Wanna Go or Not? Flashback to Our First Meeting
Shall we go, or not? Vita and Carlyle's first encounter, looking back, was a year ago.
"Senior, senior."
Strangely enough, that morning had felt stuffy from the start. While eating lunch together, Lou called out to her, and Vita turned her head.
"What, Lou?"
"Some weird guy's shown up."
What kind of guy? Following Lou's gesture, Vita turned her gaze—and instantly lost her words.
There stood the perfect embodiment of her aspirations. And not just that, but drawing the stares of countless students.
-Ah, is that him...?
-The transfer student who's coming today?
-He's seriously insanely hot.
Vita overheard the surrounding whispers too. Broad, well-built shoulders, long and sleek legs. An appearance that wouldn't pale even to another guy's eyes. Black hair, golden eyes. A cool, aloof impression that drew the gaze.
But that was it. Vita quickly lost interest in him—totally natural, right? If she were a girl, sure, she'd check him out, but they were both guys.
'A guy who's all looks and no substance. Obvious without even looking.'
He gave off delinquent vibes, probably a nobody. That's what Vita figured deep down. Maybe she was even a bit jealous without realizing it, enough to conjure up negative biases subconsciously.
But Carlyle Schultz was indeed a different breed.
End-of-Term Comprehensive Rankings
1st: Carlyle
2nd: Vita
...
Even including written exams? So a delinquent might ace PE, but not academics too?
"No way..."
Vita couldn't believe her eyes. She'd lost first place for the first time. In other words, defeated.
But that was just the beginning—she had no idea it would continue like that. Afterward, Vita never beat Carlyle even once.
"The top two are them again. Such a close margin."
"Always 1st and 2nd. Basically rivals, right?"
Biting her lip at the murmurs, Vita had no choice but to admit it. At this point, she and Carlyle were arch-nemeses.
Yeah, rivals.
"Just you wait for the next eval—I'll win for sure."
"...What're you talking about? Who even are you?"
But pathetically enough, Carlyle didn't even register her existence.
That pissed Vita off. The night she tried acting familiar and got shut down, she was so mad she couldn't sleep.
'Just once, let me beat that guy...'
Beat Carlyle Schultz. Crush that arrogant nose—
"Hah... pfft..."
Having a good dream? He must've been in a great mood, smiling in his sleep.
"Ha—seriously."
Carlyle was dumbfounded. So much so that a hollow laugh escaped.
[Let's date. Me and you.]
She'd set the mood, thinking it might work, so he'd confessed without missing a beat. Girls loved atmosphere, after all.
But the girl in question had straight-up passed out? For real.
[......Bianca?]
Carlyle felt his breath catch.
[Bianca!]
Utterly unlike him, he panicked. Thinking she'd collapsed from some health issue.
But no. She'd simply fainted. More precisely, fallen asleep.
An incredulous smile hung on Carlyle Schultz's lips. How was everything this girl did so endearingly cute? Relieving, yet absurd.
He'd seen girls cry from joy at confessions, but fainting? First time. He'd even leaned in for CPR and first aid, only to hear her soft, steady breathing.
"Hmnya..."
Yeah. The gentle snoring eased him a bit.
Carlyle changed his mind.
'Fainted from sheer joy at my confession, huh?'
Having already twisted it that way in his head.
Well, whatever. Felt pretty good?
Carlyle gently stroked the sleeping girl's hair. More than satisfied with this moment, really. Those flustered, trembling eyes, her adorably flushed face. Her reaction alone confirmed it.
Bianca liked him. Clueless about her own feelings, maybe, but it was clear.
Or at least...
'Whatever she's feeling toward me ain't negative.'
The bell was about to ring. Afternoon classes would start.
But Carlyle had no desire to wake his soundly sleeping companion.
"Mm..."
With that smiling expression...
"Time to get up, missy?"
He whispered softly instead. Just watching her sleep was entertaining. Cute button nose, delicate eyelids. So tiny, pale, and fragile—like she'd vanish if poked.
Gazing at her with inexplicable fullness, Carlyle Schultz thought:
Today's a no-go. Unbearable day.
He already had the perfect excuse to seduce her.
And then—the sleeping Vita slowly regained consciousness.
"...Mm?"
What was this? Situation not registering. Opening her eyes to Carlyle's face right there.
"Sleep well, Bianca?"
Vita blankly stared at his chuckling face.
'What... a dream...?'
Just moments ago in her dream, she'd been pranking Carlyle.
[Haha, didn't see that coming?! Actually, the Bianca you've been with was me transformed into a girl!]
Reverting to male and revealing the truth, Carlyle had wailed in despair.
[No way, that's impossible...! I can't believe it!]
Clutching his face. Vita had sneered right in front of him.
Something important nagged at her, forgotten. But her foggy head spat nonsense.
"...I'm not Bianca."
"Then what are you?"
No, reality?! Vita snapped alert.
'Not... a dream...?'
Sensations flooding back, she realized where her head rested.
"...!"
Bolting upright, she bonked noses with Carlyle.
"Ow—!"
It hurt.
"Ugh, seriously—"
Vita Shama rubbed her reddened nose with a pout. But only briefly.
"You, you...!"
Pointing, she demanded answers from Carlyle Schultz.
"Explain, right now! Why was I... sleeping on your..."
"Lap?"
Silence hung briefly.
"Remember nothing?"
Carlyle's enigmatic smile. Vita's face burned crimson, words failing.
She recalled it—the memory she'd subconsciously buried. Utterly ridiculous drivel.
[Let's date. Me and you.]
After hearing that nonsense, her bizarre reaction hit: panic. Brain freeze, heart pounding, face heating up—felt it all herself.
'...N-no way!'
Realizing it, sheer absurdity choked her.
'Me... no way?'
Pure-hearted but aware at her age. She knew this emotion's color—from movies, anime indirect learning.
That is... fluttering, fondness, excitement. Et cetera.
Vita panicked like never before.
'...No, this can't be.'
Impossible. Since when? From their "rivalry"? That weird night with Nathan? Just from that? Or like he said, was she just horny?
Total shock. Denying it fiercely, yet the impact made her falter.
'Fainting, though...'
Overkill, but subconscious self-protection.
Conclusion: Vita Shama remembered everything but couldn't admit it. Couldn't play along. No way!
"Mm, what...?"
Desperately feigning ignorance.
"No memories at all? Ugh... head hurts."
Carlyle, knowing or not, just smirked.
"Oh well? Kinda disappointing, but plenty of chances left."
Sweat trickled down Vita's back. But responding would drag her deeper, so she clamped her mouth shut.
Ding-dong—ding-dong—
Afternoon bell. Carlyle stood, offering a hand.
"Gotta go now."
"W-what, where?!"
Vita was on guard, but nodded slightly at his next words.
"Not going to class?"
Yeah, she had to. Time to head down.
They descended from the rooftop, lunch barely touched. Being carried in Carlyle's arms felt even more awkward than before.
And afterward? Time flew by like an arrow.
-At the peak here...
Vita pinched her cheeks repeatedly; class wasn't sinking in. Rooftop fiasco wrecked her focus. Her gaze kept drifting to Carlyle Schultz's back, way up front.
'...Get it together, me.'
She repeated it. Maybe her head was finally going nuts.
"What's up, Bianca? Want me to pinch for you?"
Shasha's tease got an immediate swat.
"N-no—!"
Panicking yell drew all eyes. Of course, Carlyle glanced back blankly, turning Vita tomato-red.
Not just that—zoning out meant flubbing the teacher's question too.
"Focus, Bianca."
"Sorry, teacher."
Sudden urge to die. Vita secretly yanked her hair, blaming Carlyle Schultz.
'Why him, of all people...'
Same class as Carlyle Schultz. How'd she keep getting tangled with him weirdly? His smirks whenever eyes met boiled her blood.
Shasha's words beside her snapped her out.
"Hang in there, Bianca. Holiday tomorrow."
Oh, right? Tomorrow was a holiday. Vita perked up. Anime binge tonight after ages.
Magical Girl Eve Rosalind, season N marathon!
Ding-dong—ding-dong—
Two PM. Early dismissal before the holiday. Vita packed up to head home.
'Anime's best for overthinking.'
Last week, Carlyle vanished right after class, busy. After-school was Vita Shama's peace. No pointless entanglements with him.
Should've been today too.
"Hold up, Bianca."
Carlyle approached, something dangling from his hand.
Shasha beside her shrieked.
"Eek, that's it! Wizni Park tickets?!"
The famous amusement park, hard to reserve. And pricey.
"Booked for this afternoon. Wanna go or not?"
Formally asking, but the answer was obvious.
"W-Wizni...?"
Wizni Park tickets?! Went once as a kid, never since. Vita's amethyst eyes sparkled.
She loved amusement parks, and right now? A collab there.
Magical Girl Eve Rosalind! Her absolute fave, the one she'd planned to watch today!