Huh? That Narita Brian, not only is she making a move on my junior, but now she's even going after Manhattan Cafe? Does she really plan to have them both at the same time?
After class, when Gold Ship happened to pass her in the hallway and came over with this bit of news, Green Grass felt a surge of irritation rising in her chest.
Is Narita Brian that desperate for affection? One isn't enough for her?
As angry as she was, Green Grass still kept her cool enough to question Gold Ship about the source of her information.
"Gold Ship, did you see this yourself, or did you hear it from someone else?"
"I saw it with my own two eyes, clear as day," Gold Ship declared with confidence.
"It was one of those dark, windy nights. The two of them were sitting on a patch of grass under the twinkling stars. Narita Brian took Manhattan Cafe's hand and said, 'I'll win the [Kikuka-shō] for you, as a gift for leaving Green Grass and being with me instead.' Geez~ Just watching that scene gave me goosebumps. I thought to myself, 'Oh no, am I being a third wheel here?'"
After processing the few snippets of dialogue she'd overheard through her own wildly imaginative filter, Gold Ship launched into a vivid retelling.
"My radar eyes and radar ears caught every single detail," she proclaimed, thumping her chest.
"That… doesn't really sound like something Narita Brian would do…"
It seemed way too bold.
No, wait a minute. Green Grass shook her head.
That day when she was watching the races with her junior, Narita Brian had shown a side of herself no one knew about, expressing some pretty bold feelings toward her junior.
Could it be… beneath that aloof, keep-your-distance exterior, Narita Brian actually has a passionate and impulsive heart?
Is she secretly a really daring kid?
"Those were her exact words! She said she wants to take your place, that she's more suitable than you. And I even checked with Cafe herself—she definitely has some kind of… indescribable relationship with Narita Brian."
So that's why Narita Brian dared to speak to her like that! She already has her prize waiting in the bowl!
It all clicked for Green Grass.
What Gold Ship was saying was almost certainly true.
At that thought, the anger Green Grass had barely managed to suppress came flaring right back up.
Her junior and Manhattan Cafe had a relationship no one else knew about. The fact that they hadn't told her explicitly meant they didn't want it known, and Green Grass respected their wishes, never pressing the issue to force a clear answer.
Whether it was Cafe or her 'junior,' her feelings toward both were the same—she didn't favor either one emotionally.
Her feelings were those of a senior's protection and acceptance, an acknowledgment of her own successor.
And Narita Brian? What were her feelings toward these two?
She only pursued strength, never considering anything else.
She didn't care about the juniors' feelings or their personalities. She was just like some clueless girl who confesses to any pretty girl she sees—completely unacceptable.
"This is too much! How far does she plan to go, pestering my junior like this?!"
"Right? That's exactly what I thought! And from what I heard of their conversation, you were there first, Green Grass-senpai. Cafe's feelings were mutual. But that Narita Brian just had to force Cafe to go along with her using a tough attitude. As a pure love warrior, I strongly condemn Narita Brian's actions!"
As if worried the situation wasn't chaotic enough, Gold Ship patted Green Grass on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, Green Grass-senpai, I'm completely on your side. Just a moment ago, I exposed Narita Brian's tangled-up relationship with Manhattan Cafe on the bulletin board downstairs."
"What!? Hold on, won't that cause trouble for Cafe?!"
"No need to worry about that! I pixelated Cafe's name. I wrote 'Manhattan XX.'"
Gold Ship puffed out her chest proudly.
"But… isn't Cafe the only one at the school with 'Manhattan' in her name…?"
"Eh? Is that so? No way, I think there's someone else."
"Is there?" Green Grass had never heard of anyone.
"There is! I think there was someone called… Manhattan Black Tea? Or Manhattan something? Sirius told me. I even saw her just a moment ago. Ah! There she is! Sirius Symboli! Ohayou—!"
Spotting a figure with brown hair out of the corner of her eye, Gold Ship waved her arms exaggeratedly.
"Come on! Sirius-chan!"
Hearing the call, Sirius walked over, her brilliant rose-colored eyes looking at the two of them.
"Gold Ship… and Green Grass. Quite the unusual pairing," she remarked, raising an eyebrow. "What is it? You called me over."
"Sirius, didn't you say there was someone at the school called Manhattan Black Tea or something? Was that the name?"
"It's New York Black Tea. New York and Manhattan are not the same," Sirius Symboli corrected.
"That elegant young lady appeared in the garden like a fleeting night-blooming cereus. Her noble bearing and cool demeanor left a lasting impression on me."
"Ah, right, New York Black Tea. I remembered wrong." Gold Ship smacked her own forehead.
"But it's fine! Their names are similar enough that even I, the great Gold Ship, got them mixed up. Others are bound to confuse them too. As they say, if everyone makes the same mistake, it's not a mistake anymore. So writing it like that is fine, don't worry about it~"
Hands on her hips, Gold Ship wore an expression of someone who had everything under control.
But she's not even from Tracen! Face in her hands, Green Grass decided she'd go tear that notice down later.
"What are you two talking about? Why bring her up?" Sirius looked puzzled.
"Just some matters of the heart. Are you interested too, Sirius Symboli?" Gold Ship seemed intent on dragging her into it.
"Matters of the heart, hah. I've always been caught in the whirlpool of emotions. What storm haven't I weathered?"
"Oh? Is this the composure of the most popular first-class star? Always living on the turbulent sea has honed you into a real sea queen, hasn't it?"
Gold Ship couldn't help but praise her.
Her eyebrow twitched rapidly a few times. Sirius forced herself to ignore Gold Ship's courting-death description.
"Green Grass-senpai, it seems Sirius isn't cut out for this. She's not devoted enough. I will never forgive Sirius's sea queen behavior!"
"Hey…" Rubbing her throbbing temple, Sirius Symboli was already regretting why she'd listened to Gold Ship and come over looking for trouble.
"Let me clear my name, Gold Ship. When I said I'm in the whirlpool of emotions, it's only because I haven't found a companion who truly catches my eye. It's not what you're implying."
"Oh? So have you found one now or not?"
Sirius fell silent for a moment.
"It's okay, it's okay~ Even if you haven't, just admit it openly. No one will laugh at you, Sirius." Gold Ship flashed a broad, careless grin.
"Hmph, Gold Ship, my pursuits are different from yours." Sirius Symboli shook her head.
"There are only three things in this world interesting enough to hold my attention. First, strength. Second, mystery. Third, beauty." Sirius Symboli held up three fingers.
"Only those who possess at least one of these can capture my interest."
"Wow~" Gold Ship looked excited. "So, who is it that's caught your attention?"
Sirius Symboli snorted. "Do you really think I'd tell you?"
"You've said this much, so even if you don't say it, I know. It's Rudolf, isn't it? I knew it."
"It is not! It has nothing to do with Rudolf!"
She really didn't want people looking at her and her childhood friend that way.
"Then who is it?"
"Even if I told you, you wouldn't know." Tossing her hair, Sirius Symboli crossed her arms.
"Though I'm not sure if she can be called strong, the young lady known as New York Black Tea possesses both beauty and mystery, which certainly attracts me."
"Oh, that person you mentioned last time."
"I had just returned from the airport then, still feeling the novelty of Japan's changes. Passing by a park, I encountered a black hyacinth. That became the moment for my meeting with that girl."
Those icy, cool red eyes gave Sirius the feeling of being seen through.
Elegant, aloof, mysterious, enchanting—multiple auras were displayed flawlessly in her. Though they had only exchanged greetings, the other had indeed left a deep impression on her.
It was a pity that later, both the hyacinth and Miss New York Black Tea seemed to have vanished into thin air. She could never find them again.
Sirius had been to that park many times since, but never ran into her.
Such is the nature of connections—fleeting and ephemeral.
"Seems Sirius has had quite the rollercoaster experience. Green Grass-senpai, you still have a chance! You mustn't let Narita Brian succeed! Otherwise, you'll become the second Sirius!" Gold Ship clenched her fist, addressing Green Grass.
"Hey, what do you mean 'the second Sirius'?"
She was right, though.
No matter what, Narita Brian had gone too far. She really wasn't taking Green Grass seriously… No, she wasn't taking Cafe's feelings seriously at all!
"She needs to be taught a lesson." Green Grass folded her arms.
"Then let's settle it with a race! If you win, Green Grass-senpai, Narita Brian has to back off."
"That seems to be the only way."
Green Grass would make Narita Brian understand just who was qualified to stand by Manhattan Cafe's side.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.