Small Stars and Fleeting Time
Stepping stones don't need grand catalysts. Time scatters with the small stars. You can't hold it if you try to grasp it. You can't turn it back even if you want to. Just as everyone has moments they'd love to rewind, the girl lingering in that instant gazed at the brightly shining star and let out a sigh.
"Haa..."
Sitting beneath the night sky, Yuria smiled faintly at the twinkling stars. "...Pretty."
Thinking of the person she longed for. "Pretty enough that I want to have it."
She murmured the words, infused with a trivial desire.
To Yuria, the world was both harsh and joyful. Life couldn't be all good times, after all. Her dad had been there through her childish days. Her friend had stuck by her in tough times. And then...
—Are you okay?
There had always been that unchanging person watching over her, so she never felt truly unhappy. Sure, there had been hardships. Many events. Many misunderstandings. And many sins committed. She'd inflicted deep wounds on that person.
Under the starlight, Yuria stared at the sky with dark eyes. The stars, clustered like a pouring rain, filled her with admiration and regret in equal measure. "So... pretty."
Sometimes, she thought like that. That she hadn't been any help to him at all. Not at the ball. Not in the North. Not even when facing that Apostle.
She hadn't helped at all. Younger Hanna had fearlessly raised her sword against the Apostle. Mihail had gritted his teeth to protect his friends. But Yuria had just stood there, dumbstruck and useless. It frustrated her.
That person had shouldered everything, after all. It was suffocating. She felt like a fool, an idiot for being no help. The vague reality that she might always be a burden made her breath ache.
I want to be of help.
She hated her own incompetence—receiving so much aid, overwhelming favors she couldn't repay. No clear answer came to mind, but compared to the love he'd shown her, she'd given nothing back.
Doubts piled up. The truth slipped away. Her heart wasn't like that, but her careless words carried no weight of responsibility.
Yuria rubbed her dry face, soothing the sting. No matter how much he said he was fine, the burden wouldn't vanish.
Clack.
Had her tangled thoughts stretched on too long? Footsteps approached from afar—a woman's, strong and heavy despite the late hour.
Hmm...!
Coming up the hill path. Yuria peeked her head up to see the approaching figure's face. And then—
Screeech!
She spotted a junior from the year below, lugging a black bundle on her back.
"Why does this damn dorm have so many uphill paths...!"
"When I become the academy's top power someday, I'll start by fixing these hills...!"
Shuen trudged toward the dorms, sweat pouring down her face, a huge grin plastered on her lips.
"Heh heh... But it's fine! With this, I won't worry about meals for three days! Even if the boss yells at me, no choice! Nobles are meant to embezzle! Bad habits die hard, y'know."
"Everyone thinks lowly Shuen is super smart and the perfect wife material! Wonder if commoners think the same!"
"Ohoho... Eek... But it's so heavy..."
Yuria watched Shuen mutter to herself in that cheerful voice and smiled faintly, waiting for her.
"..."
She was cute. It might seem odd to find a younger underclassman cute, but after seeing Shuen working at the convenience store lately, Yuria couldn't help it. She waited for her to approach.
"Eh...? This bento was the one I hid to sneak-eat...!"
"Oh, really...?"
"No way! Senior Yuria, you're a pro at treasure hunts!"
"No, I can eat something else."
"I'm touched! I'll specially give you the discards!"
"No... "
"No way! This is the privilege of wearing this uniform! Just submit to the power!"
She wanted to hear Shuen's stories. To ease this gloomy mood even a little, Yuria smiled and waited. As Shuen walked past, eyes on the ground, she spotted Yuria and greeted her brightly.
"Oh! You're the com— I mean, Senior Yuria?"
"Long time no see, Shuen."
"Great to see you!"
Shuen looked like she'd met her savior and said to Yuria, "Have you had dinner?"
"Huh?"
"I have some extra discards...!"
"No, I already ate..."
Ignoring Yuria's words, Shuen plunked the bundle down and muttered, "This time I'll give you plenty!" diving into her sharing frenzy.
Yuria watched her with a warm smile.
"No married salmon sushi..."
"..."
"No pork cutlet either."
"..."
"Spinach bento...! This'll do!"
Yuria cautiously spoke up amid Shuen's endless treasure hunt. "Hey, Shuen."
"Wait a sec! I'll find a tasty one quick...!"
"Do you have someone you like?"
Shuen froze.
"You seem happier lately. Just wondering."
"Hmmm..."
Shuen tried to hide her rising smile. "Do I look happy lately?"
"Yeah... You always smile when I see you."
"Hee hee... I see. You asked if I have someone I like?"
"Yeah. Do you?"
"Hee hee."
Delighted by the question, Shuen handed Yuria the top pork cutlet bento and answered. "Recently, yeah."
"Really?"
"Hee... Yup."
"You seem so mature."
"Hee...!"
Shuen, hopeless at hiding her feelings, nodded at the praise and glanced at the bench. "Wanna eat together?"
"Sure?"
"It's not 'cause it's heavy... well, actually, I was looking for someone to eat with. No one to share meals with back at the dorm anyway."
"Then I'm happy to."
"But what are you doing out here so late, Senior Yuria?"
"Me...?"
Yuria gave an ambiguous smile and answered softly. "Just... felt stuffy in the dorm, so I came out for some air."
"Oh... Third-year woes?"
"Pfft! Not really, just overthinking stuff. Learning slower than the others."
"Hmm... Yeah, it's tough."
Shuen nodded at Yuria as if understanding her academic struggles perfectly. "Even I get mad when commoners—er, classmates outscore me. Anyway! What were we talking about?"
Yuria thanked her silently for the consideration and continued carefully. "About the person you like."
"Right! The person I like..."
Every time "person I like" brushed her ears, Shuen's lips twitched upward in a smile. "Can I ask who he is...?"
It was girl talk. The kind girls this age have all the time. Shuen, who never had the chance to share like this, blushed shyly.
"He's handsome. Ignores class differences like nothing..."
"..."
"Super kind, never says mean things. And fights amazingly well."
Shuen boasted about the man in her memories with a shy voice. Because she could finally share it openly.
"The guy I like did a clown costume in the middle of a crowded street. To cheer me up..."
"Wow..."
"And when I was crying, he showed up right then, asked if I was okay... Made dumb jokes to stop my tears and make me laugh."
"He's a really good guy."
"Yeah... Thought he was just a pebble at first, but picked him up and he's a gem. Super super handsome too..."
"Though it's one-sided for now."
Excitedly boasting, Shuen mumbled the last part timidly, bowing her head. "But it's okay. I think love isn't waiting—it's seizing it."
"..."
"If I hesitate, he might snag some other girl!"
"Impressive."
"Of course! I'm the proud eldest of the Tetra family...! This much trial is nothing!"
Yuria smiled at Shuen's display. She didn't know who, but Shuen's crush sounded amazing. Just like the man she loved. Kind. Stupidly good. So considerate it reminded her of him. Though probably not quite as good... Still, a fine person.
Yuria smiled faintly and spoke carefully to Shuen. Fair exchange for listening.
"I have someone I like too."
"Senior Yuria?!"
"Shh! Secret..."
"I love secrets. I may look like this, but my lips are sealed."
In the empty park, Shuen whipped her head around dramatically in a tiny voice. Yuria smiled shyly and continued.
"The guy I like is a good person, like you said about yours."
"Oh ho..."
"Super kind."
"Eek!"
"Great voice."
"Eee!"
"Handsome."
"Eeee!"
"Really tall."
"Prince on a white horse?!"
"Haha! Maybe. To me, he was. Always showed up like a hero when I was down."
"Romantic!"
Yuria nodded at Shuen's excited face with a small smile. "You think?"
"Totally! Though not as good as mine!"
"Hmm, really? I don't think mine loses to yours."
"Now I'm super curious..."
Yuria chatted on with Shuen for a while, sharing what she couldn't tell others under the starry night hills, trading questions.
The last one stuck with her. Unasked, but they shared the worry.
"I want to repay him."
"Huh?"
"He's done so much for me. Stopped my bad choices, saved me from danger."
"...Shuen."
"So I'm earning money hard...! Wanna buy him tasty food! Not convenience store—at a fancy restaurant!"
Yuria's stray thoughts cleared at Shuen's words. She'd started wrong from the beginning.
Not how much can I sacrifice?
Start small.
Yuria smiled brightly at Shuen's face. "Thanks."
The stars were bright. And.
The moon was bright too.