Jealousy
The voice cut through the air like a blade wrapped in silk.
"Oh? And who might you be? I don't think I've seen your face around the academy before."
Yuzuki's tone was gentle, almost sweet, but it sent a faint chill crawling across my skin. She was quietly sizing the other girl up, probing for weaknesses.
Luna stared at Yuzuki for a moment, then tilted her head with a bright, playful smile.
"Sakuragi Luna. I just transferred in today. So it's only natural you wouldn't know me, right?"
The name rang a distant bell. That had to be why.
Yuzuki shot a quick glance at my face, then gave a slow nod.
"I see. Nice to meet you, Miss Sakuragi."
"Nice to meet you too. But… you're Yuto's little sister, aren't you?"
"…Yuto?"
The moment Luna said my name so casually, Yuzuki's expression shifted. Her gaze cooled in an instant, turning icy.
Yet she kept that gentle mask in place, offering a thin smile.
"…Yes, that's right. You and my brother… seem pretty close, huh? The way you call him by his first name like that."
Luna gave a light shrug.
"Hmm… not that close yet."
"…Yet?"
"We're planning to get very close from now on."
"…"
Yuzuki's face stiffened. Her eyes flickered for a split second before locking back into place.
"Planning to get close? What exactly does that mean…?"
Luna smiled sweetly and answered without hesitation.
"Because I want to make Yuto my Coupling partner, of course."
"…"
Every trace of softness vanished from Yuzuki's face. All that remained was a strangely rigid, hardened stare.
She spoke slowly, her artificial smile completely erased, voice cold as frost.
"I'm afraid that's too bad. Yuto's Coupling partner is me and me alone. So that won't be possible."
Luna raised an eyebrow, then tilted her head again.
"Why? Is there some special reason why Yuto's partner has to be only you?"
Yuzuki's gaze wavered for a brief moment before steadying.
"Because… it has to do with our father's research."
"Heee… your father's research?"
A faint, knowing smile spread across Luna's lips.
"What kind of research is it?"
"It's about investigating the unique properties of my brother's Coupling ability."
"Ah, I get the picture. Your father is pretty serious about that sort of thing."
Luna lowered her eyes and slowly traced her fingertips across her lips, as if deep in thought.
"In that case… I suppose I'll have to start by convincing your father first."
I couldn't stay quiet any longer.
"Sakuragi. I don't know what you're planning, but he already said no last time."
"Hmm… yeah, he did say that."
Luna let her words trail off with a soft sigh. But her face showed no sign of giving up. If anything, a strange spark of competitive spirit was flickering in her eyes.
That gaze slid straight over to Yuzuki.
Then, in the next instant, Luna took a bold step forward. She closed the distance like a shadow, tilting her head when she was right in front of her.
Yuzuki flinched and took half a step back.
"What… what are you doing?"
"Nothing much. Just let me borrow your ear for a second. This is the kind of talk that stops being fun if other people hear it."
"What—"
Before Yuzuki could finish, Luna leaned in close to her ear.
A low whisper, laced with warm breath, slipped out. I couldn't hear what Luna said, but Yuzuki's pupils dilated violently.
A few seconds later, Yuzuki's hand shoved Luna's shoulder roughly.
"Wh-what the hell are you saying!"
Luna stepped back, smiling like she'd just claimed victory.
"Ouch… that hurt… Anyway, your reaction tells me I was right, doesn't it?"
"D-don't talk nonsense!"
"We'll see whether it's nonsense or not. We're in the same class, after all."
"Ugh…"
Watching Yuzuki tremble as if swallowing a groan, Luna let out a quiet, mischievous chuckle.
"Human emotions really can't be hidden, can they? Now I'm finally seeing your true colors."
"……"
Yuzuki, at a loss for words, clenched her teeth and looked away. Luna glanced down at her with clear satisfaction, the corners of her mouth curling upward.
"Well then, I'll be going."
Luna turned away quietly. Her retreating figure grew smaller in the distance.
I became even more curious about what the two of them had talked about. I looked at Yuzuki and asked carefully.
"…What did she say to you just now?"
"…You don't need to know. It was pointless nonsense."
That only made me want to know more.
Maybe I should just ask Luna directly. The thought had barely formed when—
"…Don't even think about asking that girl. If you do, I really won't forgive you."
When our eyes met, Yuzuki's gaze held a strange mix of fear.
What is she so afraid of…?
I was even more curious now, but seeing that look on her face, I decided not to press any further.
If Yuzuki was making an expression like that, there was no need to do something that would earn her resentment.
2.
The afternoon brought physical education class.
And not just any class—it was the swimming lesson I'd missed last time. I'd been secretly looking forward to it… but unfortunately, I still couldn't participate.
It hadn't been long since I was discharged, and neither Yuzuki nor I were supposed to push our bodies too hard yet.
In the end, we skipped class and decided to observe another class instead.
It just so happened that Class 1-B was in the middle of Dracore practical training. We sat side by side in the observation seats, watching their session.
I was watching with interest as Haruka and Iori piloted their Dracore when my gaze drifted to Yuzuki beside me.
…Is she still bothered by it?
Yuzuki's expression had been stiff ever since earlier. A heavy, suppressed atmosphere hovered around her, as if something was weighing on her mind.
It was probably because of Luna.
I had no intention of defending Luna, but I figured Yuzuki should know this much. I spoke up cautiously.
"Yuzuki. Do you know who the pilot of the Dracore that saved us last time was?"
"…Who?"
A flicker of curiosity crossed Yuzuki's face.
She must have been wondering who had rescued her.
"It was Sakuragi."
"Sakuragi…? You mean Luna? Her?"
"Yeah."
"……"
Yuzuki's eyes widened dramatically. Then she quickly turned her head, avoiding my gaze. She placed her fists on her knees and slowly clenched them.
Her fingertips trembled faintly. Her lips were pressed into a tight line. A storm of emotions swirled across her face.
Just as Yuzuki parted her lips to say something—
My phone buzzed sharply in my pocket.
Wondering what it was, I turned on the screen. The moment I saw the sender, I instinctively glanced at Yuzuki.
Her eyes were already locked on my hand. Those coldly gleaming pupils had definitely caught a glimpse of the screen.
"……"
"……"
A long sigh escaped me. I hesitated, wondering if I should even respond.
Yuzuki's voice turned icy when she saw my hesitation.
"…When did you two exchange numbers?"
"Earlier. Back there."
"Really?"
Yuzuki let out a short hum, then rested her chin on her hand and stared at me.
"…What are you doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Aren't you going to reply? Miss Sakuragi is looking for you."
"…Got it."
I typed slowly.
Luna's reply came quickly.
"……"
This felt strangely ominous. Replying with "yes" here seemed like it would lead to something big.
While I hesitated, another message arrived before I could even type.
I looked up at Yuzuki. She was staring straight at my phone screen. Her eyes had grown even colder.
She tilted her head slightly. Her golden twin tails flowed softly along the line of her shoulders.
"I wonder what she's thinking."
"…Who knows."
"Tell her I'm here. Let's see what she does."
I moved my fingers slowly.
Luna's next message came immediately.
"…Present?"
This was getting worse.
A few seconds later, a message arrived with an attachment.
It was a video of Luna in a swimsuit.
She must have taken it during PE class just now. The angle was deliberately chosen to show off every curve of her voluptuous figure.
I stared at the screen, momentarily breathless—
Snatch—
The phone was suddenly yanked from my hand. Startled, I looked up to see Yuzuki holding it with a frigid expression.
"Isn't Sakuragi seriously weird…? Who just casually sends a guy a video of herself in a swimsuit like this?"
Her face flushed red as she stared at the screen for a long moment before deleting the video entirely. She then shoved the phone back into my hand.
I swallowed a bitter smile.
Thanks to that, I could now clearly feel that Luna's target—originally Haruka—had shifted to me.
In the original story, Iori used to grind her teeth every time she saw Luna because of this kind of behavior.
As I recalled the original plot, I tilted my head in confusion.
…If things go like this, what happens between those two?
Luna definitely had a personality closer to a villain, but she had played a crucial role in pushing Haruka and Iori's relationship forward.
The most annoying person often creates the most important turning points.
Well… it'll probably be fine.
Those two get along so well anyway.
What could possibly go wrong?