"What right do you have to claim Mana? It's because of you that she suffered so much!" Gai Tsutsugami shouted, swinging his arm and landing a heavy punch on Shu Ouma, knocking him to the ground.
Eyes burning red, Shu sprang back up, grappling with Gai. At that moment, Gai seemed to abandon all his refined combat skills, brawling like a street thug as the two rolled across the floor in a messy scuffle.
"Hey, Gai's fighting the new guy! We should separate them!"
"Oh my, they're fighting over a woman. Are you sure you want to get in between that?" Kurumi said with a sweet, amused smile, her dark aura radiating enough pressure to make everyone freeze in place.
When they thought about it, it was true—Gai, usually calm and dignified, had lost all composure because of a woman. That in itself was too fascinating to interrupt. The gossipy curiosity burning in everyone's hearts made them decide to just... watch.
"No way... Gai's supposed to like Inori, isn't he?!" Ayase Shinomiya exclaimed, covering her mouth. Her expression looked even more pitiful than the two men wrestling—like she was fighting back tears she refused to shed.
"Inori! This drawing looks just like you! Are they fighting over you?" Kurumi picked up the picture she'd drawn ten years ago and studied it with satisfaction. Shu had taken great care coloring it—honestly, even she couldn't have done a better job herself.
At that moment, Ayase wheeled herself over, snatched the drawing from Kurumi's hand, and examined it hurriedly. Her eyes then flicked between the picture and Inori, narrowing suspiciously. "Inori... do you have a sister?"
"Huh?" Inori tilted her head, confusion clouding her soft pink eyes.
After a while, the two battered and bruised boys lay sprawled on the ground, panting heavily. Without saying a word, Shu staggered to his feet, snatched the picture from Ayase's hands, and walked off without looking back.
"Shu! Please, give Mana back to me!" a desperate voice called after him. Shu turned around to see Gai kneeling on the ground, his usually composed face twisted with pleading desperation.
"Why should I?" Shu's tone was cold.
"Mana... she's always loved you. I've lost everything already. Please, just give me her picture," Gai said weakly, his voice trembling. Ayase couldn't hold back anymore—she covered her mouth and began to cry.
"No way," Shu said with a mocking laugh. There was a sharp thrill in his voice—a cruel satisfaction. Even Gai Tsutsugami, the perfect man, has something he can't have. And it belongs to me.
Gai watched silently as Shu's figure disappeared into the distance. Two silent tears fell from his eyes. Even if Mana had never loved him from the start, Gai had still fallen hopelessly, helplessly in love with her—the only woman who had ever truly existed in his world. All he wanted now was to be seen, just once, by her eyes.
The messy triangle ended in bitterness and silence. As evening fell, Kurumi happened to glimpse Inori entering Gai's room—his upper body bare. Kurumi's wine-red eyes narrowed dangerously.
"My, my... I know the reason behind it, but no matter how much I understand, the anger just won't fade. Inori, I hope you're ready for punishment," Kurumi muttered coldly, her crimson eyes glinting with restrained fury.
Of course, Kurumi knew the truth—Inori was only donating blood to suppress the virus eating away at Gai's body.
Yes, she knew it perfectly well. But the flawless genetic temper of Miyu Shirase's bloodline stirred within her. She simply couldn't tolerate Inori being alone with Gai like that. So she decided to give the oblivious girl a small... punishment.
Turning a corner, Kurumi suddenly heard a cry. Ayase Shinomiya, still distraught over Gai's outburst, had tripped while descending the stairs and fallen hard.
Clad only in thin sleepwear, Ayase lay awkwardly on the floor. Through the fabric, Kurumi could see that her figure was surprisingly shapely. Her delicate face, shadowed by heartbreak, stirred an unexpected sense of pity.
Kurumi's lips curved into a faint smile. She approached and crouched beside her, feigning innocent curiosity. "Oh my, the heartbroken girl can't handle the pain and plans to die for love?"
"Of course not! I just fell, that's all!" Ayase snapped, glaring at her. Then, glancing toward the direction Kurumi had come from, she let out a bitter laugh. "Inori spends time alone with Gai every month or two. But now... I almost feel sorry for her. Gai only ever saw her as a replacement."
"Stop! Let's end this self-destructive nonsense. We look like complete idiots," Kurumi called out, halting the tension. She and Ayase Shinomiya exchanged glances—and both suddenly laughed. Women could be so inexplicably complicated sometimes.
"I'm sorry. I've always been hostile toward you because you hit Gai. Looking back now, I realize how stupid that was," Ayase said apologetically, sitting on the floor with her legs bent beneath her, supporting herself with one arm.
Shaking her head, Kurumi replied softly, "It's fine. I've always been very forgiving toward beautiful girls."
"Beautiful girls? You mean... me?" Ayase's face flushed a light red. Because of her disability, no one had ever called her beautiful before.
"Wait—what are you doing?" Lost in thought, Ayase suddenly noticed Kurumi's hand slip behind her back, the other passing between her legs—before she realized it, Kurumi had lifted her into her arms in a princess carry.
"What am I doing? I can't just leave you sitting on the floor, can I?" Kurumi said with a teasing smile, carrying Ayase toward her wheelchair. Feeling the warmth of Kurumi's gentle grip and catching the faint sweetness of her scent, Ayase's heart pounded uncontrollably. Her face burned with embarrassment.
"Wait, I swore I'd never rely on anyone! I can get up by myself!" Ayase protested, her voice flustered. Even when she had feelings for Gai, she had never felt her heart race like this.
"Oh? And why should I listen to you?" Kurumi replied playfully, setting Ayase gently back into her chair before pushing her toward her room.
Even after Kurumi had long disappeared, Ayase's heart continued to race wildly, her face still hot. To her surprise, the emotional wound Gai had left her with didn't hurt as much anymore.
Meanwhile, on the rooftop, Shu Ouma sat alone, the cool wind brushing against him as loneliness consumed his heart.
He realized that no matter how vast the world was, there was no place for him to belong. Gai had Funeral Parlor to care for him when he was hurt—but Shu? Who would care if he was injured? In truth, no one probably even remembered.
"Shu, there you are. I've been looking everywhere for you," a warm, magnetic voice called out from behind.
Turning around, Shu saw Kurumi approaching gracefully, dressed in a short black gown that radiated elegance. In her hands, she carried a small medical kit.
"Kurumi, you were looking for me?" Shu asked, his voice faint. The heavy sadness within him began to fade slightly.
"You're hurt, Shu. I was worried," Kurumi said softly, kneeling in front of him as she set down the kit and began tending to his wounds with careful hands.
In truth, being a lesbian, Kurumi naturally had no interest in men.. She was simply displaying her natural charm—the seductive charm of Kurumi-chan. If Shu somehow fell for her, well... she was already prepared with a thank you card and an apology card. After all, with Miyu Shirase's mischievous genetics and her own dark wit, Kurumi always came prepared.
"My, my... Shu, you'd better not fall in love with me by accident," she teased sweetly, her smile graceful and calm—but her inner thoughts were wickedly amused. The era of 'good girl' cards is over. 'Thank you' and 'sorry' cards are the new trend.
The soft foam swab brushed across Shu's wound with a sting of alcohol, but the pain couldn't mask the warmth he felt inside.
Watching Kurumi carefully treat his injuries, Shu felt the chill within his heart melt away, replaced by a flood of gentle affection. Kurumi... can I secretly fall for you? he wondered.
Closing the medical kit, Kurumi smiled and said, "Shu, why don't you come stay at my place for a while? My home's quite spacious, and living alone feels a bit lonely. If you're there, it might be livelier."
"Thank you... I'd appreciate that," Shu replied, nodding. After fighting with Gai, there was no way he could stay at Funeral Parlor anymore. With nowhere else to go, he didn't have the pride to refuse—and more importantly, this felt like Kurumi's unique kind of kindness. He couldn't bring himself to turn it down.
"Wonderful! It's already late, so let's go now," Kurumi said cheerfully, lifting the medical kit as she descended the stairs. Shu quickly followed behind her.
But as fate would have it, just as they reached the lower hall, they saw Inori emerging from Gai's room.
To their shock, Gai was standing at the doorway—shirt draped loosely over his shoulders, his bare torso exposed. The four of them froze, eyes locking.
"Inori... no way..." Shu stared at her in disbelief. In that instant, the image of his idol came crashing down. It felt like hearing that the pure, goddess-like actress you'd worshipped since childhood was caught in a scandal with her sponsor. His admiration turned instantly into disgust. Seeing Inori's blank, innocent face now only made him feel sick.
"Kurumi-chan!" Inori gasped, her voice trembling as terror gripped her heart. Her legs shook violently. She wanted to explain—but her mind went blank. Words failed her.
"Let's go, Shu," Kurumi said coldly, her wine-red eyes gleaming with icy light. Turning sharply, she walked away, her graceful steps resolute and unhesitating.
"Kurumi-chan!" Inori cried, her trembling legs finally moving as she clung to the wall, forcing her weakened body to chase after Kurumi.
"Kurumi-chan, wait for me!" Tears blurred her vision. That graceful figure she had seen so many times in her dreams grew smaller and smaller, fading with each step she took.
"Kurumi-chan! Don't leave me!" Reaching the end of the hallway, Inori's legs gave out. She collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
Through tear-blurred eyes, she could only watch as the figure she longed for disappeared completely. A tide of loneliness and fear swallowed her whole.
Kurumi-chan doesn't want me anymore... The world felt cold. Inori was terrified.
"Kurumi, don't you think Inori's too pitiful?" Shu asked quietly once they were outside, guilt creeping into his voice.
"Mm. Shu, don't underestimate a woman's jealousy," Kurumi murmured, lowering her head. Her long black bangs fell to the side, partially hiding the regret gleaming in her wine-red eyes. She was clearly saying one thing—but feeling another.