Chapter 108: Confession from a Drunken Girl
"Tina!"
Tina?
No sooner had they stepped out of the shop than someone called out that familiar name. Mahiro instinctively turned around and saw a white boy waving exaggeratedly as he ran toward them.
"Ray?"
Shizuku recognized the boy, though she didn't seem particularly pleased, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.
She couldn't understand how he had managed to track her down here, especially since she had left the party and come all this way.
"You know him?"
"Yes, he's Raymond Sage Clark, a classmate of mine at Berkeley High School. But we're not on good terms."
Shizuku nodded, as if deliberately explaining it to him.
But what Mahiro was more concerned about was that "Tina."
"Not 'Tina,' it's 'Tear.' That's what he named me."
The girl explained with one arm crossed.
When she first arrived at Berkeley High School as an exchange student and introduced herself, Raymond asked about the meaning of the character "droplet." Shizuku explained that it meant "drop," as in "teardrop" or "dewdrop," and he gave her the nickname "Tear."
But it wasn't meant to be tears—it was meant to be a pearl.
Even so, she still found the nickname strange and didn't particularly like it.
Still, she thought it was only for three months, so she decided to endure it.
She just hadn't expected Raymond to become increasingly excessive...
"Oh, so it's Tea~ar~ huh?"
"Please don't call me that. I prefer it when you call me Shizuku."
"Alright, alright."
Mahiro shrugged and said, "But there's a girl named Tina in Arcadia. She's really cute and American too. I think you should find time to meet her."
"Okay, it's a deal. When I return to the country, take me to see that child."
Just as the two of them were chatting happily, Raymond came jogging over.
"Tear! You... who is this?"
At first, he was delighted to see Shizuku, relieved to have finally found her. But when he noticed the Asian male beside her, his expression shifted slightly.
Especially when he saw Shizuku wearing his jacket, a brooch pinned to her chest, and the person holding chocolates while standing in front of the chocolate shop.
And today was Valentine's Day...
Raymond's eyes already showed signs of hostility and displeasure.
"He is Yotsuba Mahiro, my classmate. He came all the way to USNA to see me."
So he's just a classmate...
That means the chocolates in his hands are nothing more than obligatory chocolates, a custom from Tear's hometown.
Thinking this, Raymond's mood improved considerably, and he regained his previous noble, gentlemanly demeanor.
He stepped forward and extended his hand to Yotsuba Mahiro.
"Hello, my name is Raymond Sage Clark. I'm Tear's classmate and also her boyfriend. Welcome to USNA."
He spoke in flawless American English, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance, as if mocking Mahiro for not understanding.
But Shizuku heard every word clearly and immediately retorted unhappily:
"Ray, please don't talk nonsense. When did you become my boyfriend?"
"Oh, Shizuku, don't you understand my feelings for you? Even if not now, we will be happily married in the near future."
"And look at you, since you have friends coming here, why leave the banquet early? I could have sent someone to pick them up from the airport. What a pity about this beautiful dress, it makes you look even more charming than usual."
Indeed, Shizuku looked particularly beautiful today.
The skirt reached almost to the floor.
Her exposed back, shoulders, and upper arms.
Gloves that extended to her elbows.
Dressed like a duke's daughter, even with snow staining her long gown, it did nothing to diminish her elegant and noble demeanor—instead, it added a touch of fragility.
But!
Why was this guy getting more and more worked up, even moving closer?
Just as Raymond was about to grab Shizuku's hand, Mahiro suddenly stepped in front, blocking his action.
"What are you doing?" Raymond frowned, displeased.
"Nothing much. I just can't stand you spouting nonsense about my fiancée, especially right in front of me."
Mahiro spoke bluntly, also in English, but with a refined British accent.
"Damn country bumpkin, do you even know what you're saying?"
"Of course. At the very least, I'm clearer about it than someone who shamelessly insults another man's fiancée."
Mahiro said coldly, "Let me introduce myself again. I am Yotsuba Mahiro—'Yotsuba' as in the number four and the word for leaf. You should understand what that means, little Raymond, shouldn't you?"
"Yotsuba... Yotsuba Maya? One of the world's strongest mages?"
Raymond seemed to recall something and suddenly sneered contemptuously.
"But so what? She's just a failure who was captured by the Han back then for human experiments. This is the USNA—you have no right to cause trouble here!"
"Is that so?"
Mahiro's voice was cold, and his eyes abruptly turned icy as well.
"Then... how about we test it? Let's see whether the Han back then were more resilient, or if the USNA is tougher?"
"What's there to be afraid of in testing it!"
Raymond stood his ground.
And so, the two of them remained locked in a stalemate.
Shizuku, who was being protected behind Mahiro, grew increasingly anxious. She tried to intervene several times but was repeatedly stopped by Mahiro.
However, the next second, Mahiro suddenly laughed.
"Haha, you're right. At the moment, I really can't do anything here. But there is one thing I can do."
Hearing this, Raymond immediately felt a sense of foreboding.
Immediately after, he saw the other man turn around and, right before his eyes, cup Shizuku's face and kiss her!
Although the girl seemed startled at first, her eyes widening and her body stiffening, she showed no signs of struggle or resistance.
At that moment, Raymond gritted his teeth so hard it seemed he could shatter them, wishing he could tear Mahiro to pieces on the spot!
"See that?"
After who knows how long, Mahiro released Shizuku, took her small hand, and turned to Raymond, saying, "Remember this, Mr. Raymond: this is my fiancée. If you dare insult her again, then we'll test it out, just as you said."
With that, under Raymond's murderous glare that seemed ready to devour him, Mahiro led Shizuku away from the scene.
Did he not want to teach Raymond a lesson?
That wasn't the case.
At the very least, he couldn't do it here. If he started a fight, Shizuku would inevitably be dragged into it, no matter what.
He could walk away, true, but Shizuku still had to stay here for a while longer.
Besides, there was plenty of time—no need to rush at this moment.
When the time came, he could even send a "big gift" to the USNA.
"Thank you, Mahiro-kun."
Under the night sky, the two sat in the park when Shizuku suddenly expressed her gratitude.
"Thank me?"
Mahiro leaned back on the bench, gazing up at the starry sky before turning to look at the petite, delicate girl beside him. He couldn't resist teasing, "What are you thanking me for? I took advantage of you. Following the usual script, shouldn't you be crying and demanding I take responsibility right now?"
"Please read less of that kind of novel, Mahiro-kun. I'm not the heroine in those stories either," Shizuku retorted expressionlessly.
But then her tone shifted.
"Still, I really am grateful. That person has been bothering me for a long time, and I understood that only this method could completely stop his harassment today."
"Is that so? As long as you're not angry, that's fine."
Mahiro smiled.
The two continued sitting on the park bench, chatting idly about this and that.
They talked about many things.
Mahiro shared stories about school, while Shizuku recounted her experiences studying abroad at Berkeley.
Overall, their conversation was quite pleasant. At the very least, he could see different emotions on her usually calm face.
And time passed quickly.
Before they knew it, it was already late at night. They only stopped when Shizuku's stomach began to rumble.
"Hungry?"
"Mhm."
The girl nodded, gently covering her stomach with her silk-gloved hands as she said, "I ran out during the evening banquet before eating anything."
"Let's go get something to eat then. I'm hungry too..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he glanced down at the time and realized it was already past midnight.
At this hour, aside from bars, what restaurants would still be open...
Mahiro scratched his head in frustration when his hand suddenly brushed against the paper bag beside him.
"Never mind, no restaurants will be open at this time. If you don't mind, Shizuku-san, why don't we share this chocolate together?"
"Is that really okay?"
Shizuku blinked at him, "But this is my gift to you..."
"What's wrong with that? Food always tastes better when shared with someone."
As the saying goes, good things should be shared with friends.
Especially delicious food, sharing it with friends is what makes it truly wonderful.
And so, he unwrapped the package, breathing in the sweet aroma of cocoa, and took out one piece to offer first to the hungry girl.
"Here, eat up."
"Thank you."
Even though she was the one who bought the chocolate, she still thanked him.
Mahiro smiled, picking up a piece for himself and popping it into his mouth. Instantly, a rich cocoa fragrance spread across his palate.
Mmm, delicious.
One could say this was the best chocolate he'd eaten all Valentine's Day.
Beyond the notes of liquor, nuts, and cocoa, there was also the distinct flavor of U.S. dollars.
How extravagant...
Hic
"?"
Hic
What was that sound?
Turning his head, he saw the girl sitting beside him, her shoulders trembling slightly, her whole body seeming somewhat unsteady.
"Choking?"
"No... hic... no, I feel a bit dizzy..."
Shizuku held her head, as if only this could make her feel better, or perhaps keep her vision from swaying.
No way...
Seeing the girl's behavior and the faint blush on her pale cheeks felt all too familiar to him.
"Shizuku, can you not handle alcohol?"
"Who says... hic... I can!"
Well, no need to ask further—it was confirmed. She was drunk.
Though... not entirely unexpected.
While the brandy and Dom Pérignon weren't particularly strong and had been blended into the chocolate, they were consumed on an empty stomach, which meant absorption was especially efficient.
Plus, it seemed this young lady of the Kitayama family rarely touched anything alcoholic, so it was only natural she'd end up "drunk."
"Looks like we can't stay in this park any longer..."
And it was indeed getting late.
He just hadn't expected things to unfold like this.
He couldn't help but shake his head, then hoisted the drunken girl onto his shoulder and followed her directions back to the residence where she was staying.
This was the home of a distant relative of the Kitayama family.
It seemed this family had been scheming to marry Shizuku off to someone in the USNA to secure some kind of partnership, which was why they'd been hosting various family banquets lately.
Even now, remnants of the evening's festivities lingered in the house.
Well, in the end, this was a matter between relatives—something he couldn't get involved in.
The owner of the house glared at him with clear hostility and demanded to know where Shizuku had been, but the answers he received were evasive.
Eventually, Shizuku was taken from his arms.
Just as he was about to leave, Shizuku tugged at the hem of his clothes.
"Don't go... stay the night... You don't have anywhere else to stay here, right?"
Even drunk, she seemed to retain a sharp mind.
It appeared she had sensed he hadn't entered the country through normal channels.
"Shizuku, don't be unreasonable. There are no spare rooms in the house," said the homeowner.
"It's fine. Mahiro-kun can stay with me."
"That's unacceptable!"
"Why not? He's my fiancé, the eldest son of the Yotsuba family... It's fine."
Well, scratch that—her mind wasn't so sharp after all. It had clearly dulled.
However, upon learning his identity, the host didn't dare say another word or try to stop him.
It seemed this family understood exactly what the name "Yotsuba" represented.
With that, Shizuku pulled him back to her room.
"Make yourself... hic... comfortable. I'm going to... change."
That said, she proceeded to change right in front of him!
Pulling a nightgown from the wardrobe, she stripped off her evening dress in plain sight, then slowly picked up the nightgown and slipped it on.
But the nightgown itself was quite problematic—it seemed to prioritize fashion, a full-length slip-style gown without an accompanying robe.
Made of silky, slightly glossy fabric in a snow-white shade that barely concealed anything, it did little to hide Shizuku's slender figure.
Under the lighting, it seemed to become even more provocative.
Not to mention, because she was wearing an evening gown, she wasn't wearing anything underneath.
Everything was faintly visible.
Lots of lace sewn onto the nightgown and delicate frills covered the key areas, but if the clothing shifted even slightly, parts that shouldn't be seen seemed likely to be exposed.
"Come on, let's sleep..."
Shizuku staggered over to him, took his hand again, and headed straight for the bed.
"I'm saying, Shizuku, are you pretending to be drunk, or are you really drunk?"
Mahiro began to have doubts.
Because the way things had just gone, it somehow felt like she was tempting him to commit a crime.
"What are you... hic, saying? I'm not drunk..."
Shizuku's speech was already starting to become a bit slurred.
"Alright, you're not drunk, so just go to sleep quickly. I'll make do somewhere else."
He decided to treat it as her being drunk and unruly, but he felt he couldn't take advantage of the situation, so he prepared to make do on the carpet.
But then—
"No! You're a guest... how can you sleep on the floor? My bed is big, we can squeeze in... it's fine."
Though her eyes were bleary with drunkenness, she somehow mustered strength and pulled him onto the bed in one go.
Though she ended up falling onto it herself as well.
And to be fair, the bed was quite soft, with a faint fragrance—the unique, subtle scent coming from Shizuku.
But the problem was, a man and a woman alone in a room was one thing, but sleeping together in the same bed?
It had to be said, young lady, you're quite bold.
But in reality, Mahiro didn't do anything, even gently covering Shizuku with the blanket.
It was just that he couldn't get up to leave at all—her small hand was tightly clutching the hem of his clothes, not letting go.
"...Fine, I'll just manage for the night."
He shook his head, casting all other thoughts from his mind.
...
...
....Clearly, it was not a peaceful night.
Softer than the bed itself, yet unexpectedly shapely, a warm and soft sensation suddenly pressed against his back from behind.
Then a pair of small hands wrapped around his waist.
"Hey, hey, I'm talking to you, Miss Kitayama Shizuku?"
"..."
No response.
But he could be sure that this young lady definitely wasn't asleep.
At the very least, her breathing wasn't that steady; instead, it was somewhat tense and hurried.
As if she had buried her face against him, after a while, a muffled voice sounded.
"...This is my first time sleeping in the same bed with a boy."
"Mhm."
"So... Mahiro-kun, I like you."
"Mhm, I know."
"But, Honoka likes you too, you know? So by expressing these feelings, I feel a deep sense of guilt, like I really shouldn't be doing this..."
Perhaps it was because of the alcohol, or perhaps because of something else.
Tonight, the girl seemed to have become unusually straightforward.
However, though he couldn't see her face, he could still feel the slight trembling in the arms wrapped around his waist.
Shizuku's heart was wavering.
Of course it was—after all, something like stealing a man from her best friend.
So, he reached out and gently covered the back of the girl's hand, comforting her:
"What's wrong with that?"
"This era is no longer bound by the old monogamous system, and even if you don't express these feelings, there are still Mayumi-senpai and Sayaka ahead of Honoka."
"Though it might be inappropriate for me to say this—it could even be called scummy—since things have already come to this, why hide your feelings? Wouldn't it be better to face your true heart honestly?"
"As for the relationships between you all, don't worry. I'll handle it. At worst, both of you can just be my lovers."
Of course, that last line was purely a joke.
Still, he genuinely wanted to give these girls a stable home.
But Shizuku fell silent, lost in thought.
After a long while, that familiar, calm voice spoke again.
"Mahiro-kun, you're cunning and fickle."
"Yeah, I get that a lot."
"But... I still like you."
The girl said so.
To be precise, it was only natural for a man as outstanding as Mahiro to be liked by many girls.
Especially in this era.
Even though monogamy was advocated, few actually maintained it, particularly among the hundred families.
The rarity of magicians meant that bloodlines were destined to branch out and multiply extensively.
Though her parents had always remained devoted only to each other, Shizuku could still understand.
"So, cunning Mahiro-kun, could you give me another kiss like the one you gave me in front of Raymond before?"