Humility and Rejection

In an instant, Mana Ochi’s mind raced through possibilities.
During the break, Takuya Kanzaki hadn’t contacted her because they were fighting—Yurina had deleted and blocked his number.

Looking back, the apology in his note was likely about past events.
Her stiff responses afterward were interpreted as unforgiveness, prompting this call.

“You changed your number?”
Mana tested with a cold tone.

“I’m sorry, I know you’re still angry, but I really miss you…”

Takuya rattled off a long string of pleas for forgiveness, his attitude so humble it was unrecognizable from daytime.

Mana considered playing along, keeping their relationship distant for future maneuverability…
But ultimately, apology and guilt won out.

“I’m not angry anymore. Actually, I’m more worried you’re mad at me.”

Besides, she didn’t think Yurina would be so arrogant with her boyfriend.
Gentle, considerate, gracious, diligent—that was Yurina.

“How could I be mad at you? I’m the person who loves Yurina most in the world!”

This guy was too mushy.
Though she knew it wasn’t for her, Mana still cringed.
Then, inevitably, she felt envy.

“Thank you… I love you most too.”

How wonderful to have someone who loved you so deeply.
Completely unlike her.
But a lowlife like her didn’t deserve love anyway.

“Yurina? What’s wrong?”
Takuya’s worried voice came through.

“Nothing, just a bit tired from work. Spaced out.”
Mana quickly perked up, making her tone lively.

“I saw you working at the restaurant near the station. It’s tough, right? Take care of yourself.”

“You saw?”
Being spotted so soon surprised Mana, but realizing Takuya often walked home with Yurina, his house was likely nearby.
She calmed, lowering her voice: “Don’t tell anyone. I don’t want Mom worrying.”

“But won’t it wear you out? Can’t you find another job?”

“I’ll take care of myself. Thank you, Kanzaki-kun.”
Though his concern wasn’t for her, Mana’s expression softened, a relieved smile forming.
“But I’m not planning to switch jobs for now. The pay’s good, I’m satisfied, and the manager said he’ll hire help to ease my load. I’m fine.”

“No, I mean—if there’s anything you want, just tell me. I’ll get it for you.”

Mana frowned slightly.
She hated people who threw money around, treating others like objects.
She’d just started warming to Takuya, and now this?
But considering her position, she refused tactfully.

“No, that would be too embarrassing.”

“Nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re my girlfriend—spend my money freely. And don’t let my looks fool you; my family’s pretty well-off.”

What kind of girl did he take “Yurina” for?
Mana now understood why they’d fought.

“Kanzaki-kun, I want to be a good daughter who eases Mom’s burdens. Can you buy that for me?”
She smiled kindly, her tone yearning, though he couldn’t see.

“I was wrong.”
After a pause, Takuya’s humble apology came.
“Yurina, don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad.”

Mana knew she had no right to mock him.
Her sarcasm was to remind him while showing what kind of person she was.

“No, you clearly are. Like usual—you’ll start listing my flaws.”

“This time you’re wrong… No one’s perfect; everyone has faults, me included. And I like you not despite your shortcomings.”

“You’re just comforting me, right?”
Takuya sounded doubtful, likely scarred from past scoldings.

Mana didn’t know his flaws, but she believed his core was good—he’d helped a creep like her.
She also believed Yurina was just upset, exaggerating a bit.
They were a perfect match.
She quickly encouraged:
“No, I know it. Kanzaki-kun is the type who’s incredibly reliable in a crisis.”

Completely unlike her.

“Kanzaki-kun… huh?”

Takuya hung up, walking to the window to gaze at the night sky.
None of that conversation had happened—at least not in his memory.
With his personality, he’d never let his girlfriend call him “Kanzaki-kun” so formally, nor act so henpecked.
Clearly, Yurina thinking she was his girlfriend was a misjudgment—likely a pretense.

He’d play along for many reasons, the most common being someone asking for help.

“Could Yurina be a sorcerer too?”

Besides the fake theory, another explanation: Yurina had precognition, seeing fragments of the future.
That’s why she treated future events as fact.
Like some psychics couldn’t distinguish living from ghosts, precognitives might not separate reality from future.

Of course, there was one outlandish possibility, but as a sorcerer, Takuya wouldn’t prioritize it.

“Still lacking evidence.”

Good news: the anti-illusion tool had arrived.
He’d test it at school tomorrow—during lunch, in case she needed time to revert.
Despite doubts, he didn’t think Yurina was bad.

“Reliable in a crisis…”

Takuya always saw himself that way, but thanks to his ability, he’d never faced a real crisis.
Yet Yurina said it with certainty, almost like she’d experienced it.

“That’s great.”

His power was supposed to bring happiness to others, but for years, he’d only made himself happy.
He could cheer people up, but couldn’t go deeper—most people, like him, didn’t casually enter others’ lives.
But he hadn’t given up, always watching, doing small kindnesses.
Sometimes he wondered if his eagerness to awaken his ability was just fear of failure.

Now, knowing he’d truly succeeded once, his heart surged with excitement and anticipation.

“Oh no.”

After agreeing to meet Takuya at lunch tomorrow, Mana ended the call.
Then she remembered Rie, whom she’d ignored today, and sighed.

“I was supposed to eat lunch with Rie… Guess I’ll find another way.”

Composing herself, Mana returned to the living room.
Misaki stared at her homework, frowning.

“Misaki, what’s wrong? Stuck on a problem?”
She sat beside her.

Ryoko was cleaning the kitchen and handling daytime chores.
Mana had offered to help but was refused—students should study.
Conversely, they shouldn’t disturb a busy mom over small things.

“Mm.”
Misaki lowered her head in shame.

“Let me teach you.”

“This…”
Misaki had never asked her sister for study help—besides their bad relationship, her sister’s grades were so poor Mom got angry.
But with her sister offering, Misaki couldn’t refuse.
Half an hour later, she was stunned.

How was Sis explaining better than the teacher?

Mana was surprised too.
During class, knowledge flooded from her mind’s depths—not just answers and methods, but teaching strategies for different levels.
She almost thought she’d been a good student.

But she quickly dismissed it.
She was a high school dropout scum—how could she have studied seriously?
Good grades and expulsion would mean worse: violence or something horrific.
Yeah, she was capable of that.

Still, strong learning ability helped—at least in tutoring Misaki, she wouldn’t fall far behind Yurina.

“Misaki’s so smart.”

“It’s all thanks to Sis’s teaching.”
Misaki whispered, face red.

Hearing undeserved thanks, Mana felt guilt… but helplessly happy.
‘So that’s it.’

She fully understood now.
All those teaching methods she knew were ultimately for her own happiness.
She was truly selfish.

Back at school the next day, Mana planned to chat with Rie before homeroom to deepen their bond.
But Rie never showed.

Takuya arrived early, chatting with his three fangirls and Mizushima Seiki about normie topics… enviable.

But Mana didn’t act rashly.
Outwardly Yurina, her memories painted her as a gloomy shut-in at best—likely a creepy uncle holed up watching endless adult films, thinking with his lower half.
In reality, she probably had few friends, even despised—otherwise, she couldn’t explain lusting after Yurina’s kindness like a starving wolf.

Someone like her would flop approaching normal people, let alone the class’s most visible, highest-status clique.
She didn’t want to ruin Yurina’s image—

“Shizuki-san, what do you think?”

Takuya suddenly turned.

Why ask her?
Mana was speechless, setting down her book to answer… but didn’t know what to say.
They’d been discussing last night’s variety show—she had no time for that.

“Kanzaki, that’s too hard for Shizuki! If I hadn’t watched it last night, I’d be stumped too.”
Mizushima laughed.
“Right, Shizuki?”

“Y-Yeah.”

Mana smiled awkwardly.
She realized even with an opening, she couldn’t fit into normie circles—their interests and topics were worlds apart.
Her joining made the three fangirls visibly wary.

“Shizuki-san, what do you usually like to do?”
Yamamoto Marina asked with a grin.

This stumped Mana.
Searching her memories: archery, horsemanship, piano, calligraphy, tea ceremony, painting… ridiculous things unfit for Yurina’s background.
Beyond that, only near-useless sorcery and martial arts training.
Her life was truly dull.

Sorcery and martial arts weren’t suitable here, so she gave the universal answer:
“Studying, reading…”

“Shizuki-san loves studying—your grades must be great, right?”
Shimoya Himeko said.

“Definitely. Shizuki-san was reading earlier.”
Watanabe Akino chimed in.
“That serious look makes me ashamed… I bet Shizuki-san aced yesterday’s test too, right?”