This Heart Can't Be Hidden
Lime's question made Younghee blink. Did she want her memories back? Of course she did.
"Think carefully before you answer."
As if reading her mind, Lime said it with sharp eyes.
"I'm telling you upfront—there's nothing wrong with your body."
"R-Really...?"
"Yeah. The problem's in your head. You're rejecting the memories yourself."
Without realizing it, Younghee's hand drifted to her chest. Her current self had unknown memories and an incomprehensible past. Did that mean it was something so horrific it was better left forgotten?
"Humans have a saying: ignorance is bliss."
Only then did Younghee understand Lime's question. Recovering her memories might be even more painful. If her heart was rejecting that past, living without knowing might not be so bad. Younghee smiled bashfully.
"You're so kind, Lime. Just like Yujin."
"It's not really for you. It's all for Yujin."
That was the truth. The original Lime wouldn't have cared about Younghee at all. The only reason she was doing this was for Yujin. He saw Younghee as a friend, no matter the truth. So Lime couldn't just leave her alone.
"Well, Yujin's a dense blockhead with no clue, but he doesn't abandon people who come into his arms."
Lime shrugged her small shoulders.
"If you wanna keep living like this, he'll support you without holding back. He's got the power and the money. Your social anxiety will get better eventually too. So no need to push yourself."
Younghee nodded quietly. She didn't know why she relied on Yujin so much. But he'd helped her without complaint. That alone proved he was a kind person. She must have received a lot of help from him before losing her memories too.
But that was separate from this.
"Still... I want to get my memories back."
"Even if they're painful enough you'd rather forget?"
Lime asked as if she truly couldn't understand.
Younghee paused to gather her thoughts before speaking. It would take time to put this feeling into words. She didn't fully understand the emotion herself, but she wanted to express its meaning.
"Actually, someone came to see me at the hospital. I think they knew me."
Cheolsu, huh, Lime thought.
"I don't know who he is yet. No memories. But seeing his face... I could tell he was really hurt."
Anyone who saw it would think a family member had died. To make that face for someone else—it was unimaginable to Younghee now.
"But I just avoided him. Hid behind Yujin, even. He must have been hurt even more because of me."
Why had she avoided him like that? He'd felt far scarier than anyone else. She still didn't know why. She couldn't suppress the instinctive disgust and fear rising up.
"But later, after some time passed, I thought... I don't want him making that face."
"..."
"I want to protect him. I don't know why I feel this way. But this heart isn't lying."
She had no memories, no recollections of possible past moments. Still, she wanted him to smile. Her heart was telling her that.
"That's why I want my memories back. Even if they're really painful. I want to know where this feeling comes from."
It was a pure smile. Incredibly innocent, an expression hard to believe came from someone who'd been through hell. Even Lime was at a loss for words before that smile.
She'd thought all humans were repulsive. Yet someone this pure existed in the world.
If not for Heukcheon in the background, this girl and Yujin could have been true friends who opened up to each other.
".......Ugh, this is getting annoying."
Lime muttered. She snapped her fingers. Green tentacles began slithering up from behind her.
Whatever it was, it looked ominous. Younghee instinctively stepped back at the dangerous sight.
Eh? How did our conversation lead to this?
"L-Lime? Th-That thing—"
"You chose this. Tough it out."
The green tentacles wrapped around Younghee in an instant. She didn't even think to resist and got caught.
"L-Lime?! It tickles! It tickles! Ahaha!"
The tentacles started caressing her body all over. An unbearable sensation flowed through her. Younghee writhed, laughing and trying to escape.
But that only made the tentacles grip her tighter.
"Wh-What's this? Ehehe! Wh-Why are you doing this all of a sudden?!"
"Treatment. You said you want your memories back."
As a top-tier slime, Lime's specialty was mental manipulation. She could forcibly drag out memories. But doing so might shatter Younghee's mind. At least, she needed to loosen her up first.
What happened after would be up to Younghee.
"Stay still. I'll mess you up so your closed heart opens easily."
"Ahahaha! O-Okay! J-Just a sec! Stop for a second—!"
Younghee couldn't think straight amid the dizzying sensations coursing over her body. Tears welled up as she pleaded desperately. Lime ignored her and skillfully moved the tentacles.
...
Seo Yura stood in the hallway a short distance from Yujin's room. She idly created a light with magic. A mage should conserve mana like this, but she couldn't help it.
If she didn't do something, she'd sink into depression.
Fiancée... He has one.
It felt like a story from a far-off land, hard to believe. At the same time, it made perfect sense. Heukcheon was huge, with deep traditions. They must have all sorts of ties with other guilds. Family arranged marriages wouldn't be unusual.
"What an idiot."
The class president wasn't clueless about romance. She knew Yujin and Lime had something special. The looks he gave her, the expressions, the words—they were all different.
Yujin's face when talking to Lime was more relaxed than ever. And ridiculously pretty.
Lime was doll-like. The blonde hair down to her waist, milk-white skin. Above all, her overflowing confidence. Even her close friends felt jealous—she was on another level.
"......But if it's figure, mine's better."
Yura reached out and groped her own chest. Even to herself, the weight and softness felt pretty good. It was one of her confident points, and it felt even bigger since coming to the academy. Useless in combat, sure.
But as feminine charm? Different story. Maybe she could appeal to Yujin with this...
"What're you doing, class pres?"
"Kyaaaa!"
Yura jumped in shock. The light she'd made flew toward Yujin. He casually swatted it away with his hand.
"Why so jumpy? Thought I was a ghost?"
"N-No. Just... lost in thought."
Yura fanned her flushed cheeks with her palm. He probably hadn't seen that, right? If he had, she'd die of embarrassment.
"Anyway, why're you out here? What about Younghee?"
"Came to check on you, class pres."
"Eek!"
Yura's face turned beet red as her hand flew to her chest. Her heart pounded like it would burst.
Why am I getting all fluttery?
Yujin was the master of the house. Of course the host would worry about a guest. That's all his words meant.
"Younghee's with Lime, so she'll be fine."
At that, Yura's face hardened. She could hear unshakable trust in Yujin's voice. The kind of faith you only have in someone extraordinary.
"......You really trust that Lime girl, huh."
"She's the one I rely on most."
Rely on, huh. So that's how far they'd gotten. Even earning Yujin's acknowledgment, proving her worth, felt overwhelming to Yura.
That girl was that much ahead of her.
......What an idiot.
Oh no. The inferiority she'd suppressed was bubbling up again. Feeling like this now was dangerous. She finally had Yujin to herself, alone like this.
She didn't want to stand before him with these thoughts.
Wh-What do I do in a situation like this?
Yura racked her brain. One idea flashed through her mind. Yujin might not know, but Lime wasn't here now.
This... could be a really thrilling opportunity.
"Um, Yujin."
Yura turned her head. She couldn't stand it without doing something.
Maybe that's why. Uncharacteristically for the class president, she wanted to act spoiled toward the Yujin beside her.
"If it's okay... there's something I wanna do, just us two."