"Ding-dong—"
The school bell rang through the corridors. Students hurried back to their classrooms—except for Mu Xiaoxiao, the Tsubakihara sisters, and Tsubakihara Yuji, still clutching his stomach on the ground.
He ignored the bell. Kept gasping. Glared at Mu Xiaoxiao with eyes that could burn. The scene he'd witnessed, the anger boiling inside—nearly melting his reason. But the pain kept him down.
He'd felt this once before. Almost drove him crazy. Powerless except to scream.
"What did you do?! What did you do to Yuna?!"
Too much happening too fast. Yuna, questioned by her sister, then seeing Yuji—her brain short-circuited.
"Can't tell you're all so close." Mu Xiaoxiao smiled. "What, think I defiled her?"
"You—"
Yuji tried to rise. Collapsed again.
"Wait! It's not what you think!" Yuna rushed over, hair flying, panic on her face. "Yuji, what are you saying?! Mu-kun didn't do anything to me!"
"Impossible! Yuna, don't lie to me—"
He knew her better than anyone. "You expect me to believe you approached him on your own? You wouldn't! He must have—"
Bam!!!
Another kick. Right in front of Yuna. Stepping on Yuji.
"Tsk. I'm your savior, technically. Rush to attack me, no gratitude. Fine—it was a transaction. No thanks needed."
Mu Xiaoxiao smiled faintly.
"Mu-kun..."
Yuna looked at him with pleading eyes. Nervous. Scared. Strangely, she should fear for Yuji, beaten on the ground...
But what she really feared was Mu-kun hating her.
She did worry about her brother, though. Genuine misunderstanding. She wanted to explain their relationship, how he'd saved her—but Mu Xiaoxiao cut her off.
"He dared attack me. Don't blame me." He ignored her hand on his sleeve. Devilish smile. "I can save you from the abyss. I can also push you back in."
[Time] flowed. Lifespan drained.
"Mu-kun..."
Yuna watched in horror as Yuji weakened. Aged.
"He struck first."
Eyes narrowed. "What? Stopping me?"
"He's my brother..."
Biting her lip, she grabbed his hand. Pressed it to her chest. "Sorry he hurt you. I'll make up for it."
"..."
"..."
Behind them, Nina frowned.
Mu Xiaoxiao laughed. "Oh? Compensate?"
"Yes. Please let Yuji go. I'll be like my mother." Head down, face hidden. "I'll become..."
"My dog." Decisive.
"..."
Blush. She almost fled in shame. But nodded. "Yes... I'll be Mu-kun's dog..."
"Yuna! You—cough—what are you saying?!!"
Even kicked, even losing time—nothing hurt like hearing this. Watching his beloved sister nestle in Mu Xiaoxiao's arms. Avoiding his eyes.
Witnessing her fall to another man—devastating.
"Why that face? You caused this. Playing victim?" Mu Xiaoxiao shrugged. Felt something off about the girl beside him, but ignored it. Looked at Yuji. Chuckled.
"Mrs. Mira, now her sister. Tsk, tsk..."
He withdrew his foot. "Fine. Deal. Thirty years I took—keeping those. Remember, I saved your life. Can take it anytime. Feel free to try me again."
"Yuji... I told you, misunderstanding. Mu-kun and I did nothing..."
Even becoming his dog, sharing her mother's fate—strangely, no despair. No sadness. Like nothing.
Eyes复杂. Sad. "Don't trouble Mu-kun again."
"Yuna..."
Heartbreak spread. Lying there like a dog, watching her leave. Childhood sweetheart. Close sister. Gone.
He couldn't understand. He'd tried to help. Keep her away from that devil. Why this?
---
Nina watched silently. Subtle. Strange.
"Not sad?"
Adjusting her glasses, she studied her sister.
"Huh?" Yuna snapped from her daze.
"Becoming his plaything. Like Mom. Losing freedom. Not sad?"
No pain. None.
"No—I am sad." Stiff. Avoiding her gaze.
"Something like this—should be more than sad. Being someone's property. Yuji like that. No hurt?"
Wisdom gleamed behind her lenses.
"Yuji brought it on himself. Mu-kun and I..."
Pause.
"I did this for Yuji. Otherwise—"
"Right. Sacrifice for Yuji. Should be that. But Yuna... you seem to enjoy it."
Click.
Stiff.
Hit the mark.
"What happened? What's your relationship with him..."
Complicated eyes.
"Don't ask. It's done. Can't change. Go back to class."
Pushing her sister, shaking her head. Perfunctory. Lost in thought.
'Enjoy it? Maybe I am... a little happy...'