Love Letter From The Future

Celin and Saria’s silence continued for a while.

The hands of both women were gripping me. It was as if the two were engaged in a mental duel with me caught in between. No, if I wasn’t mistaken, it wasn’t a metaphor but reality.

Both Celin and Saria were lovely girls who could earn admiration anywhere. While it was a gratifying thing that such two enjoyed my presence so much, the cold glares exchanged between them made my stomach churn.

Celin, who had grown up with me since childhood, and Saria, who was just beginning to learn about human relationships, were friends who naturally drew my heart. To them, I was surely a close friend, so I understood their desire not to lose me.

Even without being in a romantic relationship, possessiveness exists. Although that feeling tends to fade with age, both Celin and Saria were still at a stage where such feelings persisted.

Honestly, it was troublesome.

In the taut atmosphere, the first thought that crossed my mind was that it wouldn’t be easy to side with anyone right now.

Strictly speaking, it was Celin who intruded unilaterally between me and Saria, but we still had always shared breakfast together. However, in such a cold atmosphere, it wasn’t possible to suddenly suggest having a meal together.

If I did, I wouldn’t even be able to digest in the icy-cold atmosphere. No matter how dense I was, I wasn’t that foolish.

At that moment, when I was sweating in discomfort, Celin broke the silence.

She smiled sweetly, her sociable nature shining through. However, there was something different about the smile she wore now.

Her eyes didn’t smile, but her lips formed a curve.

In her hazel eyes, a cold light still lingered. The first words Celin threw at Saria, whom I had been trying to ignore, were as follows.

“Hmm, Yuridina? Is there something you need to speak to our I-an oppa about?”

As she said that, Celin lightly hugged my arm and leaned closer to me. I looked at her in surprise, but she was just glaring coldly at Saria.

Instead, she let out a victorious huff. The warmth of a soft feminine touch brushed against my arm. Celin was no longer a child.

Just as I was about to push her away as usual, Saria’s grip on my clothing tightened.

Her aquamarine eyes sank deeply. It was a dramatic reaction, like a clear sky covered by clouds. The blue eyes that had always been bright and clear were gradually resembling the dull darkness of the deep sea.

She spoke to Celin in a cold, firm voice.

“…Back off.”

“Why should I?”

However, Celin’s response to Saria was surprisingly straightforward. She smirked and shrugged her shoulders.

“I, and I-an oppa, have always been like this. You, how long has it been since you got attached to I-an oppa? Hahaha… Thinking about it makes me feel a bit sick.”

Celin, who had suddenly burst into laughter, gradually wiped the smile off her face.

The playful eyes grew cold, and the lips that had formed a gentle curve twisted in hostility. She whispered softly.

“What gives you the right to meddle between me and I-an oppa? Ah, have you gotten a bit friendlier with I-an oppa now?”

“Celin.”

I called out her name as the atmosphere grew increasingly serious, but she seemed so angry that she ignored my words entirely.

Instead, she yanked me towards her, making me awkwardly lean closer to her. Since Saria was still gripping my clothing, the distance between her and Celin became even closer.

Physically, that was the case. But it seemed like the emotional distance had widened significantly.

Celin whispered in a cold voice.

“You, don’t you realize that I-an oppa is just playing with you out of pity because you have no friends? Do you not get that?”

“I told you to stop, Celin.”

“You don’t even realize that you’re just being excitedly clingy to I-an oppa, huh? Puhuh…”

As if she couldn’t help it, Celin covered her mouth and burst out laughing. She paid no heed to my repeated attempts to stop her.

Saria’s expression remained unchanged. As always, her face was cold. Her eyes had sunk deeper, making it impossible to read any trace of emotion.

I looked at Saria with worried eyes. Celin’s harsh words were too much. I felt like I should intervene slowly, regardless of who ended up resenting me later.

But even more quickly than my resolve, Celin acted.

“Hey.”

Celin said in a threatening voice, shaking off my arm and approaching Saria. Saria still hadn’t let go of my clothing.

With a fierce glare directed at Saria, Celin crossed her arms. Although she had to look up at Saria since she was taller, Celin didn’t feel intimidated at all.

With a mocking smile, she twisted her lips and vented all her pent-up feelings towards Saria.

“Is being Yuridina enough? Can you please be aware of your surroundings… Huh? You have no right or ability to say anything between me and I-an oppa. Seeing a loser like you is just…!”

“Celin!”

Finally, a loud voice burst from my lips. Only then did Celin seem to realize she was overly excited; she flinched but showed no sign of remorse.

Instead, she let out a huff, avoiding my gaze with a sulky expression.

I sighed deeply, as a voice mixed with my breath escaped my mouth.

“I told you to stop! And Saria, you don’t need to worry too much about what Celin says. It’s not that…”

“Is that so?”

To my surprise, Saria spoke up just as I thought she would be hurt by Celin’s words, and I was taken aback by her fluid speech.

My eyes widened in shock, proving my astonishment. Saria spoke without stumbling to someone she had just met?

Now that I thought about it, Saria had always been that way. That was why she had the nickname ‘Yuridina’s brat.’ Cold, proud, and with a strong image.

And her returning to such a form also meant that Saria would soon make a ‘bratty’ remark as well.

“At first, I didn’t know, but once I heard your voice, I realized. That sharp voice, I wondered where I had heard it, and it came to my mind that it was from someone hidden in the crowd, cursing at me.”

“…There were a lot of people who called you a brat, you know?”

Initially, Celin trembled at Saria’s retort, but then she responded with an irritated expression.

In her hazel eyes, hostility blazed brightly. Perhaps she had deliberately ignored Saria all along because she hadn’t expected to be in such a relationship with her.

Celin hated Saria that much. The reason for it was unknown to me.

“How can you be so certain that my voice was among them…?”

“Are you afraid of Yuridina?”

Celin’s words caught in her throat.

It was as if silk had been torn by a blade, a clean cutoff. For a moment, Celin seemed taken aback, struggling for words, and then narrowed her eyes once more.

“…What?”

“I asked if you were afraid of Yuridina. So, isn’t that why you’ve been gossiping behind her back?”

As Saria pulled on my clothing again, she stepped a little closer. My body slightly leaned towards Saria. The distance between Saria and Celin was now minimal.

As the woman taller than me stepped closer, Celin almost instinctively took a step back. Perhaps due to her pride, she didn’t actually do it.

Celin gritted her teeth and glared at Saria. The gaze of Saria looking down at Celin remained unchanged. That gaze was like a blade of ice.

“Then how about you keep gossiping from behind? Just don’t reveal your ugly inferiority complex in front of I-an senior.”

Celin seemed shocked by the unexpected harsh words and inhaled sharply. Her eyes widened in disbelief, but soon the fierce energy within her began to rise.

With a grinding noise, it was heard that Celin was gritting her teeth.

While it was true that there was a gap between high-ranking nobles and low-ranking nobles at the academy, it was uncommon to mention it so bluntly. After all, the academy aimed to be a space free from class distinctions, at least on the surface.

Such remarks were certainly grounds for disciplinary action. Celin shouted with a voice brimming with emotions.

“Hey, you…!”

“And you said I-an senior was just playing with me out of pity, did you?”

Celin’s face flooded with anger, but Saria’s gaze remained cold as ever. It was like watching fire and ice. They simply could not become close or mix together.

Even if they were together, they would just be heading towards mutual destruction.

I was left bewildered by the harsh words exchanged between the two women. It was a foolish situation.

Saria took another step forward and leaned close to whisper into Celin’s ear. Her chilling whisper rang out.

“…Then, I’ll continue to be pitiful, so I can stay with I-an senior.”

Celin finally exploded at that moment. Her hand moved toward the sword hanging at her waist. It was a reflexive action, akin to a swordsman’s instinct.

It was a situation on the verge of eruption. Up until now, it had been just a verbal fight, but if it escalated into violence, it would be different. Especially in an emotionally charged atmosphere like this.

Someone might get hurt. If it were like Tean and me fighting with sheathed swords, it would be one thing, but if the blades came out, it would be a disaster that day.

I immediately let out a loud shout.

“I told you both to stop!”

In fact, I hadn’t told Saria to stop, but if I wanted to make both of them halt, I needed a stronger expression. Maybe because of that, both Saria and Celin flinched and turned their astonished gazes towards me.

Saria’s reaction was particularly dramatic, as her eyes trembled vigorously at the realization of my anger.

Her expression switched to one of regret.

Dark fear settled in her deep blue eyes. Yet, my irritation didn’t diminish, and I could only let out a sigh as I spoke.

“…Both of you calm down and go to the dormitory. I need to rest too, so don’t come looking for me for a while.”

My head was pounding. I had experienced too much lately. And with Celin and Saria now fighting, the feeling of exhaustion overpowered me.

I just wanted to rest somewhere. I merely sought to clear my head for a few hours. That was all, a simple matter.

However, upon hearing those words, Saria’s face took on a despairing expression as if she had lost the world.

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