Chapter 53: Morning

Yuzumi Girls’ Academy was one of the top-ranking institutions among the dozen or so middle and high schools in Seikyo City.

It boasted a rigorous academic atmosphere, reliable faculty, and a strong emphasis on cultural and etiquette education.

Just walking through the campus, one could feel a thick, elegant aura.

The students who studied here were often praised as “graceful and polite.”

For these reasons, Yuzumi Girls’ Academy was often called the “Young Ladies’ Academy.”

Shiomi Yukina was a student here.

In the morning, the cars and pedestrians on the road seemed to have quieted down a bit.

Ephnel drove to the vicinity of the school gate, looking for a place to park.

“Is it okay to stop around here?”

“I can walk the rest of the way myself.”

“Alright then. If anything happens at school, just give me a call.”

“Mm…”

Yukina nodded and put the phone in her commuter bag.

She checked the textbooks in her bag, hesitantly zipped it up, and glanced up at Ephnel.

“Onee-chan…”

“Hm?”

Ephnel turned her head, her beautiful face reflected in Yukina’s eyes.

Beneath her raven-black hair, the star-shaped earring on her left ear was faintly visible.

Yukina lowered her gaze.

She suddenly wanted Ephnel to pat her head again, to hug her again.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say such things out loud.

In the end, she just pursed her lips, burying the wish deep in her heart.

“It’s nothing… Onee-chan, I’m leaving now.”

Yukina unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car.

Ephnel watched Yukina until her figure disappeared from sight.

The sidewalks along the street were filled with passing students.

The morning was the peak time for foot traffic.

Young girls walked in groups, smiling and wishing each other good morning.

Ephnel had been to places like schools a few times as an Agent-idol, but she could no longer find the feeling she had when she was a student.

After that incident in college, Ephnel had cut off all contact with her classmates and friends, changed her address and phone number, and never saw them again.

The city of Seikyo wasn’t particularly large, but if one wanted to completely submerge a person, it was more than sufficient.

Ephnel withdrew her gaze and sighed.

She felt she was probably being a bit sentimental.

Putting it out of her mind, Ephnel gripped the steering wheel, glanced one last time in the direction Yukina had gone, and then started the car.

Yukina watched the silver-white car disappear around the street corner.

She couldn’t even remember the last time her sister had taken her to school.

Because their schools were in different directions, Ephnel would prepare breakfast for Yukina, and the two would part ways at the bus station.

So, she was very happy when she heard Ephnel say she would take her to school.

At the same time, she felt a little lonely.

In the end, what Yukina truly wanted was probably more than just this… but she couldn’t reach out and touch it.

Yukina lowered her head and turned to walk into the school.

Students passed by her in twos and threes.

Yukina saw some of them holding hands, walking together in close proximity.

“Shiomi-san, good morning!”

Just as she started walking, she heard a voice greeting her from behind.

Footsteps approached, and then a person appeared beside her.

It was Yukina’s best friend in class, Hanasou Kotone.

Because Yukina had a personality that didn’t like getting close to people, she had never had many friends.

After graduating from middle school, she had lost contact with everyone.

Hanasou Kotone was the first friend Yukina made in high school, and one of the few people who could get close to her.

“Hanasou-san, good morning…”

Yukina greeted Hanasou Kotone as well.

The two of them walked together in tacit understanding towards the school.

“What a coincidence, running into you here, Shiomi-san.”

Hanasou Kotone’s eyes swept over Yukina again and again, as if in relief.

“I heard there was an Erosion disaster at the venue yesterday. You didn’t reply to my messages, you scared me to death.”

“Sorry… My phone accidentally broke during the evacuation, so…”

“It’s okay. Anyway, I’m so glad you’re alright.”

Hanasou Kotone smiled, her eyes crinkling.

She paused for a moment, then suddenly asked.

“By the way, whose car was that?”

“That car?”

“The one that dropped you off at school.”

“Oh, so you saw it…”

Yukina subconsciously averted her gaze, but seeing Yukina’s unnatural expression, Hanasou Kotone’s interest was immediately piqued even more.

She linked her arm with Yukina’s, her eyes shining.

“Of course… That car is no simple thing! I don’t know much about them, but you can’t fake the price. So, come on, tell me, was the person in the car your boyfriend, Shiomi-san?”

“Huh? Why would it be… a boyfriend?”

“Because, with your looks, I think your boyfriend should be worth that price.”

“What kind of logic is that??”

Yukina couldn’t help but laugh.

In the eyes of others, Hanasou Kotone was an honor student who fit in perfectly at this school.

Excellent grades, a proper appearance, elegant speech, and a smile as warm as the spring sun.

Her smooth, long hair, black as ink, fell neatly to her waist.

Just her appearance alone would immediately associate her with a demure and refined young lady; her style was that of a “good girl.”

But in reality, her true self was a complete “little devil.”

Then again, having two sides to one’s personality was actually quite common—for example, the image Yukina cultivated in the fan club was completely unlike her real self.

“That was my older sister, not some boyfriend.”

Unsure if the strange emotion rising in her heart was pride or loneliness, Yukina explained in a flat tone.

“Ehh? Shiomi-san’s older sister?”

Hanasou Kotone blinked curiously upon hearing the answer.

“When did you get an older sister?”

“It’s a long story.”

A brother turning into a sister—not even a magic trick could pull that off.

And since it involved the Order Organization, Yukina certainly couldn’t explain it to Hanasou Kotone.

She gave a vague, noncommittal reply.

“But anyway, she’s my sister, and I’ll be living with her from today on.”

Hanasou Kotone clicked her tongue.

“Seriously…?”

“Believe it or not!”

Yukina’s face lifted defiantly as she quickened her pace.

“Hey, I believe you! I believe you, okay? Wait for me!”

When they arrived at the classroom, many students were already there.

“I’m going back to my seat now!”

“Okay.”

Hanasou Kotone waved and walked towards her seat.

Yukina put down her commuter bag, took out the textbook for the first class, and then rested her entire body on the desk.

Her chest still felt a little tight, and it hadn’t gotten any better.

Maybe a little rest would help.

Just then—

“Hey, hey, did you see? Ephnel updated her personal status in the middle of the night…”

Her hands froze.

Yukina turned her head slightly.