Why Tell Me Specifically?
"Why tell me of all people?"
"Oh, Bianca! I'll take Carlyle, then?" With those words, Emily hooked her arm through Carlyle's. As if deliberately showing off right in front of Vita.
"Uh, yeah...?"
From Vita's perspective, it was utterly out of nowhere and bewildering. So, to be precise—
Her mind went completely blank in that instant.
But why did Emily have to say that to me...?
That was probably Vita's first thought. Emily partnering with her childhood friend Carlyle? Sure, that made sense. She got it. Childhood friends were familiar with each other from way back. Nothing strange about it, and no real reason to tell her specifically.
When Shasha had asked if she had anyone in mind for a partner, Emily had replied:
—I already have someone.
Ah, so that's how it was.
Only now did Vita finally understand Emily's response. They must have already agreed on it beforehand.
What the... I had no clue.
She'd gotten all excited for nothing, thinking she might pair up with Emily. Of course it stung a little—not saying it didn't would be a lie. But more than that, something deeper made her pause.
Vita had no idea what it was. She couldn't figure out why she felt this way, or why Emily had bothered telling her that fact. What was her intention?
She just couldn't grasp it. Her heart sank, she felt ridiculously flustered, and she didn't even know why she was reacting like this. So, forcing an overly cheerful tone and exaggerated gestures, she nodded along.
"Ah... whatever. I don't know why you're telling me specifically, but yeah, that works, right?"
She flashed an awkward smile, tilting her head slightly. Maybe coming off a bit foolish as she made excuses.
"Uh, anyway! I wasn't planning to pair with Carlyle or anything!"
Why am I even making excuses? Even as the thought crossed her mind, she felt compelled to clarify it.
"So... yeah. Whatever, sounds good!"
"Ah, I see."
The atmosphere grew strangely awkward. Carlyle Schultz stayed silent, while Emily offered a vague smile.
And right now, Vita deliberately avoided looking at Carlyle. Some instinct told her she had to—gazing at him now might bring something bubbling up, or make her react weirdly all of a sudden.
The festival was in full swing, so the surroundings buzzed with noise. Yet for these three, time seemed frozen.
Shasha, ever the lively one, picked up on the mood and awkwardly chimed in to break the tension.
"R-Right! You two can pair up!"
"Yeah, exactly."
Even as she replied, Vita bit her lip. For some reason, a flicker of irritation bubbled up.
Maybe on impulse, she grabbed the arm of her dazed underclassman standing nearby.
"I'll just pair with him anyway! Right, Lou...?"
"Eek, huh?!"
Vita shot Lou a glare as he started to protest.
G-Gulp...
Lou Millionaire sensed mortal danger! That icy chill—this was a woman's wrath?!
A strong premonition told him protesting his senior now would lead to disaster, so he relented.
"Uh... sure."
Vita spoke up.
"Shasha, what about you...?"
"Oh, me? I already lined someone up."
Thank goodness Shasha had a partner too.
Well, everything worked out, right?
Forcing cheerfulness, Vita wrapped things up.
"Alright, all set then! Shall we head out? Courage training's up next."
She strode ahead, ensuring no one saw her expression. And she was grateful for that.
She didn't know why, but controlling her face felt impossible. It really was a relief.
And so, Emily and Carlyle paired up, as did Vita and Lou.
Courage training was the highlight of the school trip. That evening, students gathered in front of the inn.
"Everyone here? No one's missing?"
The teachers were overseeing. The notoriously strict PE teacher stepped up to the platform.
"Alright, then! We're starting the courage training you've all been waiting for, so listen closely and follow the rules."
Since it was a nighttime forest event, safety came first. The teacher laid out the precautions.
"Before we begin, here are some important rules. First: never go alone. Stick with your partner, watch out for each other, and contact us immediately if something seems off."
Second: do not stray from the designated path.
"No leaving the marked trail or running around. Finally, third: if you're feeling unwell or off your game, tell me beforehand. This is meant to be fun memories—don't be too scared."
After the briefing, they received flashlights. Partners ventured through together. The inn backed onto a large mountain with a pre-scouted path, and safety personnel were stationed throughout. All set.
"Everyone ready?!"
Some nodded eagerly, others nervously, but all agreed.
"Good. Training starts now!"
At the teacher's signal, students filed into the darkness one by one, flashlights in hand.
"Let's go."
Carlyle and Emily entered the forest. It truly felt like a mountain—dark all around. But accidents were extremely unlikely; the academy had prepared thoroughly.
Carlyle wasn't thrilled about the activity. Fearless by nature, it felt boring. And the current situation was awkward anyway. So he just pressed on silently.
"Ah—!"
Emily stumbled, and Carlyle caught her.
"You okay?"
"Y-Yeah."
Her face flushed as she nodded. Thump-thump. Her heart raced. Her secret crush. And childhood friend.
It's been a while since it's just me and Carlyle...
Emily Swan felt happy. But part of her felt uneasy too—
From Carlyle's perspective...
Honestly, she'd been selfish. He might find it ridiculous from his side.
He probably wanted to pair with Bianca originally.
She knew that. But she'd forced this somehow unreasonable situation.
—Just this once, please.
Pathetically, she'd asked her childhood friend Carlyle beforehand. He wasn't as cold as he seemed. Emily had calculated that too.
And then—
—I'll take Carlyle?
She'd said that, wondering how her pure friend Bianca would react. She'd even predicted Carlyle's response—or rather, ensured he had no chance to react.
With Bianca Shama already nodding along.
—Ah, whatever. I don't know why you're telling me specifically... but yeah, that works, right?
And with her arm already linked through his.
—Just this once.
She'd laid that groundwork too. In that moment, Carlyle—who'd known her forever—wouldn't suddenly shake off his childhood friend's arm and insist on partnering with Bianca.
Everything had gone according to her plan. And Emily didn't want to waste this chance.
"Remember when we were kids... our first meeting?"
She worried a bit about her friend Bianca. But this was the opportunity she'd schemed for.
"...We were pretty close back then, though."
In the dim forest, relying on Carlyle's flashlight, Emily gazed at his broad back with trembling eyes and spoke first.
"Yeah... something like that."
Carlyle Schultz responded obligingly.
"We read picture books together, drew pictures too."
He just nodded to her continued words.
From Carlyle's view, it was hard not to get close. A guy bringing massive snacks and clothes monthly, and the girl his age who came with him. But he'd left the orphanage early for independence, living a breathless, busy life since—their bond had faded.
Recalling old memories, Carlyle spoke.
"The playground next to the orphanage. We played there a lot."
"Oh, right. Once I fell really hard... and you took the blame for me with your dad!"
They shared memories, so old stories flowed naturally. But he knew her feelings.
Because he knew, and because something more important needed saying in this situation, Carlyle hesitated before finally speaking.
"You okay, Senior...?"
Darkness blanketed the forest. As they headed in, Lou grew genuinely worried about his senior, Vita Shama.
Really. She'd been spaced out since earlier, fists clenched like her mind was a storm.
Whoosh-whoosh.
He waved his hand in front of her eyes.
"Ah... what...?"
Only then did she snap to—proof she'd been totally out of it.
Lou asked worriedly.
"You sure you can handle this?"
There were various tasks: walking the dark forest alone (well, with partner), guessing sounds in a mountain clearing...
"And we have to find the teachers' hidden items too..."
He wouldn't usually worry, but her state was so serious he couldn't tease. He fidgeted.
And why's she still in that yukata?
She hadn't even changed—barely spared a thought for clothes. At least she wore sneakers instead of geta sandals.
Vita finally answered Lou's earlier question.
"...Yeah, I can handle it. Obviously."
Normally, she'd be terrified of courage training. But strangely, the fear didn't hit now. Her focus was elsewhere.
The more she thought, the less sense it made.
—I'll take Carlyle?
That weird sinking feeling she'd had. The sudden irritation. Hot eyes, blank mind.
Questioning why Emily said it to her, yet reacting like an idiot.
Why had she?
Why did Emily say that to me? And Carlyle...
Vita's heart was a mess. Had Carlyle promised Emily beforehand?
...But if so.
He showed no sign...
Even imagining it made her chest ache sharply, like needles pricking.
Her heart felt stuffy. More and more.
Thankfully, she chugged from her water bottle and popped a pill. But she barely registered it.
When did those two get so...?
Close? No, wait—they were childhood friends, so of course. Not being close would be weirder.
...But still.
What was this feeling? Maybe from crushing on Emily so long? Or... the image of Emily arm-in-arm with Carlyle, looking so perfectly matched, wouldn't leave her head.
Thud.
Honestly, it'd hit hard. Her mind had blanked, total panic. And deeper confusion.
She still couldn't shake that lingering shock.
Deep in thought like that—
[H-Help... Save me...]
She completely missed the sudden rustle—a strange shape in the bushes.
"Eek—! Senior! Th-There...!"
Lou freaked out, but Vita just stared blankly. Only turning her head brought her back.
...!
Vita was quite the scaredy-cat. The popular academy star Bianca Shama's wide-eyed terror only hyped the girl playing the ghost.
[Shall I tear your mouth too...?]
Utterly grotesque. Special makeup made it horrifying—mouth torn from ear to ear. And Vita's ultimate fear: the virgin ghost!
"Eek... Kyaaah—!"
A natural soprano scream now.
"G-Get... away...!"
She couldn't even say it fully. Her face drained pale white instantly.
Snapped out of her daze, face-to-face with her worst nightmare via surprise attack. Vita was timid by nature; her mind reeled in confusion.
"S-Senior—!"
Pat-pat-pat.
When she came to, Vita was sprinting through the forest.
Get away, scary...!
Screeech!
"Student—!"
A whistle pierced the air. Flashlight beams swept nearby.
"Stop, student—!"
"No running in the mountains—!"
"Hah... huff...!"
Suddenly, Vita realized she'd overreacted in her panic, lost her mind since earlier.
Her head screamed to stop, but terror-fueled, her naturally athletic body had accelerated full throttle.
"Ah...!"
Crack.
She barely caught a branch and veered sideways, but bad luck—it was a slope. Her body tumbled down.
"S-Senior...!"
"St-Student!"
"Call for help—quick—!"
Ow, it hurts...
Curling inward, arms shielding her head, Vita prayed it'd end soon.