The bell rang, a bright herald of joy, its chime sweeter than any tune.

Hoo—

Students in the classroom stretched like cats, savoring the hard-won moment. Or rather, they’d finally endured their way here.

After the exam, it was time to loosen the knots.

The long-troubling tests closed their curtain; the last subject ended, and a new beginning shifted into view.

Yes—Rakuyoku High School’s sports festival was about to start. After exams came the long-awaited festival, a chapter of youth written in sweat.

The moment she turned in her papers, Yun Shi had planned to slip out. The buzz around her about events and relays barely tugged at her. She carried a lifetime’s memory; she held herself in check.

Yet, before and after the festival, trouble waited for her. The Underworld’s business—something she couldn’t dodge.

If she guessed right, the Underworld this time would pull in people she knew. At least one familiar face would be there.

Lost in thought, Yun Shi reached for the pen on her desk, ready to pack up. Her fingertips brushed a pale wrist at the edge. Her heart skipped. She lifted her head to apologize, and saw the face.

“Mizuki.”

Seeing that familiar silhouette, Yun Shi let out a breath.

But Mizuki’s cheeks flushed the moment their hands met, a sudden nervous bloom.

“Uh, hi, Yun-chan…”

“Mm. What’s wrong?”

“N-no, it’s nothing!”

Mizuki fled like a startled sparrow. She didn’t look okay. Doubt pricked at Yun Shi.

That girl’s hiding something, isn’t she?

As Yun Shi brooded, Sham passed the classroom door. She caught Mizuki’s sudden dash. Then she saw Yun Shi’s puzzled look inside. Sham’s expression froze, brittle.

“Little Yun…”

A bitter trace drifted through Sham’s heart. She didn’t linger. She slipped away in silence.

No one knew what storm she held.

As for Yun Shi, she just puzzled over Mizuki’s behavior. After a moment, confusion pooled.

Why did the scene feel like a harem anime setup? Could that girl be—

Yun Shi shook her head hard, flinging the thought away. She didn’t even know what love felt like. She hadn’t planned to step into that mess. Getting liked sounded like trouble, not luck.

So she denied it, stubborn and fierce.

After Sham left, a fog filled her chest. She didn’t know where to go. She just walked.

She’d just flown back from London for the exams, only to see that scene. Her mood soured, heavy as rain.

A phone tone cut through. The caller ID read Little Yun.

“Little Yun…”

Her voice tasted of bitterness.

“Sham, where are you? I can’t find you. Didn’t we say we’d grab food together?”

“No. I’m not going.”

“Huh? Not going?”

“Yeah. Not going.”

Sham hung up in silence.

On the other end, Yun Shi stared at the dead line, then drifted into thought.

“Sham… what’s wrong with her?”

Worry started to sprout. Her instincts whispered Sham had hit something hard.

Aimless, Sham walked the curb like a husk. She couldn’t think of anything to do.

Maybe time had handed her many chances. She never caught one. Only when others took them did she wake. Too late.

She’d met that person first. Yet it wasn’t her at the end.

Sham Einafel was just a passerby. She appeared by chance, then vanished as if it were natural. Nothing about that seemed wrong.

But the unwillingness burned…

Because someone had outrun her, leaving her far behind.

“Sham-chan?”

Suddenly someone stood in front of her, eyes wide with surprise.

Sham’s dim eyes caught a new glint. She stared, blank and raw.

“Mizuki…”

“Sham-chan, what’s wrong? What happened?!”

Mizuki rushed up. Her hands pressed Sham’s shoulders, worry trembling.

“I…”

In that moment, their figures carved deep into the scene, etched into memory as if forever.

When one door closes, another window opens. Whether you can reach through—that depends on the heart.

Back in London, Mizuki trained once more on the skybridge. Facing her nominal mentor, Andrea, she should’ve been razor-sharp. Instead, her mind drifted like fog.

“Here.”

A crisp voice cut from the right. Mizuki jolted, twisted, and countered. She was a beat slow. Her weapon flew. She hit the ground hard.

Ow…

She rubbed the bruised flesh of her arm and hissed.

“What’s wrong? You’re distracted today.”

Andrea slid her sword back, face unreadable. She sounded indifferent, but her eyes held a thin light of concern.

“I…”

“Your heart’s wandering. What happened.”

Andrea pressed on. Her questions fell like statements.

Mizuki stayed quiet, sitting heavy on the ground. Her secrets curled tight.

“Mizuki, is this really okay?”

Elena the Weapon Spirit spoke from where she lay.

“Holding it in—does that really help? Aren’t you lost?”

“I…”

“I don’t know your worry. But tell me—what’s tearing at you?”

Andrea sat down, face still. Her gaze sharpened with intent.

Mizuki’s will slackened in the face of it.

Truth was, she wanted to speak. She just didn’t know how.

“Ms. Andrea…”

“Mm.”

“I… changed my heart.”

Silence pooled. Even Andrea, the ice queen, said nothing. She simply sat.

After a moment, Mizuki went on:

“It’s not that I forgot her. But… I’m fickle. I can’t let either go. I even want to hold both.”

“…”

“Plainly, I’ve fallen for two. I’m awful. Fickle. Useless.”

The self-mockery bled in as she spoke. Her eyes dimmed.

Who’d guess the weight she carried. She didn’t want this, but reality left no easy road.

Love? Could she measure it? It came sudden as summer rain. She tried to dodge and couldn’t. By the time she noticed, she was already caught.

She’d thought she could love one, steady and true. She didn’t expect her heart to stir for another. She’d chosen to chase one, and on the road fell for the other too.

So she was truly lost.

Who would tell her what to do…

“What did you change for.”

Andrea didn’t answer. She switched the question.

“Eh…”

“I’m asking—what did you change for? Was it really only for yourself?”

“Of course not. I changed for her… No, I’ve already changed.”

“Right. You’ve changed. Isn’t that enough?”

“But like this—aren’t I awful…”

Mizuki clenched her fists, pain rough in her voice.

“At least you’ve worked for what you believe.”

Andrea kept speaking. Not a direct comfort, but balm from another angle.

“Who do you grow strong for? Why do you change? Is it only one person that moves you?”

“!”

“Answer me. What do you want to protect.”

“Of course—my world. And my friends. My comrades.”

“That’s enough.”

Andrea rose and looked toward the far skyline. A shade of melancholy crossed her eyes.

“I’ve lost comrades too. I’ve changed for them, and I’ve trained hard for friends. Mizuki, you’re the same. Hold to your belief. Wandering will make you lose more.”

She turned back. Her blank face carried a subtle glow. In Mizuki’s eyes, it outshone any light.

“If you’re lost, then lift your weapon and seek your own answer. Time will set one true.”

The ice queen’s eyes blazed with a fierce sincerity.

The fog in Mizuki’s heart began to thin.

She knew what to do.

Right. Instead of fretting over folly, better to—

Find the answer herself!

Who she loved. Who would walk beside her. Time would answer.

Miyuki Kiseki—this is her path.

Simple. Clear.

Clang!

Steel met steel again, and she plunged back into training.

After the day’s drills, Mizuki was about to leave when someone approached.

“Sham?”

Mizuki stared, surprised by the intruder.

“Mizuki, I have something to say.”

Sham’s face wasn’t the same. A shadow hung there.

“Hey, Mizuki. Haven’t you thought about who you really care about?”

“?”

“Haven’t you wondered what Little Yun really is?”

Sham’s words were a riddle. Mizuki’s confusion deepened, and a quiet shiver of unease rose.

The ties were tangling tighter.