hatannoying,promiscuousstinkingsea-queen.
Watchingthesilver-hairedgirlinsidetheclassroomskillfullymakingchocolate,inny—withoutknowingwhy—feltsomethingoffinhischest.ethoughtbacktohowAesphyrahadbeenactingstrangetowardhimsincethismorning,thatfeelinglikeherworlddidn’tincludehimatall.
hatsenseofdistancemadeinnytasteagainthesuffocatingchokeofhavingoncefacedthecoldworldalone...andotherpeople’sficklemoods.
Whatonearthhadcausedit?
Wasitbecauseshe’dwitnessedthatfarcebetweenhimandMilianyesterday,tookitseriously,andactuallystartedtohatehim??
rwasitthathe’dbeendeludinghimselfallalong?hatAesphyraalwayslikedteasinghimonlybecauseitwasfun,andhewastheonlyonewho’dunilaterallydecidedshetreatedhimlikeafriend—likehewasevenalittlespecialtoher.
hinkingbackonallthethingsthey’dbeenthroughtogether,allthedailymoments,innysimplycouldn’tstophismindfromgoingthere.
venhedidn’tunderstandwhatwaswrongwithhim.
Ah—whatthehellisgoingon?
e’dneverbeenthetypetogrindhimselfdownlikethis,okay??fsomethingpissedhimoff,orsomeonepissedhimoff,healwayssaiditonthespot,cursedonthespot.Sincewhendidhehavedelayedreactionsandbottlingituptotorturehimself??
hefactthathecouldn’tcontrolthesewildthoughts—hefounditunbelievablehimself.
noneside,histhoughtshecouldn’tstopfromflying.
ntheother,hecouldn’tfigureoutwhenhe’dturnedintothis,orwhyhe’dbecomelikethis.
hechaosinhisheadwaslikelumpsofcoloredclaymashedtogether,eachsmearingintotheotheruntilyoucouldn’tseparatethemcleanlyanymore.
Carryingthatcomplicatedmessofthoughts,innyfeltlikehe’dtastedeveryflavorlifehad—sour,sweet,bitter,spicy,salty—oneafteranother,withoutrepetition.
efeltlikehismindwassplitting.
nesidecouldn’tstopthinkingaboutwhyAesphyrawasignoringhim,andwhoshewasmakingchocolatefor.
heothersidetoldhimheshouldn’tbelikethis.WhoeverAesphyrawantedtomakechocolatefor—orwhethershewantedtoignorehim—washerbusiness.edidn’tneedtocare,andhedidn’thavetherighttocare.twaswhatever.
Afterall—
eandherdidn’thaveanyspecialrelationship.
Wasn’tthatright??
Withhisheartinatangledmess,innydidn’tevenknowhowmucheffortittooktopeelhimselfoffthewindowandstepaway,onestepatatime,nolongerpayingattentiontowhatwashappeninginside.
Right.
hiswashowitshouldbe.
ntheend,he’doverstepped.Shewasthenoble,chosenhero—thecurrentonlydirectheirofouseofCarillian,thealathusFamily’seldestyounglady,thedesignatedprotagonistfavoredbyfate,cherishedbytheluckofyrelisContinent.
Andwhatwashe?
Justanoriginalvillain-role.Sure,he’dchangedhisoriginalBAD,butthenewBADDstillwasn’tavoided.Andinhispreviouslife,he’devenhadalife-and-deathgrudgewithAesphyra.
Wasn’tthisobvious?
Sowhatwashefeelingdisappointedabout?Shouldn’ttheirrelationshipbelikethis?
hiswasalreadythebestpossibleoutcome.
ogicallyspeaking,evenifhisrelationshipwithAesphyrahadimproved—iftheywerenolongermortalenemies—itstillwouldn’tmeantheycouldbecomefriends.Atmost,itwouldmeanshe’dstopwantingtokillhim.
Wasn’thisoriginalgoalonlytomakeAesphyraputdownherkillingintent?Forthetwoofthemtobelikestrangerswithnohatredorgrudges—twoparallellineswhosetrackswouldnevercross?Shewouldbuildhercrystalpalace,saveherworld,livehermagnificentlife...andhewouldwalkhisownnarrowbridge,livehisordinarydays.
Wasn’tthatthebestresulthe’dimaginedatthestart?
Sowhy,nowthatithadhappened,didhefeelcompletelyunabletobehappy??
Whatexactlywashecraving?
Asanoriginalvillainfromthestory,thefactthathecouldsurvive,evenriseintotheranksof“genius,”andmakeitthisfar—wasn’tthatalreadyamiracleamongmiracles?
Sowhatmoredidhewant??
Yeah.hat’showitwas.hatwasthethought.hatwaswhatreasontoldhim.
But—
ehadn’tevenwalkedtenstepsbeforeinnystopped,lookedagaintowardtheclassroomwindow,andslightlyclenchedhisfist.
Speakingofwhich...
adn’tShicodalesaidearlierthathewantedtomakechocolateforinny?
henitwouldn’tbegreattojustacceptsomeoneelse’schocolate,right?twasnormaltomakeonetoo,asareturngift.
ormal,right??
Mm.hat’sright.
hatwasexactlyit.
edidn’thaveanyotherthoughts,andnootherpurpose—hejustwantedtogoinandmoochthemethodformakingchocolate.
twasbecausehewantedtodoitthathewasdoingit—purelytoreturnthegift,andbecausemakingchocolatelookedkindofinteresting.
nshort—
thadnothingtodowiththatwhite-hairednutballatall!
hat’sright.
hatwasexactlyit.
hinkingthat,innymadeuphismind.
equicklyreturnedtohisdorm.
“uh?inny,you’reback?”nthekitchen,Shicodalewasholdingabook,seeminglystudyinghowtomakechocolate.
“Mm.”innydidn’tgiveShicodalearealanswer.eheadedstraightforthesecondfloor.
“h—eh?”Shicodalefeltlikeinny’sstatewasstrange,buthedidn’tdigdeeper.isattentionwasstillfocusedonthebookinfrontofhim—neundredWaystoMakeChocolateDeliciousandneundredMethodsofChocolate-Making—becauseithadtobedonetoday.
therwise...
isfeelingswouldn’tbedelivered.
Atleast,thatwashowShicodalesawit.Forelves,thesethingscarriedspecialmeaning—especiallywhenitcametofeelings.
Meanwhile,innyrushedupstairs,shuthisdoor,openedhiswardrobe,anddugoutaleathersuitcase.
etookadeepbreath.
he“equipment”insidethissuitcasehadbeensealedawayforalongtime.edidn’tevenknowwhatkindofmindsethadmadehimnotthrowitawaybackthen.
Butnow,somehow,itwasbeingusedagain.
innystaredatthesuitcasewithacomplicatedexpression,silentlytellinghimself:thiswashisownidea,andithadnothingtodowithAesphyra.
eopenedthesuitcaseandtookeverythingout.henhedraggedoutthevanityinhisroom—theonethathadneveroncebeenputtouse—andsatinfrontofit.
Becausehedidn’tknowhowtodomakeup,hedidn’tdoany.eonlyusedthevanitymirrortocliponthestriphairextensionsthatmatchedhishaircolor,thenchangedintotheoutfitfromthesuitcase.
heCarillianAcademygirls’uniformstylewasveryclosetoaJKuniform.innyputonasetthatfithissize,tiedtheblackbowatthecollar,worethedark-bluepleatedshortskirt,pulledblackthigh-highsocksoverhisslenderlegs,andputonbrownloafers.
hepersoninthemirrorlookedlikesomeonefromacompletelydifferentworld.
ce-bluetwintailstiedintoshoulder-lengthpigtailswithablackribbon.
ce-blueeyes.
Afacelikecarvediceandpolishedjade.
Paleskinthatlookedcrystallineandtranslucent,likefrostandsnowinthetwelfthlunarmonth.
A“girl”inaJKuniform—clean,pure,striking—stoodthereinfrontofthevanity,flat-chestedbutfullofthatbright,delicateaura.
Comparedtolasttime,innyhadn’tputonmakeup—notevenlightmakeup.
Butwitharidiculouslystrongfoundationandabsurd“modelingstats,”hestillperfectlymatchedthatclean,prettyJKuniform.
heblue-hairedgirlinthemirrorwasnaturallybeautiful,delicate-featured.venwithoutmakeup,herlookswereextremelylethal—easilythelevelthatcouldberankedasaschoolbeauty.Allshehadtodowascrossherarmsandshegaveoffapureyetproud,unyieldingyoung-ladyaura.
“ch!”innylookedathimselfinthemirror,couldn’thelpbaringthosesharplittletigerteeth,andhuffedathisownreflection.
“Don’tgetthewrongidea.’mjustgoingtofreeloadthechocolate-makingmethod.othingelse!”Aftersayingthat,innytookadeepbreath.Shehaddaredtohuffinfrontofsomanypeopleduringthebeautycontest—thiswasnothingcomparedtothat.
herewasnothingtobeunabletodo.
She’dalreadydonefarmorehumiliatingthings!
histimeshewasjustblendingintolearnhowtomakechocolate,that’sall!
Right?ngredientswereannoyingtoprepare,andcostmoney.Andifyouwantedtomakeitproperly,youneededspecialistsandequipmentanyway.owcouldthatcomparetoCarillianAcademy’sprofessionalcookingteacher,forfree??
innyusedclothtocoverthevanityagain,fastenedtheFrostfangearringtohisearlobe,openedhisdoor,andwentdownstairs.
“Dale,’mheadingoutforsomething.”innyhurriedoutofthedorm.
“h,okay.inny,’llwaitforyoutocomebacktoeat.”Shicodale’sattentionwascompletelyonthechocolate-makingtoolsandthebookinfrontofhim.edidn’tseeatallthatinnywasleavingdressedlikethis.
Bang.hedoorshut.
innylookedupattheskyoutsideandfeltitwasunusuallygloomy.
ewalkedforward,thebrownloafersmakingthatdistinctivetapagainsttheground.
Walkingthroughcampus,innyfeltthathewasmuchmorepracticedatcrossdressingthistimethanlasttime.Atleasthedidn’tfeellikeeveryoneonthestreetwasstaringathim,makinghimuncomfortableallover.
etthemlook.
twasn’tlikehe’dneverbeenlookedatbefore.
Andpeoplewereborntobelookedatanyway,weren’tthey??
innymadehiswayallthewaytothehirdeachingall.
“Ahem!his—thisyoungmas—thisyoungladywantstogoinandlearnthemethodformakingchocolate.sthatokay?”ArrivingattheclassroomAesphyrawasin,innywenttothedoorway,clearedhisthroat,switchedonhisfakevoice,andspoketothestudentguardingtheentrance.
“......”hegirlwiththicklensesdidn’tspeak.innycouldn’tseehereyesbehindtheglasses.
“W-what’swrong?ottalking—doyouhaveanopinionaboutthisyounglady??”inny’shearttightened.eliftedhischinandpressedahandtohischest.
“Ah,sorry.Classmate,noddedoffforasecond,”thegirlsaidafteramoment,seeminglyreacting.Shepointedattherosteronthedesk.“Youdon’tneedtotellme.Justleaveyournamehereandyoucangoin.”
“W-whatthehell,you...”innysilentlyletoutabreath.e’dthoughthe’dbeenrecognized,orthatheneededtoswipeastudentcard.etooktherosterand,withbigsweepingstrokes,wroteinnia,thenliftedhischinandsteppedintotheclassroom.
Ah—whyisthechocolatesmellsointense??
Also...whereisthatwoman?
inny’sgazeinstinctivelysearchedforAesphyra.
“Classmate,whyareyouonlyarrivingnow?urclassisabouttoend.”Justthen,afemalevoicecamefrombehindinny.
“-huh?”innyturnedandsawafemaleteacherwearingglasses.
“Alright,hurryupandstart.’lltrytomakesureyoulearnhowtomakechocolatebeforeclassends.”Asshespoke,theteacherpointedtoanemptycookingstation.
“W-wait—holdon!hisyoungladyisn’thereto—”
“Classmate,aren’tyouheretolearnhowtomakechocolate?”theteacherraisedabrow.“fyouwanttolearn,butyoucamethislate,reallydoubtyourattitude.”
“ch!owdonothaveanattitude?hisyoungladythinksherattitudeisgreat.”inny’smoodwasalreadybad,andthiswasjusthispersonality—hegottriggeredonthespotandimmediatelystartedperformingstubbornbravado.
“fcoursenot.Youthinksomethingthischild’splay—thisyoungladywouldn’tunderstandit??”innysnortedandcrossedhisarms.
“henfine.urryupandstart,classmate.We’reendingsoon.Afterthat,thematerialsandtoolswon’tbelenttoyou,”thecookingteachersaid,pushingherglassesup.
“Ah...that...”innyimmediatelygotstuck.
“What,classmate?Didn’tyoujustsayyouknewhow?”ightflashedacrosstheteacher’slenses.
“ch.Don’tlookdownonme.fcoursethisyoungladyknows!”innysaid,walkinguptothecleanedcookingstationandreachingforthemold.
“You’rewrongfromtheveryfirststep,blue-hairedclassmate.hefirststepismixingtheingredientsinabowl,notgrabbingthemold,”theteachersaid.
“-obviouslyknowthat!hisisjust...thisyoungladywantstoplaceitsomewhereconvenienttoreach!”heblueoctopusalmostwantedtohuffagain.
“Classmate,thetoolforstirringtheingredientsisn’tthatone.”
“-thisyoungladyobviouslyknowsthat!hisyoungladyjustwantstotestanewdirectionfordevelopment.”
“Classmate,addingwatermeanshotwater,notcoldwater.ikethis,thiswholebatchisruined.”
“—...”histime,eveninnycouldn’tkeepbeingstubborn.
“Classmate.Youdon’tknowhowtomakechocolateatall,doyou?”
“......”
innylookedattheingredientssmearedalloverhishands,thetoolsinhisgripcoveredinwetpowder,andloweredhisheadinsilence.
“Alright,alright.don’tknowwhatyou’retryingtoprovebyforcingitlikethis,”theteachersighed.“Comeon.Switchtoanotherstation.’llteachyouhand-in-hand.Putthetoolsdownandwashyourhandsfirst.”
“......hankyou,eacher.”innyloweredhisheadandthankedherinasmallvoice,lookinglikeabluelittleoctopusdroopingallitstentacles.
hetwoofthemwenttoanotherstation,andtheteacherbeganteachinginnyhowtomakechocolate,stepbystep.
“Classmate,”theteacheraskedcasually,“inabadmoodtoday?”
“otatall.hisyoungladyisn’t.”innydenieditwithallhismight,buthisdenialhadzeropersuasiveness.
Andforagirltobeinabadmoodonafestivaldayliketoday...
heteacherfeltlikeshecouldroughlyguessthereason.
