Conversation Between Koharu and Shana

The white light emanating from Koharu's navel began to pulse, radiating heat.

She trembled and instinctively placed her hand on the luminous center.

In an instant, the glow disappeared—and her clothes tore completely apart, as if the fabric had been torn apart by the energy emanating from within her.

For a few seconds, his body was paralyzed, his eyes lost.

Then she took a deep breath and stared at Kairo , panting.

“Have you felt any change?” he asked , watching her cautiously.

— Yes… Actually, I… I can get up now. — she replied , still dizzy.

"That's great. But... your clothes are ripped. I think I'd better get some from your closet," he said , looking away.

— Leave it to me. — Koharu replied , trying to get up.

However, as she took her first step, she stumbled. Kairo quickly caught her.

— You're still a little dizzy , — he said .

But before he could let go, Koharu pushed him back onto the bed and straddled him, her eyes filled with a strange glow.

“What are you doing?” Kairo recoiled.

“Giving you what you want,” she replied , with a smile too sweet to be natural.

— What do I want? — he asked . Kairo blushed.

— Don't pretend, Kairo . I know you want… my first time to be with you. — she said , bringing her face closer.

Kairo clenched his fists in internal panic.

With a quick jerk, he released himself, rising from the bed.

"You're not getting away!" Koharu shouted , chasing after him.

Kairo activated his ability and passed through her body as if he were a ghost.

“Where do you think you’re going?!” she asked, confused.

"See you tomorrow. I hope you can help me with that Shana thing," he replied from the doorway.

"I'll do anything for you, idiot!" she shouted , blushing.

Kairo walked through the wall and returned to his own room.

Cassandra was still fast asleep. He fell to his knees, coughing up blood that ran down his hand.

“ Instead of solving the problem with Shana, it seems I created another one,” he muttered . Kairo .

And so, the silence of dawn returned.

The sun filtered through the curtains in Koharu's room.

She woke slowly, the sheets scattered across the floor, her body covered in a strange cold.

Suddenly, the memory came.

(The paints… and the clothes I created with my power.

They affected my feelings. This is all fake!) — Koharu thought .

She tried to focus energy, using FEELINGS on herself, but nothing happened.

A light knocking sound on the door broke her out of her trance.

"Koharu, aren't you going down to breakfast?" It was Shana's voice.

Koharu ran to the mirror. Her hair was completely black.

(I can't appear like this in front of Fujimoto.

The Hidden Observatory would detect the lie right away!) — thought Koharu

“Shana, is it just you there?” she asked apprehensively.

— Yes! Everyone is downstairs waiting for you. — Shana replied .

— I need to talk to you… urgently.

— Huh ? — Shana sounded confused.

Koharu quickly changed and opened the door, pulling Shana inside and locking it behind them.

Shana looked her up and down.

"Why did you dye your hair black?" Shana asked.

Koharu took a deep breath.

"Shana… answer me honestly. Have you ever slept with anyone other than Max?" Koharu said.

Shana raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"What kind of question is that?" Shana said.

"Is it true that a year ago you forced Kairo to sleep with you?" Koharu asked .

For a moment the place was silent.

Then Shana burst out laughing.

—So… the “good in bed” guy told you , huh? — Shana replied .

Koharu widened her eyes.

— So it was true… Kairo didn't lie. — Koharu said in disbelief.

"Don't tell me you want to sleep with Kairo again?!" Koharu shouted .

"What if I want to?" Shana replied coldly.

— At the worst time of my life, he was the only one who made me feel alive, — Shana said .

"He didn't make you feel alive, Shana. You forced it!" Koharu said angrily.

"The worst moment last year was when Max was missing and you… gave up on him!" Koharu said .

Shana smiled wryly.

“So what?” Shana asked sarcastically.

— “So what?” — Koharu was indignant.

"How can you laugh at that, you pervert?" Koharu asked angrily.

Shana shrugged.

"I love Max, I really do. I always believed he was alive. But after so long... my desires grew. I needed someone to satisfy me," Shana replied .

— That “someone” was Kairo . — Koharu finished , outraged.

—Exactly. And what's the problem with having Max and a secret lover? If no one finds out… nothing changes. —Shana asked .

Koharu started crying, her hands shaking .

"How can you say such disgusting things without thinking about other people's feelings?" Koharu asked, crying.

"Of course I do. That's why I hide it," Shana replied matter-of-factly.

Max is the man I love with all my heart.

Kairo is the man I love… with his body.

Koharu clenched her fists.

— Max doesn't want to be cheated on… and Kairo doesn't want to sleep with you! — Koharu said .

Shana giggled.

"Oh, you don't want to? Kairo and Cassandra have slept with over fifty people, you know?" Shana said .

"You don't know what they went through for this to happen!" Koharu retorted .

Shana was silent for a few seconds… and then her eyes narrowed.

"There's something strange about this conversation. How do you know so much about Kairo ?" Shana asked .

Koharu fell silent, her face turning pale.

"Yesterday I watched him almost all day. Except at night... when he went to sleep," Shana continued .

"You're crazy to watch someone like that!" Koharu exclaimed .

Shana gave a slight smile.

— Not as crazy as you, who hid under the bed with him to escape Fujimoto. — Shana replied .

Koharu turned pale.

— H-How do you know that?! — Koharu asked in fright.

Shana approached slowly.

"Hey... why are you so nervous?" he teased , with a venomous smile. "Did Kairo tell you?" Koharu asked.

"I 'm asking you how you found out!" Koharu cried , tears in her eyes.

“Easy, easy.” Shana raised her hands.

"You called me a 'pervert,' but you were begging for Kairo 's trust as if he were your perfect match. Why?" Shana asked sarcastically.

Koharu exploded:

"Because he asked me for help! He realized I'd noticed the strange way you were looking at him!" Koharu replied .

Shana laughed mockingly.

"What a touching story... but it still doesn't explain why you wanted his trust so much," Shana said .

"Are you deaf?!" Koharu shouted .

" Kairo told me that a girl ruined his life, but Cassandra saved him. That's why the only woman he trusts is her!" Koharu continued .

Shana pretended to wipe away a tear.

— Oh , what a sad story… I almost cried. — Shana said mockingly.

Koharu approached, enraged.

"If Cassandra were truly evil, she would have killed Fujimoto already. And if Kairo were evil… he would have taken advantage of me. But he didn't!" Koharu said .

Shana smiled venomously.

— I just don't understand one thing... What did you do in bed, for you to wake up half naked? — Shana asked .

Koharu froze, her face flushed, her body stiff with shame.

Silence.

Koharu took a deep breath and told Shana everything: the hiding place under the bed, the kiss, the confusion of feelings—and the reason: the paints and the tag with accumulated power.

Shana listened silently, her arms crossed.

— So… — she arched her eyebrow

— Was it Kairo who gave you your first kiss ? — Shana asked ironically and started laughing.

"I will fulfill my promise to Kairo . And I will keep the peace in this group," Koharu said seriously.

“Promise?” Shana tilted her head.

— Yes. You will stop looking at Kairo like that. And stop bothering him. — Koharu replied .

Shana smiled, but her eyes turned cold.

— You're quite bold. — he said softly.

"And you're right about one thing: if you even think about opening your mouth… I'll kill you on the spot," Shana threatened Koharu.

Koharu didn't back down.

Shana then snapped her fingers, as if she had a brilliant idea.

"I know. I have a map of Lilebel. There's a place here called Yosushí ," Shana said .

— I don't understand. — said Koharu.

" Yosushí is a sensual dance club. Shall we make a bet?" Shana said .

"What bet?" Koharu asked .

"We're both going tonight. Whoever collects the most coins wins. If I lose, I stop messing with Kairo . If I win, we both sleep with Kairo tomorrow," Shana replied .

— Are you up for it? — Shana asked.

Koharu was shocked.

"This Yosushí must be a place where women... indulge themselves," Koharu said .

"You're stupid. It's forbidden for any man to touch a dancer without permission. It's dancing, not prostitution." Shana rolled her eyes.

"Even so... dancing like that in front of a bunch of men is horrible," Koharu said in disgust.

Kairo or not ?" Shana asked .

Koharu closed her hand, took a breath.

— …Okay. But no one can find out. — Koharu said .

— Leave it to me. — Shana smiled.

"You don't leave your room today," Shana ordered .

— Understood. — Koharu agreed .

Shana opened the door, ready to leave.

— I'll call you at night, — Shana said .

And he left.