The afternoon light and shadows pierced through the dry branches. Thin, almost invisible shadows swept across the girl's clear, shimmering silver hair.
Masuzu stopped in front of the supermarket. Through the glass window, she could see the couple inside, standing side by side at the shelves, picking items like newlyweds.
Occasionally, they turned to each other, their faces showing natural warmth and intimacy.
To avoid being noticed, she stood still for a few seconds, then slowly moved. She hid under the parking lot roof, leaned against the wall, and let out a long sigh.
"So beautiful… No matter how many times I see it, I feel so envious, to have happiness like that."
Taking mineral water from her school bag, Masuzu gulped several sips, rinsing the sour taste in her throat into her stomach. She wiped her mouth as if nothing happened.
Then, a ready-to-act gaze appeared in her eyes, and a wicked smile hung at her lip corners.
"Hmph hmph hmph… Then, it's time for the evil female lead to appear, and give the final trial to the couple about to reach this story's end!"
(Yes, I'm doing this for your own good!)
(Won't happiness that's shattered become stronger when pieced back together?!)
The roof's shadow created an evil mask on her face. Her bright blue eyes narrowed cruelly. Her body automatically struck a flirtatious Diavolo pose.
"Yes, I am Natsukawa Masuzu, the villain!"
Ignoring the strange looks from passing pedestrians, she shouted to cheer herself up. Masuzu turned and strode energetically toward the supermarket door, intending to cause trouble for the couple.
One step, two steps.
When she stepped into the afternoon sunlight again, she slowly stopped, bowed her head, and stood motionless.
After a long time, Masuzu suddenly lifted her face and let out a long sigh.
"Come to think of it, my past self was a real idiot… If I keep doing this, wouldn't I be just like that person?"
Her father, Natsukawa Ryoji, was truly trash.
He used so-called feelings as bargaining tools and never thought of anything but his own interests. To succeed, he didn't hesitate to leave his first wife for a political marriage and forcibly separate mother and child. This made Masuzu start hating everything related to love from then on.
Until now, the shattered happiness still hadn't recovered. The hole remained in her life. Masuzu always couldn't wait for it to be filled with warmth.
They say one always becomes like the person they hate most.
Those who hate parents forcing them to study hard end up enrolling their kids in many cram schools. Those forced to abandon dreams to inherit family business end up taking revenge by inflicting the same suffering on their children, so their childhood pain isn't wasted—thus the chain continues generation to generation.
Though saying, "I'll never become like that!"—as one ages, they unconsciously commit the same evils.
Hatred, unwillingness; jealousy, revenge; despair, schadenfreude…
Masuzu knew her mind was full of such negative thoughts. She didn't mind being an evil woman committing all sorts of wrongs.
But even so, she had a line she couldn't cross.
"The sparkling light of happiness~ After seeing something this beautiful with my own eyes, only trash would want to extinguish it."
She brushed aside hair sticking to her lip corners. She gazed at the couple in the supermarket from afar. The mask on her face like water-soluble paint, gradually revealing a bitter yet relieved smile.
Of course she couldn't do the same as her perverted dishonest father.
Compared to those obsessed with love, Masuzu clearly hated those who destroyed others' happiness more.
Because, perhaps in this world, it truly exists. What's called true love.
It's not just loving each other, but willing to risk everything for the other's life, willing to change for each other's happiness, even if the process is painful and long.
As long as that person's shadow is in the future, she won't fear.
She didn't hate, but longed for love like that… That's why she wanted to protect it, and didn't want to destroy it again.
"Then, it's time for the antagonist to exit."
One last longing look at Yuu's back, Masuzu bowed her head. She lifted her lip corners with a smile she considered cool and elegant, and turned calmly.
Then, wiping unwilling tears from her face, she took a deep breath and looked at the gray sky shrouded in thick clouds.
"Though I don't know what you want to do… But, you have to succeed!"
(Making this sky clear—that's your goal.)
Or more precisely, the goal of everyone who loves Yuu.
(Things I couldn't do, things we all couldn't do… I leave them all to you, Yukinoshita.)
Masuzu laughed mockingly. She then stepped forward, choosing a small alley no one would see, walking toward the apartment.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Had her past self ever embraced happiness's light like that?
Had her past self ever been the unique true love in his eyes?
Had her past self ever crossed the chasm of hatred and seen the beautiful scenery under a clear sky?
Ha, if she couldn't remember, forget it.
After all now, though turning her back on happiness not hers, her chest could warm because of their existence.
That was enough.
A story ending like this suited her who could only cause trouble.
Just, next time…
Or every minute and second from now…
If the light of happiness between you fades…
I'll make it fully mine, body and soul, like I once said!
The dream hasn't faded, current Natsukawa Masuzu still stands firm on earth!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Masuzu!"
Suddenly, someone called her about to enter the small alley.
Slightly startled, Masuzu turned in surprise. Yuigahama stood not far in the supermarket's shadow. She walked toward her with light steps.
"Da-Dango-chan? Why are you here…"
Yuigahama smiled brightly: "Of course I followed you. Thank goodness, you really didn't notice!"
"What is this kid saying with such a relieved face?!"
Masuzu's mouth corners twitched. Seeing her pat her chest in relief, she couldn't help raising her voice:
"I clearly didn't do anything wrong—why follow me?"
"Eh, do you think you have the position to blame me?"
Yuigahama slightly tilted her head. She scratched her cheek a bit confused, then said with a bitter smile: "And Masuzu, you've done all the wrongs. Isn't it natural I thought to follow because I feared you'd disturb Yukinon and the others?"
"You—" Masuzu gritted teeth, glaring at her innocent face. But in the end, she couldn't say any harsh words. She could only kneel on the ground in despair, like a super-level high school JOJO fan whose argument was crushed.
"Damn, can't refute…"
"Well, ignore the small stuff." Yuigahama quickly came to help her up, hugging her arm affectionately. "We're now teammates in the same position. Forget past discomforts, and let's get along well!"
"Are you storing all past discomforts and just treating me as a surface friend…" Masuzu said vaguely.
"No. I just want us to get along better than before!" Yuigahama quickly explained. Then she remembered something and couldn't hold a happy smile.
"By the way, I'm really impressed with you, Masuzu? At first I thought you'd really go in and disturb Yuu-kun and the others' date. Didn't expect you'd choose to cry and leave, not wanting them to know you followed… So touching!"
"Don't say disgusting things. I didn't do anything praiseworthy… By the way, you—didn't trust me from start to end?"
With a somewhat nauseous expression, Masuzu rubbed goosebumps on her arm. She glanced at Yuigahama laughing silly.
Suddenly realizing something, she couldn't help observing her up and down. She asked with a weird gaze: "Wait, Dango-chan… You, as his official girlfriend, let him date Yukinoshita just like that, while you watch from outside like a loser dog like me?"
Before Yuigahama could answer, Masuzu quickly turned her brain and revealed the guess that kept emerging.
"Today is Christmas Eve, couples' date and intimacy day. You not only didn't join Yuu, but even seem to want to guard Yukinoshita… That means, you handed him over? No, shouldn't need to. Logically, you should celebrate Christmas Eve together, even if intimate, you two might do it together. Only one reason you're here—"
Before Masuzu finished, Yuigahama cut her off.
"Uh, Masuzu, girls should avoid saying censored words as much as possible."
"Eh… Sorry, habit."
"And, no need to guess—I'll tell you directly!" Yuigahama turned, saying smiling: "Yes, Yuu-kun today belongs to Yukinon! She said she wants to spend Christmas Eve with him. Though I agreed, I still felt uneasy, so I followed and watched from behind. After they enter the apartment, I'll go back."
"Why her…" Not long after the question, Masuzu thought of the answer herself. "Yes, she wants to finish the task tonight."
Yuigahama didn't answer, but her expression was basically agreement.
Trying hard to organize her slightly chaotic thoughts, Masuzu still couldn't help asking: "Though a bit late to ask now, where did she get that confidence… Dango-chan too, regardless of whether Yukinoshita succeeds or not in the end, a loving man and woman spending Christmas Eve alone—with just censored brain you know what'll happen. Don't you mind being overtaken first?"
"That's why—use subtler words…" Yuigahama held her forehead as if headache. After helpless sigh, she said indifferently: "Hmm, I don't mind. As long as Yukinon achieves her goal, the process doesn't matter."
Masuzu opened her mouth slightly, as if seeing a stranger. She couldn't believe this was the Yuigahama she knew.
"…Wait, don't tell me before this, you already tasted the forbidden fruit with him first?!"
Like a used iron doesn't matter if used by a close friend, that's why she's so indifferent…
"No, no, no—not yet! Even if I wanted, I couldn't find the chance, so I couldn't do it at all!" Yuigahama defended with slightly red face. The unconscious strength added to her arm made Masuzu almost scream in pain.
Though her chest was big and soft, it'd hurt if gripped hard… Moreover, there was a coat and bra blocking.
Masuzu's cheeks twitched slightly. She struggled to squeeze out a voice: "So… Don't say you don't care. If lying, find a better excuse, okay?"
"…"
After a moment of silence, Yuigahama slowly relaxed. The smile curve at her lip corners faded.
"Yes, actually I care a lot."
She slightly turned her head. Though she couldn't see inside the supermarket, her eyes still emitted warm bright light.
"I really want to go in now and talk to them. I really want to have the hot pot party with them. Even if I have to climb the stairs of adulthood with Yukinon on Christmas Eve, I wouldn't feel hate or guilt… The me thinking like this might have been broken long ago."
"However, it's fine."
Yuigahama shrugged. She pulled her gaze without hesitation. Only her firm eyes held the distant stretching road ahead.
"Yuu-kun's happiness is my happiness. What Yukinon wants to do is what I want too. So I'll support them unconditionally—that's all."
Though her figure wasn't in it, it was fine, because she believed those two wouldn't leave her alone either.
Seeing her expression, Masuzu was silent for a moment, then shook her head and said: "…I'm really impressed with you all. You're all willing to sacrifice for him like this. Better form Yuu's Crusade to attack that cursed God."
"Ehehe~" Yuigahama showed a [You're the same, daring to blame me] smile and rubbed her cheek affectionately.
"Hope God lives closer than Egypt, otherwise we have to wait for summer break to attack."
"Before that, we need a way to surpass heaven." After saying some JOJO-related jokes, Masuzu satisfiedly shifted the topic back on track.
"Though you say that, Dango-chan, in your heart you still feel very uncomfortable."
"Yes, want to comfort me?"
Yuigahama tilted her head, eyes sparkling staring at her, as if expecting something.
Masuzu didn't hesitate long. After deep breath, she waved her hand strongly as if resigned: "Fine, since today we're both losers, let's play together until tomorrow! Don't lose to the two who'll just flirt and be intimate all night!"
Yuigahama also raised her hand happily, exclaiming with a wide smile: "Okay! Tonight is girls' night out. Let's have fun! Yay—"
"But first, I must say, I basically have no experience hanging out with friends. Let alone sleepovers or inviting others. I have no idea what to do in times like this…" After dousing with cold water, Masuzu then suggested enthusiastically: "How about a special JOJO night? Even watching five anime parts, we won't finish until tomorrow…"
"No, that's too boring!" After firmly rejecting, Yuigahama thought a moment. Suddenly a brilliant idea flashed in her mind.
She couldn't help clapping and cupping at her chin, laughing wickedly in a low voice.
"Hehe, how about inviting Haruno-san and Asuna-san too? That way, we can talk about Yuu-kun all night. Tomorrow morning, we can even raid Yukinon's house and surprise them!"
"Hey, isn't this really self-torture…"
Masuzu stopped mid-mockery. She realized something wrong in her words.
"Wait, I get inviting that Haruno woman… But what does Yuuki-san have to do with it?"
"…Ah."
When she reacted, Yuigahama froze in place. Her face gradually turned pale as sand.
Masuzu then slowly widened her eyes. She stared at her starting to avert gaze in disbelief. Moments later, she spoke in an almost certain tone:
"Don't tell me, Yuuki Asuna too…"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Leaving the supermarket, Yuu and Yukino each carried shopping bags full of ingredients. They slowly walked toward the luxury apartment where she lived.
On the way, Yuu suddenly broke the peaceful silence they maintained with tacit understanding. He said casually:
"Yukino, can I ask you one thing?"
"What?" Tilting her head confused, Yukino happened to meet his helpless yet gentle gaze.
"The three-person Christmas party is a lie, Yui actually won't come."
"…"