"Huuup…!"
-BAM!
The fixed sandbag shattered, scattering its contents everywhere.
Tsk.
Need to clean this up.
Looking around, the broken training equipment was strewn about.
Feeling slightly guilty toward the staff, she rang the bell.
Ding, ding.
It didn’t take long for the white-haired old man to approach.
"You called, miss?"
"Ah, old man. Sorry, can you have someone clean this up?"
"Understood."
Her mood didn’t improve.
She couldn’t forget what happened.
It frustrated her that she couldn’t fight just because she didn’t have a weapon.
It frustrated her that she had to leave everything to Yu Siwoo and just watch.
…It frustrated her that she couldn’t comfort her trembling friend after he killed someone.
What was I doing back then?
Shaking.
Because of one petty reason—seeing a corpse for the first time.
-BAM! BAM! BAM!
She struck once, fueled by irritation.
Using her Ability to accelerate, she landed two, three, four more blows.
It didn’t take long for the last sandbag to explode into a cloud of sand, its ruin reminding her of that villain collapsing in a spray of blood.
The shock of seeing a corpse for the first time was gone now.
…But the frustration of failing to help her shaken friend still burned.
Pathetic bitch.
What was all that talk about being able to do anything?
She’d said she’d stop at nothing to achieve her goals, yet she’d given up on helping her friend.
At this rate, she was just all talk—nothing but trash.
"…Ah, my hand hurts like hell."
She turned her gaze to the pain in her hand—blood was dripping down.
Only noticing now.
A sigh escaped her.
"Miss, here."
"Thanks, old man."
The old man handed her an ointment, which she slathered on before wrapping a bandage around her hand.
It was good medicine; she’d be fine by morning.
"Miss, has something been troubling you? Lately, you’ve seemed… rather agitated."
…She couldn’t tell him.
The old man doted on her.
If she mentioned meeting a villain at the Academy, he’d raise hell there.
And that would only make things worse.
She’d have to brush it off.
"It’s nothing. Just… something annoying happened."
"I see. If you ever have any troubles, please confide in me. I might be of some help."
Help, huh.
Now that she thought about it, neither she nor Yu Siwoo had ever asked anyone for help before.
And for good reason—because of Arte.
They couldn’t risk being labeled as paranoid fools for suspecting a friend of being a villain with no evidence.
But what if… she asked for advice without revealing who it was about?
…Maybe she should try.
"Hey, old man."
"Yes, miss?"
"There’s something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead."
Amelia looked seriously at the butler who had watched over her since childhood.
…Maybe he’d know.
The answer to the question gnawing at her.
Why was Arte so obsessed with Yu Siwoo?
"It’s not about me, but… a friend of mine."
"Yes?"
"…They’ve been acting a little strange."
"In what way, miss?"
Hmm…
What’s strange about her?
How should I even put this?
I couldn’t talk about the important events. So I had to find something odd in her everyday life.
I racked my brain, but I couldn’t figure out how to explain her suspicious behavior.
What should I say?
Fortunately, Grandpa waited patiently for me.
…Ah, I’ve got it. I’ll try saying this.
"She seems unusually interested in a certain boy."
"A boy, you say?"
"Yeah."
Grandpa suddenly straightened his posture.
What’s this about?
Did the corner of his mouth just twitch?
Was I imagining things?
"Hmm, hmm. Pardon me. …So? Please continue."
"Ah, right."
…It’s probably nothing.
Amelia decided to brush it off.
"Well, she keeps staring at this boy, Yu Siwoo, in a really weird way."
"Hmm, Siwoo… Ah, you mean Yu Siwoo from the same class?"
"Huh? …Yeah, but how do you know that?"
"I have my ways."
Same old line.
Well, it didn’t really bother me.
He probably just did some background checks.
Ever since I was little, he’s been investigating every boy around me. Guess he still hasn’t kicked the habit.
…Speaking of background checks, Jeffrey’s words suddenly came to mind.
He said if anyone ever looked into her info, they’d notice something was off.
Don’t tell me… he even checked on her?
A sudden chill ran up my spine.
"…Do you know about Arte? Arte Isis."
"Arte Isis? A classmate of yours? I haven’t looked into her, but should I?"
"No, forget it. Don’t look. I already did."
"Understood."
Amelia let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness he hadn’t checked yet.
It was better if he didn’t know.
Jeffrey had been terrified of her, after all.
He was an information broker. Naturally, he was sensitive to his own danger.
No matter how well-off my family was, we couldn’t afford to bring someone who scared an information broker that much into our home.
"Anyway! She’s been showing way too much interest in this boy, Yu Siwoo."
"…Too much?"
Ah.
Wait, I called her a friend earlier, but then I brought up Arte’s name.
Was that too obvious?
I quickly glanced at Grandpa’s expression, but he didn’t look suspicious.
If anything, he looked intrigued.
Did he not notice?
Good.
"Yeah. She keeps staring at him during class."
"Hoo…"
"And after school, she follows him around whenever she gets the chance."
"I see. Anything else?"
"Anything else? …Hmm, oh. She even joined the same club as him. Were they in the same group for exams too?"
"…!"
"Plus, she doesn’t seem all that interested in the other guys in class, but she’s always fixated on him."
After hearing it all, Grandpa wiped away a tear.
Today’s Grandpa was acting a little strange.
What was the emotional punchline in this story?
"I see. Hmm, so the young lady has finally reached that age…"
"…I don’t know what you’re imagining, but I’m talking about my friend."
"Yes, yes. A friend. I understand."
…Did he really?
This was kind of pissing me off.
But since I was the one asking the questions, I’d have to endure it.
"But I don’t get why. …Do you know, Grandpa?"
"?! W-Wait, you mean you didn’t know?!"
"W-What? Why are you so surprised? Did I do something wrong?"
"Wrong… no, not exactly. Ahem, sorry. Just startled me."
Hmm, hmm.
Like an announcer clearing his throat before a major declaration,
the old man—pointlessly solemn-faced—spoke to me in a grave tone.
"Let me enlighten you. Young lady… no, my friend, the reason your gaze keeps drifting to that boy is…!"
The old man’s story shocked me.
It… made sense!
As expected of someone who’d lived so long. Was this what they called wisdom?
"Thanks, old man!"
"Not at all, my dear."
My mood lifted.
This could help Yu Siwoo!
…The thought of being able to help a friend melted away the guilt I’d been feeling toward him.
"Yu Siwoo. Come here, quickly. It’s urgent."
"Uh, w-what?!"
Siwoo was flustered.
He’d been worried about Amelia these past few days—she’d seemed so down.
Ever since *that* incident, she’d looked terrible, and he’d been concerned.
But today, she seemed more energetic than usual.
She looked… happy.
Had she finally moved on?
Without resisting, Siwoo followed Amelia’s lead into a secluded alleyway.
It was the usual spot where they talked.
"…So, what’s this about?"
"What’s this about?"
"I mean… we only ever meet here to talk about—"
Arte Isis, right?
Siwoo stopped himself mid-sentence.
She’d been through a lot mentally lately. He should be considerate…
"I know. It’s about Arte Isis."
"…Are you okay?"
"About what?"
He asked urgently, but she just tilted her head, as if she had no idea what he was talking about.
She really *had* moved on.
He admired her for it.
If it were him, he’d have locked himself in his room for days.
…Though, every time he tried to recall *that* memory, the feel of her, her scent, would rush back, forcibly cutting off his depression. That had helped a lot.
Maybe he was getting numb to it now.
And yet, she’d overcome it all on her own.
"…Well, fine. Today’s topic is *why* she’s been watching you."
"What?!"
Startled.
Siwoo jumped at Amelia’s words.
Her *purpose*…!
Her goal was to steal an artifact hidden in a secret room somewhere in the Academy.
But that had *nothing* to do with why she’d been watching *him*.
Had Amelia figured it out?
Siwoo was impressed.
"Y-You found out…?!"
"Yeah. The old man helped."
"…The old man?"
"My butler. Don’t worry, I kept the Arte part a secret."
Hmm, I see.
…It was a little unsettling, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
He’d finally learn why Arte had been watching him.
"S-So… what’s the reason?"
"That…"
That…?
Thump, thump.
His heart pounded.
What in the world was Arte’s reason for watching him?
The moment a seemingly unsolvable mystery was about to be unraveled.
"It’s love."
"…What?"
Before he could stop himself, Siwoo found himself repeating the question back to Amelia.