"Alright. presentation's finished," I said, clasping my hands together as I thanked whatever gods were listening.
"Not to mention..." I trailed off, glancing at the white haired girl beside me, casually munching on a bag of chips she'd bought right after class ended.
"Great job out there, Anathasia. Couldn't have done it without your help." I flashed her a small smile, which she met with a simple nod.
"Well, you did ask me to study the material, so I did." her voice was small as she popped another chip in her mouth.
"And... I don't wanna screw us both over," she added, trailing off. "I already learned from that time during our midterms a few months ago..."
I paused, watching her so meek unlike her usual self. She's often the one deciding things, but I guess she really is still the same girl who wore that vulnerable look five months ago.
"Well, that being said," I reached out and gently patted her head. "You've grown. Slowly, but surely."
Though things didn't always go smoothly between us, I'm just glad she was finally starting to change for the better. Even if she did act strangely from time to time.
But I guess it's understandable, knowing what she really is.
Still, I can't help but wonder from time to time. She once mentioned she was a cosmic being, but that was way too vague. What exactly was she?
I never brought it up again, but the thought lingered. That Anathasia was more than what she was letting on.
Of course, I trusted her, more than anyone actually. We also promised to not keep secrets from each other.
But sometimes, I can't shake this feeling... that she's something beyond what she claims to be.
I just know she is, I just can't prove it yet.
---
In the middle of the room stood a girl, her body trembling at the mere sight before her.
The future head of the Auclait family - Marianne Auclait
"So, how's NSGU."
Her seat turned slowly, teacup in hand. Crimson eyes landed on the girl at the center of the dimly lit room. Faint light leaked through the covered windows, outlining her figure in red and shadow.
"Angel?" Marianne's tone was soft. Gentle. Scrutinizing. Her smile didn't reach her eyes.
The girl remained silent. Marianne felt a flicker of irritation, but smoothened it quickly.
"Please, I am not planning to hurt you, much less your family," she said lightly, her tone calm, deliberate. "So feel free to speak, okay? I won't use your words against you. Really."
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hands. The porcelain of her teacup clicked softly against the saucer, a fragile sound in the thick air.
"We're friends, aren't we? Your family and mine." she continued, tilting her head, her smile almost turning tender. "I just wanted to check up on my friend, that's all."
Her gaze softened, but only in the surface.
The girl hesitated, lips parted as if to speak, but only a choked sound escaped.
Marianne's eyes bore into her. The warmth vanished, replaced by a cold, empty glint that made the air feel heavier. She waited, silent, expectant.
"...Kyle... he's..." the girl finally managed, voice trembling. "He's... currently with a girl... rumors suggest... that they..."
"I see." Marianne cut her off before she could finish. Her tone was flat. Not angry, not hurt, just void.
"You may go." she added, leaning back against her seat, motioning toward the door.
The girl bowed her head quickly, turning away. The moment she crossed the threshold, her knees gave out, breath catching as the weight of Marianne's gaze lifted.
She didn't need to be told what came next.
She already knew what she had to do.
Marianne clicked her tongue as soon as the girl left, irritated at how both Noah and Angel's statements confirmed the existence of another girl beside Kyle.
"Anathasia..." she murmured, glancing at her teacup. "Just who are you?"
Her fingers tightened around the porcelain cup, a faint crack echoing through the quiet room.
Marianne inhaled sharply, forcing the anger down. Her reflection on the tea looked calm again. Only her eyes betrayed her.
"Kyle is mine... he should be mine alone..."
She picked up her phone, then dialed a number, pressing it to her ear.
"Hai hai, Fuyukawa Hinami of the Fuyukawa Group speaking~"
The voice was light, playful. But something in its rhythm felt practiced. Too smooth. Like a merchant long accustomed to charming her audience into believing anything she said.
"Hinami, it's me."
"Oho? Marianne-san~? What made you reach out to good ol' Hinami?"
"Hinami, you said you had information networks yes?" Marianne's tone was clipped, tension coiled in her voice.
"Yeess~? I did, is there someone I should look into?"
"A girl named Anathasia. Anathasia Dunaleff."
Hinami paused, then spoke up.
"Anathasia Dunaleff? That's a new name, did your little boyfie cheat on you or something?"
Hinami asked, only to receive a cold response.
"Just do it." Marianne replied flatly. "And while you're at it, contact Mei. Tell her we'll meet up four weeks from now."
A beat. Then, cold precision.
"At Seoul, Shuisho Corporation main building."
Hinami fell silent, a soft giggle escaping her.
"Alright~ so the Li Group's getting involved, huh... I wonder what Madame Marianne has in store for us this time."
A pause, then her usual playful tone returned.
"Anyways, I'll tell Mei, sure thing."
Silence. But the call didn't end just yet.
"Marianne," Hinami's tone dropped. Cold. Calculating. "who's this girl, anyway?"
"It's unthinkable, you being this shaken up. Even pulling Mei Li and potentially both the Fuyukawa and Li Groups in."
Marianne remained silent, the stillness stretching between them.
"I'm not taking any chances, Hinami. It's exactly because I don't have a clue about who she is... that I'm doing this."
"That you'd drag even Mei Li into it?" Hinami responded almost immediately.
"Marianne, I know we're friends, partners behind curtains. The Fuyukawa Group, the Li Group, and the House of Auclait." she paused, her voice tightening. "But this is just-"
"I know." Marianne cut her off, leaving no room for argument.
"I'm aware."
A breath. Then quieter.
"I just can't shake this feeling... that this Anathasia woman... isn't just a normal person. Like there's something about her that I shouldn't know about."
The silence between them stretched, then Hinami spoke.
"If this woman made even the Marianne herself feel a sense of unease, then maybe it wouldn't hurt to look into her." her casual, cheery tone returned, like a mask popping back in place.
"Anyways, Anathasia Dunaleff right? Consider it done. Babye~"
The call then ended, Marianne gently set her phone down, her gaze drifting toward the stack of papers at the edge of her desk.
"I'll uncover any secrets you're trying to hide," she murmured, lifting her teacup to her lips. "And make sure you get your hands off what's mine."
A small smirk curved on her lips as she took a delicate sip.
"Prepare yourself, Anathasia Dunaleff." her voice dropped to a whisper. "I'll take Kyle back from your filthy little hands... and make him mine once again."
A manic glint flickered in her crimson eyes, the reflection of the cup smiling back.
---
On the other hand, unbeknownst to them, a storm was drawing near. Fast.
However, the Outer God had already seen through everything, ready to face what threatened her peaceful life with the boy named Kyle.
"That's more like it." the Outer God mused silently, her lips curving faintly as she stirred the simmering pot before her. "Struggle... let's see if you can handle the consequences of your actions."
Marianne shivered miles away, a chill running down her spine. One that only deepened her strange mix of excitement and unease.