Velrose's words caught everyone by surprise.
Naturally, that included Tina as well.
Did many people already know about their relationship?
Even childhood friends in the same society could have rifts and conflicts, but what Sathya had just said was a refutation of all that. She was actually defending Tina.
Yet, as soon as Velrose spoke, Sathya was left speechless.
Indeed.
Though she spoke beautifully now, the things she had said to Tina during the magic competition had allowed many people to see her true colors.
On that day, she had teamed up with Tina for the magic competition, but she completely ignored Tina's directions and charged in alone.
Because the competition used a group points system, all the teams were gathering items in the same forest to earn points.
Sathya's overconfidence in her own strength caused her to lose everything. Mocked by many students, she ended up taking her anger out on Tina.
At the time, many had witnessed Tina's aggrieved expression as she nodded and apologized, as well as the hidden side of the genius Sathya—a side she only ever showed to friends or even family.
Among those witnesses was Velrose.
What was thought to be a minor incident had unexpectedly been remembered by many. Now, rumors that Sathya and Tina did not get along had reached the ears of many.
Sathya was furious, but she felt even more ashamed.
For a moment, she did not know how to refute it because she knew it was indeed her fault. The oppressive aura she had released earlier completely dissipated.
She looked utterly lonely.
“I think you've misunderstood something,” Tina stepped forward at the critical moment, looking calmly at Velrose as she said, “My relationship with Sathya is not for others to criticize. Besides, I will yield my spot in the Tower of Stars to you. It's not important to me.”
Suddenly, almost everyone in the room dropped their jaws in shock.
No one cared about Velrose, let alone whether she would be selected.
Besides, to the other Saintess candidates, Velrose was actually more dangerous as a competitor.
At this moment, Sathya, who was already disheartened, hung her head even lower. She looked like a puppy that had realized its mistake, waiting to be scolded and punished.
Velrose had no intention of nagging further. Wiping away her tears, she kept her head lowered.
And so, the meeting broke up on a sour, awkward note.
...
As soon as the meeting ended, Sathya locked onto Tina's position and carefully followed her.
She was silent, making no sound and showing no intention of greeting her.
It seemed she was trailing her purely for the sake of “following.”
She kept following even after they left the conference hall and reached the square outside, maintaining a distance of about three meters from Tina.
Tina felt awkward.
Although she had severed ties with her, they hadn't truly had a bitter fallout.
She had no desire to turn around and scold Sathya.
No...
Rather, she didn't dare to.
Having said so many cold words, Tina felt as though she could see right through to the other girl's riddled, broken heart.
Just as Tina was hesitating, a girl approached from the side. It was Lavertis.
“Tina.”
“Senior, you haven't left yet?”
“Yes. Lord Ulrich called for me just now. We talked a bit... about you.”
“...”
“Mainly about the spot in the Tower of Stars. If you really want to give it up, you need to go see him or the Astral Sage in person. Everyone at the meeting table was far too impulsive.”
Tina merely smiled. “Do you want me to join the Tower of Stars, Senior?”
“Well, the key is really up to you... Even with an extra spot, the ranking of the Leaflight society won't rise by much anyway.”
At that moment, Lavertis glanced at Sathya, who had been following them. Sathya was startled and looked up at Lavertis as well.
They seemed to be exchanging some sort of look, though it was only Tina's suspicion.
“If you ask me, getting a spot in the Tower of Stars means more study resources, and you can visit the Tower of Stars branches during vacations to meet more interesting people... Well, more importantly, if you and Sathya are together, you can look out for each other.”
“...”
Seeing Tina remain silent, Lavertis quickly added, “Besides, Sathya has something to say to you.”
Suddenly, Tina stopped in her tracks.
Sathya and Lavertis quickly stopped as well.
Sathya kept her head lowered. She seemed to want to say something, but she never opened her mouth.
They really had colluded beforehand.
“Everything that needs to be said between us has already been said.”
It took a full ten seconds before Tina spoke to Lavertis in a flat, emotionless voice.
“You found out about the birthday party?” Lavertis tilted her head.
“Birthday party?”
“Yeah, isn't the day after tomorrow your birthday~”
Tina didn't recall the Leaflight society having a custom of celebrating birthdays.
In reality, as both a student and the president of Leaflight, Lavertis had a vast number of responsibilities.
Managing the society kept her busy enough.
A birthday party?
Sathya must have brought it up and requested it.
The last time she celebrated her birthday, she was still a “corpse.”
Every birthday, Little Ya would sing a birthday song for her.
“Happy birthday, Tina~”
Sathya's words echoed in her ears, causing her to recall a distant time and space.
“I really wish you'd open your eyes to see the crown I got you, and feed you some of the cake I just bought. Then, I'll eat you up myself~ You must taste delicious, Big Sister Tina. One day, one day...”
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you~”
Sathya's singing had always been beautiful. She was like the “heroine” of this world, an all-around genius.
In daily life, the words Sathya spoke to her were still filled with a desire to dominate and control. In Tina's eyes, this was the most normal kind of love.
She had been very repulsed by it at first, but she gradually adapted to it.
In the end, without even realizing it herself, the days spent without Sathya's companionship and chatter became extremely difficult to bear.
Even if, in Sathya's eyes, she was talking to a corpse.
She remembered it all.
“Tina, what's wrong? You look a bit sad. Don't tell me~ you forgot your own birthday and are touched by Sathya's kindness now?” Lavertis said with a grin.
[Host, your condition is extremely poor.]
The system's prompt rang in her ears.
This useless piece of junk loved to add fuel to the fire at critical moments.
But the system wasn't wrong.
Tina was in a state of chaos.
Because next, she was going to do something so foolish that she would want to kill herself for it.
Only by doing this could she prevent Sathya from sinking deeper and deeper.
If she attended the birthday party, and if she rejected Sathya there...
The consequences would only be more severe.
Thus, Tina stiffly turned around and walked up to Sathya.
The young girl still didn't raise her head, her face filled with hesitation and nervousness.
Like a girl confessing her love, she was waiting for a response from the one she admired. Though she remained quiet, she surely hoped for a romantic outcome.
Yet, Tina could only give her the worst possible answer.
“Little Ya, I told you, things are over between us, right?”
She still failed to restrain herself from using the nickname she used so often.
“...” She kept her head lowered.
“I don't need a birthday party. No one is going to cheer for me.”
She still kept her head lowered.
Just when Tina thought everything was about to end—either with Sathya completely turning dark and becoming the same obsessive yandere as before, or turning around and leaving, finally understanding her resolve—
Sathya suddenly looked up and said with a smile, “Big Sister Tina, I will cheer for you~”
“...”
“I know that many snobbish people in the Holy Academy look down on you.”
“Big Sister Tina and I grew up together. Of course I know best how outstanding you are!”
“Big Sister Tina, even though the relationship between us has ended, we are still classmates in the same society.”
Her voice didn't waver in the slightest. She was firm, speaking with a tone full of hope for the future.
She reached out her hand and gave a sweet smile:
“Can we still be friends?”
Rate on N.U.
