Unlucky!! -5- Tsundere's Bitter Awakening
"Ugh..."
Minamoto Yukihime slowly regained consciousness as she was carried from the training grounds to the infirmary. She scanned her surroundings. The air was thick with the scent of potions and medicinal herbs, different from before she passed out, and the room was filled with pristine white everywhere—the typical infirmary scene.
"Ah, you're awake."
"M-Matthias?"
The first person to enter her vision was Matthias, the pink-haired saint with his gentle, approachable demeanor that inspired trust. At the same time, Yukihime remembered why she was here: the spar with Haku, her overwhelming defeat, the violation that followed, and... pleasure? Her mind reeled in confusion, her brow furrowing involuntarily.
"The treatment is complete, so there shouldn't be any pain. Still, for safety's sake, please rest."
"Thank you..."
Though young, Matthias was older than the students and embodied the saintly virtues of goodness and selflessness, earning him respect. That's why she spoke formally to him.
"What in the world...?"
Regardless, Yukihime's face was etched with terror, confusion, and questions about what had happened before she blacked out. Matthias, quick to notice her turmoil, asked her directly. As a counselor who mediated disputes among the heroes, it was his duty.
"Haku, was it? From what I saw in the spar earlier, he seemed ready to kill you. Might I hear the circumstances?"
"I... don't know either. If anything, I want to know."
"Hmm... Then perhaps some backstory. Could you tell me about your time before coming to Mundus? It might shed light on the cause."
"Very well."
Yukihime was curious herself and, having seen his saintly purity even in their short week together, opened up to him.
"So, my first encounter with Haku was..."
She had first become aware of Haku—truly noticed him—surprisingly, back in her first year. Not long after the cherry blossoms scattered during entrance ceremony, while patrolling the school as she always did after classes and kendo club practice—when most students had gone home—she spotted him on the soccer field, one of the school's pride and joys with its pristine turf used by the soccer team.
He was utterly overwhelming. Amid the athletic soccer players, Haku dominated the field with his prowess, tearing through them effortlessly. Even among those fit athletes, his bold, imposing build stood out—a masculine, feral handsome man. That was Haku. He shone like the protagonist of that field, or perhaps the entire world's stage.
Drawn like a moth to flame, Yukihime watched him secretly, away from prying eyes. At first, she thought it was just his dazzling soccer skills catching her eye naturally. But that strange pull led her to sneak peeks at his practices nearly every day she was at school. She even attended his high school league matches incognito, cheering him on in her heart.
Every time he flashed that confident smile on the field, her heart raced inexplicably, her cheeks flushing.
"You've been like this lately..."
"Oh? Isn't that love?"
Finally, during winter break of her second year, when her eldest sister returned briefly from studying abroad overseas, those words made Yukihime realize it was love. But embarrassment at acknowledging her feelings caused her to hesitate, and her sister soon left again, leaving her without a confidante for her crush.
She agonized over how to convey her aching heart to him. But grappling with emotions she'd never felt before yielded no answers, so she sought another advisor. Her stern parents, who would demand she bury any such feelings as befitting their noble lineage, were out. The household staff, mere extensions of her parents, were out too. Friends or schoolmates risked rumors, so they were out.
Naturally, she turned to someone somewhat free from her parents' influence, with dating experience she could trust: her twin brother.
"So, Yuki. You've got a thing for that soccer prodigy making waves lately."
"Yes, brother. But I don't know what to do."
"Hmm... I see."
And the result was surprisingly useful.
"First, transfer that Haku guy to the Wind Discipline Committee with you."
"Is that okay? He really loves soccer..."
"Refuse? Nonsense. You know the Wind Discipline Committee and Student Council aren't just some high school clubs, right?"
Both organizations were elite paths everyone coveted. Joining either practically guaranteed a bright future, barring major scandals. There was no reason to refuse—that was Seigen's argument.
"I-Is that so?"
Moreover,
"You have to spend time close to build affection."
"You're right... I overlooked that. Thanks, brother."
"Plus, there's another reason. Even if you like him and want him as a lover, our family elders would oppose it."
Indeed, the Minamoto family barely tolerated marriages across class lines.
"You know that. If you want him as your partner, he needs to prove himself worthy of our lineage."
"Hmm..."
"Keep him close and train him strictly. Help him achieve results the elders can't ignore."
"Ah, got it."
"Oh, and I've heard... tsundere is trending these days. Try that."
Seigen's ensuing explanation of this degenerate "tsundere" concept (it being 2004, with no internet and only newspapers or wholesome books for knowledge) culturally shocked Yukihime.
"Is that really okay, brother? Deliberately cold-shouldering, tormenting, pushing away, and ignoring the person you like...? What kind of...?"
"They call it kagenhiki too. Besides, to rise to our family's level, he needs that trial."
"I suppose..."
Of course, she doubted Seigen's words and discreetly asked trusted Wind Discipline Committee members or family retainers about Haku, without revealing her feelings. But,
"It really is a trend..."
Her doubts were dispelled. Naturally, she was unaware of someone's meddling.
"That's how it happened..."
Matthias's expression twisted bizarrely, like someone witnessing the incomprehensible.
"Isn't that strange? Treating someone you like so harshly?"
"I doubted it at first too... But everyone I asked said it was trendy... And Haku never complained much..."
"Did you ever explain your feelings to Hero Haku? Show affection or fondness? Confess to being lovers?"
"No... I was just following the tsundere trend... And I didn't confess first. I planned to after he proved worthy of Minamoto."
"Did it never occur to you he might refuse?"
"Absurd. No Japanese man would turn down marriage to Minamoto's daughter."
With her prestigious family and stunning beauty, she'd fielded countless advances and proposals. She hadn't a shred of doubt Haku would reject her.
Hearing this, Matthias clutched his face with both hands, gazing at her like a pitiful lamb.
"Now I understand why Hero Haku despises you..."
"Really?"
"The Goddess once rebuked a man and woman unsure of each other's hearts: 'If unspoken, no one knows.' That's the basic law of all love. No matter how strong the feelings, without words, they don't reach."
"And it's one of the core doctrines in our Goddess faith's scriptures."
"If you seek respect and goodwill, first give respect and goodwill."
Matthias's kind face hardened like a stern teacher as he began lecturing Yukihime. The more she heard, the paler she grew, realizing her mistakes.
Once the lecture ended, Yukihime bolted from the infirmary straight to the ongoing training grounds.
BAM!!
"H-Haku!! I have something to say to you!!!"
She rushed to Haku in the stands with Kanami and Erika as usual, but his response was,
"Shut up."
THUD!!!
A cold glare laced with faint killing intent and hatred.
"P-Please, just hear me out for a second!!"
"I've got nothing to say. So don't approach me or talk to me anymore. I'll hold back while we're in this world because of the Knight Commander, but my self-control isn't that great?"
With that, Haku dismissed her.
"Nyahaha~~ Serves you right, you hag witch!"
"Hee hee."
The last thing she heard was the voices of those two hag-like women always glued to Haku's side, whom she'd despised.
And that was the last time she spoke to him for a full year.