He felt that your mysterious origins and your ability to rally those around you—even moving Leona Kingscholar to help defeat Azul—were certainly worthy of praise. However, in his eyes, you had merely borrowed the strength of others. He assumed it was nothing more than a whim on Leona's part. After all, you hadn't become a devoted servant to Leona like Ruggie, nor did Leona seem particularly invested in looking after you since then.

Just as Jade might find himself momentarily captivated by a nameless weed on a mountainside, it wasn't unusual for someone to be distracted by something trivial and lend a hand out of mere pity. To Jade, you were a boy who was ordinary, weak, and possessed no defining strengths—a transparent existence.

And yet, despite this, Floyd seemed to have found some hidden flavor in you. Every time he spotted you, he made a point to mess with you. Since he didn't seem to be doing it out of spite for being outsmarted, Jade concluded that his brother genuinely liked you.

Floyd had found something in you that remained invisible to Jade. While his interest in you as an individual was thin, he was curious about whatever it was that appealed to his brother’s intuition. So, whenever Floyd was with you, Jade began to watch you—directing a quiet, observational gaze your way within the scope of his awareness. That was the extent of the faint connection between you and Jade back then.

Then came a certain day. On that day, Jade was exhausted beyond measure. One might even call him utterly drained.

Jade Leech was naturally a busy man. He was the Vice Housewarden of Octavinelle and the Assistant Manager of the Mostro Lounge. He took command while Azul attended meetings as Housewarden, and simultaneously provided flawless support for Azul’s every need. That was simply who he was.

Nor could he neglect his hobbies. The rare mushrooms he cultivated in the botanical garden required delicate management, and there were always countless things to research. Of course, as a student, he never slacked on his assignments. He didn't maintain this "perfection" because anyone forced him to; it was quite simply his taste. Jade enjoyed the daily grind, treating the management of himself and the completion of high-difficulty missions as a form of entertainment.

Yet, that didn't mean he was immune to fatigue.

That day had been busy to begin with, and as bad luck would have it, various troubles had piled up. After efficiently tidying those messes, he had hoped to catch his breath once classes were over—only for one of Floyd’s whims to strike.

As a result, Jade found himself hurriedly contacting kitchen staff who were supposed to be off to fill shifts, all while having to handle debt collection entirely on his own. He spent his time hunting down hiding debtors one by one, politely and courteously lecturing them on the importance of returning what was borrowed, and extracting solemn promises of repayment.

If the targets had put up a decent fight, he might have found some amusement in it. But a string of "small fry" with predictable reactions only bred boredom and amplified his exhaustion. Hunting is enjoyable; repetitive labor is not.

By that point, you had pushed him past his limit. The energy required to maintain the mask of the "perfectly polite and well-mannered Jade Leech" had evaporated. Jade sank onto a bench in a deserted corner of the backyard, loosening his tie and undoing the top few buttons of his shirt. He leaned back, staring blankly up at the sky. His legs, usually kept tidy and parallel, were sprawled out carelessly.

"…………I am exhausted," he muttered to himself.

Was this what they meant by the phrase "taking root"? When he first heard that human expression, he had found it quite odd. Under the sea, they had a saying: "Barnacles on the fin." It referred to staying in the same position so long that barnacles actually began to grow on your tail. However, that phrase was used more as a reprimand for being lazy. He and Floyd had often been told by their mother, "If you keep rolling around on the soft sand like that, you'll get barnacles on your fins."

He used to find it fascinating—and a bit detached—that such similar concepts meant such different things on land versus sea. But now? He felt nothing but total agreement. I see, he thought. My legs have indeed taken root.

Without the slightest intention of standing up to return to the Lounge, Jade took the hat he had been clutching to his stomach and placed it over his face as he looked toward the heavens. By doing this, anyone seeing him from a distance would surely mistake him for Floyd. There were very few eccentric souls in this school who would go out of their way to speak to a grumpy Floyd.

Under the cover of his hat, he closed his eyes and let the wind brush past him.

How long had he been there? Eventually, the distant, faint crunch of footsteps—scuff, scuff—reached his ears. The footsteps approached, stopped dead for a moment, and then receded.

He assumed the person had mistaken him for Floyd and decided to flee rather than risk an encounter. The thought brought a small, dark flicker of satisfaction to his chest.

But then, after a short while, Jade’s ears caught something strange. Those same footsteps were coming back toward him once again.

By that point, the day's events had pushed him past his limit. The energy required to maintain the mask of the "perfectly polite and well-mannered Jade Leech" had evaporated. Jade sank onto a bench in a deserted corner of the backyard, loosening his tie and undoing the top few buttons of his shirt. He leaned back, staring blankly up at the sky. His legs, usually kept tidy and parallel, were sprawled out carelessly.

"…………I am exhausted," he muttered to himself.

Was this what they meant by the phrase "taking root"? When he first heard that human expression, he had found it quite odd. Under the sea, they had a saying: "Barnacles on the fin." It referred to staying in the same position so long that barnacles actually began to grow on your tail. However, that phrase was used more as a reprimand for being lazy. He and Floyd had often been told by their mother, "If you keep rolling around on the soft sand like that, you'll get barnacles on your fins."

He used to find it fascinating—and a bit detached—that such similar concepts meant such different things on land versus sea. But now? He felt nothing but total agreement. I see, he thought. My legs have indeed taken root.

Without the slightest intention of standing up to return to the Lounge, Jade took the hat he had been clutching to his stomach and placed it over his face as he looked toward the heavens. By doing this, anyone seeing him from a distance would surely mistake him for Floyd. There were very few eccentric souls in this school who would go out of their way to speak to a grumpy Floyd.

Under the cover of his hat, he closed his eyes and let the wind brush past him.

How long had he been there? Eventually, the distant, faint crunch of footsteps—scuff, scuff—reached his ears. The footsteps approached, stopped dead for a moment, and then receded.

He assumed the person had mistaken him for Floyd and decided to flee rather than risk an encounter. The thought brought a small, dark flicker of satisfaction to his chest.

But then, after a short while, Jade’s ears caught something strange. Those same footsteps were coming back toward him once again.

"………?"

The crunch, crunch, crunch of footsteps drew closer and stopped right in front of him.

Wondering exactly who this fool was who didn't know their place, Jade shifted the hat just enough to glare up at the person through narrowed eyes. In the shadow of the brim, his heterochromatic eyes glinted with a sharp, cold light. Any other small fry would have surely let out a shriek and bolted.

But this person didn't run.

Standing there with a shop bag dangling from one hand was you.

I see. Acting like Floyd served as a deterrent for the many weaklings who feared him, but for you—someone who shared a certain level of friendship with his brother—it had the exact opposite effect. You had approached because you mistook him for Floyd.

Feeling a sudden, petty urge to be a little cruel, Jade slowly lowered the hat from his face, his lips curling upward. He smiled with the clear intent to intimidate, flashing his rows of sharp, needle-like teeth.

"How unfortunate for you," he said. "I am not your dear friend, Floyd."

He was Jade. To you, he was nothing more than a distant acquaintance—a monstrous merman who had once chased you through the depths of the sea. He expected you to recoil in fear and hurry away.

And yet…

"I know," you said, simply and plainly.

The hat covering Jade's face slipped further. This was unexpected. He couldn't fathom why you would go out of your way to approach Jade Leech—who wasn't even close to you—especially when he was clearly baiting people into thinking he was his brother.

As Jade’s eyes widened in genuine surprise, you let out a soft, small chuckle and gave a casual shrug of your shoulders.

"Because Floyd-senpai is currently a heap of mush over at the Ramshackle Dorm."

"A heap of mush?"

"A heap of mush," you repeated firmly, nodding back at Jade as he reflexively echoed your words.

"Apparently, Azul-senpai's treatment of his morays—rather than his men—has been exceptionally rough lately?"

"Well… yes. I suppose so."

Jade had no choice but to agree. In his drive to recover from the Overblot incident, Azul had been moving with a frantic, tireless energy. As the moray at his side, Jade felt he had been moving a bit too much.

Azul Ashengrotto was the type of man who, whether he liked it or not, showed his true worth only when pushed into a corner. He truly came alive. He began to shine. Whether he was tearing at his hair in stress, or his eyes were glinting with irritation while ink smudged the corners of his mouth—that was when he was, in fact, at the top of his game. The more he was suppressed, the more he burned with the desire to prove everyone wrong.

Having lost the mountain of contracts he'd amassed and forced to release his "anemones," Azul was now busily weaving new schemes. Consequently, the two morays who served as his hands and feet had both reached their breaking point. Honestly, the octopus knew no moderation.

Furthermore, Jade possessed the troublesome trait of being a sore loser. When met with a cool, piercing gaze and told, "Surely you can handle this," he couldn't help but compete, answering with a crisp, "Of course."

He couldn't simply say "I'm done with this" like Floyd did. Whether one viewed Floyd’s honesty as childishness or the wisdom to recognize his own limits was a matter of perspective.

"Jade-senpai."

You gave the school store bag in your hand a little rustle.

"Are you hungry?"

"Starving."

"Wow, an instant answer."

With a soft giggle, you held the bag out toward him. He took it.

"Here, get some nutrients back in your system. I've got two massive pork buns, one curry bun, and a sickly sweet chocolate pie with marshmallow filling for dessert. Oh, and a super sugary soda."

"What on earth is this lineup?"

"It’s the 'immediate brain-hit' lineup for when you're exhausted."

As he peered into the bag, the soft, sweet scent of steamed dough wafted up. Reflexively, Jade’s throat tightened with a gulp. Enticed by the aroma, he pulled out a pork bun that was still radiating warmth. He opened his mouth wide and took a massive, hearty bite.

Half of the bun—which was nearly the size of a human face—disappeared in that single mouthful. The savory-sweet flavor of the meat and the chewy texture of the dough filled his mouth, leaving him unable to think about anything other than how delicious it was.

His brain simply stopped.

He polished off the first pork bun in two bites, then moved on to the smaller curry bun, devouring it in one. The mild curry flavor paired perfectly with the springy dough. He didn't stop. He finished the final pork bun in another two bites and let out a long, hot breath.

He licked a stray piece of dough from the tip of his black glove and twisted the cap off the soda, pouring the liquid down his throat.

"~~!"

The intense carbonation stung his tongue, followed by a heavy, cloying sweetness. Usually, Jade didn't indulge in drinks like this. It wasn't that he disliked them; he simply found such obvious flavors uninteresting. His personality was better suited to luxuries like tea or coffee, where he could dismantle layers of aroma and taste on his tongue like a puzzle.

But right now, this raw stimulation and sugar were irresistible. He felt as if the nutrients were seeping directly into his exhausted brain. A sigh of pure ecstasy escaped him.

And then…

Suddenly, Jade snapped back to reality.

You lifted your gaze.

Your eyes were wide and round as you let out a soft, dazed "Whoa…" and for a moment, your eyes locked.

Damn it, he thought.

He had accepted the bag from you as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Given your character, it was unlikely you’d lace anything with poison—and even if you had, Jade’s racial resistance to toxins would have neutralized most substances.

But that wasn't the issue.

Jade had failed to confirm the price. Though they were merely hot snacks from the school store, he had incurred an unconditional debt to you.

And that wasn't all. Unlike Floyd, Jade made a point of never showing his non-human teeth to others. He understood that to land-dwellers, their serrated rows of fangs could be an object of pure terror. It was a matter of "the carrot and the stick." It was far more convenient for Floyd to gather the fear while Jade remained known as the "polite one" of the Leech brothers.

Yet, here he was, having just unhinged his jaw in front of you, tearing into a pork bun with those very same predatory fangs.

Jade had been more exhausted than even he had realized. His brain hadn't been functioning. Now, with the sudden influx of sugar, his gears began to turn at high speed. As he was calculating exactly how to smooth this over, you blinked once and spoke.

"Jade-senpai."

"Yes?"

"You really are brothers with Floyd-senpai, aren't you?"

"…………I beg your pardon?"

Jade felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under him, a mental question mark hovering over his head. What on earth were you talking about? He and Floyd were nearly identical; being mistaken for twins was a daily occurrence. Why were you bringing it up now, looking so genuinely impressed?

"The way you take such massive bites… it's exactly the same. Floyd-senpai eats those 'massive pork buns' in two bites, too."

"I see."

"The other day he asked me for a bite. I thought, 'Sure, one bite won't hurt,' but when I handed it over, half of it vanished. I was so shocked."

"I imagine you were."

"…………"

"…………"

A silence fell between the two of you—Jade waiting for the rest of your point, and you simply tilting your head with a gentle curiosity.

"Is that… all?"

"What do you mean, 'is that all'?"

"…………No, it’s nothing."

You made no move to demand payment. Jade figured you might be planning to collect at a later date, and he decided he was fine with that. If you made a request, he would simply return something of equal value to what he had received. Even if you tried to hold this "favor" over him to force some impossible demand, he could easily argue that you were just as much at fault for failing to negotiate the terms beforehand.

After all, you were just a powerless "small fry" who couldn't do anything on your own. If you brought in someone influential as an ally—like you did with Leona Kingscholar to oppose Azul—it might be a bit troublesome, but he supposed he could find some entertainment in that, too.

Jade made these cold calculations while taking a bite of the dessert chocolate pie.

"I'm glad."

"About what?"

"Your complexion looks a little better now. You shouldn't push yourself too hard, you know."

With nothing more than that, you gave him a polite little bow and walked away. Jade watched your retreating figure and gave a small, bewildered nod.

"I see."

He lifted a palm and touched his cheek. He hadn't been aware that he looked pale. If even you had noticed it, his exhaustion must have been written all over his face. He’d have to be more careful in the future; he couldn't afford to have people thinking he was weak and easy prey.

"…………"

You truly hadn't asked for anything in return. Three steamed buns, a chocolate pie, and a soda. For someone like you, who was always grumbling about being broke, that must have been a fairly significant expense.

It finally dawned on him that he had been so busy bracing himself for a demand of payment that he hadn't even offered a simple word of thanks. Jade let his gaze fall quietly to his feet.

It wasn't that he felt guilty for being rude to you. Rather, he was reflecting on the fact that his fatigue had allowed a crack to form in the mask of the "perfectly polite Jade Leech."

"I shall have to do something for you in return sometime soon, Prefect," he murmured to himself as he stood up.

The roots that had supposedly been growing from his split fins seemed to have been thoroughly pruned away without him even noticing. His body felt light.

He did up his shirt buttons, pulled his tie into a sharp, perfect knot, and set his hat firmly on his head. Having completely returned to the composed silhouette of the "Jade Leech" he expected himself to be, he began to walk away, his heels clicking rhythmically against the ground.

■□■

After finishing every last task for the day, Jade returned to his room. Floyd was already there, sprawled across his bed in his loungewear.

"Floyd."

"Jade."

Floyd sat up slowly and looked back at him. He seemed somewhat awkward—likely because he was well aware that he’d abandoned the heavy workload and dumped the rest on Jade.

"Ah—look, sorry about that. I just wasn't feelin' it, y'know?"

"I'll be adding that to your tab. But that isn't what I wanted to ask."

"Huh. You're not mad?"

"I am perfectly aware of how moody you are."

"Hm, is that so?"

Floyd flopped back down onto the bed, seemingly satisfied with that answer. As Jade began putting away his hat and stole in their designated places, he casually brought up a new topic.

"Were you slacking off at the Ramshackle Dorm today?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I told ya, I just wasn't in the mood for work."

"I don't mean that. I was wondering why you chose the Ramshackle Dorm specifically."

"Ah, I see."

Until now, Floyd’s usual haunts for skipping out were deserted classrooms, high up in the trees of the courtyard, or the sea connected to the Mostro Lounge’s massive tanks. When he wasn't "feelin' it," Floyd was surprisingly quiet and tended to seek solitude.

The fact that he had headed to the Ramshackle Dorm—the home of the Prefect—was unexpected to Jade, even if that place did have far fewer residents than any other dorm.

"That place is actually pretty comfy. Little Shrimpy takes just the right amount of care of me."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. They let me eat stuff I’ve never tried before and everything. It’s pretty entertainin'."

"…………"

Jade stopped unbuttoning his shirt and strode over to Floyd’s bed. As his long frame loomed over the pillow, trapping his brother in his shadow, Floyd looked up with a suspicious glance—only for Jade’s kick to land squarely in his side at that exact moment.

"Ow!! What was that for!?"

"You're being unfair, keeping it all to yourself."

"Fine! Consider that today's debt paid in full!"

Ignoring Floyd’s indignant howl, Jade calmly returned to the steady pace of his bedtime routine.

The Ramshackle Dorm. Not since that time he had gone there under Azul's orders to collect a debt had Jade set foot inside. If there was something interesting enough to keep Floyd coming back, he really should have shared that information sooner.

Honestly.

"I’m truly saddened to have such a heartless brother," Jade murmured.

He was willing to maintain a friendship this intimate, yet he wouldn't even tell you he was getting married. It felt as if a line had been drawn in the sand—a clear boundary saying, “You are not permitted to cross this.”

No. That line had likely always been there. You were simply the one who had failed to notice it. Jade was probably just skilled enough to keep you from realizing it was there. And in your ignorance of that "kindness," you had allowed your own delusions to grow.

Even though a part of you was deeply ashamed, another part was still clinging to a desperate shred of hope. You couldn't stop yourself from thinking that maybe, during this hike, he would finally open up and tell you about the wedding.

When the day arrived, you climbed into Jade’s car as usual, and the two of you headed toward the mountains. Most of the hiking gear you wore had either been chosen by Jade back in your student days or was a hand-me-down from him. As you sat there in your matching outfits—identical in style, different only in color—you couldn't help but wonder: How do we look to the rest of the world?

"It has been a while since our last mountain excursion. Let us make the most of it," Jade said.

"Yes," you replied.

Standing at the trailhead, Jade looked genuinely happy—relaxed, serene, and seemingly drinking in the mountain air with every breath. You remembered the slight dark circles under his eyes as he grumbled behind the wheel about how busy Azul had been keeping him lately. You hated yourself for wondering if he was truly busy with work, or if it was actually the wedding preparations that had worn him down.

To banish the intrusive thoughts, you forced yourself to speak in your usual bright tone.

"It’s funny how Floyd-senpai always escapes to the sea when he needs a break, but you always end up in the mountains, Jade-senpai."

"I have my moments where I long for the sea as well, you know? The urge to stretch my tail fin and swim to my heart's content is not uncommon." Jade smiled, his expression softening. "However… it is quite difficult for you to join me in the sea, Prefect."

"Please tell Floyd-senpai that," you grumbled, pouting slightly to mask the sharp pang in your chest at his kind words.

Fortunately, you were walking directly behind him. Partly due to the narrowness of the trail, but mostly because Jade always led the way in the mountains, verifying the path before letting you follow. You had always cherished that quiet consideration. Now, it served as a shield, sparing you from having to show him the pained expression you couldn't quite hide.

"Oh? Did Floyd invite you somewhere?"

"Less 'invited' and more 'kidnapped,'" you sighed.

"My condolences," he chuckled.

It was your usual banter. There was nothing different in Jade’s demeanor; he seemed to be purely enjoying his long-awaited day off. As you ascended the gentle slope, he would name the birds you heard singing. When you stumbled upon rare mushrooms or plants, you would stop to sketch them together.

Jade was the one who had taught you how to draw. Start with a vague silhouette of what you see, then slowly add the details. It was strange how, by just mimicking him, your sketches eventually started to look like the real thing. Your sketchbook was already filled with memories of the various mountains you had explored with him.

When you reached the summit with its panoramic view, you spread out your lunch together. By then, your heart had finally settled into a quiet, hollow calm.

Because you realized then: Jade had no intention of telling you.

"As usual, it’s quite a feast."

"I’m afraid I have rather poor fuel efficiency," Jade replied with a hum.

"I’ve got that simmered dish you like, Jade-senpai."

"May I?"

"I made it specifically for you."

"That makes me very happy."

You scooped a generous portion of the simmered vegetables from your lunch box onto the lid of Jade’s own container, which he used as a makeshift plate. Jade loved rich, savory simmered dishes. Whenever you made them, he would eat with an expression of pure delight. It had become your habit to spend the previous day preparing a large batch as a thank-you whenever he invited you on a hike.

Jade stuffed his cheeks, eating with gusto. In public places like the school cafeteria, he always maintained his manners as a refined honor student, but in your presence, he had eventually started eating like any other young man his age. You had always loved seeing that side of him.

Jade never asked for your recipe. Because of that, you never offered to teach him. You enjoyed it too much when he would say, "I’ve found myself craving your cooking again; perhaps we should head to the mountains?"

But this would likely be the last time Jade ate your food. This was undoubtedly your final mountain excursion together. The next time you met, he would be a married man. You couldn't maintain this kind of intimacy with a married person of the opposite sex. A much clearer line would have to be drawn. You had to know your place.

"Jade-senpai."

"Yes?"

"The view is beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes, truly."

Jade gazed out at the sprawling landscape. Against the vast blue of the sky, the light caught his heterochromatic eyes, making them shimmer as he blinked. His cheeks, usually as pale as plaster, were flushed with a healthy color from the climb.

Ah, what a truly beautiful creature he is, you thought.

You decided then that this would be the final image you’d take with you. As you blinked, you mentally "clipped" the silhouette of his profile and tucked it away deep within your heart.

"Ah, that reminds me—I brought some tea. Would you care for some after our meal?"

"I'd love some."

You shared the tea Jade had prepared in his thermos, sipping it together. This, too, was part of your usual routine— and this, too, was almost certainly for the last time.

"How is it?"

"The aroma is wonderful. It’s floral and elegant, yet very smooth."

"Heh, I had a feeling you would say that. When we stocked it at the lounge, I thought to myself that you would surely enjoy it."

"Can I get this at Mostro?"

"Yes. Do you like it that much?"

"I do. I might have to order some for myself soon."

You lowered your gaze gently. While the chance to drink tea brewed by Jade’s own hand would likely never come again, if the same leaves were served at Mostro, you could at least use the scent as a tether to remember this day.

"It really is a lovely fragrance," you whispered with deep feeling.

Afterward, the two of you began the slow descent down the mountain, taking a different route than the one you had come up. You enjoyed the scenery and the peaceful conversation, and just like always, Jade drove you all the way back to the front of your apartment.

"Jade-senpai."

"Yes?"

"Thank you… for everything."

Standing at your doorstep, you offered your gratitude to Jade, pouring every ounce of your emotion into those words. He had been so kind to you, all this time. He had watched over you as a wonderful senpai. He had helped you study. He had been the catalyst for your decision to truly live in this world. He had shown you so many things and allowed you to accumulate so many experiences. He had taught you the sweetness of love, the bitterness of longing, and the heart-wrenching pain of a chest ready to burst.

You had to become an adult now. The days when you could play together like children, without regard for the boundaries of man and woman, had to be left in the past.

"…Prefect?" Jade tilted his head, looking at you with a hint of suspicion.

You let out a soft, small laugh. "Today was just so wonderful, I felt the need to thank you."

Everything up until today had been wonderful. You had been so happy. It was all thanks to him. However, you still held a tiny grudge over the fact that he hadn't told you about his wedding—and so, as a small, petty act of revenge, you decided you would never give him that nikujaga recipe. You hoped that someday, whenever he found himself suddenly craving those simmered vegetables, he would think of you.

"I, too, had a marvelous time. Until next time, then."

With the same respectful bow he used when seeing guests off at the Mostro Lounge, Jade lowered his head deeply.

"Goodnight."

"Yes, and to you as well."

You stood there and watched his tall silhouette walk away until he vanished from sight. Then, you took one step back and closed the door. That was as far as you could go before the dam finally broke, and the tears began to fall.

You slumped onto the floor of your entryway, sobbing loudly without even trying to muffle the sound. There was no one else in the room. No partner to hear your cries and worry for you, no ghosts to offer their sympathy. And so, without needing to hold back for anyone’s sake, you just let the tears fall.

You wept because you felt both a bitter resentment and a deep longing for that cruel merman who had offered the same old parting words—“Until next time”—as if everything were normal. He had to know there wouldn't be a next time. Jade was getting married. You had stayed frozen, terrified of breaking the comfortable bond you shared as friends, but by failing to act, you had ended up losing everything anyway.

"…………!"

Suddenly, a realization struck you.

"…………Ah."

You had come to this world with nothing, yet you felt you had been blessed with wonderful encounters. But they were men. Even Ace and Deuce, whom you considered "besties" (mabu) beyond the boundaries of gender, were members of the opposite sex. And to them, you were a woman.

If they were to find partners in the future, those partners likely wouldn't appreciate them maintaining the same level of intimacy with you. If the roles were reversed, you knew you’d feel the same. You would be uneasy if your boyfriend went out or visited another woman’s room just because they were "best friends from school."

Having spent most of your time in the unique environment of an all-boys school since arriving here, you had almost no female friends. While there were people you were friendly with at work, they were strictly "colleagues." You hadn't built a relationship deep enough to call them true friends—the kind of people you could casually text on a day off to go see a movie. Between working adults, there was always that professional line.

"What… what am I going to do?" you whispered, your voice thick with tears.

You were going to be all alone. It wasn't that you felt possessive of Ace, Deuce, Floyd, or Azul. It wasn't even that you had romantic feelings for all of them. But because of your gender, you were the one who would have to change the way you interacted with them once they found partners. It didn't matter what the reality of the friendship was; you had to consider how it looked.

Even Floyd, who came over to your place so often, would surely find a partner of his own one day and start a family. So would Ace, Deuce, and Azul. Relationships evolve. For better or worse, things couldn't stay the same forever.

And Jade was simply the first one to move on.

The realization anchored itself in your chest, leaving you slumped in the entryway. You cried and cried, sobbing until it felt as though every drop of moisture had been wrung from your body. You wept through the night, the tears falling steadily onto the cold floor. It was only when the first faint rays of light began to filter through the window, illuminating the room in a pale glow, that you finally stood up, your legs swaying.

"I have to… do this right."

You would live. You would live "properly."

You had resolved to live a full life in this world. You had promised yourself that you wouldn't waste your limited time, and you wouldn't let your existence become something "boring." If being alone was your destiny, then you would learn to live with it. And if you hated the thought of being alone, you would fight to change it.

You would make friends. You would expand your circle. You would find female friends—people you could lean on. And if you felt like it, you might even look for a new love. You had arrived in this world with nothing but the body you stood in, and yet you had managed to carve out a place for yourself. You weren't done yet. From this point on, you would continue to build a home for yourself here.

You had spent the entire night grieving and drowning in self-pity; now, it was time to look forward again. Your life was going to continue. It had to continue.

"……Alright."

With a surge of renewed determination, your eyes—puffy and swollen from a night of tears—glinted with a sharp, fierce light. It was time to set your affairs in order.

Driven by a mix of exhaustion from the hike, an all-nighter, and the manic high that follows an emotional roller coaster, you threw yourself into action. You began sorting through everything Jade had given you—every piece of clothing and every trinket you had bought specifically with him in mind.

If you were to maintain a "proper" friendship from now on, you didn't want to cause any unnecessary anxiety or discomfort for the person who would become Jade’s wife. It was only right to put away anything that hinted at a history she wasn't a part of. One by one, you packed away clothes in black and pale purple—shades that evoked Octavinelle—and accessories in blue and jade green that you had bought simply because you loved the colors.

This was a funeral for your first love. These boxes were its coffins.

You briefly wondered if you should bury them somewhere far away. You almost caught yourself thinking, I wonder if Jade could recommend a good mountain for that? before the absurdity of the thought hit you. You were doing this to distance yourself from him, yet he was still your first point of reference. A dry, hollow laugh escaped your lips.

"Uuugghhh…"

Letting out a groaning, zombie-like sound, you sniffled and continued to tear through your closet and jewelry boxes. In the end, you spent the entire day purging your life of the things that reminded you of him.

■□■

A few days had passed. No matter how much it hurts, time waits for no one. As you threw yourself into the busyness of daily life, the wound in your heart slowly began to dull.

Just as you arrived home from work, your phone rang. The name "Azul" flashed on the screen. You swiped the screen, balancing the phone between your shoulder and ear as you set your bags down and entered the room.

"Hello?"

"Ah, Prefect? Do you have a moment?"

"I just got home, so I'm free. Is something wrong?"

"Not at all. It's just that Jade’s wedding is next weekend; will you be attending?"

"What?"

You froze mid-motion as you were about to wash your hands. Since when were weddings something you were invited to so casually? Moreover, if it was Jade’s wedding, why was Azul the one asking?

"Do you mean… as your plus-one, Azul-senpai?"

"Beg pardon? Why on earth would I do something as absurd as biting an orca’s tail fin?"

"???"

The confusion only deepened. Did Azul not realize that you hadn't been invited? It was incredibly awkward to admit it yourself, but if you didn't speak up, this misunderstanding would never be resolved. You opened your mouth to break the heavy silence, but—

"Then how about comin' as my plus-one? Little Shrimpy's gonna feel lonely showin' up all by herself when there's nothin' but strangers around, right?"

Floyd’s voice drifted in from the background, a bit far from the receiver.

It seemed that Azul and Floyd were currently together. You could easily imagine them in the owner’s office of the newly established Mostro Lounge—the business they had successfully launched after graduation.

"…You realize that’s going to lead to an absolute headache, don't you?"

"It’s fine, it’s fine. He brought it on himself~"

"……"

The ensuing silence was so characteristic of Azul—likely rubbing the bridge of his nose in exasperation—that a small laugh finally escaped your lips.

"…Sigh. Very well. Prefect, are we to understand that you will be attending as Floyd’s guest?"

"Yes, please. I’ll go with him."

"Sweet! I’ll come pick you up next week, then~"

The call ended with Floyd’s cheerful lilt. You were going to attend Jade Leech’s wedding as Floyd Leech’s "bestie" and guest. What a cruel irony.

And yet, perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to finally put an end to the feelings you had dragged along since your student days. You would sear the sight of the happy bride and groom into your mind and completely extinguish the lingering embers of a love that refused to die.

The wedding was next weekend.

"Wait, next weekend!?"

Coming to your senses, you let out a cry that was half-scream.

"Azul-senpai, if you were going to invite me, you could have at least given me a bit more notice…"

In this world, they can justify their failure to integrate into society by claiming it is "because we can't use magic." In your world, that excuse vanishes. It is a place where people are labeled by abilities far removed from sorcery; if you aren't "useful," you are treated accordingly. That is the reality of the world you came from.

They believe that if magic simply disappeared, they would finally be needed, recognized, and happy. You can't help but wonder: when they encounter their first wall in a world without magic, how on earth do they plan to break through it?

"I shall journey toward the 'Spirit Egg' alongside our Great Guide. The path ahead will surely be fraught with countless hardships. Yet, we shall fight together and seize victory—a victory named true equality! All for a world without magic!"

"All for a world without magic!" the crowd roars in unison, their voices rising to meet the leader's declaration.

The atmosphere is thick with the fervor of a mounting insurrection. As the women and children are ushered from the room, the men gather around their leader, clutching weapons in their hands. It seems that for those forsaken by magic, firearms are the weapons of choice. The air is heavy with the grim, oppressive tension of a terrorist cell preparing for a strike.

To be surrounded by such people is, undeniably, a terrifying ordeal for you. And yet, you find a strange comfort in it. It is far better to have these dangerous fanatics right where you can see them—acting according to your own designs—than to have them hunting you from the shadows beyond your control.

The cult leader takes your hand and begins to walk. He leads you toward a mirror.

Following his lead, you pass through the glass with a sickly, fluid sensation. You emerge on the other side into a dim, cavernous tunnel. The sudden gloom catches in your throat, causing your breath to hitch.

Fortunately, it is not pitch black. Lamps have been lit along the path, providing a steady trail of light. Following that glow, you emerge from the cavern to find a sprawling, deep forest stretching out before you. This must be the woods where the "Spirit Egg" manifested.

The leader scans the surroundings with practiced caution, signaling the armed men to take the lead as they trek deeper into the foliage. Although the calendar says it is winter, the Sunset Savannah is far more temperate than the Isle of Sages. The trees here are lush and vibrant; even in your thin dress, the air does not feel cold against your skin.

The forest is eerily silent. The only sound is the rhythmic crunch, crunch of footsteps as your group marches forward.

But as you continue, the scenery begins to shift.

The trees are dying. Despite still holding their leaves, the branches have shriveled into a sickly brown. The undergrowth, too, has lost its vitality, stained with the dull, withered hues of decay.

"The rest of you, stay here. Wait for my signal."

"Yes, sir!"

Leaving the men behind, the cult leader took your hand and began to lead you through the forest of death. From this point onward, they were well within the "Spirit Egg's" sphere of influence.

Throughout the trek, he turned to you repeatedly, his voice dripping with feigned concern. "Are you feeling alright? No discomfort?"

Each time, you simply nodded, playing the part of the docile doll as he pulled you through the withered, skeletal remains of the woods.

As you walked, the warnings from Leona and Azul echoed in your mind. Even those in this world who cannot manifest magic still possess trace amounts of mana within their bodies. And as long as a single drop of magic dwells within, no one can escape the Egg's drain. To draw near it, one requires powerful defensive wards.

The man kept questioning you to confirm that you, a being from another world, truly remained unaffected. Yet, he himself continued to walk deeper into the rot without a hint of exhaustion.

He was a mage.

Hidden beneath your downturned face, you bit your lip, a surge of quiet loathing bubbling up. This was a story you’d heard even back in your original world—vile swindlers who wear the mask of a comrade, feigning shared struggle only to prey upon the weak.

He must have relished it—convincing those crushed by their lack of magic that their misery was someone else's fault, isolating them from society, and molding them to believe that he was their sole savior. Perhaps he had even used magic itself to nudge their thoughts.

There was no doubt in your mind: this man intended to do the exact same thing in your world. To him, the magicless were nothing more than pawns to line his pockets. In a world without sorcery, he planned to reign supreme as its only mage—living a life of unchecked luxury and power.

You would never surrender your precious home to a man like this.

As you renew your silent vow, the landscape shifts once more. Even the withered trees vanish, replaced by a desolate wasteland. What remains of the timber has calcified into something as hard as stone, crumbling in the wind and snapping at the roots to litter the ground. With every step you take, the remnants of what must have once been lush, vibrant greenery shatter beneath your boots with a dry, brittle crack.

In the heart of this barren expanse, a single light floats, solitary and still.

It is shaped like an egg carved from fine ore. Despite its smooth, lustrous surface, it exudes a sterile, inorganic chill—utterly devoid of the warmth of a living thing. Spirit Egg. Seeing it now, the name makes perfect sense. It is roughly the size of a common hen’s egg.

"Now, please. Consume it."

At his urging, you furrow your brow, a flicker of bewilderment crossing your face. There is no way you could swallow this whole. And judging by its texture, it seems far too hard for human teeth to even chip, let alone chew.

Tentatively, you reach out. If you put it in your mouth, would it dissolve like a lozenge? Though, trying to stuff a hen-sized candy into your cheek would be a challenge in its own right. As these thoughts drift through your mind, the egg-shaped stone drops into your palm with a dull thud.

It feels like cold, hard rock.

You bring it to your lips. With a "what have I got to lose" shrug of the shoulders, you try to take a tentative bite.

"…!"

With a soft crunch, the Spirit Egg gives way—its texture is exactly like firm sorbet. When you press it with your fingers, it resists with the hardness of a diamond, yet the moment it touches your teeth, it crumbles into delicate flakes that melt onto your tongue.

It is cold, and faintly sweet. It tastes like a succulent, water-heavy fruit, dissolving into a liquid that glides smoothly down your throat and into your stomach.

In an instant, the Spirit Egg is gone.

You feel no immediate change in your body. There is only a strange sense of satisfaction, as if you had simply enjoyed a piece of particularly juicy fruit. You rest a hand on your stomach, stroking it gently. Inside you now lies the very thing everyone fears—the prize they are all willing to kill for.

And then, it happens.

A dull explosion echoes from the distance. Beneath your feet, the earth begins to tremble.

"Tch."

The leader clicks his tongue, the mask of the benevolent guide finally cracking.

Indeed. The "Spirit Egg" is gone. You have consumed it. And in doing so, the Egg has been stripped of its original nature. No longer do people need to fear their life force and mana being drained simply by approaching this land.

The rabble who had been lurking in the shadows—those waiting for you to neutralize the Egg so they could seize its power for themselves—begin to move. And responding to them, the royal soldiers of the Sunset Savannah, who had been lying in wait to encircle the entire forest and capture the lot of them at once, spring into action.

"We have to escape before we're surrounded by the others…!"

The leader closes the distance between you with hurried steps, reaching out to grab your hand. The list of people who desire you is long. The power of the Spirit Egg now dwelling within your body is, quite frankly, a massive magical resource. It could enrich a nation, or be repurposed as a mana tank for weaponry.

He needs to get out of here—fast. If he doesn't find a way to exploit the power inside you immediately, someone else will snatch you away from under his nose.

"Let’s go…!"

No longer bothering to maintain his polite facade, the man jerks your arm.

But with a sharp snap, you fling his hand away.

"!?"

The man spins around, looking at you in pure shock. This is the first time you have resisted since the kidnapping. Until this very second, you had been a docile, doll-like girl who did exactly as she was told. Why now, of all times, would you defy him?

"Hey," he growls, his voice low and threatening.

He assumes that a girl who had been too traumatized to fight back just needs a little intimidation to fall back into line. He glares at you, making no effort to hide his mounting irritation.

Yet, the girl who had been eerily quiet until now doesn't flinch. Instead, you stare back at him with bottomless, obsidian eyes—calm, like a still sea—and offer a quiet smile. Your lips curve gently, and your dark eyes narrow into a languid, melting gaze.

"I’m the one who obtained the power… so I wonder why no one seems to fear me?"

You murmur the words almost to yourself. "It's as if everyone thinks I don't have a will of my own."

Everyone—every last one of them—treats you like a silent tool, a trophy to be won. They believe that as long as they possess you, everything will go their way. They have completely forgotten that within that slender frame, beneath that thin stomach, lies an energy vast enough to blow an entire kingdom off the map. You are a formidable being to be feared.

But they feel perfectly safe. They look down on you, utterly complacent, for the simple reason that you cannot use magic.

"But I have a will of my own."

"H-hyah…!"

The man stumbles back. It is as though the girl standing before him has suddenly transmuted into a monster. In reality, you are exactly that—a witch capable of crushing a human like a gnat. You simply hadn't possessed the internal circuitry to house mana—until now.

"Y-you want to go back to your own world, don't you?!"

"I do. I certainly wish to return. However…" your voice is cold, crystalline. "I have no desire to take your people… or you… with me."

It is a flat, absolute rejection. Still, the man presses on, reaching for the silver-tongued rhetoric that is his pride and joy.

"Let’s discuss that later! Right now, this place is about to be swarmed! You may have obtained vast magic, but you have no idea how to use it! Come with me, and I shall be the one to tutor you in the mystic arts!"

You let out a soft, airy laugh. "Fufu… Didn't you know? I am a student of Night Raven College, after all."

Even without magic, you had spent every day attending classes. You had sat through lectures and taken meticulous notes while others mocked your efforts as futile. And so, you knew.

"Magic is all about imagination."

Magic formulas exist for efficiency, but if you pour a staggering amount of mana into them—if you can simply believe in a fantasy so strongly that it refuses to fray—imagination becomes reality. You are now filled with more mana than any fool could ever dream of.

Slowly, you raise your hand and touch your left earlobe. You feel the cool touch of a gemstone. The sapphire-blue jewel begins to melt, softening until it becomes a single, heavy droplet.

Plink.

The drop falls. It hits the parched earth and begins to spread. Just when it seems the droplet will be swallowed by the dust, it blossoms into a shimmering ripple at your feet.

The swaying azure ripples gently, like a beautiful, tranquil sea.

In the center of it all, you press your teeth against your fingertip and bite down. Tearing your own skin requires no small amount of courage. Naturally, there is pain. Yet, a strange sense of euphoria acts as an anesthetic, drowning out both fear and agony.

A single drop of your blood falls into the heart of the azure ripples. The vivid crimson is instantly swallowed by the blue, vanishing without a trace.

"What on earth are you…?"

"Did you know?"

You slowly lift your gaze, offering the man a smile.

"—I heard that moray eels have an incredible sense of smell."

Whitecaps surge across the sea-like azure expanse. You are certain. You have the absolute conviction that he will find you. Even from a single drop lost in a vast ocean, he would never miss the trail.

After all, this is your sea.

Before long, a massive, sleek shadow passes darkly beneath your feet. The shadow grows, deepening in darkness as it expands.

And then—

Splash. A vibrant crown, the same color as the sea, peeks above the surface. The shadow rises steadily; heterochromatic eyes and flared ear-fins—spread in a menacing display—emerge from the water.

The merman, a creature of both beauty and monstrosity, hauls his upper body out of the sea that shouldn't exist on this dry land. With a wet thud, he spits out a black furball—which is currently emitting a confused "Ffna!?"—from between rows of razor-sharp teeth.

"Grim… are you in shedding season?"

"Ffna…"

It is a conversation utterly devoid of tension.

The merman busies himself spitting out stray hairs that got stuck in his mouth—pah, pah! Meanwhile, the furball known as Grim is occupied with grooming the scruff of his neck, which had been stretched thin from being carried.

The merman sticks out a long tongue, looking thoroughly disgusted, but his arms remain heavy and submerged beneath the waves. It makes sense; since both his hands were full, he had no choice but to carry Grim by the scruff like a mother cat.

With a powerful kick of his massive tail fin, the merman leaps from the water, hauling his entire length onto the shore.

At the end of each arm, a man is firmly ensnared.

One is a long-limbed youth laughing with pure, vibrant delight—the other, a silver-haired young man wearing a sour expression.

Floyd and Azul.

With a spectacular spray of water and the heavy thwack of a tail fin hitting the earth, Floyd lands with effortless grace, while Azul manages to find his footing with only a slight, undignified stumble.

"S-Summoning magic…!?"

At the man’s shaken voice, the merman—Jade—curled his thick, powerful tail fin around your feet and let out a dark, toothy grin.

"Technically, it is a contract magic meant for master-servant bonds with magical beasts or fae… but well, we are primordial merfolk, closer to monsters than anything else. At the moment, I am your familiar, Prefect. ♡"

"Ufufufu," Jade chuckled, a faint, delighted flush tinting his pale cheeks as he spoke with the tone of a lovesick youth. As if to press the point, he nuzzled his head against you. Since he was your familiar, it was only right that he be pampered.

You hesitated at his cat-like behavior, but as you tentatively reached out to stroke his head, Jade looked utterly satisfied. Because his long tail was sprawled across the ground due to gravity, he found it quite refreshing to have to look up at you for once.

Indeed. The core of this operation had been how to reunite. Even with all the preparations for your kidnapping and your acquisition of the Spirit Egg's power, escaping and returning to the Isle of Sages alone would have been an impossible burden.

That was why you and Jade had entered into a familiar’s contract. Using a gemstone crafted from a fragment of Jade himself as a catalyst, and flooding it with a massive amount of mana, you had forcibly manifested "Jade in his merman form." It was a one-time-only magic that used raw power to bypass logic and standard formulas.

And hitching a ride on the "path" and "sea" connecting you and Jade were Azul, Floyd, and Grim.

"Are you unharmed, Prefect?"

"Yes. Everything has gone smoothly, as planned."

"If it’s as planned, you were kidnapped, so I suppose it is going smoothly in a sense."

"But it’s exactly according to the script!"

You puffed out your chest with pride. So far, everything was perfect.

The cult leader, however, was beginning to panic, realizing you were slipping through his fingers. Though these youths surrounding the sacrificial girl wore formal attire, they looked roughly her age. In other words, they were children. If they were children, he could overpower them.

Reaching that conclusion, the man silently unleashed a spell to eliminate the intruders—

"Bind the heart!"

With a flash of his magical pen, Floyd swatted the magic into the void. "A-ha! ♡ You won't hit me. I'm feelin' great today!"

Flashing a grin that showed off his rows of sharp, jagged teeth, Floyd kicked off the ground, instantly closing the distance. Before the man could even process that his sneak attack had been swatted away, Floyd drove a knee deep into his stomach, sending him sprawling.

As the man retched and writhed in agony, Floyd looked down at him with cold, disinterested eyes before turning back to you.

"Hey, Shrimpy. Who's this guy?"

"He's a leader of an anti-magic organization. A cult leader type. Apparently, he was planning to use the power of the Spirit Egg to cross over to my original world."

"Heh. So you're the one who snatched Shrimpy, huh?"

Floyd narrowed his eyes, snapping his gaze back to the man. At the sight of those eyes—devoid of the innocence of a "child" and filled with a cruel, ruthless light and an utter lack of hesitation toward violence—the man’s throat let out a terrified, whimpering squeak.

"Floyd, we don't have time to play."

"Fiiine."

At Azul's rebuking voice, Floyd stepped away from the man with a look of lingering dissatisfaction. He didn't forget to give his magical pen a flick, binding the man’s limbs tight. You watched with clinical indifference as the man’s white robes became stained with dirt while he squirmed on the ground, before finally averting your eyes.

This man can't do anything anymore. All that’s left for him is to wait for the Sunset Savannah soldiers to pick him up.

Besides, right now, you have far too many other things to think about and do.

"Azul-senpai, what’s the verdict?"

"…As expected, teleportation magic is being jammed," Azul said with a heavy sigh, his eyes lowered as he sensed the surrounding magical currents.

The various factions were all clashing, each deploying interference to prevent you from leaving the area. The spatial coordinates were a mess. Even for someone as skilled as Azul, teleportation was out of the question. At best, they’d end up somewhere completely different from their destination; at worst, they’d be trapped in the void between dimensions.

"Well, it is exactly as I predicted."

Shrugging his shoulders to reset his focus, Azul pushed up the bridge of his glasses with a sharp click. It would have been easiest to simply hitch a ride on Jade's summoning, secure your person, and head straight back home via teleportation—but that was only the "best-case scenario."

Naturally, his preparations for this failure were flawless. He hadn't expected things to go that smoothly from the start.

"Floyd."

"Sure thing. Shrimpy, put this in your ear."

"Okay."

Floyd pulled a small earpiece from the pocket of his dorm uniform. He and Azul each fitted identical devices into their own ears.

"You'll have to be the one to talk to Jade, okay?"

"Oh? Am I being left out?"

"You'd just end up breaking it anyway."

"Since you'll be underwater and all," Floyd added. Almost simultaneously, Azul’s staff gave a light, sharp thud against the floor.

Instantly, a mass of water materialized in the air with a heavy gurgle, enveloping the merman's body. It was a private sea, created solely for Jade.

Within that small, drifting pocket of ocean, Jade slowly undulated his tail fin. The mass of water shifted and swelled in sync with his movements—movements so fluid they could almost be called elegant. He looked for all the world like a merman swimming through the sky.

"You can breathe without issue?"

"Yes, perfectly."

Jade replied, his voice shifting into the unique resonance of the merfolk tongue—a language designed to carry clearly through water. Ordinarily, the Prefect wouldn't have understood a word, but because of the familiar's pact currently binding them, their communication remained seamless.

"That water is connected to the open sea through my magic, constantly circulating. You can breathe and use magic without any trouble. However, since it's my mana maintaining that circulation… if you start racking up Blot at a reckless pace, you’ll be draining my magic to compensate."

"So, you're telling me to behave myself?"

Jade flexed his body in the air, peering down at Azul from an upside-down position. Azul met that teasing, predatory smirk with a sharp, dismissive huff.

"No. Go wild to your heart's content."

"My, my… how very merciful of you."

Granted permission to disregard Azul’s mana consumption, Jade’s grin widened, revealing rows of viciously sharp teeth. It was the smile of someone who found the situation absolutely, deliriously delightful.

Watching this from the side, the three of them—excluding Jade and Grim—switched on their earpieces.

"Hey. You safe, herbivore?"

Suddenly, Leona’s voice crackled in their ears.

"Leona-senpai."

"…Guess you're alright, then."

Hearing the slight lilt in the Prefect's voice, a hint of relief bled into Leona's tone on the other end. In a way, Leona had been the one to oppose this plan until the very end.

As a member of the Sunset Savanna’s royalty, Leona loathed the idea of involving an unrelated person like the Prefect. If one is born and raised as a royal, fulfilling one's duty is a matter of course. Leona’s pride simply would not allow him to sacrifice an innocent girl just to save his own skin.

It took relentless persuasion—with you, Azul, Jade, and Floyd hammering home the point that "this isn't for Leona-senpai, it’s for my own sake"—to finally drag Leona into the plan as the representative of the Savanna. If you hadn't secured the Octavinelle mermen as allies first, you were certain you could never have convinced him alone.

The fact that you were able to procure several rare, natural-crystal magic stones—items that should have been prohibitively expensive and restricted—to test the familiar's pact with Jade was only possible due to the support of Leona and his brother, King Falena. Truthfully, Leona had wanted to be on the front lines himself, but permission for that was flatly denied. Thus, he was participating remotely via the comms.

Like a grandmaster moving chess pieces, Leona directed his soldiers with meticulous precision.

"What is the status on your end?"

"Our soldiers have just begun flushing them out."

"So, the dangerous factions are all being herded this way?"

"Yeah. They should be cornered by now."

"Understood. We're moving out then. Please relay the orders to the troops."

"Got it. Listen… be damn careful. This is a drive hunt—but don't forget that you are sitting right in the center of the kill zone."

"I'm well aware."

To wipe out the groups targeting the Spirit Egg in one fell swoop, the soldiers of the Sunset Savanna were driving them inward from the perimeter. Like beasts being hunted, these criminals would become even more desperate, their eyes bloodshot as they fixated on the only breakthrough possible: seizing the Prefect. With the immense magical power of the Spirit Egg, they could escape even a national army's encirclement—or perhaps even crush it. If they were the kind of people who would surrender quietly once they knew they were caught, they wouldn't have become criminals in the first place.

"I believe we've drawn them in sufficiently, wouldn't you say?"

"Think we're good~," Floyd drawled.

"Then, Jade. It is your time."

"Understood. Leave it to me."

Jade gave a reverent bow, hand pressed to his chest, his lips twisting into a distorted smile. Then, with a powerful undulation of his tail fin, he soared into the sky in a single breath. The massive merman, nearly four meters in length, swam leisurely through the air above the withered forest.

Peering down at the criminals lurking in the woods below, Jade gently, softly, lowered his lashes.

"First, I believe you all should accompany me for a song."

Looking up at Jade from the ground, Floyd glanced at you and Grim. Since a familiar's pact existed between Jade and you, his song likely wouldn't affect you. However, seeing how fired up his twin was, Floyd had a feeling things might get dicey—and Grim would undoubtedly be caught in the crossfire.

Out of a rare sense of "mercy," Floyd gave his magical pen a little flick.

"Shrimpy, Seal-chan… you'd better not listen to this. It'll rot your brain."

Sparkling light popped like bubbles near your and Grim's ears.

When you had fallen ill with pneumonia previously, Jade had only been able to enter with his "master key" (physical force) because the ghosts—the official residents—had invited him in. Otherwise, the moment he had kicked the door, he would have been immobilized by a barrage of binding spells, and the faculty would have descended upon him within seconds.

These overlapping layers of magic were like a physical manifestation of the bonds you had forged in this world. The delicate, intricate webs of mana that even Jade had to squint to see were undoubtedly Azul’s handiwork. The sheer, murderous intent of a trap designed to instantly teleport an intruder to the crushing depths of the midnight zone? That was definitely Floyd.

And then there were the simpler, almost endearing anti-intruder spells—the ones so obvious they were practically traps in themselves. Those were clearly from the freshmen you called your best friends.

"How charming," Jade murmured.

He ran his mana through the perimeter, ensuring his own defensive spells were fully refreshed. Ordinarily, set-and-forget magic only consumes mana upon activation, so frequent maintenance isn't strictly necessary. However, mana naturally bleeds away over time. To ensure the traps functioned at one hundred percent efficiency, it never hurt to give them a regular tune-up.

For the record, Jade’s particular contribution was a trap hidden inside the clumsy ones set by the freshmen. If an intruder tried to disarm the obvious trap using standard methods, Jade's spell would bare its fangs and strike.

If Leona were to see it, he would surely grimace at the sheer, twisted malice of the design.

"There, it’s finished. That should be enough to keep most of the riffraff out of the Ramshackle Dorm."

"Thank you so much."

"It was no trouble at all."

The two of you stood by the front door, exchanging these quiet words. Then, without warning, Jade reached out toward you. You tilted your head slightly in curiosity, but you didn't pull away. You simply watched his fingertips with an inquisitive gaze.

Like a well-tamed pet, Jade thought.

Your innocent eyes looked up at him, seemingly devoid of even a shred of suspicion that the large hand extending toward you might do something cruel. He felt a faint, tickling sensation deep in his gut—the weight of the trust you had placed in him.

If I were to betray this trust, what kind of face would you make?

A wicked curiosity stirred within him, but Jade understood all too well how difficult it was to regain trust once it was lost. He could treat anything he didn't mind losing however he pleased, but you… you were different.

His fingertips brushed softly against your earlobe, the slight chill of his skin sending a quiet shiver through you.

"Jade-senpai…?"

"I want to give you…"

"Yes?"

"…a single earring."

"An earring?"

You blinked in surprise. The earlobe he held between his fingers was smooth and unpierced. In this context, "I want to give you an earring" was synonymous with "I want to pierce your ear." The singular nature of the gift felt strangely heavier than a pair—less like a fashion statement, and more like a deliberate mark.

"Do you dislike the idea?"

"It's not that I dislike it, but…"

"I'm glad to hear that."

You lowered your eyes, looking a bit troubled. Long eyelashes veiled your gaze, which was currently a swirl of curiosity and hesitation. It was a habit of yours whenever you were conflicted—lowering your eyes as if to prevent your true feelings from being exposed.

"In my world… earrings were against the school rules. So, even though I know I won't get in trouble here… it feels a bit like I'm becoming a 'delinquent'. I guess I'm just a little hesitant."

You raised your hand, tracing the skin of the earlobe where his fingers had just been. Unlike a ring or a necklace, once a piercing is done and healed, the hole doesn't close easily. It becomes a part of you.

If there ever came a day—a distant, uncertain day—when you returned to your original world, this would remain. A lasting mark, a physical vestige of everything that had happened to you here.

"Maybe I can hide it with my hair," you murmur, but the words only spark a restless frustration deep within Jade.

Whenever you speak on the premise of returning to your original world, it leaves a heavy, indigestible weight in the pit of his stomach. He doesn't want you to be a "good child" bound by the rules of a distant home; he wants you to be a "bad child," one who truly belongs here, at Night Raven College.

"Isn't being a 'delinquent' part of the charm? This is Night Raven College, after all," he says, his voice a silken, persuasive lure. He is seducing you away from your past, coaxing you to embrace a darker, closer reality. "Let's be a little wicked together, shall we?"

"You’re such a bad influence…" you groan, wrestling with the thought for a moment longer before finally giving a small, resolute nod. "Alright. Fine. But… you're the one who has to do it, Senpai."

"Of course."

"Just… don't make it hurt, okay?"

"I shall do my best."

"Great, so there's no guarantee," you quip, though you don't back down.

The two of you step into the Ramshackle Dorm and head for the lounge. Jade has you sit on the sofa and drops to one knee before you. With a flick of his magical pen, he produces an eyeliner pencil and marks a tiny black dot on your left earlobe.

"How is this for the position?"

"Looks fine to me."

"Then let us begin."

Next, Jade pulls out a small box made of deep, luxurious velvet. The mere sight of it makes you flinch.

"Jade-senpai… that box."

"Ufufu, don't let it trouble you, Prefect."

"It does trouble me! That looks incredibly expensive."

"The packaging certainly is. It’s a jewelry case from one of the most prominent jewelers in the Land of Pyroxene; I kept it after purchasing a tie pin there. However, I must confess that the stone inside is a synthetic gem I crafted myself through alchemy. You may put your mind at ease."

"Oh, thank goodness," you sigh, genuinely relieved. Your modern, common-sense sensibilities would have been far too overwhelmed by a gift of astronomical value.

Jade lets out a low, amused chuckle at your visible relief. He brings the magic crystal of his pen to your earlobe. A sudden puff of cold air—like a frost-laden breeze—washes over the skin, and your sense of pain quickly dulls into a numb void.

Then, Jade shifts. He presses one knee onto the sofa beside you, looming over you.

"……Um."

"Yes?"

"Aren't you… going to use a piercer?"

You sense a sudden, ominous shift in the atmosphere, but it’s far too late. You are already caught within the cage of his arms. You try to shrink back, but the firm back of the sofa is right behind you.

There is nowhere left to run.

"…………"

Jade offered a silent, porcelain smile.

"Hiee—!" A tiny, strangled yelp escaped your throat.

If Azul had been there, he surely would have chided you, lecturing that one must always scrutinize the fine print before entering a contract. Jade had promised to do his best to make the piercing as painless as possible, but he had never once said he would use a piercer.

The sharply pointed post of the earring was pressed directly against the black eyeliner dot on your skin.

"You said you wouldn't make it hurt…!"

"And I kept my word; I chilled the area for you, did I not?"

"People don't usually… poke it through directly!"

Ignoring your whimper, Jade pressed the pad of his thumb against the gemstone of the earring. Slowly, vertically, ensuring the angle wouldn't deviate, he forced the sharpened post into your soft flesh. The tip of the metal pushed harder against the skin, which stretched in a desperate attempt to resist the intrusion.

Under the steady, relentless pressure, the tension finally reached its limit. A faint pop—the sensation of skin yielding and tearing—vibrated through Jade’s finger.

The tip of the post buried itself into the thin flesh, and a tiny bead of crimson began to seep out.

As if beckoned by it, Jade felt his mouth flood with saliva and he swallowed instinctively. To be enticed by the scent of blood was the instinct of a predatory fish.

Push. Push. Push. With every rhythmic application of force, the metal shaft sank deeper, skewering the soft, yielding tissue.

"Jade-senpai… just… get it over with in one go…"

"My, how wasteful that would be."

"Ugh, you’re enjoying this!"

"Yes. Immensely."

In the dim light of the lounge, the eyes of the man looming over you were glinting with a predatory sheen. His left eye, a piercing gold, seemed to glow with an ominous luminescence.

"Senpai."

"Yes?"

"Your pupils are completely dilated."

"I find myself… rather excited."

"Scary."

"Do not be afraid."

"I have never heard a more suspicious 'do not be afraid' in my entire life."

"How wonderful for you."

"What is?!"

"First times are always precious, no matter the occasion."

"I really doubt that…"

"Oh, I assure you."

Smile.

Even amidst their playful, bickering banter, Jade continued to drive the earring through inch by inch. Despite the numbing cold, there had to be some pain. And yet, you didn't try to flee. Within the heavy shadow he cast over you, you simply looked up at him with a resentful, pouting face, quietly enduring the pain he gave you.

That sight—your total submission—was more than he could bear.

You were placing your very life in his hands.

The resistance changed slightly as the tip of the post reached the skin on the opposite side.

Jade let out a feverish, heavy breath, focusing every ounce of pressure into his fingertips.

Push. Push. Push. With a final, faint pop, the skin gave way and the post slid all the way through.

It had been pierced.

He felt a deep sense of accomplishment, mingled with a hollow pang of loneliness now that the act was over. While savoring both, Jade used a touch of magic to round off the dangerously sharp tip of the post. He snapped the butterfly back into place and slowly, reluctantly, pulled his body away from yours.

"It is done, Prefect."

"My ear is throbbing…"

"The sensation will fade shortly."

"Ugh…"

"Here is a mirror. It suits you quite well."

"You said you wouldn't make it hurt," you grumbled.

"I said I would do my best, but I never promised it would be painless. Besides, it wasn't nearly as painful as having your fingernails torn off or your teeth extracted, was it?"

"Your standards for pain are terrifying!"

Pouting and fuming, you took the mirror Jade offered. But the moment you looked into it, you sucked in a breath.

Nestled in your left earlobe was a blue-green gemstone that shimmered as it caught the light. Depending on the angle, the deep, dark shadows within the stone took on a crimson hue, reminiscent of a bloodstone. Though the gem itself was tiny—no more than three millimeters in diameter—it was hauntingly beautiful.

"What kind of stone is this? It’s stunning."

"That is a secret."

Jade chuckled, pressing a hand to his mouth.

"Please, do not take it off. It also serves as an 'anchor' for me to find you."

"…………So, basically, a GPS?"

"Something like that."

"You really should tell me those important details before you put it in!"

You let out a weary sigh, but despite your complaining, your lips remained curved in a soft, genuine smile.

Jade smiled thinly behind the palm of his hand, realizing that you likely would have accepted the gift even if he had explained its true purpose from the start.

The memory of when you had gone missing in the city still lingered like a cold, jagged splinter in his heart. Back then, no one could find you. If you had truly vanished into the void of this world at that moment, Jade would have had no means to pursue you. No way to track you. No thread to pull you back.

That was why he had been obsessed with giving you something imbued with his own magic—a beacon. Something you could never accidentally leave behind. Something that, once worn, would not be easily discarded. Even if trouble struck and you were cast out with nothing but the clothes on your back, this would remain. It would travel with you, a natural part of your body.

With those criteria in mind, he had chosen a piercing. A vivid stone, rooted in your very flesh. As long as that gem remained, Jade could always find you.

He traced the curve of your earlobe with the pads of his bare fingers, feeling the hard, cool surface of the stone against your soft skin. Narrowing his eyes in deep satisfaction, he looked as though he had finally succeeded in dropping an anchor into the shifting sands of your heart.

■□■

It happened the very next day.

Floyd had strolled over to pick you up, chirping his usual, "Little Shrimpy~ It’s time for your shift—" only to freeze the instant you came into focus. His gaze locked onto your earlobe, then darted away, then snapped back again. It was a textbook triple-take.

"…Little Shrimpy. That’s some crazy… no, impressive… no, actually, that’s just insane stuff you’ve got on your ear…"

"Did you just try to correct yourself and give up halfway?"

"…………"

"Floyd-senpai? Why are you looking away? Is it… is it actually an incredibly expensive stone after all?"

Watching Floyd make a face that clearly screamed 'Yikes,' you began to panic. It had occurred to you late last night: Jade had said to "rest easy because it was a stone he crafted via alchemy," but he had never explicitly said it was a "worthless stone." The blue-green gem continued to flicker brilliantly, catching the light with a depth of color that looked anything but cheap.

"I accepted it since he insisted, but… should I give it back after all?"

"Don't. Unless you’re tired of breathing on land, Little Shrimpy."

"Wait, that is terrifying! Why would you say that?!"

You felt your brows droop in distress at a brand of horror you hadn't anticipated. Seeing your reaction, Floyd pulled his mouth into a sour line, seemingly struggling to find the right words.

How was he even supposed to explain this?

"…………Hey."

"Yes?"

"What exactly… do you think of Jade?"

Your eyes rounded in surprise at the unexpected question. However, seeing that Floyd’s gaze was uncharacteristically serious—devoid of his usual playfulness—you realized this must be an important conversation. You straightened your posture and composed your expression to match his tone.

"I think… he’s an incredibly kind and wonderful senior."

"You’re probably the only person in the world who could look at him and say that with a straight face," Floyd let out a short, exasperated huff of laughter.

The Vice Housewarden of Octavinelle. Azul Ashengrotto’s right hand. Those titles alone made the label of "kind and wonderful senior" seem laughably lukewarm.

And yet, it wasn't that you were blind to Jade’s more ruthless side. You knew. You saw it, and yet, based solely on how he chose to treat you, you stood by your evaluation. To anyone else, he was likely a demon in a suit. But to you, he was the senior who looked after you.

"…But, I also think he's just as scary as he is kind."

"You scared of mermen?"

At Floyd’s testing question, you slowly shook your head.

"It’s different from how I feel about you or Azul-senpai."

You trailed off, glancing tentatively around the room. This wasn't a conversation you wanted overheard—not that any of your previous talks were particularly public-friendly.

The classroom was nearly empty. Once Floyd had sauntered in, most of the remaining students had scrambled to leave, eager to avoid any potential "squeezing." It was just the two of you now. After confirming this, you looked up at Floyd, your gaze small and focused.

"Floyd-senpai… can you keep this a secret?"

"Sure~ I’ll make it a secret just between me and Little Shrimpy."

A soft, rosy flush began to bloom across your cheeks. Your expression was tinged with a youthful, girlish shyness—a side of yourself you rarely showed. Seeing that vulnerability, Floyd’s mismatched eyes narrowed with a sudden, sharpened interest.

Gathering your courage, you let your gaze wander restlessly for a few moments as if stalling for time. Finally, with a resolute intake of breath, you opened your mouth and let out a tiny, muffled whisper.

"I-it feels so incredibly conceited that I’m embarrassed to even say it… but, um… sometimes… and I mean only sometimes, okay? I get this feeling that… maybe… Jade-senpai might actually like me quite a bit."

"…………Huh?"

"I knew it! Nooo! I was right, wasn't I?! I’m totally full of myself! I’m so sorry!! This is so embarrassing…!"

Your eyes brimmed with tears as you buried your face in both hands. Even your ears had turned a brilliant shade of crimson.

"But I can’t help it! You seniors are just too good-looking… and your voices are so nice… When someone that handsome—the kind of person the whole world would want to bow down to—is that kind to you, it’s only natural to start getting the wrong idea…!"

Floyd stared down at the top of your head with half-lidded eyes as you whimpered, shriveled by a wave of pure mortification. Of course, Floyd’s "…………Huh?" meant the exact opposite of what you had assumed. It was a "Huh?" born of disbelief: After all that aggressive pining, you only notice it "sometimes"?!

But he decided to set that aside for now.

"So, Little Shrimpy. What about that is so 'scary' to you?"

"…………"

Slowly, you lowered the hands covering your face. Your cheeks were still flushed with a burning heat, and your eyes were moist, as if blurred by a soft haze. Veiling those damp eyes as if to hide your vulnerability, you whispered your confession.

"…To me, right now, 'love' is something that’s actually quite terrifying."

You were a foreigner. A traveler with a home to return to. You existed in this world only temporarily, dreaming of the day you would finally go back to your original home. To lose your heart to someone in this world felt like an act of profound peril.

"It would change my whole life. If I were to fall in love with someone… I don't think I could want to go back home with the same intensity I have now."

"Mm-hm."

"…And Jade-senpai is just so exceptionally kind to me."

He had stayed by your side when you were sick with pneumonia, lonely and afraid. He had pulled you into his arms to warm your body when you were shivering uncontrollably from the cold. Since then, his concern for you had only grown, and his quiet acts of support had become more frequent.

"So… you think you might fall for 'im?"

"Is there even a single reason not to…?"

At Floyd’s blunt question, you let your brows droop pathetically, muttering your grievance as if it were a curse. Seeing you look so utterly at a loss, Floyd couldn't help but let out an amused "Nhaha!"

To Floyd, this was all simply entertaining because it wasn't his problem. It was an affection-laced amusement, similar to how an adult watches a child tremble in fear over something seemingly trivial.

You should just dive in, he thought.

Floyd knew exactly what kind of male his other half was. Jade would absolutely make the woman he loved happy—he was a proud, capable man with that level of dignity. At the same time, Floyd understood that expecting the current you to grasp that and accept it was a tall order.

Land-dwellers couldn't just throw everything away for love so easily. Their affections were light compared to those of merfolk—quick to heat, and just as quick to cool. Merfolk, by contrast, had a romantic outlook that was singular and crushing in its weight. You, being from another world, didn't understand that gap in sensation.

Because you didn't understand, you hesitated to love Jade. You only knew that once you took that step, there would be no turning back; and so, you were afraid, on guard, and wavering. You doubted whether Jade’s advances really meant what they seemed to, checking your own feelings to ensure they weren't born of conceit, desperately suppressing your heart so it wouldn't be moved.

Because even if Jade didn't feel that way, if you lost your heart to him, you would never escape. The moment you placed the scale between your original world and your feelings of love, your life would change. The option of choosing the man you loved over your family—over everything in your old world—would suddenly manifest. You might turn your back on a potential chance to return home, all for the sake of a fleeting passion.

To you, that was terrifying. You were afraid of a version of yourself that might drown in love and choose to stay in a world where you had no foundation. And Jade… Jade was the one who made you feel the signs of that love. Every time you saw a flicker of obsession behind his cool, composed features, your heart gave a heavy throb, threatening to exhale a dangerous heat.

"Hey, Little Shrimpy~"

"Yes?"

"You were actually usin' that tiny head of yours to think it all through, huh? Good girl, good girl."

"There, there," Floyd murmured, ruffling your hair with his massive palm.

You might have looked like a dense little shrimp, mindlessly dodging his brother's advances without a second thought, but in reality, you were contemplating your life with a fierce, quiet sincerity.

Guess I should reward that, Floyd thought. He kept petting you, his large hand making your whole head rock back and forth. Seeing your lips finally soften into a genuine smile under his rough yet affectionate touch—the kind he might give a younger sibling—Floyd’s own mismatched eyes narrowed warmly.

"I don't think it's my place to tell you how Jade feels about you, so I'm gonna leave that alone," he said.

"Okay."

"…But if you ever seriously feel like you want to run away from him… I guess I could help you out. I mean, I'm Jade’s brother and all, but I did say I’d be a 'Big Brother' to you, too."

At Floyd’s begrudgingly kind tone, your eyes snapped wide in surprise. For Floyd to offer to take your side over Jade’s—you knew exactly how rare and precious that was. For all his flightiness, Floyd was deeply, fiercely loyal to his kin.

"Thank you, Big Brother Floyd."

"Mm-hm."

If I actually tried to let her escape, it’d probably turn into a fight to the death, Floyd mused, his hand continuing to ruffle your hair.

A merman in love was, by nature, an uncontrollable force. And this one was a moray—a carnivorous, biting fish. A merman’s instinct was to capture the female he loved by any means necessary and drag her down into his nest in the lightless depths. He would offer her songs, devote his entire being to her, and cling to her, begging her to choose him. And if even that failed… a merman would sooner sink into the abyss along with the object of his affection, martyring himself for his love.

And Jade—his own brother—was undoubtedly the one among them with the strongest merman instincts. He was the most "merman-like" of them all. He might enjoy the surface, fancy its flora, and claim to love the mountains, but underneath it all, that was the kind of creature he was.

Precisely because they were brothers, Floyd understood that nature all too well.

Slowly, Floyd lifted his hand and let his fingertips brush against your left earlobe.

Just touching it triggered a jolt of intimidating pressure from the blue-green gem, making Floyd’s brow twitch in reflex. Yikes.

"That thing… it’s called a Mermaid’s Tearstone."

"A Tearstone?" you asked.

"Yeah. I told you yesterday, right? Our fluids and stuff can be used as materials. Well, under certain conditions, a merman’s tears can solidify into a gemstone like that."

"So this is… Jade-senpai’s?"

"Duh. If he had strangled some random stranger-merman to harvest tears for a stone, I’d be even more freaked out than I am now."

"True."

You let out a small, unintentional giggle. That would indeed be a bit too much on the sociopathic side, even for Octavinelle. At the same time, you found yourself daydreaming—imagining the sight of Jade’s tears transforming into jewels must be breathtakingly beautiful.

"Since Jade crafted that stone himself, it’s basically a fragment of his own being. That’s why, as long as you have it, he can search for you anywhere. He’ll find you, no matter where you go."

Even if you crossed worlds. If it was Jade, he would pursue you. He would follow the trail of his own fragment to the ends of existence. Floyd was certain of it. He knew his brother well enough to be sure.

Floyd shifted his gaze back to your earlobe once more. The blue-green gem didn't just reflect light; along its edges, it held a dark, wet shimmer—the color of fresh blood.

The blue-green was likely scales, and the crimson… was literally blood. Harvesting a Tearstone was troublesome enough, but Jade had probably mixed those in as materials, too. Moray scales are embedded deep in the skin, making them a pain to even extract. He really went all out, Floyd thought, his eyes narrowing even further in exasperation.

"Little Shrimpy, when you put that on… did you make any kind of promise with Jade?"

"He told me, 'Please, do not take it off.'"

"And how did you answer?"

"Um… what was it again…? He mentioned he could find me if I wore it, so I think I said something like, 'Oh, so it's like a GPS.'"

"So you didn't refuse?"

"No, I didn't."

"Ugeh…" Floyd exhaled, looking genuinely stressed. "Just let me check one more thing."

"Yes?"

"Jade was the one who actually pierced the hole, right?"

"Yes."

Checkmate.

Jade had used a Tearstone melted with his own blood to tear through your skin. Then, he had reinforced it with the command, "Please, do not take it off." To top it all off, you hadn't rejected it.

The possibility that a Blood Pact had been established was dangerously high. A Blood Pact is exactly what it sounds like—a contract sworn upon the lifeblood of both parties. It isn't something that can be broken easily. Floyd scratched his head aggressively, his hair becoming a mess.

"…Hey, Little Shrimpy."

"Yes?"

"If the day comes where you really, truly want to run away from Jade… I’ll bite that stone right off you. I'll tear it away, ear and all."

That was likely the only escape route left.

"T-that's so violent…"

"Can't be helped. Besides, I’m Jade’s brother, too. It wouldn't be fair if only Jade was the one getting hurt, right?"

If it came to that, you would have to bear some scars too—otherwise, the scales wouldn't balance. Floyd pulled his mouth into a sour line, grumbling about being stuck in such a lose-lose role where both sides would end up hating him.

But you, having just been told your ear would be bitten off, simply blinked once before letting out a small, irrepressible giggle.

"…What are you laughing at?"

"I was just thinking… you really are a kind person who cares about your siblings, Floyd-senpai."

And in your mind, that "siblinghood" clearly included you, too. Brothers, sisters, siblings—the labels didn't matter as much as the bond.

"…I’m pretty sure I was just talking about tearing your ear off, Little Shrimpy."

"I know. But you're trying to be kind to both me and Jade-senpai at the same time, aren't you?"

"………………I am not."

Being called "kind" wasn't part of his brand. Yet, being pinned by your gaze—one so full of genuine trust and affection—sent a wave of complicated emotions through him.

To hide the bewilderment that felt suspiciously like shyness, he ruffled your head again, making it rock back and forth. You were such a softhearted little shrimp. Feeling as though he had stepped into a remarkably troublesome position, Floyd let out a long, heavy sigh.

Good grief. My siblings are a handful.

-----------------------------------------------------------

"Yes, good morning… though it is already after school, isn't it?" "But when you're working at a restaurant, isn't 'Good morning' the standard greeting when you clock in?"

Chatting away, you searched for an unassigned locker and came to a stop.

"Is this one free?" "Yes, it is." "Okay, I'll use this one then."

Clack. You opened the locker. Then, with a soft rustle of fabric, you slid off your blazer. It was at that exact moment that Jade suddenly froze. A realization struck him—a major oversight he had somehow just let slide.

That’s right. It was you. Because you had walked in as if you belonged there, he had instinctively exchanged greetings without a second thought. But in the first place, why were you even here?

And more importantly… Why were you so casually starting to get changed right in front of him?

"Wait, wait, please! What is the meaning of this?! Why are you even here?!"

In a desperate bid to stop you from undressing any further, Jade grabbed your shoulders with a firm grip. Your fingertips were already lingering on your vest. As the fabric fell open ever so slightly, Jade felt his heart give a violent, heavy thud.

This cannot go any further.

While Jade was frantic and demanding answers, the culprit—you—simply blinked up at him with an innocent, puzzled look.

"Oh? Jade-senpai, didn't you hear from Azul-senpai? I’m supposed to start working part-time at Mostro Lounge starting today."

"…One moment, please."

As he said this, Jade promptly tucked you under his arm like a sidebag. He couldn't leave you in the locker room; there was no telling what you might do. You'd likely finish changing without a care in the world, and if another staff member happened to walk in on that, Jade would be forced to turn that unfortunate soul into sea foam. He couldn't afford to lose any employees during this busy season.

Meanwhile, you just let him do as he pleased. You didn't quite understand what was happening, but you had enough trust in Jade to know he wouldn't do anything truly bad to you. And so, dangled under his arm like a stray kitten, you were carried off to the VIP Room.

Jade didn't even bother with the handle. Driven by a rare, impatient irritation, he kicked the heavy door open with a thunderous crash. Azul looked up, startled out of his wits.

"Floyd! How many times have I told you to knock and open the door with your hands?! And stop carrying the Prefect around like a piece of luggage!"

Azul’s brows were furrowed in annoyance, but then he paused. Wait, something’s wrong. He pushed up the bridge of his glasses, looking utterly bewildered.

"Wait… Jade…? No, is it Floyd after all…?"

"That doesn't matter right now, Azul. Why was the Prefect in the locker room trying to change her clothes?!"

"Huh?"

The realization that it was indeed Jade settled in, and Azul's eyes went wide. His gaze darted back and forth between Jade and you, who was still hanging helplessly under Jade’s arm. Taking in the sight of both of you in your half-changed states, he seemed to grasp the situation. Azul let out a long, heavy sigh while rubbing his temples with one hand.

"Did I not explicitly instruct you to come to the VIP room immediately after receiving your uniform?"

"Oh… but the student who delivered it told me to change first and then head to the VIP room. He even showed me to the locker room."

"…………"

It seemed a most unfortunate accident had occurred somewhere along the line. Though, perhaps it was unavoidable. For a typical part-timer, that would be the standard procedure: receive the uniform, change, meet your supervisor in the lounge, and begin your shift. That was the usual rhythm of Mostro Lounge. Naturally, the student Azul had entrusted with the task simply guided you to the locker rooms following that same routine.

Azul let out a heavy, weary sigh as he pieced together the misunderstanding.

However, the real issue lay with the girl currently tucked under the arm of a tall, lean figure—a figure whose expression had dropped into a chillingly blank mask of disapproval. You remained remarkably calm despite the situation.

"And you, Prefect. What on earth were you thinking, attempting to change as if it were the most natural thing in the world? The moment you were led toward a locker room where Jade was present, you should have realized something was amiss."

"Well, I mean… only you seniors know I'm a girl. I didn't want to draw suspicion by demanding special treatment, so I figured… that's just how things are done here?"

"Your sense of crisis management is dangerously lopsided."

Azul pinched the bridge of his nose. You were cautious enough to hide your gender from the general public, yet inexplicably failed to maintain any guard against the Octavinelle mermen who already knew your secret.

The Mostro Lounge was, true to its name, a den of monsters. It wouldn't be at all surprising for a frail human girl with no magic to be devoured whole—bones and all. Once something happened, it would be far too late for "mercy."

One can never be too cautious.

Or so the saying goes.

"It’s pretty much the same during Alchemy or Flight class, you know," you remarked casually.

"Pardon?"

A low, dangerous hum vibrated simultaneously from Azul and Jade’s throats.

"My besties usually act as a human shield for me. Besides, I make sure to wear my corset, and my shirts are on the longer side, so—"

The two men were struck utterly speechless. Only moments ago, they had been exasperated by your lack of vigilance toward them—the very people who held your secret. Now, they were clutching their heads at the sheer recklessness you had been displaying right under their noses.

It was true that, thanks to the perception-inhibiting magic, the other students saw you only as a boy.

However.

The way they themselves had shattered that illusion was proof enough of its fragility. It was the sight of your true, soft silhouette—revealed when your clothes were loosened to tend to an injury—that had broken the spell for them. Who was to say the exact same thing wouldn't happen again?

"Azul."

Jade spoke his name in a voice uncharacteristically weakened, practically pleading for a solution. Azul exhaled another deep, weary sigh. Normally, he would be invigorated by the scent of a "business opportunity," but this was becoming a headache even he struggled to manage.

"Jade. I understand what you are implying. I truly do. However, granting her blatant special treatment now would only risk fueling unnecessary suspicion among the staff."

"Be that as it may—"

"I had already intended to put you and Floyd in charge of the Prefect’s training. Jade, rearrange the locker room assignments immediately. Move the Prefect’s locker to the furthest point in the back. The front lockers are more popular due to their convenience; no one will complain about a newcomer being relegated to the rear. You and Floyd will take the lockers directly adjacent to hers. I will ensure your shifts always overlap with hers. Prefect, you are to finish changing during off-peak hours whenever possible."

"Understood. Any brainless small fry who dares to wander in while the Prefect is changing shall be turned into shark bait."

As Jade calmly declared his murderous intent, you remained dangling limply under his arm, wondering idly if that was really what the conversation was about.

Exactly what part of the situation had he "understood"?

"I didn't tell you to go that far. Refrain from doing anything that might deplete our precious workforce. Are we clear? …And I assume this arrangement is acceptable to you as well, Prefect?"

"Yes, thank you for the consideration. I was actually planning to ask if I could adjust my shift times slightly, so this really helps."

It wasn't as if you had been completely thoughtless. During class changes, Ace and Deuce would subtly act as a shield to block prying eyes, but you knew you couldn't rely on that in the Mostro Lounge locker rooms. That was why you had been hoping to shift your arrival time. If you could stagger your schedule to avoid the other staff, the risk of your secret being exposed would drop significantly.

You had considered changing in the restrooms or other secluded areas, but the delinquents of Night Raven College lived for uncovering what was hidden. If someone barged in on you while you were changing alone as a form of harassment, it would be far more disastrous. Consequently, you had adopted the strategy of changing among the boys your age with a perfectly nonchalant face, as if you had absolutely nothing to hide.

"Well then, Jade. I leave the matter in your hands."

"…Understood."

Though a hint of reluctance seeped through, Jade gave Azul, his manager, a polite and flawless bow before departing the VIP room. It was a display of grace befitting the Vice Housewarden of Octavinelle—though you were still firmly tucked under his arm throughout the entire exchange.

You headed back to the locker room. Jade flicked his magical pen, rearranging the layout with a practiced swirl. Just as you began to wonder if this merman had forgotten he was still carrying you like a parcel, he finally, gently set you down on the floor.

Exactly as Azul had dictated, the locker assigned to you was in the furthest corner. Directly in front of it stood only Jade’s and Floyd’s lockers. Unless they had specific business there, it was unlikely anyone else would ever wander this far back.

"Well then, I shall face the other way."

"Thank you."

Jade turned his back to you and began his own change of attire. With a vacant mind, he undid his buttons and slipped off his school shirt. From his locker, he pulled out a mauve-colored shirt, shrugged it on, and fastened the buttons with practiced, mechanical efficiency. Next came the belt; he slid out of his uniform slacks, exposing his long legs for only a moment before stepping into his dorm trousers. He tucked the fabric in neatly and pulled the suspenders over his shoulders.

Then came the cummerbund. One must be careful with the order of operations here; a single slip-up would require starting the whole process over. Finally, he popped his collar, tied his bowtie, and donned his jacket. He checked his reflection in the mirror affixed to the locker door, ensuring his tie was straight and not a single hair was out of place. It was a routine he had mastered since entering Night Raven College. He could do it with his eyes closed.

Focusing purely on the task at hand, Jade moved with stoic grace, trying his best to ignore the soft rustle of clothing behind him.

He was, therefore, entirely unaware that you were currently having a minor crisis of your own. Watching him shamelessly expose his well-proportioned, towering frame while he groomed himself was… a lot to take in.

The pale skin revealed beneath his shirt possessed a sleek, ethereal beauty. Perhaps it was his merman heritage; his skin was supple and smooth, the kind every woman dreams of. Yet, his physique was anything but feminine. Though his height gave him a lean silhouette, his shoulders were broad and sturdy, his chest thick. Hard, supple muscle covered his body like a suit of armor. When he reached for his shirt and the shadows deepened around the ridge of his shoulder blades, the sheer visual impact was enough to make you feel dizzy.

In profile, his long lashes remained lowered as if he were lost in thought. When he caught that single, long lock of black hair between his fingertips and tucked it behind his ear, he exuded a devastating allure that felt almost criminal. It was not the face of a seventeen-year-old. Mermen were truly terrifying creatures.

While some might pay a king's ransom to witness a beautiful merman dressing right in front of them, you felt it would be terribly ungrateful to cast such impolite glances at the man who was currently acting as your human shield. You tried to keep your eyes glued to the floor as you changed.

However, your gaze kept drifting back to him in little flickers—mostly because the Octavinelle uniform was hopelessly complicated. Suspenders first, then the cummerbund over them. You attempted to follow the steps you had just observed, struggling with formal wear you had never touched in your life.

"……Ngh, ghnuuu."

"Prefect? Is something the matter?"

"Oh, uh, no. I'm just not sure if I'm doing this right. Does this… look okay?"

"May I turn around?"

"Yes, go ahead."

With your permission granted, Jade turned to face you.

He took a sharp, inward breath, though he was careful not to let it show. You were wearing the Octavinelle dorm uniform—the very same one Jade wore. Heavily inspired by formal evening wear, the attire was specifically designed to accentuate the lines of the body. The cummerbund, in particular, was intended to create a sharp, streamlined waist.

Q: What happens when a girl puts it on? A: She looks terrifyingly fragile.

That simple equation flashed through Jade’s mind. Your frame was remarkably thin, almost delicate. Now that you weren't buried under your oversized school jacket, the truth was impossible to ignore. Although the compression corset you wore to hide your gender succeeded in masking any feminine curves, it only served to emphasize your sheer slenderness.

"I can't seem to wrap this fabric right… There’s all this extra material bunching up in the back," you mumbled.

"I imagine there would be. Could you turn around for me?"

You spun around, presenting your back to him. Jade noted that the adjustable straps were already tightened to their absolute limit. Since the garment’s physical hardware had reached its functional capacity, Jade decided to use his magic. He tapped his magical pen against the excess fabric, resizing it in an instant. With his long, deft fingers, he caught the now-shortened clasp and clicked it into place.

"How does that feel?"

"Oh, that seems much better."

"All that remains is… the tie, I presume?"

"Yeah. I can do a regular necktie, but this one is tricky."

"Then I shall tie it for you this once. Please watch closely so you may learn the process."

"Thank you so much."

"Step this way, please."

Jade swung his locker door wide, positioning you in front of the mirror attached to the interior. Stepping up behind you, he reached his hands toward your throat. Standing this close, the sheer difference in your statures became undeniably clear. Compared to Jade’s towering 190 cm frame, you barely reached 160 cm. With a height gap of more than a full head, your entire body was easily enveloped within the span of Jade’s arms.

While making eye contact through the mirror, Jade patiently demonstrated how to tie the bow. If one can master a simple plain knot, a bowtie is not far behind. Through the reflection, he noticed your gaze was fixed intently on his fingertips as they worked the silk.

"…………"

You allowed both Jade and Floyd to inhabit this proximity. At first, Jade had wondered if you were simply someone with an unusually small personal bubble, but observing your daily life suggested otherwise. While you were somewhat close with Ace and Deuce, whom you called your "besties," you maintained a clear boundary with everyone else, keeping a distance that felt natural for a platonic male friend.

Should he consider himself trusted? Or was he simply being excluded from your conscious awareness as a romantic prospect?

Perhaps it was because Jade and Floyd were mermen—creatures fundamentally different from yourself. You tended to accept their touch as if you were allowing yourself to be befriended by large, exotic beasts.

"…Prefect."

"Yes?"

"Do you not find this… distasteful?"

"Um…?"

"Hiding your true gender and spending your days surrounded by the opposite sex must be exhausting. And because you have no other women to rely on… you find yourself here, having someone like me teach you how to tie a tie."

He whispered the words right against your ear. His breath brushed over your earlobe, small and delicate as a seashell. You let out a strange little squeak—"Hyo-eh!"—and your small frame practically jumped within the circle of his arms.

"Seriously, Jade-senpai!"

You called his name in a tone of mild reproach. Through the mirror, your eyes, now tinged with a faint flush, glared up at him. Finally satisfied by the reaction, the corners of Jade's mouth lifted ever so slightly.

"Please be a bit more aware of how handsome you are… and that voice of yours."

"Oh, I am quite aware."

Aware enough to use them as weapons, anyway. He kept that particular thought to himself.

"Then please don't be mean. I'm trying my hardest not to be conscious of it."

"Trying your hardest, are you?"

"You have no idea."

"You really needn't try so hard, you know."

A light jab. Jade tilted his head slightly in the mirror, the very picture of feigned innocence. You let out a troubled sigh. The soft pink spreading to the corners of your eyes was undeniably charming.

"…I mean, Jade-senpai, Floyd-senpai, Azul-senpai… Honestly, everyone in this school is so ridiculously good-looking, they should be national treasures. If I actually let myself think about it, I wouldn't be able to look any of you in the face. I’d probably faint just from you standing near me. I'd need a five-meter radius just to hold a conversation."

"Would that even count as a conversation?"

That was a considerable distance.

"Exactly. That’s why I don't want to think about it. I want to get along with you and the others, and I want to be able to talk normally."

"…I see."

It was a declaration: the moment you viewed him as a member of the opposite sex, you would bolt. Whether that urge stemmed from sheer bashfulness or a temperament that sought to avoid complication, he couldn't be sure.

Regardless, you would run. And this intimacy would no longer be permitted.

It was a delicate dilemma. Being disregarded as a male was problematic, but having you flee was even worse. Jade knew all too well just how resolute your determination could be once you decided to run. After all, he had seen you attempt a leap from a third-story window right before his eyes.

To imagine you scurrying away from him with that same intensity, while maintaining your usual intimacy with Floyd or Azul, was frankly infuriating. It would inevitably lead to the opening act of "Great Brawl: The Moray Brothers feat. Octopus."

"I see," he murmured once more.

"You see what?" you asked through the reflection, your expression tightening with a hint of wariness.

"Oh, nothing. Simply that this is an excellent opportunity to prove my worth."

"Your worth in what???"

For a male, proving his hunting prowess to a female was the ultimate test of his merit. "This is going to be quite stimulating," Jade thought, offering a thin, pleasant smile to your reflection.

Whether you decided that smile held no further answers, or you sensed that digging deeper would only disturb a nest of moray eels, you chose to steer the conversation back to safer waters. You had a peculiar habit of closing the distance with people carelessly, yet you possessed a sharp instinct for avoiding the deepest, most dangerous waters.

"I went to co-ed schools all my life—elementary, middle, and high school. Having boys in the classroom was just normal," you explained. "Of course, we had separate locker rooms by middle school, but when things got chaotic before club activities, people would often just end up changing right there in the classroom."

"Is that so?"

"During school festivals, we couldn't always secure a changing room. So we’d have the boys hold up a curtain for us and we'd change right behind it."

You let out a soft giggle, your frame shaking slightly with the memory.

What a peaceful world, Jade thought. You must have been raised in a place secluded from violence and crime—cherished, protected, and hidden away from true malice. The trust you placed in them was surely born from that upbringing. It was only because you were ignorant of the violent desires a male could harbor that you could believe so earnestly in the goodwill of others.

That untainted whiteness reminded him of a plant cultivated in a greenhouse terrarium. It was the unnatural beauty of a creature that could only survive under strict management—a creature meant to be kept in a cage.

"You are quite trusting, aren't you?"

"I trust those who are worthy of it."

"Those who are worthy?"

The way you spoke suggested you were well aware that some were decidedly not. Jade paused, mentally recalibrating his previous assessment. So, it wasn't that your trust had been offered in total ignorance of a male’s darker nature.

"Gropers, flashers… people who see others as nothing more than tools to satisfy their own desires… they’re terrifying. Obviously."

Jade felt your small shoulders tense up as if a shudder had passed through them. He blinked in surprise.

"Have you… been a victim of such things?"

The question slipped out before he could catch it—driven by sheer curiosity. Realizing he might have carelessly pried into a painful memory, Jade quickly added, "My apologies."

It wasn't that he had some vulgar interest in the hardships you'd faced as a woman. He simply wanted to understand how, after experiencing the violent lust of the opposite sex, you could still place such profound faith in mermen who shared those same primal instincts.

"Mmm… well, yeah. I’ve encountered gropers and creeps before," you said, your face twisting into a grimace of disgust. "I've had my butt touched on a crowded train. I've even had an old man suddenly flash me."

"We shall kill them."

His response was instantaneous. A male like that had no right to complain even if he were slaughtered. A woman of the sea would have claimed their lives to make them repent for such loathsome acts. Sea-dwelling women were fierce, after all.

"Tell me, did you properly finish them off?"

"I couldn't exactly do that."

Jade noted with interest that you didn't say you wouldn't do it. He could sense a quiet, smoldering rage beneath your words. You harbored a rightful indignation toward being made a target of someone’s selfish desires or being touched without consent. You were angry enough that, had it been possible, you truly would have wanted to end them.

"Well, knowing there are creeps like that out there is exactly why I want to be on good terms with the people who aren't like that. Otherwise, humanity would just go extinct, wouldn't it?"

You offered a wry, weary smile—the smile of someone who had resolved to swallow both the pure and the corrupt parts of the world. You knew there were selfish, hopeless people among both men and women. Men weren't the only ones who could be "crazy." You didn't want to hate masculinity just because of the actions of a few entitled individuals.

In reality, most of the boys at your old school had been decent enough. You’d had your fair share of arguments, and there was the usual friction between the sexes, but when it mattered, they had always tried to protect the girls. During school festivals, it was your male classmates who had stayed vigilant, keeping away suspicious men who tried to peek at the girls changing or take unauthorized photos. They had stood guard, eyes peeled to ensure no one bothered you.

They had recognized you and the other girls as their "comrades." And because they saw you as one of their own, they had sought to protect you.

It remained the same even after arriving at Night Raven College.

There were those who looked down on you as an outsider—a magicless anomaly occupying space—and treated you with open hostility. Yet, in the midst of that, Ace and Deuce had recognized your character. They had accepted you as a friend, as a comrade, and supported you because of it. You truly wanted to reciprocate that kind of kindness and consideration.

That was why you allowed yourself to be close to Ace, Deuce, and the Octavinelle mermen—even if they were the opposite sex. You trusted them as friends.

"And if you were to be betrayed?" Jade asked, his tone casual as he reached out to adjust the angle of the tie he had just finished knotting.

Words like "trust" and "faith" were beautiful, yet utterly unreliable. To Jade, they were a form of indulgence—sweet-sounding excuses used to justify a lapse in vigilance. He and his kin had made a living out of preying on such naive fools. They had risen to where they were by mocking the "small fry" who played the victim, crying about how they had "believed in them."

"For instance, if I were to…"

In the mirror, Jade allowed his mouth to curve into a predatory slit. Rows of sharp, carnivorous teeth glinted. He slid his fingers—the ones that had just tied your bow—upward until they brushed against your neck. Your throat was as slender and fragile as ever, feeling as though it might snap under the slightest application of pressure. Just as it had that afternoon, your pulse thrummed rhythmically against his fingertips. Thump, thump.

"Tell me. What would you do then?"

You didn't hesitate.

Your chin tilted upward. Turning away from the reflection, your dark eyes looked directly up at Jade, who loomed behind you.

"I’d reflect on the fact that I was an idiot for trusting such a total scumbag."

"…………"

Jade exhaled a sharp, sudden breath.

This girl… she was truly, utterly self-contained. For a moment, he felt as though he had been violently pushed away. He realized then that if he were to betray you, he wouldn't even earn the privilege of your hatred.

"Say."

"Yes?"

"Are you sure you won’t consider transferring to our dorm?"

"Where is this coming from?"

"You possess a truly magnificent talent for self-accountability."

"Sorry, I have Grim to think about."

"We shall take in young Grim as well."

"Ah… okay, that’s actually a little tempting."

Exchanging such half-serious banter, Jade took a step back, finally releasing you from the circle of his arms. Keeping that single pace of distance, he looked you over once more. The mauve of the uniform complimented your dark hair and eyes beautifully.

Still, looking at you like this felt precarious. There was no telling what sort of insolent man might try to snap such a dignified, fragile thing. So, he took the jacket hanging from the locker and dutifully helped you into it, draping it over your shoulders. He fastened the front of the black jacket, its mauve lining matching your shirt, with meticulous care. He draped the pale wisteria stole around your neck, guided your fingers into the white gloves, and finally placed the hat atop your head.

The ensemble was complete.

"…………"

"Jade-senpai?"

You called out to him as he stood there, fingers pressed to his chin, seemingly lost in thought. His brows were knit together in a troubled expression.

"This is a problem."

"Does it not look good on me?"

"On the contrary, it suits you quite well."

"Then what on earth are you so troubled about?"

"I thought that by wrapping it up, I could hide it. It seems my efforts were entirely in vain."

"Excuse me???"

He had thought that by layering you in fabric, he could keep you hidden. He had put you in the jacket and fastened every button. Now, your outfit was crisp, flawless, and left not an inch of skin exposed—and yet, it was precisely because you looked so perfectly put-together that he felt the urge to disarray you.

Seeing you standing there so gracefully made him want to strip it all away. To his eyes, you looked like a beautifully wrapped gift, and that was a problem.

Conveniently ignoring the fact that these predatory thoughts were a reflection of his own nature, the moray eel simply feigned innocence and sighed once more.

Thick!