Chapter 4. Revelation

Chapter 4. Revelation CHAPTER 4 Revelation

Ding dong, bing booong…

As Alisa lay on the nurse’s office bed, the school chimes rang, marking the end of cleaning duty.

“If you’re not feelin’ good, maybe you should rest in the nurse’s office until you feel better?” Nonoa had suggested earlier, nearly tossing Alisa onto the bed, where she remained motionless despite the fact that the student council meeting had already begun.

Does this count as playing hooky?

It would be her first time, if that were the case. The thought crossed her mind, laced with self-deprecation. Skipping student council work or class was unthinkable—an unforgivable blemish on her record. Yet, she couldn’t summon the strength to move. Her heart was too heavy, leaving no space for even self-loathing.

“There is no one that I love more than Yuki, and she is the most important person in the world to me. That has never changed, and it never will.”

Masachika’s words were still echoing in her mind. She wanted to believe that she had misheard them. However, the way he looked when he was playing piano at the school festival and how he was staring at Yuki during field day—these facts wouldn’t let Alisa run away from reality.

Oh, maybe they…

Had they been in a relationship all along, only to have it torn apart due to family circumstances? Yuki was the only daughter of a prestigious family, and Masachika came from a middle-class background. If their love was forbidden due to their social divide, then Masachika’s expression toward Yuki’s mother during field day would also make sense.

Is that what Masachika has been hiding from me…?

It would be comical. That would mean that there hadn’t been any room for her to wedge herself between those two from the very beginning. The feelings that Masachika harbored for Alisa were, at most, respect and affection that one human being had for another… There was no love there. Yet, she had gone and fallen for him all on her own, gotten herself all worked up about it, and now here she was—grieving alone.

“ … !”

Alisa felt a tightness in her chest and the heat of welling tears, which she quickly choked back. Don’t cry, she told herself. Nonoa was still on the other side of the curtain, and there was no way she was going to let anyone see her like this—weak, pathetic, and crying over a broken heart.

It’s just a broken heart. So what? I should be glad that I figured it out now before I got hurt. I mean, it stings, but it’s not a big deal.

At the very least, she had realized she was in love and immediately learned that it was unrequited before it was too late…

“ … ! Hff … !”

Alisa curled into the sheets, burying her face in the pillow to stifle her sobs, but her trembling heart couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions.

“ < But it does hurt… > ”

With her last bit of pride, she whispered quietly in Russian so that no one would hear while she desperately tried to keep her voice from trembling.

“ < I like him… I like him so much… > ”

Her heart overflowed with emotion, the words spilling uncontrollably. ‘It stings, but it’s not a big deal?’ Ridiculous. It was too late. She was hopelessly in love with Masachika Kuze and couldn’t picture a future without him. Just the thought of him not being there made her chest ache.

“ < I like him… > ”

Thank you very much, Madam Miyamae. I was able to apologize to Master Masachika thanks to you.

Really? I’m glad. Oh and you can call me Nonoa ok?

Thank you…Nonoa.

No prob. Just hit me up if you ever wanna talk.

While she texted Ayano, Nonoa listened as Alisa’s voice came faintly from the other side of the curtain.

Hmm… It’s pretty boring when they hold back their emotions like this.

Alisa’s true feelings were a mystery, hidden behind a mask of restraint. However, Nonoa craved raw, intense emotion—something that could shake her indifferent heart. She knew from many past attempts that random people’s emotional explosions would not move her heart, but she was hoping that maybe she’d feel something if it was someone she had a certain level of familiarity with…

Eh. Whatever. It’s Kuze that I’m interested in, so I’ve gotta throw as many rocks as I can, even if some turn out to be boring like this.

Covering all her bases was important. Therefore…

Time to deliver the finishing blow.

Exploiting someone’s vulnerability was a fundamental tactic of mind control. Therefore, in an attempt to get closer to Alisa, Nonoa placed her hand on the curtain when— bzzz! — she got a notification on her phone.

Nonoa, are you still cleaning?

It was Hikaru, reminding Nonoa that they had band practice today in the music clubroom.

Hmm… I think I’m gonna pass today.

Just as she was about to text him back and say she wasn’t coming today, she glanced at the bed once more, and her phone vibrated.

Are you coming to band practice or not?

This time it was a text from Sayaka, and as soon as Nonoa saw that, she held her phone with both hands and rapidly started typing a response.

I’m going. Why? You there? Wanna watch?

Yeah.

Ok I’ll be right there.

After sending a flurry of heart emojis, Nonoa shoved her phone back into her pocket and faced the curtains.

“Alisa, I’ve gotta go to band practice.”

Alisa didn’t reply, but Nonoa didn’t mind. She left the nurse’s office, deliberately walking with loud footsteps while pretending to be a considerate friend.

All right, let’s do this. ♪

Nonoa broke into a slight jog down the hall toward the music club room, Ayano and Alisa already completely erased from her mind.

“All right, that should do it for today.”

“Great. Sounds good to me.”

“Good work, everyone.”

“Yeah, good work, guys.”

After finishing his student council duties, Masachika left the student council room, then surveyed the completely darkened hallway and frowned.

Alya ended up not coming…

Alisa had sent a text to the student council group chat saying that she’d be a little late, but that was it. She didn’t even pick up when Maria called her. Alisa had known that today was going to be busy, since they had various post-field day tasks to take care of, and she wasn’t the kind of person who would simply skip student council meetings, so everyone was more worried than angry.

Masachika also…

I haven’t really gotten the chance to talk to her since field day.

He had been grappling with numerous family issues recently, and he figured Alisa had noticed and was giving him some space…but her absence from today’s student council meeting seemed to suggest that there was more to her behavior.

Masha said she was going to call her again…but I should probably look for her, too.

He decided to check out everywhere Alisa could possibly be before heading home.

“She’s not here, either,” Masachika muttered to himself after checking the classrooms and the teachers’ room and peeking into the second music room.

I guess it’d be pretty hilarious if she already went home…

But even he knew that wasn’t likely, and that was what worried him more.

…I should check out our classroom one last time.

He turned on his heel and ran into the last person he expected to see.

“Oh, look who we have here,” Yuushou Kiryuuin commented with a theatrical note in his voice. He was the troublemaker who had thrown the entire school into chaos during last month’s festival. His punishment had been severe: his cousin Sumire had shaved his head, and he’d endured a month-long suspension as well. Masachika instantly grimaced at the sight of his old nemesis, which was understandable after their clash at the school festival.

He had never cared for Yuushou’s narcissistic, self-absorbed nature, but the festival incident had unfortunately left Yuushou starring in his own cringe compilation, so there was not much more Masachika could do to the guy. Besides, he was worried about Alisa right now, so…

“Hey. Bye.”

Masachika only glanced at him before quickly passing by. However…

“Come on, what’s the rush?”

Yuushou quickly circled around to get in front of him, leaning against the wall and giving him a sidelong glance for some reason. Masachika cringed noticeably at this dramatic display, wanting to tell him he had clearly consumed too many girly comics and romantic dramas, but he somehow managed to suppress his irritation.

“Listen, I don’t know how close you think we are, but I’m busy right now. What do you want?”

“Hmm? It’s not really anything important.”

“You have no idea how badly I want to smack you right now, Baldy Patches.”

The merciless nickname made Yuushou wince. However, sadly, perhaps realizing that the description was accurate, he was more amused than angry. After all, his head had been shaved by Sumire and then his hair only partially regrew during his suspension. However, his hair seemed to grow unevenly, creating scattered bald spots—thus earning him the title ‘Baldy Patches.’

Nevertheless, Yuushou contained his laughter, flung his arms wide, and shrugged with theatrical flair.

“Good grief. Making fun of someone’s physical appearance? This is why commoners will never be taken seriously.”

“I’d rather not be lectured by someone who refers to others as ‘commoners.’”

Naturally, Masachika wouldn’t mock anyone for congenital traits or conditions resulting from illness or accident, but Yuushou’s current hair situation was the consequence of his own actions. Therefore, Masachika couldn’t help but be a little harsh after putting up with him for so long.

And he’s calling me a commoner? Has he not figured out that Yuki and I are siblings yet?

The thought flitted across Masachika’s mind, resolving his confusion. Despite their shared surname, few would make the jump to conclude that they were siblings. Most would have dismissed it as coincidence or, at most, suspect they were distant relatives. Only Nonoa had immediately pieced it together, but she was the exception.

As Masachika pondered this, Yuushou, having apparently collected himself, nonchalantly remarked:

“It looks like the rumors were true. You’re really playing piano for the brass band, huh?”

“…Who’d you hear that from?” asked Masachika, wondering how he had learned something known only to a select few.

“I’m the president of the piano club, you know? I hear things, especially when it pertains to music clubs,” Yuushou replied casually.

“Uh-huh… Well, unfortunately, I’m looking for someone right now, so I have to go. Later,” Masachika replied, saying only the bare minimum as he tried to pass his schoolmate again. However…

“Alisa Kujou, I presume?”

Masachika stopped in his tracks and stared at Yuushou with a mixture of suspicion and caution.

“Don’t look at me like that. I happened to see her head into the nurse’s office with Nonoa Miyamae, that’s all.”

“She was with Nonoa … ?”

That threw Masachika for a loop. Regardless, this was still useful information, so he thanked his schoolmate, albeit reluctantly.

“…Thanks. See you around.”

But just as he was about to walk past Yuushou again—

“Not so fast, Kuze. Are you honestly planning on welcoming Miyamae into the student council with you?”

Shut up already! thought Masachika while he answered, “…Yeah, if we win the election.”

Yuushou openly displayed a mocking smile the instant he heard Masachika’s curt response.

“Really, now? It’s hard to believe that any sane individual would purposely keep someone so dangerous close by.”

Masachika was momentarily at a loss for words…because he knew there was some truth to what the guy was saying.

“Surely, you don’t believe that she’d be a powerful ally, right? Because you would be gravely mistaken if you did.” It was as if Yuushou could read his mind. “She’s nobody’s ally. There are only two types of people in the world in her eyes: the valuables and the disposables. She keeps one group solely for watching, while reserving the other group for the satisfaction she derives from breaking them.”

“…Maybe it looks that way to twisted individuals such as you.”

“Or perhaps you’re simply too naive to realize it?”

Masachika grimaced at the sarcastic retort, but refused to let it slide, let alone admit that Yuushou was right—not after he’d made up his mind that Nonoa was his friend. Therefore, he argued:

“You knew the old her, but new people and new experiences are changing her little by little. She’s not the same person you once knew.”

“She hasn’t changed a bit. If she does seem different, it’s only because that’s what she wants you to think.”

“Tsk…”

Masachika’s anger finally began to show as Yuushou kept condemning Nonoa, as if she were some sort of evil presence. Yet, Yuushou only shrugged—as though there was nothing to be done about it.

“Good grief. Do I have to spell it out for you?” the pianist sighed, pushing off the wall and shaking his head as he passed by Masachika’s side.

“Allow me to give you one last piece of advice, Kuze. Your biggest weakness is this innate desire to believe in the good of all people,” he stated, leaving Masachika with those words.

However, while that advice left Masachika pondering, he refused to let Yuushou have the last word and yelled out:

“And your biggest weakness is that you can’t drop the theatrical cool-kid act, even with that bald head of yours!”

“ … !”

Masachika ignored Yuushou staggering from that emotional damage, his schoolmate’s words still echoing in his mind as he headed toward the nurse’s office.

Nonoa’s transformation…is all just an act?

It was absurd—there was no reason to heed the words of such a twisted villain. Between Nonoa and Yuushou, the choice was obvious. Yet, doubt lingered, rooting itself in his mind and creeping through his thoughts like relentless vines.

Nonoa and Alya went to the nurse’s office together? Is Alya feeling sick? But why would Nonoa be with her? She’s not in our class or our club. Don’t tell me she did something to her…

Nonoa’s clingy gaze and what she said on the amusement park bench that day flashed through his mind. He didn’t know how serious she was, and he knew common sense was foreign to Nonoa most of the time. But normally, didn’t girls tend to feel competitive toward other girls who were close to the boy they liked?

If that’s what happened, then—no, she hasn’t tried to mess with me since then. Besides, I already made up my mind that I was going to stop being so prejudiced against her!

Masachika erased his doubt along with his feelings of shame and self-loathing.

“Your biggest weakness is this innate desire to believe in the good of all people.”

Yuushou’s warning resurfaced in his mind, but he pushed it aside, quickening his pace toward the nurse’s office—hoping that talking to Alisa would finally put his doubts to rest.

“Hello?”

Suppressing his impatience, Masachika knocked on the sliding door and stepped into the nurse’s office, immediately drawing the gaze of the nurse seated at her desk.

“Ah, are you here to see Alisa?”

“Oh, uh… Yeah.”

“She’s right over there. Perfect timing, by the way. I was just about to wake her up,” revealed the nurse before opening the curtain and stepping inside.

“Alisa, how do you feel? Your friend Masachika is here to get you.”

Masachika could just barely hear Alisa whispering to the nurse for a moment, and then the nurse emerged with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry, Masachika. But she said that she’s going to rest for a little longer before heading home and that she doesn’t want you to worry about her.”

“What … ?”

It was a subtle way of brushing him off. Masachika, caught off guard by her refusal, was left speechless, but…

But I guess if she doesn’t want to see me…then it is what it is…

Prioritizing his own feelings and persisting would simply inconvenience Alisa, and if she didn’t want to see him, then it was his duty as her partner to respect that.

“Oh, okay… I’ll tell her sister to meet her here, then.”

“That would probably be for the best.”

Just as he took out his phone to call Maria, so that at least Alisa could get home safely—

______ Are you really going to just run away again?

A voice echoed in his mind, and his hand stalled as the image of Yuki’s fake smile during their shopping trip resurfaced.

“…”

He pretended not to see anything. He pretended not to notice. He knew Yuki was in pain, but he tried to selfishly justify it, telling himself that this was what Yuki wanted and that he should respect it.

And now, was he about to make the same mistake?

Am I really going to back off just because Alya rejected me? Knowing full well that she isn’t acting like herself? I… I made her a promise, didn’t I?!

That day, when he decided to run in the election with Alisa, he’d vowed to be there for her and that she would never be alone. So breaking this promise would be—

“ … ! Alya!” Masachika shouted, driven by a mix of anger at himself and a sense of duty that exploded in his chest. Shoving his phone into his pocket, he brushed past the stunned nurse, yanked open the curtain, and stormed inside, ignoring her protests.

Alisa was dreaming.

She was crying in bed when suddenly, Masachika appeared.

He came to get her and told her that this was all a misunderstanding—that she was the most important person in the world to him while he gently hugged her.

Oh, what a convenient dream…

“…sa Kujou.”

Alisa slowly opened her eyes as someone gently shook her shoulders. The first thing she noticed was a pillow bathed in soft light filtering through the pristine white sheets.

“Alisa, how do you feel? Your friend Masachika is here to get you.”

“ … !”

Her heart skipped a beat and then immediately sank. She knew that even if Masachika had come to get her like in her dream, reality wouldn’t unfold the same way. She understood that it would always be nothing more than a dream, and she wasn’t ready to face the truth yet.

“…Could you ask him to leave? Please tell him that I’m going to go home after resting a little longer.”

“What … ? Oh… You want me to get him to leave?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure? Is there anything else you need?”

“I’m fine,” Alisa replied, tightly wrapping her entire body in her sheets as if to protect herself from any further questioning. The turmoil inside her had settled while she was asleep, replaced by an overwhelming emptiness. Everything felt hollow. She couldn’t find meaning in anything—her life, her actions, or even this moment.

It all seemed pointless—a waste of time, and she realized she had been making a fuss over nothing.

“Alya!”

Alisa jumped as he sharply called her name. Immediately, the curtains swung open as his footsteps—Masachika’s footsteps—drew close.

“Alya … ? What’s wrong?”

“M-Masachika! She’s sick! You can’t just—”

“Could you please give me a second with her? If Alya insists that I leave, then I’ll leave.”

The nurse didn’t say another word after that.

“Alya… Are you okay? Can you tell me what happened?”

She could hear Masachika’s considerate voice through the sheets. It was a gentle voice with genuine concern for her.

But even that voice sounded hollow and meaningless at the moment.

That kindness doesn’t belong to me alone.

The twisted thought crossed her mind before quickly popping like a bubble. She couldn’t help but wonder what the point of it was if it didn’t belong only to her. It was absurd. It was meaningless. These thoughts—everything—

“Don’t tell me Nonoa did something to you … ?”

“ … ?”

A question mark appeared over Alisa’s head when she heard Masachika’s earnest inquiry, but it was this serious question that served as a catalyst that slowly awakened her foggy, desensitized mind.

“I heard that you two came here together, so…”

“…That’s not it.”

“Hng … ?!” Masachika grunted, surprised that she finally responded.

“Nonoa has nothing to do with this. She just helped walk me here because I wasn’t feeling well.”

“Huh? O-oh… It looks like I was just jumping to conclusions then…”

His voice was drenched in regret and shame. Alisa lifted the sheets, peering out with a single eye to find Masachika huddled beside the bed, his face buried in both hands.

“…—die of embarrassment… I can’t believe—…”

A giggle escaped Alisa’s throat, drawing Masachika’s eyes, but she quickly ducked beneath the sheets, concealing herself once more.

…What am I laughing about?

The corners of her mouth curled upward involuntarily, despite the doubt and hollowness weighing on her heart. Masachika sat there, head in his hands, looking utterly pitiful, and this sight alone was irresistibly comical for some reason.

“Alya … ?” Masachika muttered skeptically while she trembled beneath the sheets.

“It’s not a big deal. I just heard something that upset me,” Alisa replied in a matter-of-fact voice as she desperately held back her emotions.

“Something that upset you? About how we lost the Run?”

Alisa’s ambiguous response led Masachika to draw the wrong conclusion. It caught even Alisa off guard, leaving her speechless and unsure how to reply. The silence, however, only escalated Masachika’s misconception.

“I mean, yeah, that’s going to hurt us a little, but we have Sumire and Elena on our side now, which obviously is a huge plus, so I don’t think it turned out all that bad overall. There are going to be people who talk bad about us, given the progress we’ve made so far, but we can’t let that bother us…”

He mistakenly concluded that Alisa was depressed because one of Yuki’s fans insulted her, so he earnestly consoled her at length, and once again, Alisa found this extremely amusing for some reason.

He’s completely clueless… Who do you think broke my heart? she thought, coming to the conclusion that maybe he had always been like this. Masachika had always been a step ahead, behaving as though he understood everything about her…yet he had overlooked the most vital detail and she found that extremely amusing. She felt a victorious thrill at having outwitted Masachika for once, that fact secretly bringing her joy…

Giggle… You really are so, so clueless.

She was happy that Masachika was unaware of how she felt, yet simultaneously felt resentful. Buried beneath the sheets, Alisa absorbed his sincerity while dwelling in this emotional contradiction.

Still, she recognized that Masachika was laying bare his heart for her, and a slow-blooming happiness began to fill her own, even if his words were misguided. Because right then, his genuine tenderness belonged…exclusively to her.

It breaks my heart that I’m not the one you were destined to be with.

To Alisa, Masachika was her destined partner, but she was not his, and that crushed her. It was painfully suffocating, but she couldn’t give up—no matter what.

So…I’m going to tuck these feelings away for now.

Masachika felt drawn to and wanted to support Alisa Kujou because she always pushed ahead without dwelling on the past. It wasn’t in her nature to simply curl up in a ball and be depressed all day. Therefore, she needed to continue making progress until the day that Masachika finally noticed her, because such determination embodied the very qualities he likely sought in a partner. And that was why…

“—people that support us. I mean, even I—…”

Alisa held out her right hand from beneath the sheets and beckoned for Masachika, who was still trying to cheer her up.

“ … ? What?”

He leaned forward, cautiously bringing his face closer. But when Alisa persisted in her silent beckoning, Masachika edged closer to her, assuming she wanted to share something just between them.

“What … ?”

Right as Masachika’s puzzled voice tickled Alisa’s ear, she sat up and swiftly spread the sheet over him, making him jump.

“Ah … ?!”

As he reflexively closed his eyes with both hands still propped on the bed, Alisa pulled his head firmly to her chest. Then, pressing her lips gently against his unexpectedly soft, black hair, she whispered something in Russian.

It wasn’t like all of those other times when words simply slipped unconsciously off her tongue. It was born from the overflowing love brimming in her heart. After quietly confessing her feelings, Alisa shut her eyes, letting her love nestle deep within her chest. As she gradually loosened her embrace, Masachika looked up, their eyes locking beneath the pristine white sheets. But still disoriented by Alisa’s unexpected embrace, Masachika flinched.

“Uh… What’s going on?”

Alisa flashed her usual provocative smirk at Masachika, his flustered expression befitting a young man his age.

“I’m so lucky that you’re this dense… I’m fine now,” she declared, flinging off the sheets and letting the nurse’s fluorescent office lights flood over them both. However, as her vision adjusted to the light, she spotted the nurse standing behind Masachika, wearing a strained and awkward smile.

“Ahem… What do you two think you’re doing?”

Alisa obviously didn’t have a good excuse, quickly averting her gaze out of guilt and awkwardness. The nurse, however, simply sighed and added:

“Well, I didn’t see anything, so I suppose I’ll let you two off the hook this time. But if you’re feeling better, you should go home.”

“O-okay. Thank you.”

Alisa put on her indoor shoes, grabbed her bag, stood up, then bowed repeatedly before heading toward the door… and then, the nurse added:

“Don’t let me catch you two using these beds for any ‘extra-curricular activities though,’ okay? Because you will be suspended immediately.”

“What the … ?! No!”

Only after hearing Masachika’s flustered response did Alisa finally understand what “activities” the nurse was talking about.

“W-we would never do such a thing! No! Absolutely not!” Alisa hissed. The nurse merely narrowed her eyes and dismissively waved them out. Puffing her cheeks in a sulky pout, Alisa bowed before exiting the nurse’s office. As Masachika trailed after her and pulled the sliding door shut behind him, the hallway’s motion-activated lights began to illuminate, one after another.