The moonlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a pale glow on the bedroom where Yurina sat with her friends, a small group of girls from various ranks in the academy. The room was cozy, with plush pillows and blankets scattered across the floor. The air was filled with the sound of laughter and gossip, as the girls enjoyed a sleepover after a long day of training.
Princess Aurelia, the noble heir to a royal family, sat in the corner of the room, her elegant appearance not hindered by the casual setting. Her refined demeanor never seemed to waver, even in moments like this. Beside her, Alixia, the energetic and playful descendant of the legendary grand swordmaster Xavier, was making exaggerated gestures with her hands as she recounted a funny story from earlier that day.
Georgina, always a force to be reckoned with, leaned back lazily against the wall, her short white hair falling messily around her face. Her bold tomboyish charm never failed to catch the attention of those around her. Rachelle, the strong-willed spear saint, a girl with a stature and strength rivaling most men, was sprawled out comfortably on the bed, her arms folded beneath her head as she listened to her friends with a relaxed, half-smile on her lips.
And then there was Yurina, who had found herself sitting in the center of it all, feeling both a sense of camaraderie and a small flicker of conflict growing inside her heart. It wasn't the first time they had gathered like this, but tonight the conversation seemed to gravitate toward something Yurina hadn't been fully prepared for.
"So, did you all see Arthur today?" Aurelia asked, her voice carrying an air of dreamy admiration. "He really is the perfect guy, isn't he? So handsome, so strong, and so ready to lend a hand to anyone in need."
"He's got that charm, doesn't he?" Georgina added, a mischievous smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "I swear, he makes it look so easy. But then again, with that heroic aura he's got, it's not really a surprise." She chuckled, clearly not trying to hide her fondness for Arthur.
"Oh, and his heart," Rachelle chimed in. "He'd literally do anything for anyone. It's like he's always thinking about how to help everyone else first. No wonder all the girls are falling for him." She sighed, clearly captivated by the thought of Arthur's kindness.
The girls continued to reminisce about their encounters with Arthur, each of them adding to the image of him being the perfect prince in shining armor. But as Yurina sat there listening, her mind was elsewhere. Her friends spoke with such admiration, almost adoration, for the young man they all seemed to gravitate toward, and yet, Yurina's heart wasn't entirely in the same place.
She admired Arthur too, of course—how could she not? His passion, his strength, his innate ability to connect with others, especially with her, had always drawn her in. He was the kind of person who would make anyone feel special, a hero that the academy looked up to.
But then there was Zack.
Zack, the quiet, expressionless Rank E student who seemed to draw little attention from the world around him. The man who, despite not having any mana, carried a depth of pain within him that Yurina had come to recognize. He was completely different from Arthur. Where Arthur was warm, emotional, and outgoing, Zack was cold, distant, and, in a way, untouchable. And yet, there was something about him that Yurina couldn't quite shake off.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Alixia suddenly teased, her voice laced with a playful challenge.
"So, Yurina, you've been spending quite a bit of time with that mysterious guy lately," Alixia said, winking at her. "Tell me, what's going on there? I mean, we all know you and Arthur are practically meant to be, but Zack? Really?"
Yurina froze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately looked down at her hands, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.
"I-I don't know what you mean," Yurina stammered, trying to hide her embarrassment. "We're just... friends. That's all."
The teasing glint in Alixia's eyes grew sharper, and she leaned forward, propping her chin in her hand. "Oh, but we know there's more to it. You're always hanging out with him, and you're the only one who knows what's going on inside his head. And don't even get me started on that time he was practicing in the training room... You know, when you saw him without a shirt."
Yurina's face turned an even deeper shade of red as memories of that day resurfaced. She remembered seeing Zack in the training room, his muscular form glistening with sweat as he trained relentlessly. The way his body had moved so fluidly with the spear, every strike precise and sharp—she'd been mesmerized by the sight. But what had caught her most off guard wasn't his physical strength. It was the look of pain in his eyes, a heaviness that seemed to linger even as he pushed through his training.
"I... that wasn't—" Yurina fumbled for words, but she couldn't quite find them. Her mind raced, and she could feel her heartbeat quicken. What was this feeling? Why did her chest tighten when she thought about Zack, about his quiet strength, his hidden pain, his ability to care even when it seemed like he was barely holding himself together?
"Yurina…" Alixia teased, dragging her name out. "I think we're getting a little red here. Do you like him?" She raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying her friend's discomfort.
"I don't know!" Yurina blurted out, her face practically burning now. She stood up quickly and paced around the room, trying to find a way to escape the tension that was building inside her. "I mean, Zack is... well, he's different. He's not like Arthur. Arthur is... I don't know. He's so emotional, always so full of energy and always trying to help everyone. It's just who he is." She stopped and looked at the floor, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap.
"And Zack…" Yurina continued softly, almost to herself. "Zack doesn't really show much. He's always so closed off, so distant, but... when we're together, it feels like he really listens. Like, he cares. Even when he's in pain, he still looks out for me. He doesn't try to pretend that everything's fine. It's like..." She paused, searching for the right words, "like he understands what I'm going through."
The room fell silent as Yurina's confession hung in the air. The other girls exchanged glances, all sensing the depth of Yurina's inner conflict. Aurelia was the first to speak, her voice soft but gentle.
"Yurina…" she began, "You don't have to choose between them. Both Arthur and Zack are different, but that doesn't mean you can't value both of them for who they are. The question is, who makes you feel... at peace?"
Yurina looked up at Aurelia, her heart fluttering with uncertainty. She had always admired Arthur's kindness, but with Zack, there was a sense of understanding, of unspoken connection that she couldn't quite explain.
"I... I don't know," Yurina admitted quietly, her eyes lowering. "Arthur's everything I could ask for, but Zack… He's so different. I don't even know if he really wants me around."
The other girls were silent, letting her words sink in.
Alixia leaned back and sighed dramatically. "Well, I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I think you need to figure out what you truly want. Don't just go after the person everyone else expects you to, Yurina."
"Exactly," Georgina added with a serious look. "You can't just go after the guy who's most popular. You need to decide for yourself."
Yurina fell quiet, her thoughts swirling. She had spent so much time being influenced by what others wanted for her, by the expectations of her family and friends. But now, in this moment, as she looked at the group of girls who had all been so supportive of her, she realized that the decision she had to make wasn't about what anyone else thought—it was about who she wanted to be with.
Her heart felt heavy with indecision, but one thing was clear: whoever she chose, it wouldn't be an easy decision, and it would come with consequences.
As the night wore on, the girls continued to chat, but Yurina's mind remained elsewhere, trying to figure out what her heart truly wanted. The weight of her decision loomed ahead, and she couldn't help but wonder: could she really live with the choice, no matter who it was?