Reina's latest plan was bold, even by her standards: if she couldn't take Myraa down directly, she would target Kyra instead.
"She's the reason Myraa keeps bouncing back," Reina told her minions in the privacy of her dorm room. "Without her knight swooping in to save the day, Myraa will crumble like a poorly made soufflé."
The plan was simple: cause a rift between Kyra and Myraa. Reina was confident that without Kyra's unwavering support, Myraa would falter—and Reina would finally have her moment to shine.
Of course, simple plans rarely stayed simple, especially when Myraa was involved.
---
The Setup: Reina's Manipulation Begins
Reina wasted no time setting her plan in motion. She started by spreading subtle, carefully crafted rumors about Kyra.
"I heard Kyra only protects Myraa because Lady Reizei ordered her to."
"Yeah, they're cousins, but isn't Kyra always so cold? I bet she doesn't actually care about her."
"Do you think Kyra's just keeping an eye on Myraa to report back to Hajime?"
The whispers reached Myraa almost immediately. Normally, she would've ignored them, but something about the way Reina smirked at her in passing made her pause.
"Why do I feel like she's up to something?" Myraa muttered to herself.
"She's always up to something," Kyra replied, appearing beside her like a ghost.
"Could you not do that?!" Myraa exclaimed, clutching her chest. "You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days!"
Kyra smirked. "You're too young for a heart attack."
"That's not the point!" Myraa snapped. "Also, have you heard what people are saying about you?"
Kyra's smirk faded, replaced by a faint frown. "What are they saying?"
"That you're only protecting me because you have to, not because you actually… care or anything," Myraa said, crossing her arms.
Kyra's frown deepened, and for a split second, something flickered in her eyes—something Myraa couldn't quite identify. "Do you believe that?"
"What?" Myraa blinked. "No! I mean, it's stupid, right? You're not secretly a spy or something, are you?"
Kyra raised an eyebrow. "Would it matter if I were?"
"Yes, because then I'd have to ask if you've been bugging my room, and that's just creepy," Myraa said, narrowing her eyes at her cousin.
Kyra rolled her eyes but didn't respond, and Myraa felt a strange pang of guilt.
"Look, I know you're not a spy or a… whatever Reina's trying to make you out to be," Myraa said, her tone softening. "You've had my back since day one, and I appreciate it. I don't care what anyone says."
Kyra glanced at her, her expression unreadable. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."
"Yeah, well, you're stuck with me, too," Myraa replied, grinning.
Kyra's lips quirked upward in the faintest hint of a smile, but she didn't say anything else.
---
Reina's "Brilliant" Plan
When the rumor campaign failed to shake Myraa and Kyra's bond, Reina decided to escalate.
The next phase of her plan was a staged "accident" during gym class. The goal? Make it look like Kyra had intentionally tripped Myraa during a relay race, causing her to fall in front of everyone.
"It's perfect," Reina whispered to her minions as they set up the trap. "Kyra will look careless and untrustworthy, and Myraa will start doubting her. Just wait."
Unfortunately for Reina, her plans rarely went as intended.
---
Gym Class Chaos
The gym was buzzing with energy as the relay race began. Myraa, who had been roped into participating against her will, stood nervously at the starting line, clutching the baton like it might explode.
"Why do I have to do this?" she muttered to Kyra, who was standing nearby.
"Because it's good for you," Kyra replied.
"Lies," Myraa said, glaring at her.
The whistle blew, and the race began. Myraa managed to make it halfway around the track without tripping, which she considered a personal victory. But as she rounded the final corner, she spotted something shiny on the ground—right where she was about to step.
It was a small, metal object, strategically placed to trip her up.
Reina, Myraa thought immediately.
Before she could react, Kyra was suddenly there, sprinting onto the track with impossible speed. She reached Myraa just in time, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the trap.
The two of them tumbled to the ground together, landing in a heap of limbs.
The gym fell silent.
"Uh… ow?" Myraa said, blinking up at Kyra, who was half-pinned beneath her.
"You're welcome," Kyra muttered, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
"Did you just… tackle me?" Myraa asked, her voice somewhere between confusion and disbelief.
"I saved you," Kyra corrected, sitting up and pulling Myraa to her feet.
From the sidelines, Reina's jaw dropped as her plan backfired spectacularly. Instead of tripping Myraa, her little trap had made Kyra look like a hero—again.
"That's… that's not what was supposed to happen!" Reina hissed, clenching her fists.
Meanwhile, the rest of the gym erupted into cheers.
"Kyra's amazing!"
"She's like a superhero!"
"They're so perfect together!"
Myraa groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Why does this always happen to me?"
"Maybe you're just lucky," Kyra said, smirking.
"Yeah, sure. Let's call it that," Myraa muttered, glaring at her cousin.
---
Kyra's Quiet Confession (Sort Of)
Later that evening, Myraa and Kyra found themselves on the rooftop again, watching the sun dip below the horizon. Myraa had been quiet since gym class, her thoughts swirling as she replayed the day's events.
"You've been quiet," Kyra said finally, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, well, it's been a long day," Myraa replied, leaning back against the railing. "I'm still processing the fact that you tackled me like we were in a football game."
Kyra chuckled softly. "It worked, didn't it?"
"Yeah, but… why?" Myraa asked, turning to look at her. "Why do you always jump in to save me? You don't have to, you know."
Kyra hesitated, her usual smirk fading. "Maybe I want to."
Myraa blinked, caught off guard by the sudden seriousness in her voice. "What do you mean?"
Kyra glanced at her, her dark eyes unusually soft. "You're important to me, Myraa. I thought you knew that."
Myraa opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. For once, she was completely speechless.
Before she could process what Kyra had just said, the distant sound of Camellia calling their names broke the moment.
Kyra stood, brushing off her pants. "Come on. Dinner's waiting."
Myraa stared after her, her mind racing. What did she mean by that?
---
Reina's New Plan
Back in her dorm room, Reina was pacing again, fuming over yet another failed scheme.
"I'm starting to think Kyra has superpowers," one of her minions muttered.
"Superpowers or not, this isn't over," Reina snapped, her eyes gleaming with determination. "If I can't tear them apart, I'll find another way to win. Mark my words."