Chapter 44 — The Sisters' World (Part 4)
Study Hall — Envy in Soft Voices
The study hall was never truly silent.
Even in a place designed for focus, whispers survived. They slipped between rows of desks, hid behind lowered voices, and passed along like harmless gossip—except it never was.
Komi sat at her usual seat near the window, reviewing lecture notes with steady concentration. Her expression didn't change even as murmurs drifted around her.
"…They're really calm about it."
"I'd lose my mind if I were them."
"Imagine waking up every day knowing the whole country would protect your brother before you."
Arisa clicked her pen once, annoyed but controlled, eyes still fixed on her screen.
Mizuki rested her chin on her palm, pretending to read while fully aware of everything happening around them.
This wasn't hostility.
It was something more exhausting.
Curiosity mixed with jealousy.
Admiration twisted into entitlement.
A girl two rows away leaned toward her friend and whispered, not bothering to lower her voice much.
"If I were close to them, maybe I'd get to meet him someday."
Her friend sighed dreamily. "Right? Just once would be enough."
Mizuki's fingers tightened slightly.
Not in anger.
In familiarity.
People always thought proximity meant access.
---
Why Everyone Wants to Be Close
At Seiran University, friendships were rarely simple.
Connections mattered. Influence mattered. And in a society where men were nearly mythical, even indirect association carried weight.
Being friends with the Takahara sisters meant stories.
Possibilities.
A doorway—real or imagined.
Some students approached casually, pretending coincidence.
"Hey, Komi-san, are you heading to the economics building too?"
"Arisa-san, can I sit here?"
"Mizuki, your notebook is cute. Did you buy it nearby?"
The sisters responded politely. Briefly. Neutrally.
They never encouraged.
Never rejected outright.
And that balance frustrated people more than outright refusal.
A small group near the vending machines watched them leave the study hall.
"She's so composed," one muttered, eyeing Komi.
"Yeah. Like nothing bothers her."
"Maybe she thinks she's above us."
"Or maybe she's just used to it."
Another girl crossed her arms. "Still unfair. Why do they get a brother like that?"
No one answered.
Because there was no answer that didn't sound bitter.
---
Between Lectures — Routine, Not Drama
Between classes, the sisters walked together through the shaded pathways of the campus.
Trees lined the road. Digital notice boards displayed upcoming seminars. Students hurried past, carrying ambitions, envy, and curiosity in equal measure.
Arisa checked her phone briefly, then put it away.
"Same looks as always," she muttered.
Mizuki smiled faintly. "At least they're consistent."
Komi didn't slow her步. "Consistency means predictability."
Arisa glanced at her. "And predictability means control."
Komi nodded once.
They didn't say his name.
They never needed to.
---
Other Girls' Thoughts — Never Spoken Aloud
In corners of the campus, thoughts brewed quietly.
A first-year student scribbled notes but kept glancing toward the window where the sisters had passed earlier.
If I had a brother like that… I'd brag. Just a little.
A senior in the law department scoffed inwardly.
They act like it's normal. That kind of privilege isn't normal.
Another girl stared at her screen, replaying an advertisement she'd seen weeks ago.
He smiled so gently… how can someone be like that?
No one said these thoughts out loud.
Because envy rarely likes witnesses.
---
Library Again — The Weight of Being Ordinary
Later, as afternoon settled in, the sisters returned to the library.
The same seats.
The same silence.
The same attention that never truly faded.
Mizuki finally spoke, her voice low.
"Do you think it'll ever stop?"
Arisa didn't look up. "No."
Komi turned a page calmly. "People don't stop wanting what they don't have."
Mizuki exhaled softly. "Then… we just keep doing this?"
Komi nodded. "Yes."
No heroics.
No dramatic vows.
Just three sisters choosing routine over reaction.
Outside the library windows, the campus buzzed with life—ambition, jealousy, admiration, and quiet longing.
Inside, Komi, Arisa, and Mizuki studied.
Ignored the stares.
And continued living the way they always had.
Because for them, this wasn't extraordinary.
It was just another day in a world that never stopped watching.
—To be continued...