Chapter 1.13

“……!”

Kuroyuki immediately stared at me with an unexpected, surprised look.

“…………”

Though she opens her mouth, yet she paused and not said anything.

It would seem she wanted to tell me ‘it's none of your business’. But for some reason, she can`t.

Then, I might as well go all the way.

“…You know, it's easy to tell when a maiden fell in love.” I said.

“…Humph…! …It`s a secret.” She said with a displeased look as she furrowed her brows, breaking her eye contact.

By the way, whenever she made those girl-like sounds, it made my heart thump for a moment.

Looks to me she had no intentions to tell me— and I have no idea who this mysterious person is…

…Wait. Perhaps I do.

With our conversations up until now, Kuroyuki only mentioned three persons in their names.

Lucifer Nightwalker von Nightmare;

Persia;

And—

“Lucifer……” I paused, as I tried to remember the name. “…Vermillion…?”

The moment she hears this, Kuroyuki is stunned for a moment— to be precise, exactly one second.

After that second, she instantly closed our distance by pouncing from her chair— with her right hand reaching out to my face.

With that speed, anyone would not have the time to react.

…Not me.

I`d managed to grab her smooth hand reflexively.

But even if I caught it, the threat did not lessen. Because when I came to realize it— Kuroyuki welded an ice sword on her left hand, and it was just placed right in front of my neck.

Of course, I caught her sword reflexively by pinching between my fingers too.

The real threat is her spears that are floating around her— their tips are pointing at me.

…I was even more in shock when compared to the last time she shot me with a spear.

“…How…?” Kuroyuki uttered.

Her cold, glaring eyes chillingly made my spine shivered and paused my breath.

“…………Guh...”

‘Stay calm.’ I told myself.

Stay calm and look at her.

Look at her in the eye and ask her why.

“I… W…” The shock and fear gave me trouble in sorting out my words. “…What are you saying…?”

“…WHY DID YOU KNOW THAT NAME?” She utters aggressively.

Kuroyuki is already enduring herself. From my hands— I can tell that her trembling sword and hand are actually trying to stop herself from harming me.

“Y— You said it yourself…” I struggle to cough out my words. “You said it yourself when you demanded a duel…!”

Kuroyuki`s eyes rolled around afterwards— as if she's trying to remember the scene.

When she stares back at me— her right arm relaxed and her swords and spears disappears.

“…sorry…”

She apologizes quietly.

She`d look extremely apologetic and regretful.

“…………”

Confirming she`d actually cooled down, I`d slowly let go of her hand. And the moment she sat back on her seat, I deliberately took a deep breath and heaved a huge sigh of relief.

…Good grace.

Even if it's me, I already find it extremely difficult to be dealing with her.

So… who is he? Who is Lucifer Vermillion? Why did Kuroyuki have such a big reaction till she was on the verge of cutting me with her sword? What is he to her?

“…He— is my childhood friend.” Kuroyuki suddenly mutters.

“…………What?” I inadvertently said.

I did not expect such an answer.

I know we are talking about her crush earlier. But with that reaction, I thought Lucifer Vermillion was her enemy.

“…I thought you were a high level stalker who even knew about my crush…” She added.

“…………”

Her reason made me speechless.

Seriously?!

You would`have killed me because of that?!

“…You are too attentive, Lucifer Nightwalker von Nightmare.”

Judging from her tone, it seems she meant it as a warning.

“…At this rate, you would've meddled in someone else's business before you knew it.”

In someone else's matter…

She's telling me to stay out of it— her own matter, her own business.

No— that's not it. I`ve already stepped on it. It's already too late to pull back.

She's actually worrying about me. It might be possible because she knew this isn't something to be made light of. She was afraid that I'd probably get myself involved in something dangerous. That's why she apologized, that's why she warned.

Heh…

“Don`t worry about me.” I muttered.

That's all I could say.

I know it myself. I couldn`t actually care less about danger because I know I don't have much time left.

“…Don't think too highly of yourself.”

“I`m not. I know how dangerous it is when you involve yourself in something unknown.”

“…You even know nothing good will come out of it. Then why?”

“…Because…” I paused. “…you are my precious classmate?” I said unsurely.

I was too embarrassed to use the word ‘friend’— plus, I think it was unnecessary too.

“…No one would go so far for a classmate.”

I know.

“You are my one and only classmate.” I said. “I`d help you rather than relying on you.”

“…………”

Kuroyuki knew how far and how much my determination was.

She`d made a pained and troubled look afterwards as she gazes downwards— placing her hand on her temple.

After a moment of struggle within herself— Kuroyuki eventually raises her head and stares at me with a firm expression.

She… actually opens up to me.

It seems… I can talk freely now.

But I need to be considerate of her feelings. I need an approach that`s less severe.

What is less severe, then? I had no clue at all.

Less severe… Like—

“Why did you fall in love with him?” I asked.

“…It was something that happened 8 years ago.”

“This means… both of you made a promise…?”

With how she reacted ever since the first time I met her, that's the only thing I could come up with.

…A simple promise that happened eight years ago.

At eight years old, that is the only thing that could give her a reason to keep moving forward.

Just like how Restia and I made our promise to each other six years ago.

“…Yes. But it was more or less like a one-sided promise.”

“…One sided?”

“If there is one single thing I`m better than him— One.” She enhances the word. “I get to marry him.”

“So he is the reason you strive yourself to such an extent?”

“…N.” She nodded.

Such confidence.

Her childhood friend had such confidence.

A confidence to challenge Kuroyuki— the high and almighty.

He might be a character that's even more extreme than Kuroyuki.

And I can tell, Kuroyuki really loves him. To keep her one-sided promise— she improvised herself in nearly every possible way…

…or maybe, did he make such a promise on purpose so that he could marry Kuroyuki without losing his pride?

Nah… it actually solidifies her childhood friend`s character. If I were to describe him… he might be an even better genius than Kuroyuki.

A true genius among genius.

Unlike me.

Come to think of it… why did she…?

“Do I look like him?” I asked. “It seems you mistook me as him…”

“…………” She said nothing and averted her eyes, looking annoyed as she pouted her cheeks.

Huh. She really hates it when she makes a mistake.

“So… is this the reason you came here…?”

“…No. I lost contact with him eight years ago…” Kuroyuki murmured.

I realize that her hands are trembling.

It's serious.

Shit… I hope it's not similar to my situation.

“…I… will wait for him… no matter how long it takes…”

…Her voice is shaking.

Tears gathered on the corner of her eyes. Almost as if any more stimulation would`ve made her burst into tears.

The exact pained expression— just like the first time we met.

My heart… felt like it was being squeezed once again.

Ah… I see— So that's it.

Lucifer Vermillion, her childhood friend, was the one who saved her. That's why she had such desperation, such stubbornness.

Just what exactly happened? Did he disappear? Did your parents know about it? What about his parents? Did they disappear? Do you have any neighbours who know about this? Did anyone know of it?

These bombarding questions were about to escape from my lips.

Shit. I`ve lost my cool.

That's it. This is the limit.

I need to stop asking any further— for her sake and for my sake.

But I know… there`s one possible conclusion I can think of.

…He disappeared.

Kuroyuki must`ve searched for him— but, for how long? Did she search all the way till here…?

Any more of this and I will become unable to hold back.

Thus, in the spur of the moment… I made an offer.

“I don't know how I am able to help… but let me know when you need it.”

I made a vow by placing my fist on my heart.

“……!”

Kuroyuki stared at me with a dumbfounded look as a tear fell from the corner of her right eye.

She made a tender smile afterwards as she took both of my hands.

“…thank you…” She said gratefully.

Even if it's the tiniest bit of help… she`d want it wholeheartedly. Just like the time I needed it— that's why I can't bear to watch. That's why I'd wanted to help out, even if I know I can't do anything.

“…Ah. That's the least I can do.”

With that, I took a handkerchief from my left pocket, and reached out to Kuroyuki.

Obviously, Kuroyuki understood. She said nothing and took the handkerchief from my hand to wipe off her tears, then returned back to me.

Afterwards, we`d stop talking because of the awkwardness, and we spent the rest of our day on our own matters.

I was messing with the administrative system, while Kuroyuki continued to read her book.

Just in case you'd forget, let me remind you of something.

Despite all of the flip-flop of emotions, I was unable to escape from my fate…

…of my first official duel— the duel against the best student, the first place, the strongest student, the <Winter Princess>…

…Kuroyuki Shiroha.