Each Heart's Turmoil

(Sun Yao)

"Yezi!"

I dashed across the soft sand and threw myself at Yezi, who was picking up seashells.

"Thanks for making the trip!"

I failed to control my strength and knocked Yezi stumbling, nearly sending him sprawling backward. He only took two steps back before steadying himself, letting me lean against his less-than-sturdy chest.

My smooth hair fluttered in the sea breeze. I tucked it behind my ear and looked up at Yezi.

He scratched his slightly reddened handsome cheek with a sandy hand.

"I'm fine. All I did on the plane was sleep, so I'm not very tired."

He was still embarrassed about being hugged by me. Did he really see me as a girl?

Realizing that made even me feel a little awkward, and I reluctantly let go of him.

I only said, "You only got to come on this vacation because of me! I came all the way to Hawaii and didn't forget to bring you along. I've been a good bro, right?"

"Thanks. It really is beautiful here."

He raised a hand and patted the top of my head. That intimate gesture made the atmosphere even stranger.

"Don't do that, your hands are covered in sand... Come on, I'll take you to the manor."

Miss Yin Wei did not come over. She stood at the foot of the mountain, watching us from afar.

I lifted Yezi's rolling suitcase onto the boardwalk, then looked at the back of his shirt.

"Have those wounds from your scraping treatment healed?"

"The blood that seeped out has scabbed over, but swimming in the sea is basically out of the question unless you want to hurt me to death."

I reached out with my free right hand and touched his back. The instant my fingers made contact, he recoiled forward as though shocked.

"Hey, don't touch me!"

I withdrew my hand too.

"S-Sorry. Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt, it's just... Anyway, don't go touching me whenever you feel like it."

Yezi's reaction inexplicably made me feel as though he were distancing himself from me. We had only just met up. Had I done something wrong?

"It's really a shame you can't go in the water. Miss Sirius told me there's a natural geyser on Nabu Island, and they have hot spring facilities there."

"Hawaii has geysers too?"

When we reached the foot of the mountain, Miss Yin Wei picked up the conversation and answered the question.

"It's a volcanic region, after all... Oh, it's nice to meet you. You must be Mr. Ye, the one Ceruno has been so worried about?"

With those ambiguous words, she extended her hand to Yezi.

"It's nice to meet you."

Yezi reached out and shook her hand as well.

"My surname is Bai."

When we returned to the manor, Sirius was nowhere to be seen. After greeting the head maid, I brought Yezi to the guest room on the first floor.

"For these five days and four nights, you'll be sleeping in the same room as me."

"...Mm. The environment here is nice."

He hesitated for a moment, but still agreed.

Miss Yin Wei went upstairs to look after Miluno. I wanted to take advantage of our time alone to get things straight.

"Yezi."

He sat by the bed, arranging the clothes in his suitcase, and I sat down opposite him.

"What is it?"

"We haven't seen each other or talked on the phone for over twenty-four hours. It's probably been the longest we've been apart in years... But why do I feel like you were happier picking shells on the beach than seeing me? Did I do something wrong?"

He put down the clothes in his hands, looked up at me, and smiled.

"How could that be? I'm really happy. But you need to understand that men and women are different. In my heart, I want to treat you like my best bro, but the objective fact is that you're a girl. I'm a healthy high school boy, after all. You're dressed so lightly, then you pounced on me and slung your arms around me. I really couldn't handle it... So I have a suggestion."

"What?"

"When we're alone, turn back."

Turn back?

Turn back into Sun Yao?

Was that really necessary?

Couldn't we just get along like this?

"I'd better not change back while we're in Hawaii. Miluno and Sirius are both here, so the risk of being exposed is too great. Besides, you're not an outsider, Yezi. Didn't I say it before? You can admire my body all you want. I don't mind."

He merely glanced at my chest, then turned his head away and coughed twice.

"Ahem. You should have more self-respect."

I had been rejected again.

What was I supposed to do?

I didn't want becoming a magical girl to create distance between Yezi and me.

Being a magical girl was certainly important, but Yezi was also the best friend I had in my life, my only true friend... This should not have been a multiple-choice question.

But how could I make Yezi face the magical-girl version of me properly?

(Bai Ziye)

Seeing that conflicted little expression, I didn't even know how to comfort her.

An invisible gender barrier had risen between us. Could it really be as this idiot said—if I were allowed to "admire" her young, beautiful body, would we be able to break through that barrier?

That was impossible.

Unless she turned back into A-Yao, we were destined to never return to the carefree way we used to get along.

I should change the subject.

"Hey, idiot."

Closing the suitcase, I asked, "What are the plans for this afternoon? Take a walk on the beach, or stay in the guest room until evening?"

"Huh?"

I had no idea what she had been thinking about. Only after I finished speaking did she absentmindedly raise her head, then reply, "Miss Sirius arranged training for me this afternoon, so I can't keep you company. But before that, I want to introduce you to Miss Miluno."

What the hell? "Miss Miluno" was seriously injured and bedridden, so why was this idiot still dragging me over for a "visit"? I wasn't some monkey at the zoo.

"No need."

"Come on~ Today, I'll make you understand what an ideal, pure magical girl Miss Miluno is!"

As she spoke, she grabbed my wrist and rather forcefully dragged me upstairs.

It was obvious that her urge to promote "Miluno" to me was stronger than ever, but how could I possibly meet Miluno?

I was dragged upstairs uneasily, only to see Yin Wei emerge quietly from the guest room, gently closing the door behind her.

Yeah, what superb acting.

"Shh..."

She made a silencing gesture at us. Only when she came closer did she whisper, "She just fell asleep. She needs rest, so don't go in yet."

"Huh?"

Ceruno drooped her shoulders in disappointment and said, "Then... then I'll introduce you two at dinner."

Yin Wei suddenly spoke to me.

"By the way, Mr. Ye—what are your plans this afternoon?"

"I suspect you're doing this on purpose, but I don't have any plans yet."

"Ceruno has to attend the training Sirius prepared for her this afternoon, so she can't enjoy the vacation with you. But... I'm free. How about it? Would you like to accompany me around Oahu?"

"Huh?!"

Ceruno let out a slightly too-loud cry of surprise.

"Yezi is going sightseeing with Miss Yin Wei?"

Her reluctance and her desire not to let me leave were written all over her face, even without her saying them aloud.

"Just a stroll around Waikiki Beach. In fact, I brought a swimsuit with me to Hawaii too."

"You're going to the beach in a swimsuit, with a man in tow... Isn't that a little inappropriate?"

Yin Wei gave a rare smile.

"What's wrong with that? If Mr. Ye is willing to accompany me, I'll be safer. Otherwise, what if strange men try to hit on me?"

"Then... then don't go."

Ceruno tugged at the corner of my clothes.

She looked up at me with her already timid brows lowered, pleading softly.

"Yezi, can you come watch my training this afternoon? I need you too... I need your advice."

That upward gaze from the idiot struck me right in the chest, making my heart beat a little faster.

Meanwhile, Yin Wei wore a satisfied, auntie-like smile.