Recently, Emily has been preoccupied with thoughts of Ken.

In fact, it wasn't just recently; ever since she fell for him, he has been on her mind every day.

But in the past few days, he's been on her mind more than usual.

The reason for that is...

"Your hair is a bit messy today."

"What? Oh, is it?"

"It's completely different from usual. Let me fix it for you."

"Uh, I don’t really notice any difference."

Watching Mary run her hands through Ken's hair, Emily clenched her fist.

'She's just tidying it up.'

But it wasn't tidying as there wasn't even a comb involved; just her two hands gently touching Ken's head.

‘What’s with that expression?

Moreover, unlike his usual self, Ken’s face turned noticeably red, as if shy.

Is she your first crush or something?’

Emily felt a strong urge to rush over and shout that.

'But do I even have the right to say anything…'

Emily knew well about her position and what she had done to Ken.

Even if she suddenly had a change of heart, filled with regret and guilt about those things...

She still hadn't apologized to Ken.

'...So why did my feelings change all of a sudden?'

Until just recently, she foolishly denied her feelings and mistreated Ken.

Yet, ever since the day Ken returned to the academy after a break, she couldn't stop thinking about him right from the morning.

The memories of how she used to torment Ken began to torment her instead.

As Emily continued to dwell on her sudden change of heart, she was struck by a strange sensation.

‘Why... is this happening?’

It was a feeling similar to a peculiar dizziness, and then there was a sound, like a hallucination.

Snip.

The chilling sound of scissors cutting seemed to echo from somewhere, sending shivers down her spine.

"Emily, are you alright?"

A familiar voice came from beside her, startling her out of her eerie thoughts. She turned her head to see Mary standing there, looking at her.

“…What’s going on?”

“I came over to talk as we were heading back. We're friends, after all.”

‘...Friends.’

Since their conversation in the library, Emily felt that she had grown closer to Mary. Still, she assumed it was just her own feeling and that Mary might not think the same.

Friends.

Hearing Mary say that made her happy, especially since they used to glare at each other whenever they met.

“So I came for a quick chat, but you don’t seem well.”

“No… I’m fine. I just suddenly felt dizzy.”

“Dizzy?”

Emily tried to reassure Mary with a casual response, but Mary seemed concerned about the mention of dizziness.

“Are you also experiencing any auditory or visual hallucinations? Like seeing memories that never existed.”

“What?”

Mary's explanation left Emily surprised.

Because what she described perfectly matched her symptoms.

"How did you know?"

"...Actually, I've been experiencing something similar lately. I feel dizzy when it suddenly occurs."

"Me too… I've been feeling that way often these days."

Why were they having these symptoms? Could it be a disease? If not, was it someone's curse?

"Still, don't worry too much. Although it's strange, it's not like there's anything physically wrong."

"You're right...."

It was true that there wasn't anything physically wrong with her.

Just fragmented memories that felt unfamiliar and a strange loneliness emanating from them.

That feeling was greatly unsettling.

'Let's not overthink it.'

But as Mary said, it wasn't something to be overly concerned about.

More than that, there was something else she was curious about now.

"But Mary... isn't it true you've gotten closer to Ken lately?"

"..."

At Emily's question, Mary blushed silently and averted her gaze.

‘So there really was something going on.'

An unease bubbling up inside her.

It stemmed from imagining that perhaps something had changed between Mary and Ken.

"In fact, I came to talk about that, too."

Mary, cautiously starting the conversation, looked around before leaning in to whisper in Emily's ear.

"What?! No way!!!"

"Shh, be quiet! Emily, your voice is too loud!”

Suddenly, everyone in the class turned their attention to Emily and Mary at the outburst.

Mary quickly covered Emily's mouth and glanced subtly towards the window.

There was Ken.

He was also looking their way, seemingly puzzled.

"You confessed?"

Emily lowered her voice, speaking just loud enough for the two of them to hear.

At her question, Mary blushed slightly and nodded.

When she confirmed, Emily felt like the blood was draining from her head.

It was even more unsettling than the dizziness she'd felt earlier.

‘If she confessed... then.’

With Mary being such a pretty and kind girl, there was no reason a man would reject such a confession.

Therefore, the expected outcome would be...

“Oh, but I just confessed. Nothing’s changed.”

Mary's words correcting Emily's assumption derailed her train of thought.

“…What?”

Emily's mind snapped back at the unexpected words.

“Why? You... you confessed. Ken must have heard it properly. …Then why?”

More than being relieved that nothing had changed between them, she first felt perplexed.

It didn’t make sense to imagine Mary’s confession being turned down.

"It's a bit of a selfish wish. I want him to fall head over heels for me and confess."

Mary explained this with a gentle smile.

"Anyway, since nothing has changed yet, don't give up and keep going, Emily."

"W-what are you saying all of a sudden?"

Relieved that Ken and Mary weren't anything more than friends, Emily looked away as if she'd been caught.

Not missing Emily's reaction, Mary gave her a kind smile.

"I'm cheering for you."

Feeling slightly awkward in response to Mary's smile, Emily avoided her gaze.

"...Why? If Mary confessed... then I'm just in the way."

"You're not an obstacle; you're a friend, Emily."

Watching Mary, who looked at her kindly and said these words, Emily stared at her blankly.

Then Mary made a fist in determination.

"Since I like Ken just as much, I understand how you feel, Emily. That's why I can cheer you on."

"Mary..."

Emily was touched.

If it were her, she might have treated Mary as a rival or an enemy and been on guard.

Is Mary just that special?

Or, as Mary said, does she sincerely empathize and cheer for Emily?

"Mary... you're so incredible, I feel like I might fall for you."

"You already have someone you like, so that makes you a flirt."

Deeply moved, Emily held onto Mary's hand, and Mary laughed as if finding it amusing.

As Mary and Emily continued to bond over their friendship, casting affectionate glances at each other, Enzo Lothirix sat right behind Emily, clenching his fists and grinding his teeth in anger.

He had overheard the conversation between Emily and Mary.

Using magic to enhance his hearing, no less.

‘Ken Feinstein!’

Up until recently, Ken had seemed just like air to him, an unnoticed presence.

Enzo had feelings for Emily.

Her bright, cheerful demeanor that got along well with others.

Her gentle nature, unable to refuse when asked for help with troubled expressions.

In addition to being one of the most attractive in their grade.

‘But now, suddenly, he's become the center of the class!’

Most of all, Enzo craved attention.

Before Ken's transformation, Enzo easily monopolized the attention of the girls in the class with his meticulously maintained appearance.

When he smiled, some girls felt flutters or even developed feelings for him.

Enzo enjoyed this attention, but was infuriated by the shift in dynamics that Ken's appearance caused.

Especially Emily.

No matter how much he tried to win her over, Emily showed no interest in him.

But ever since Ken's return, she kept gazing fixedly at Ken.

Sometimes, when their eyes met, she would blush and turn away.

When Ken wasn't around, she would sigh as if she missed him.

Enzo watched everything unfold from behind.

‘Unforgivable... Ken…’

To Enzo, Ken was just a hindrance—someone who disrupted his enjoyable academy life.

At one point, he even considered using force to crush him.

After all, Ken was just a weakling who used to be bullied.

But then...

"Did you hear? They say Ken defeated Raphne in a duel."

"Raphne? That's incredible! Does that mean Ken is the strongest in the grade?"

"I heard that during his time away from the academy, he cleared the Midolfa Dungeon in another region with someone else."

"Really? I heard he was working as a blacksmith for crafting training! The equipment Ken made is really famous."

Contrary to seeking attention, Enzo was a timid and small-minded man.

The rumor about Ken defeating Raphne.

If that were true, Enzo couldn't beat him.

Of course, there's a chance the rumor was false, but he didn't want to be humiliated in front of many people by challenging him and losing.

Therefore, he prepared a different means to get revenge.

‘...I'll make sure you experience something embarrassing. That will be the end of your popularity.’

Enzo rolled a stone in his hand.

A stone with a strange red-tinged aura.

It was an item he bought from a famous shop in the back alleys of the city that sold only peculiar things.

"Heh heh, heh heh heh..."

Enzo let out a sly laugh as he imagined Ken's humiliating situation.

"...What is this, so bright?"

The day after I fell asleep at the dormitory, I covered my eyes with my arm, bothered by the light that was brighter than usual.

━Whish.

On top of that, there was a cool breeze blowing.

Splash, splash.

A suspicious sound I couldn't identify.

'...Did I leave the window open?'

I thought the light shining in my eyes was sunlight streaming through the window.

And I assumed the breeze was coming from that window.

As for the odd sound... I couldn't figure out what it was, but I blamed it on the window anyway.

Still feeling tired, I turned my body to avoid the sunlight.

Then.

Splash.

“Whoa! It's cold!!”

Startled by the cold touch of water on my arm, I jumped up from the bed.

As I moved, sand trickled off my body, and the feeling beneath my feet was unlike the floor of the dorm room.

Most of all, the view was completely different.

"…What on earth is happening?"

In the distance, the horizon formed a boundary line across the view.

That's what it was called—a horizon.

A bright sky.

Soft sand.

Refreshing seawater.

I had woken up on some island.

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