Suzuya and the two boys would be returning to stay at the Academy's dormitory. Byakuya and the Yasuhisa sisters were heading home.
That meant they were taking different subway lines.
So Byakuya found himself sharing a train car with Kurona and Nashiro.
The three sat in a row—Nashiro on the far left, with Kurona in the middle and Byakuya on the right.
Since it was rush hour, the subway was packed. The three of them were squeezed together, but at least Byakuya was shielding the sisters from the strangers on the other side.
Kurona could feel her shoulder pressed against Byakuya's. Her body tensed slightly.
But her mind was elsewhere—on the matter of Shio Ihei.
With Nashiro right there, she felt too self-conscious to bring it up.
If only Kurona knew Shio was actually a boy, she wouldn't be so worked up.
But her chance came soon enough.
Perhaps tired from the hours spent in Ward 24, Nashiro leaned against Kurona's shoulder and gradually drifted off to sleep.
Once Kurona confirmed her sister was deeply asleep, she turned to Byakuya. "So... you seem pretty close with that girl named Shio? You've known each other less than a day and you're already calling her by her first name."
Byakuya turned to look at Kurona.
Seeing the clearly bothered expression on her face, he understood immediately.
This was... definitely jealousy, wasn't it?
Right on cue, the system chimed in.
[Ding! Host has triggered a quest. Initiating Divine Selection!]
[Option 1: Tell Kurona that Shio Ihei is actually a boy, then do nothing else. Reward: 1 Fusion Point!]
[Option 2: Lowest emotional intelligence moment—mock Kurona for not being able to tell boys from girls. Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]
[Option 3: Directly ask Kurona if she's jealous. Reward: 20 Fusion Points!]
Byakuya didn't need to think twice.
So instead of clarifying Shio's gender first, he asked directly: "Wait... are you jealous?"
[Ding! Host has completed Option 3. Reward: 20 Fusion Points!]
"Huh..."
Kurona froze for a moment before snapping back. "H-how could that be?!"
Her flustered denial and the faint blush creeping across her cheeks told the whole story.
But she quickly regained her composure and went on the offensive. "I never realized you were this full of yourself."
Byakuya, having seen through everything, simply smiled and said nothing. He had no intention of pressing further just yet.
"Actually, you've had it wrong from the start. That kid named Ihei Shio? Not a girl—he's a boy."
Only now did Byakuya clear up her misunderstanding.
"Huh? You're saying she—wait, he's a boy?"
Kurona's voice rose with surprise.
"Yeah. He definitely looks like a cute little girl, but he's actually male."
Byakuya confirmed.
"...I see."
Kurona was genuinely shocked. She never would have guessed someone who looked like that wasn't a girl.
But a wave of relief washed through her. She no longer cared about Shio's relationship with Byakuya.
"By the way, if you'd like me to call you by your first name too, I'd be happy to."
Byakuya continued.
"Who said I wanted that?! But if you want to, I suppose I could reluctantly allow it."
Kurona immediately shot back.
"Great, since you've agreed, I'll call you Kurona-san from now on."
Byakuya smiled and said plainly: "That way it's easier to distinguish you from Yasuhisa-san over there."
He was referring to Nashiro, of course.
Direct approach beats tsundere—Byakuya's straightforward words completely won the exchange.
Kurona froze, her cheeks flushing bright red.
"O-okay..."
She didn't actually mind him calling her by her first name, so despite her embarrassment, she nodded in acceptance.
...
Soon, it was time for Kurona and Nashiro's stop.
Nashiro had woken up on her own, rubbing her eyes as she realized they'd arrived.
"This is our stop. We'll be going now."
As the train doors opened, Kurona said a quick goodbye to Byakuya.
"Bye, Kurona-san. And goodbye to you too, Yasuhisa-san."
Without Nashiro's permission, Byakuya naturally wouldn't use her first name.
"Goodbye!"
Kurona immediately grabbed Nashiro's hand and hurried off without looking back.
Having Byakuya call her by her first name in front of Nashiro was embarrassing enough.
If he'd said anything more, she wouldn't have been able to handle it.
Still groggy from her nap, Nashiro hadn't fully registered how Byakuya had addressed them.
It wasn't until the train started moving again that it clicked.
"Kurona, did he just call you 'Kurona-san'?"
Nashiro asked suddenly.
"Mm..."
Kurona nodded, unable to deny it.
She didn't bother explaining further—over-explaining might make Nashiro think Byakuya really was as self-absorbed as she'd implied.
"You don't seem to mind at all?"
Nashiro was surprised.
Being called by her first name should have made Kurona resist, but she showed no sign of objection.
What was going on with her sister?
She was becoming almost unrecognizable.
"It's... it's fine, I guess. He did save my life, after all."
Kurona was already using this excuse for the second time.
"Kurona... you've really been acting strange today. Can you tell me what's going on?"
Nashiro's concern was evident.
Hearing this, conflict flickered in Kurona's eyes.
She hesitated about whether to confide in Nashiro. It would be so embarrassing to say out loud.
After much deliberation, she finally made up her mind.
"Nashiro, I think... I might like that guy a little..."