[No title provided]
The grade for "courage to approach the girl I like": first place. He'd been desperately trying to make it happen somehow, but at the same time, he'd resigned himself to the idea that it might be impossible. And yet, here it was, actually happening. He'd vaguely thought it might be possible, but holding the official report card in his hands brought a bizarre mix of accomplishment that was hard to put into words and a profound sense of unreality.
"Let me be frank. I never imagined you'd perform this well."
It was Instructor Sonya's words.
"In a life-or-death crisis, in an extreme situation where no solution seemed possible. Awakening your true talent in the midst of that... It happens rarely, but it does occur. Still, I honestly never expected you to be the one."
She didn't spout empty platitudes like "I saw your potential from the start," or "You were always meant for this," or "Hard work never betrays you." Instead, she laid out her honest impressions with a straightforwardness that made him wonder if she could really be this blunt.
"So, to be honest, I'm thrilled. Hidden talents like yours can reveal themselves at any moment. You have no idea how excited Media was. He was ranting about how he'd teach you Creation techniques himself, so just hand you over."
"...Thank you."
"Keep pushing forward. Personally, I'm just as drawn to your talent as I am to Hyowon's unique one."
When Yujin had aimed for the academy, it wasn't because he craved anyone's recognition. As a high schooler, he'd believed people should aspire to far greater ideals. But that was just posturing. Getting praised by the instructor alone had his lips twitching uncontrollably into a grin.
Being acknowledged by someone feels good in itself. Of course, there's always that one special person whose approval means even more.
Yujin turned his gaze toward Hyowon, who had also scored first grade like him. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her at the top filled him with immense joy. Sure, he knew there was a clear gap between them, but just being on the same level felt like an honor.
But,
"Hmph!"
Spotting Yujin trying to meet her eyes, Hyowon snorted and whipped her head away.
She'd been like that ever since their phone sex a few days ago. Wh-what? Did I do something wrong?
※
"Yujin, you got first grade, right? Congrats for real! Effort always pays off, huh?"
"Uh, yeah. Thanks. Ayumi, you got first grade too, didn't you?"
Ayumi hadn't shone quite as brightly as Yujin, but she'd more than earned her first grade. As a freshman, she'd already awakened her Unique Ability, and her Healing had saved every notable civilian without a trace of aftereffects, earning high marks. After all, a hero's job wasn't just fighting monsters.
In the end, this trio who'd stuck together since the semester started had become rising stars among the cadets.
"So now you can get a kiss from Hyowon as a reward? Oh, wait—did you already?"
"...Huh? How'd you know?"
Ayumi winked and pointed to her chest with her thumb.
"'Cause I was the one who told you to offer a kiss as the prize! I said you'd definitely snag first grade that way. Nailed it, right?"
"...You."
Yujin grabbed his childhood friend's hand tight and declared,
"You're the best friend ever. Having someone like you means half my life's already a success."
"Hehe, finally realizing I'm the best? You're so slow sometimes. Oh, and FYI, I'm the one spreading rumors around school that you and Hyowon are dating. Super convenient having that video of you two hugging out in the open."
!!!!
Practically Cupid. Goddess of love. Yujin vowed eternal loyalty to his childhood friend—no, Childhood Friend Nim—from here on out.
If word spread across the academy that he and Hyowon were an item, wouldn't that drastically cut down on guys hitting on her? And if it made her start seeing him as a man, he'd have nothing left to wish for.
"Anyway, with first grade, you can go on vacation with Hyowon now, right? Congrats!"
"...Huh, vacation?"
"Yeah. The range and length depend on your grade. I heard Hyowon plans to go with you—didn't you know?"
...So the reason she'd pushed him to get first grade was ultimately to travel with him?
Nah, no way. Too much wishful thinking.
"Well, she probably has her own reasons. Like wanting me stronger to prepare for the future. It's gotta be something like that, right?"
"Actions aren't always for just one reason. If you can kill two birds with one stone, why not?"
"...Hyowon says she doesn't see me that way. She's drawn a clear line and told me never to cross it. ...I'm trying, but it ain't working."
Maybe because it was his childhood friend, but the anxiety he'd harbored about Hyowon spilled out honestly.
"Pushing her like this might just be a huge annoyance to her."
He thought voicing it might ease his mind a bit, but nope. It just made the anxiety sharper, leaving him downcast. Today, too, Hyowon had avoided him the whole time, stirring needless worries that even their fragile connection might snap.
To her childhood friend like that, Ayumi said,
"Grit your teeth."
"Huh?"
Before he could even clench, Ayumi's palm struck home—a sumo-level smack packing her full body weight from the hips up.
"Guhk?!"
As Yujin crumpled to the ground, dazed, Ayumi barked,
"You idiot! How can you be so clueless about a woman's heart? You think Hyowon’s just sleeping with you purely to get stronger!?"
"Eh? Eh? Ehhh? Eeeeeh?"
It's not?
"Sure, getting stronger's probably part of it. But don't underestimate women! We don't just hand over our virginity to some guy we don't even like without a second thought! She must have feelings for you deep down!"
"N-no, wait! That's wrong!"
Yujin shot to his feet, countering Ayumi's claim. He remembered Hyowon's reaction that first time they'd had sex.
"She cried while we were doing it! Quietly stifling it, but loud enough to hear. If she liked me, would she do that?"
Recalling it now was heartbreaking. Even after that brutal experience, just a hint of seduction from her had his dick throbbing—his lust made him despise himself.
But Ayumi didn't flinch, firing back,
"In that situation, yeah, she'd cry. I'd cry too. But those tears were definitely positive."
"No way. How's that positive?"
"Proof her heart's still alive in there? If she truly didn't care about her chastity at all, there'd be no reason to cry."
Ayumi fixed her old friend with a piercing stare, as if seeing right through him.
"Try to understand Hyowon's feelings, Yujin. She's lived her whole life obsessed with revenge. Constantly dancing on the edge of life and death, never making proper friends, not even experiencing first love. Even the ordinary life we orphans took for granted—she's never known it."
"......"
"She probably doesn't even know how to love. That's why her instincts and reason are twisting together and going haywire."
"...Really?"
"Hyowon talks about you to me sometimes. Know how she sounds?"
"How?"
"Like she's mocking some pathetic, dumb kid."
The shock hit harder than expected. Hyowon thinks of me like that?
"But when she talks about you, she looks so relaxed. Not with anyone else—just you."
"......!!"
"She might not fully love you yet. But is that line she's drawn really because she doesn't see you as a man? Or because she doesn't understand love? I think it's the latter."
Overly optimistic, sure. But undeniably appealing.
Yeah. Better to strive to win Hyowon's love than wallow in the dirt assuming she doesn't like him.
"Your eyes look brighter. You're right. I'll give it my all. I want to hear her say she loves me. And I wanna say it back."
"That's the spirit! Yes! Yes! That's my friend Yujin! Make her body crave you and no one else!"
Make her body unable to live without him. Ayumi's words were just a figure of speech, not meant literally. Just become someone she loves desperately—that was all.
But the listener was a bit off.
"...Make Hyowon's body unable to live without me."
"Exactly! A real man has that resolve!"
Ayumi shot Yujin sparkling eyes. In her head, he looked like a shoujo manga hero facing trials for his pure love. Helping him reach a happy ending had become her deluded mission. She had no idea what she was awakening.
"...Got it. Women think like that, huh? Alright. I'll really go for it."
"Yes! Good. So, how about asking her on a date this weekend?"
"Date... Yeah, come to think of it, I haven't had a proper one-on-one date with Hyowon yet. Never even gone out just the two of us. ...What excuse should I use? Straight-up 'let's date' would probably get shot down."
Ayumi pondered it like it was her own problem before answering.
"How about 'let's go buy swimsuits together'? I heard she's planning a beach trip over vacation. She'd need one, right? But she probably doesn't have any."
"...Makes sense."
Hard to imagine someone whose life was consumed by monster revenge owning something as frivolous as a swimsuit. At best, maybe one from middle school.
...That actually sounded kinda hot.
"What if you pick one out for her? She might like that."
"...No way."
Mouthing denial, Yujin pictured Hyowon in a sexy swimsuit. She'd look insanely hot, no doubt.