«So, what did you want to talk about, Ayane Tsukinaga?» Eliss asks confidently, almost mockingly — the voice of someone who knows she holds the upper hand. She speaks the moment they step inside the restroom, before Ayane can even open her mouth.
«Who are you?» Ayane demands coldly, her tone sharp and threatening.
«Eliss Narkhalis — I believe Aoshi already introduced us, didn't he?» Eliss replies with a puzzled shrug.
«Don't play dumb. You know perfectly well what I'm talking about.»
«You want to know what kind of relationship I have with him? Well… I think we made that pretty clear.» Eliss's expression hardens — her eyes narrow into sharp, gleaming slits. «He's my boyfriend. Mine, and no one else's.»
«That's not what he says! A cleaning lady, a rental girlfriend — and now coworkers at the Moonlight Club? If you were really his girlfriend, Aoshi wouldn't be trying so hard to hide it! There's something off about you — I can feel it!» Ayane snaps, trying to keep her voice down. «You didn't even exist in his life until last week, and now suddenly you're his girlfriend? Don't make me laugh! It's obvious you're preying on Aoshi's heartbreak, using his pain and loneliness to manipulate him! And right now, the wounds left in his heart by that bitch, Miori Yukinaga, are still fresh and bleeding, keeping him from seeing it for himself! But I'm not stupid! I stayed silent the last time, when he was with Miori, even though I knew something was wrong. And because I stayed silent, Aoshi became the laughingstock of the university. I won't make the same mistake twice! Aoshi is kind, selfless, always ready to help others, but the world is full of leeches who take advantage of people like him, draining them dry and tossing them aside once they're done! I don't know what you're after, but I won't let you exploit his kindness! I won't let anyone toy with his feelings ever again! Am I making myself clear?!»
«About Aoshi being kind-hearted, I already know that — trust me, I don't need you to remind me,» Eliss replies calmly. «And as for wanting something from him, you're right about that too. I want his love. I'm madly, hopelessly in love with him — it's a love so strong, so overwhelming, it's become an addiction. Something you can't even begin to imagine.»
«Addiction…» Ayane hisses under her breath. «That's such a terrible word to use for love. First a show-off trying to impress her ex, and now a full-blown obsessive psycho. Fantastic.»
«If loving him, wanting him more than anything else in the world, makes my love "sick", then fine. Let's just pretend it is, if that's what you want to hear,» Eliss says, shaking her head in exasperation. «Oh, Ayane Tsukinaga… why are you hiding behind such ridiculous accusations, just because you can't face the truth?»
«The truth…?» Ayane repeats through gritted teeth.
«You see, I have a certain gift — call it heightened empathy, or rather, an affinity for the emotions of those around me. And yours are loud and clear, Ayane. The real reason you pulled me aside to warn me away from Aoshi… is because you're in love with him too, aren't you?»
Ayane freezes. Her body stiffens, and her face instantly flushes crimson.
«M-Me? In love with Aoshi? Don't be ridiculous…» she mutters, her voice trembling — hardly convincing.
«I noticed it the moment I first saw you two together,» Eliss continues smoothly. «The way you look at him gave it away instantly, and now I've just had confirmation — not that I even needed it. You've fallen for him. That's why you can't stand the idea of me being close to him. But tell me, Ayane — what exactly bothers you? That Aoshi decided to move on right after his last breakup… or that he chose me to do it with?»
A smirk tugs at Eliss's lips. «It's undeniable that I'm far beyond the usual standards of beauty — but if I looked plain, would you still be this upset?»
«I-I don't see what that has to do with your so-called relationship with Aoshi…» Ayane murmurs, her gaze dropping to the floor, her voice faltering like she's desperate for the conversation — one she started — to end as soon as possible.
«It has everything to do with it! You suspect me of deceiving him only because, in your eyes, there's an impossible gap between us — between someone like me and someone like him, right? That's the root of your suspicions!» Eliss's voice cuts sharp as glass. «You're ridiculous… accusing me of trampling on Aoshi's feelings when you're the one who secretly believes he's not good enough for a beautiful girl. What do you think he'd say if he knew his "best friend" sees him that way? And you call that love? Pathetic.»
Ayane stands frozen, eyes wide and hollow, her breath caught in her throat. Eliss's sharp words echo in her mind, crashing over her like a cold, merciless wave of realization.
Then… a single drop hits the spotless tiles below.A tear.
«I… I'm such an idiot…» Ayane sobs. Her eyes glimmer with tears, and she trembles so hard from nerves that she bites her lip until it bleeds. «You're right… I'm in love with Aoshi. It's unbelievable how you figured it out in just a few minutes, while he hasn't realized it in all these years… but I guess girls are always a little quicker at these things. I've loved him for so long — too long — and yet I never had the courage to confess. I don't even know why. Maybe I was afraid he wouldn't feel the same way and that I'd ruin our friendship. I didn't want to admit that you managed, in an instant, to do what I couldn't in years. I had all the time in the world, but I hesitated, comforted by the thought that Aoshi isn't exactly a playboy. But it seems that train has left, and my selfishness just can't accept it. Eliss… I still can't fully understand it, but you really do seem to love him deeply. So please — from one woman to another — don't make him suffer, for no reason at all. I'm begging you…»
Ayane's tears flow endlessly; her eyes feel so heavy she can't even lift her gaze from the floor. But then... A warm, gentle embrace.
Eliss's arms wrap tightly around her — firm yet tender. Ayane stiffens for a moment, then slowly returns the hug. The two stay like that, locked in silence for what feels like an eternity.
«I promise,» Eliss whispers softly. Her voice carries a warmth that sends a shiver down Ayane's spine, like a delicate breath brushing against her ear. «Aoshi will never shed a single tear because of me.»
Eliss's honesty keeps her from saying something hollow like "Don't worry, I'll never leave him", because she knows that one day, all of this will end. One day, Eliss might return to Elyndra and disappear from Aoshi's life forever — and he knows it. But just as she promised Ayane, Eliss has no intention of ever making him shed a single tear.
«Aoshi and Takuma will start to worry if we stay in here too long…» Ayane sniffles, wiping her tears. Then she takes Eliss's hand and smiles — this time, a genuine smile. «Come on, the guys are probably waiting to order.»
Eliss squeezes her hand back, their fingers gently intertwining as she nods with a bright, heartfelt smile.