Kinugita Taoko stood on the deserted square, staring at the prize in her hands. It was a sealed envelope, quite thick to the touch. She didn't know what was inside.
Sighing, she forced her body to move despite the agonizing hunger. Her mouth held an oily bitterness, her breath reeked of curry. During the eating, she'd lost her mind, acting on instinct. She didn't know how much she'd eaten, but, like last time, after a certain volume, her mind returned. But her body wouldn't calm—the hunger tormented her stomach.
Fortunately, fate had mercy, providing this contest and sparing her from unthinkable consequences. Sighing again, Kinugita, battling the pain, trudged home.
Halfway, she stopped. Thinking it over, she decided to enter a store. Her mind was back, but the hunger wouldn't subside. She needed to prepare for another potential loss of control. Judging by the envelope, it held money and some coupons. Her savings were dwindling, and this prize could cushion the effects of her strange condition.
After yesterday's ordeal, Kinugita returned to school with even darker circles under her eyes.
"Taoko… What's with you? Didn't eat or steal again?" a classmate asked at the classroom door.
"Eh… Don't ask… Just didn't sleep," Kinugita grumbled, lacking her usual energy.
"Well…" the classmate began.
Ignoring her, Kinugita walked to her seat. The classmate, mouth agape, fell silent.
Meanwhile, Hongshang Yu and Tsun, returning to school, faced an unexpected surprise. In class, Hongshang Yu noticed something foreign in his desk. His drawer, like Tsun's, was always neatly filled with books arranged identically. But today, something extra was there. He noticed only after hanging his bag on the side hook.
Hm?
Taking the item, he saw a letter sealed with a heart. Clearly, it was a love letter. But before he could examine the heart, Tsun, about to speak, snatched the envelope.
"What's this?" she asked, already opening it.
She'd spotted the letter earlier and, seeing the heart, felt a surge of anger that stole her breath. Restraining herself, she grabbed it before Hongshang Yu saw the symbol. Her tone shifted, though she tried to hide it.
Scanning the text, she confirmed: a love letter, clumsily written, obviously by a novice. But Tsun didn't care about details—she checked the signature. There was none.
Snorting with contempt, she said in an icy voice:
"Hm, trash belongs in the trash. If I find out who stuffed this junk in my brother's desk…"
She trailed off, feeling rage overflow. A mix of contempt, jealousy, and other dark emotions swept over her. She didn't notice her aura making classmates—chatting, reading, or sneaking glances at her—flinch. The cold emanating from her paralyzed the class.
Hongshang Yu, tilting his head, asked:
"Sister, what is it?"
He'd heard her words but, like everyone in class, knew the letter wasn't random trash. Tsun softened her expression.
"Just someone's garbage. Some pig shoved it in your desk. Sister will handle it. I'm heading to the student council, Yu, be good," she said tenderly, calling the letter "trash" without regard for the sender's feelings.
Patting his head, she left, tearing the letter apart on the way. Hongshang Yu, roughly understanding, knew with her obsession and control, she wouldn't allow this. With no choice, he lay on his desk, gazing out the window, lost in thought.
Tsun, exiting, tossed the letter scraps in the trash. On her way to the council, her face scared off anyone wanting to greet her, silencing them. She didn't understand why she was so furious. Seeing the letter, she recalled childhood and that middle school incident. Hongshang Yu was her only anchor in this world. She didn't know what she felt for him. Love? A desire to be his wife, sister, mother? She only wanted to be near him, not giving him to anyone. She'd do anything to make him happy, even if…
Her thoughts were cut by a sharp chest pain. Tsun stopped, clutching her heart, breathing heavily.
What is this…
She didn't understand this pain. Key events that could explain her feelings hadn't happened yet. Catching her breath, she felt irritation. Entering the council with a grim face, she silenced everyone. Sitting at her spot, she crossed her arms, covering her face, radiating cold.
The room sank into silence. No one dared move, awaiting her words. Finally, the vice president, trembling, ventured:
"U-um… P-president…"
Tsun slammed the table.
Bam!
Everyone flinched.
"From today, the student council strictly monitors relationships between boys and girls. Catch a couple—punish them! Letters, confessions—anything related to relationships is banned!" she declared.
Her words shocked them. The school was known for its leniency on this, with many couples. Such a ban could spark protests and undermine her authority as president.
"President… This will cause a storm! The school always overlooked relationships. If you do this suddenly…" the vice president objected, one of the few brave enough to challenge Tsun. Tsun trusted her, often leaving tasks to her for Hongshang Yu.
Tsun, not looking, stood.
"Don't worry. It's temporary. I know what I'm doing. Do it," she said and left.
After her exit, the room buzzed with discussions. The vice president, sighing, started work, grumbling about Tsun's whims.
The culprit, Hyakusa Aoi, sat at her desk, blushing and staring at her book. She'd written a love letter for the first time. Unsigned—she felt one letter wasn't enough for her feelings. She planned to proceed gradually.