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. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

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.