my hands and feet tied. I had no choice but to watch from a distance and intervene if anything happened.
‘Hope nothing goes wrong this time.’
*
At the same time, on a deserted walking path, two people were arguing.
“Sara. There’s a festival at Mt. Berendia this time. Won’t you come with me? It’ll definitely be fun.”
“Why are you doing this? I’ve rejected you so many times already! Please just leave me alone!”
“I can’t do that. I can’t give up on you, Sara.”
Ever since the incident during the break, Verdan’s courtship had continued for over two months. She’d managed to reject him so far, but under his persistent advances, Sara’s heart was starting to waver.
‘How long do I have to keep this up?’
Memories of that time still surfaced frequently. Herself panting in Luan’s arms, and Verdan’s face eventually stained by her fluids. The pleasure and guilt from back then made her realize just how lewd and pathetic a person she was.
She thought she couldn’t accept Verdan’s feelings, but facing his unchanging affection, she began to wonder if even this was a selfish choice. Wouldn’t it be proper atonement to accept his heart and live the rest of her life in self-reproach?
In the end, amid her worry, Sara’s heart leaned to one side.
“…Alright. I’ll go to the festival with you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ve realized there’s no point in rejecting you anymore. …Let’s meet this weekend.”
At the same time as her acceptance, she turned her back. Before she could even take a few steps, Verdan’s lively voice rang out.
“Thank you! Thank you so much, Sara. Let’s meet at the coffee shop in the shopping district on Sunday! Thank you so much!”
Sara’s eyes reddened at the words of gratitude.
‘I’m the one who should be thanking you.’
I’m sorry that someone like me is receiving your love.
She forced her feet, which wouldn’t leave the ground, to move. Transparent tears scattered in droplets over the footprints etched into the ground.
*
Waiting was contradictory. Sometimes it was so boring that a single second felt like an eternity, and sometimes it was so exciting that ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye. Right now, Abel was the latter.
He didn’t have the luxury to think about whether the clothes he was wearing today looked good, what Yuni would be wearing, or how he should compliment her if she looked nice. Just thinking about the confession made his mind go blank, so he’d pushed it out of his thoughts entirely.
Just then, Yuni finally appeared.
“Abel! I’m here. Did you wait long?”
“Ah…”
A beige knit sweater with a checkered skirt. She wore a beret on her head and stockings, exuding a fresh yet lovable charm. Abel stared blankly at Yuni before coming to his senses and awkwardly showering her with compliments.
“Y-you look really pretty. It suits you so well.”
“Really? You look cool too, Abel. Hehe!”
Yuni smiled shyly. She clasped her hands together and fidgeted, but because the knit sweater’s sleeves were long, only her fingertips peeked out. Even that sight was adorable.
‘Cute. Cute. Cute. Cute.’
Repeating his impressions like he’d been brainwashed, Abel exerted superhuman self-control and led Yuni forward.
“Y-Yuni. Let’s go then. This way.”
“…Okay.”
He wanted to hold her hand but couldn’t muster the courage, so he just glanced at her. Just like that, the two arrived at Mt. Berendia, where the silver grass festival was being held.
The entrance was bustling. Merchants hawking their wares, along with couples and families who’d come to enjoy the festival just like them, created a sea of people. If they just went in, they’d lose each other in an instant.
While Abel hesitated, Yuni quietly grabbed his sleeve.
“Abel. Is it okay if I hold on?”
Her beautiful orange eyes looked up at him, filled with deep affection. Meeting that gaze, Abel steeled his resolve and took Yuni’s hand. Their body heat lingered in each other’s palms.
“Let’s stay like this. I won’t let go, so don’t worry.”
“…Okay. I’ll trust only you, Abel.”
Yuni lowered her head deeply. Her earlobes were redder than the autumn leaves covering Mt. Berendia.
The two silently pushed through the crowd. After passing the entrance and walking a bit further, the people gradually thinned out, and soon there was enough space that they could’ve let go of each other’s hands. However, their intertwined hands showed no sign of separating.
Finally, Abel stopped in front of the silver grass field on the mountainside.
“It’s beautiful…”
“Yeah. It really is amazing.”
The silver grass field stretching to the edge of their vision was a magnificent sight. Whenever the wind blew, the silver grass swayed their heads in unison, dancing together. Abel quietly glanced at Yuni. The scene before him was certainly impressive, but it couldn’t compare to Yuni. Even her slightly disheveled appearance from pushing through the crowd was beautiful.
Abel knew instinctively.
‘Now’s the time.’
They hadn’t even properly enjoyed the date yet, and confessing now seemed a bit early, but he was certain that if he missed this moment, he’d regret it. Just as Abel, having made up his mind, was about to open his mouth—
“Huh? Professor?”
While looking around the silver grass field, Yuni spotted something and called out happily. Turning his head, Abel saw Sara and Verdan Roosevelt, who had just reached the mountainside. Both of them looked flustered.
“Y-you two were here too?”
“Haha! It’s Abel and Yuni. Nice to see you.”
“Are you two here to see the silver grass field as well?”
Yuni smiled brightly and led Abel over to them. Verdan looked at their joined hands and spoke.
“So you two are on a date too. You look close.”
“A-ah! Th-this is just because there were so many people and I was worried we’d get separated.”
“No need to make excuses. You two look good together.”
Though there were four people, only two were talking. Sara and Abel looked awkward at the unexpected encounter, while Yuni and Verdan chatted away without any reservations.
“Th-thank you. You two look good together too!”
“Thanks. Well then, we’ll be on our way. Enjoy the festival.”
“Yes. You too, Professor!”
Since Verdan didn’t want their date interrupted either, he said his goodbyes and left with Sara. Abel let out a quiet sigh.
‘Of all times.’
If they’d been even a minute— no, thirty seconds later, he would’ve confessed. Thanks to them, he’d missed his chance. Of course, there was a possibility he’d get rejected, so in a way it might’ve been for the best, but he couldn’t shake off the disappointment.
Abel decided to try again later.
Afterward, the two, having enjoyed the silver grass field, came to a restaurant for lunch.
“Ah! Professor?”
“Haha! It’s you guys again? What a coincidence.”
And once again, they ran into Sara’s couple. There were only a few restaurants on Mt. Berendia, yet they’d met again. It was almost like fate.
What kind of fate? The kind that made it absolutely impossible for him to confess today, of course.
‘Sigh… I give up.’
Letting out yet another sigh, Abel canceled his plan and made a suggestion first.
“Since we’ve met like this, how about we eat together?”
“I don’t mind. What about you, Sara?”
“…I don’t mind either.”
“I see.”
Verdan’s gaze shifted to Yuni. At his silent question, Yuni nodded readily.
“I’m fine with it too!”
“Then let’s go in. There don’t seem to be many seats left.”
At Verdan’s instruction, everyone entered the restaurant. Thus, lunch turned into something like a double date.
Later, running into them again in the afternoon was, in a way, only natural. It was also natural that someone secretly tailing them would let out a cry of shock.