"Who are you?"
When Shion asked with an icy intensity, Clara bit her lip, unsure of how to respond.
This simple question posed a surprisingly difficult challenge.
“I-I’m Rohan oppa’s younger sister...!”
“A biological sister?”
“Well... not exactly...”
Clara wanted to use a stronger word to describe her relationship with Rohan, but at the moment, this was the best she could muster.
“Regrettably, knowing Rohan’s name isn’t enough to earn my trust. For all I know, you could’ve overheard me mentioning it earlier.”
“Ugh...”
“And putting aside your appearance—if your relationship with Rohan is legitimate, why were you hiding? A lack of confidence in your behavior erodes credibility.”
Faced with Shion’s barrage of questions, Clara found herself unable to offer a rebuttal.
Though countless counterarguments bubbled in her mind, she couldn’t bring herself to voice them. Later that night, when lying in bed, she’d probably kick her blankets, wishing she’d spoken up.
But right now, against someone pressing her so hard, Clara’s timid nature made it difficult to hold her ground.
Fighting head-on would’ve been easier for her.
“I-I can prove it... with a message...”
“Hmm.”
Clara hesitantly showed her phone screen. Shion glanced at it briefly.
The message was cluttered with emojis—an incomprehensible mess to someone like Shion, who had never used a smartphone.
“I sent him a message earlier... Rohan oppa should be here soon! He even mentioned that an elf guest might visit...”
“Fine. Let’s assume your connection with Rohan is as you say. Let me ask again—why were you hiding?”
“Well, that’s... just a habit...”
Clara couldn’t very well admit that she’d been hugging Rohan’s blanket and sniffing it in her underwear, and that her body had instinctively darted into hiding when she realized how improper her behavior was.
Blushing furiously, Clara lowered her gaze, while Shion’s sharp instincts picked up a lingering sense of unease.
“You’re leaving out something important.”
“...!”
Startled, Clara looked up at Shion.
Shion’s words were based on intuition, but Clara’s reaction only deepened her suspicions.
“Negotiations have failed. Since I can’t trust you, I’ll subdue you first.”
“W-What?! If you wait, oppa will be here soon...!”
“That’s possible. But what if, instead of Rohan, your reinforcements arrive?”
“...”
“Don’t resist. I’ll ensure it doesn’t hurt much.”
Shion intended to use cloth or cable ties to lightly restrain Clara’s hands or fingers, making it easier to predict any rebellious movements. It wasn’t the ideal equipment for someone with magical abilities, but it was the best she could do without proper restraints.
“Stay still.”
With that, Shion put her handgun back in its holster.
Even though she’d drawn it instinctively, she knew better than to fire a gun in the academy dormitory.
Moreover, without a sniper rifle, most of her weapons were interchangeable in functionality.
Step. Step. Step.
As Shion approached, Clara suddenly disappeared and reappeared silently on the opposite side of the room.
Impressed by her footwork and speed, Shion couldn’t help but admire her internally. However, she kept her face impassive, adhering to her principle of not showing her thoughts in a tense situation.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t resist.”
“I don’t want to!”
By now, Clara was holding a balisong knife in one hand and a silenced handgun in the other.
Shion calmly scanned the weapons, her eyes briefly glinting with curiosity.
‘What a peculiar choice of handgun.’
It was the same model Shion owned, which intrigued her. The combination of a balisong knife and a handgun also indicated a high level of skill and dexterity.
Driven by curiosity, Shion resumed her approach.
Clara, seeing her closing the distance, shouted in desperation.
“D-Don’t come any closer, or I’ll... I’ll restrain you!”
“Are you planning to shoot me in the name of subduing me?”
Startled by Shion’s words, Clara glanced at the weapons in her hands.
Just like Shion, Clara had drawn her gun unconsciously.
“I have no intention of messing up oppa’s room...”
With delicate fingers, Clara swiftly folded her balisong knife and tucked it away.
Not stopping there, she also stashed the handgun.
Shion wondered if Clara intended to engage in hand-to-hand combat now that she was unarmed.
Swoosh.
However, to Shion’s surprise, Clara pulled out yet another item.
It was a pitch-black object that stood out starkly against her pale hands.
‘A spare silencer? No, that’s...!’
Shion’s sharp senses detected the flow of magic within the item.
The dagger and gun Clara had wielded earlier weren’t her main weapons. This was her true weapon.
Crackle──!!!
To counter whatever power Clara’s weapon held, Shion summoned her own magic, sending thin streams of electricity arcing across her body in complex patterns.
The tension between them escalated to its peak, each ready to make a decisive move. At that moment, they forced each other into a stalemate, their eyes locked in silence.
Bzzz—! Bzzz—!
The tense silence of their standoff was broken by the vibration of a phone.
Clara glanced at the screen and quickly put away the object she had been holding.
“Oppa is calling!”
Her previously fierce demeanor melted away, replaced by an excited expression. She practically radiated joy, as if the prior tension had never existed.
Her face was so bright and cheerful that it was hard to believe she’d ever been prepared for a fight.
Shion felt all the energy drain from her body.
If that expression was an act, it was so convincing that it felt only natural to be fooled by it.
“...Answer it on speaker so I can hear too.”
***
Rohan entered the academy dormitory and, upon seeing that neither Clara nor Shion had suffered any injuries, bent over, letting out a long breath.
“Phew...! Haaah...!”
It had been a long time since he’d sprinted with all his might, without any regard for pacing himself.
His lungs burned, protesting loudly.
“O-Oppa! Drink some water!”
Clara quickly filled a cup with water and handed it to him.
Rohan thanked her, gulping down the cold water in large swallows.
Meanwhile, Shion, standing quietly nearby, observed them before approaching Clara and bowing her head slightly.
“I apologize for not trusting you at first. I think I overreacted.”
“No, no! I understand... The situation was confusing, and you couldn’t help it.”
“I should have just called Rohan in the first place.”
“Well... yes, that would’ve been better.”
Shion couldn’t help but smirk at her own lack of foresight. In the heat of the moment, even simple solutions didn’t come to mind.
The tension had clouded her judgment.
“I’m sorry for being so forceful and pressing to subdue you. I truly regret it.”
“I-I said it’s fine... really!”
As the two socially awkward girls continued exchanging apologies in their own ways, Rohan, having caught his breath, straightened up.
“Phew...! Finally, I can breathe again.”
Both Shion and Clara turned their gazes to him simultaneously, their focus snapping to him like arrows.
Shion, as if waiting for this moment, raised a question.
“Rohan. Why wasn’t I informed of such an important detail?”
Her gaze indicated she was referring to Clara.
Rohan didn’t feel cornered, though. He had an explanation ready.
“I was going to tell you during our call yesterday, but the line cut off before I could get to it.”
“Oh.”
Shion recalled the abrupt end to their call, realizing she had missed some crucial information.
She hadn’t thought the omitted detail would turn out to be something this significant.
“I was waiting anxiously for a return call, but since you didn’t call back, I made sure to inform Clara instead.”
In other words, this situation could have been avoided if things had gone according to plan.
Shion accepted the explanation without further argument.
“My apologies. I acted rashly and caused unnecessary trouble.”
“No, it’s on me. I should’ve told you sooner... If you’ve worked things out with Clara, don’t apologize to me.”
Rohan appreciated Shion’s willingness to acknowledge her mistakes without hesitation.
He admired her pride and dignity as an elf, knowing that admitting fault and reflecting on her actions didn’t diminish her sense of honor.
He then turned to Clara, who stood nervously nearby, avoiding his gaze.
Looking her in the eyes, he asked gently, “You’re okay, right? Neither of you got hurt?”
“Yeah...!”
“For now, everything’s fine.”
That was all Rohan needed to hear.
Even if he had been in the middle of class, he would’ve dropped everything to rush over the moment he saw Clara’s message. The fact that this happened during lunch felt like a stroke of luck.
“Have either of you had lunch yet? Are you hungry?”
“...”
Their silence was enough of an answer.
Seeing their expressions, Rohan’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“Let’s eat together, then. I haven’t had anything yet either.”
Saying he’d quickly wash up to freshen himself, Rohan headed to the bathroom.
With Rohan gone, Clara and Shion were left alone again.
Shion turned to Clara and, in her usual composed tone, asked, “Are you Rohan’s lover? If I’ve intruded on your time together, I apologize.”
“W-What?”
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Clara’s eyes widened in shock.
Seeing her reaction, Shion allowed a faint smile to cross her lips for the first time.
“You seem to share a special bond, more than just siblings. Am I mistaken?”
“W-Well... we’re not lovers or anything...”
Shion tilted her head slightly, as though finding Clara’s response unexpected.
Clara, noticing this, felt oddly pleased. Her twin-tails swayed lightly as her opinion of the elf softened.
‘M-Maybe she’s actually a nice person...!’