Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Twisted Secret Love
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All classes were over, and it was usually time to hit the training grounds, but instead of going with Eve and Tana, I let them go and headed to the café right in front of the dorms.
Hayun was already there, sipping something from a mug. It looked like some kind of tea—nothing like the stuff the older professors drank, but the first time I'd seen a student enjoying it.
"Drinking something fancy, huh?"
"Try some. It's got this subtle, deep flavor."
"I like tea quite a bit myself."
"Really?"
She flashed a bright smile, probably thrilled we'd found common ground.
Back when I lived in the forest, we had to be self-sufficient, so I'd often brew tea from herbs and leaves we foraged. The memories came flooding back, and I ordered a tea instead of coffee before sitting down across from her.
"So, you got a plan?"
I wasn't about to micromanage everything—just offer some help and see what she had. She came prepared.
"There's an annex building inside the academy grounds where hardly anyone goes. There's a huge tree out front—that's where I'll confess."
"Oh, I've seen that one."
It was massive, impossible to miss.
If cherry blossoms bloomed on it, it'd make for a pretty romantic scene, but word was it was just some random scrub tree.
"Yeah, they say it's a confession spot."
"Heh, a confession spot."
Every academy's gotta have one of those. I nodded, then curiosity struck.
"But who told you about it?"
Didn't seem like Hayun's style to go hunting for that kinda info. She averted her eyes, a bit embarrassed.
"Overheard it in class. From kids you know too—the ones who hang with Rin."
"Ah, yeah, yeah. Got it."
Truth be told, I had no clue, but I nodded anyway.
Who cares about those girls?
Anyway, spot was set.
"What about time?"
"Three days from now, at night. The outfit's kinda flashy, so I want somewhere without people around."
"Flashy outfit?"
I probed lightly out of curiosity, but she shook her head.
"Yeah, it's a bit much for academy wear."
She clamped her lips shut—no more details coming. Made me wonder what I could even help with.
"You already told me Ares's type last time. Anything else I can do?"
"Can't you give more details? Like, has he ever talked about a confession scenario he wants? Elise said guys spill everything to their close buddies."
"Well, something like that."
I scratched the back of my head and spilled it. No weird fetishes or anything—no big deal.
"Not receiving one, but he said he wants to do the confessing—with candles set up, singing and all."
"......"
Hayun stared blankly, clearly thrown. Not wildly out there, but it clashed with her image of him.
"Kinda shatters the illusion. Didn't peg him for the singing type."
"He's surprisingly good."
Won silver at the village choir contest.
Rin took gold, I got bronze.
For the record, it was just the three of us.
As I crossed my arms and dished more Ares trivia, Tana and Eve came huffing up—looking like they'd actually worked out.
They'd whined about hating it this morning. What changed?
"Huh? Didn't you two say you hated exercising?"
"We snacked too much after school... felt guilty..."
"Ugh, my stomach hurts."
Classic move.
Running on a full stomach? No wonder it hurt.
"So, what's with you two?"
Tana eyed our odd pairing suspiciously. I grinned.
"Consultation."
"You?"
"Me."
As Tana shot me a dubious look and Eve slumped in exhaustion, an image flashed—Eve all dolled up.
I bribed them with drinks and cut to the chase.
"Do Hayun up like you did Eve last time."
"What? Why?"
"Uh."
Wondered if I should say it, but Hayun glanced at me, sighed, and spilled.
"I'm confessing to Ares."
"What?!"
"Oops."
Tana shot up like it'd been a reflex.
Right—Tana was one of Ares's fish in the pond. She'd been low-key lately; I'd forgotten.
But she just stared at Hayun, said nothing, and plopped back down.
"You serious?"
"Yeah. I'm done holding back."
Hayun gave a self-deprecating smile. Tana sighed and nodded.
"Tell me when you need us."
Back to confession strategy talk.
Eve claimed she didn't care and pulled out a book from her bag to read, but we dove deep.
At the end, Tana listed prep items for Hayun, grabbed Eve, and headed into the dorms.
Hayun started to leave, but I propped my chin and declared:
"The most important thing is your smile."
"......Huh?"
"He likes cheerful girls. Practice smiling."
"......Got it."
Yeah—even dolled up to perfection, a stiff delivery won't hit home.
A soft smile to set the mood, show a fresh side? That might just do it.
'Wait... what if she actually wins?'
Hit me then.
She's going in to lose, but wins anyway?
Shook it off quick. Knowing who Ares really likes, her odds were slim no matter the effort. Kinda bittersweet.
*
"Hm, hmm~."
Rin hummed as she braided her hair in her room, grinning. She'd overheard the boys yesterday and snagged new intel.
'Doesn't it make your heart race when a girl with a fixed style suddenly switches it up?'
'Totally. New hairstyle or outfit you haven't seen? Kinda gets under your skin.'
'That glasses girl in Class E who always carries books? When she switched it up once, total shock.'
"So that's how it works."
She'd tried it young, but first time braiding at this age—and it looked pretty good.
Rin draped it lightly over her shoulder and tied it off with a hair tie.
"Something other than uniform might be better..."
But options were slim, and no money for new clothes. She shrugged off her cardigan, checked the mirror in just her white shirt.
Different vibe from her usual loose hair. Rin nodded and headed out to meet her friend Hare for a walk.
'No surveillance inside the dorms.'
She wanted to show off outside ASAP.
Imagine him spotting her in the logs and coming over thrilled...
"Hare?"
Knock knock—no answer.
Door unlocked; she peeked in. Hare stared blankly out the window.
"Hare?"
Calling again snapped her out; she shook her head and grinned at Rin.
"Whoa, blind date or what? You look amazing!"
Rin blushed, mumbling it was just a mood.
Quick prep, then down the stairs. Rin sensed something off about earlier and asked:
"What were you staring at out the window?"
That angle overlooked the café. Hare brushed it off as nothing.
Rin didn't dwell, hitting the first floor.
Inconspicuous corner seat, but unmistakable: Daniel chatting and laughing with Class A's Hayun.
"......That's what it was?"
"Uh? Oh! Yeah......"
Hare's excuse was weird, but Rin had no bandwidth for it. Her eyes chilled, fist clenched. Something about to burst, but superhuman restraint turned her away.
'What the hell.'
Storming off, Rin stewed.
What was this?
Daniel had a crush on her but held back due to shyness and his quirks. She wanted to plop down beside him right then, but respected his wishes and waited from afar.
But.
But he gets all cozy with another girl?
What?
The hell?
Something she'd heard once.
Some guys approach women they feel zero attraction to easily, but clam up around crushes.
Yeah, try to see it that way.
Understand...
Underst...
......
.........
Why?
Why bother?
You don't understand me.
I'm staying back, waiting like you want, but you chat with others when I wish you wouldn't. You don't get that.
Right.
If we like each other.
Shouldn't we just be together?
*
Academy rooftop.
May leaned on the railing, tilting her head back to spit a bloody clump at the fading sunset.
"Ugh."
"Ow, hurts so bad."
"Look at her face—it's bruised."
"Hey! You're bleeding!"
Her usual delinquent crew lay scattered around her, groaning. Their whining grated.
"Freaking lunatics. Beat us the second they showed."
May had gotten jumped by Penil Leiros's gang—fresh off suspension.
He'd brought his whole fourth-year posse and wiped hers out.
Reason? Obvious.
Blamed her for their suspension. Payback time.
'Can't touch Daniel, so they pick on easy prey.'
Reassert dominance by pounding her crew. Overkill, but they seemed confident.
"Sigh."
Slowly rising, she fished a candy from her pocket and leaned back on the rail.
Old May would've trembled in fear, scheming how to suck up to seniors.
Now? Meh.
'After feeling real terror.'
Daniel's killing intent in the dean's office.
Raw, beastly aura beyond human—nothing scared her since.
Wonder if anything topped that.
Unwrapping her crushed candy, she glanced down. Daniel exiting the café toward the dorms, Hayun beside him—looking chummy.
"Ha, I'm busting my ass up here, and you're out dating?"
Absurd laugh escaped as his words echoed.
'Biggest problem child Penil Leiros is suspended. You could absorb all the delinquent crews.'
'Huh? Might work if I try...'
'Fifth-years don't care. Fourth-year's basically vacant without Penil. Heard third-year has a few gangs...'
'Yeah, a couple.'
'Call me for fights or turf wars. I'll crush 'em. Make sure they're under you.'
No clue his endgame. But the intent? Clear.
"Grabbing the spotlight and shadows both?"
Spotlight: the dean.
Academy's top dog, powerless against Daniel.
Shadows: her.
Unite the thugs under May—but she's under him too.
Whatever his academy takeover plan, dumping all the dirty work on her felt unfair.
Not that she minded—ruling the school delinquents had crossed her mind.
"May, what now?"
"They look like they'll keep coming."
"Maybe apologize to senior Penil and beg? He might let it slide!"
Eying her finally-snapped friends, May smirked and popped the candy crumbs in her mouth.
"What to do? Can't just keep taking hits."
In the second exam, Daniel fought while she spectated—he called it teamwork.
So.
'You do the dating, I handle the back-alley brawls. Pretty solid teamwork, right?'
Candy shards rolled sharp across her tongue.
But sweet.