The past life is the past life, and this life is this life—or so I'd resolved to live, drawing a firm line between the two. But if there's such a thing as a goddess of fate, she must be an impish one, delighting in her little pranks.
It wasn't just me who'd been reborn. The person I'd had my eye on—Yugen Kagurazaka—was none other than my second-eldest brother from my past life, a fact I only recently uncovered.
"So, you're bringing this fancy-wrapped chocolate to school, big sis?" Ceria teased, eyeing the ornate package.
"Ugh…" Lina groaned, caught off guard.
Even I, who'd always outshone my twin sister Ceria, never imagined I'd meet someone at Magic High School who was not only my equal but surpassed me. Seeing Yugen and Miyuki Shiba's budding romance during a magic practice session sparked an unexpected pang of jealousy—or perhaps possessiveness—in me.
As a soldier, I had to investigate the prime suspect's background. But keeping my focus on Yugen was a struggle; my attention kept slipping away. An impromptu spar at the dojo, meant as a test, ended with him effortlessly deflecting my moves and landing a chop on my head.
"You're one to talk, Ceria!" I shot back. "Didn't you hole up in the kitchen after I finished making mine?"
"I already gave mine to someone, so I've got nothing to worry about," Ceria replied with a smug grin.
"What?! You already gave it? To who?!" I demanded.
In that moment, Yugen's figure overlapped with my second-eldest brother's from my past life. Honestly, could it be that my old feelings hadn't faded, even after reincarnation? What happened in that past life… that's my secret alone.
I kept digging into Yugen's background whenever I had the chance, but ever since that chop, my brother's image kept flickering in my mind. Looking back, I might've been more intrigued by Yugen as a man than wary of him as a suspect. To shake off those feelings—and to test him—I confronted him at a scene with Sergeant Charles Sullivan, threatening to detain him. But he neutralized every move I had and knocked me out cold.
At that point, my options for beating him were severely limited.
"That's a maiden's secret, big sis," Ceria said playfully. "More importantly, tone down the packaging. Gold foil is a bit much, don't you think?"
"First Sylvia, now you, Ceria… What's wrong with it?" I muttered, deflated.
Later, Yugen confronted me about being a reincarnator, and I confessed. I mean, neutralizing my "Dancing Star"—a move even Ben (Major Benjamin Canopus) couldn't dodge—was impressive enough. But if something happened to Yugen, I'd have to deal with Miyuki and Tatsuya, the literal invincible "Onii-sama" and his sister. No thanks.
Learning Yugen was my reincarnated brother blew away my doubts. Giving him chocolate was, in a way, part of moving forward.
On a side note.
"Pick something with a girly touch," Ceria suggested. "I've got extra wrapping if you want. But… why Tatsuya, of all people?"
"W-Why would I give it to Tatsuya?!" I stammered, tripping over my words.
Ceria's question caught me off guard. Handmade chocolate made it obvious who it was for, but for someone like me, who'd barely cooked before, to complete it with Sylvia's help showed how much I cared. A store-bought gift would've sufficed for a friend, but going all-out meant my feelings went beyond that.
"You're flustered, so I'll take that as a yes," Ceria said. "I heard about the other day. Is this an apology?"
"Partly," I admitted. "But… I've never lost to anyone except you, Ceria."
"True enough," she nodded.
Honed through rivalry with Ceria, I'd earned my place as Stars' commander. Yet, in this country, I met people I couldn't beat. Yugen was one, but the only ones I'd directly faced and truly gauged were Tatsuya and Miyuki. If my twin had suddenly swung that way, I'd have seriously considered cutting ties, but Tatsuya's lucky pervert moment narrowed my choice to him.
It wasn't like I'd never met guys before, but my skills as a mage and the shadows of my grandfather—the current president—and Ken Kudou kept them at bay. The former was one thing, but the latter was just a doting granddad.
"I don't know how to explain it," I said, my voice softening. "Every time I see Tatsuya, my body feels… hot. Like I'm not myself anymore. Ceria, are you even listening?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm listening!" she replied, a bit too quickly.
Thanks to Ceria's love for Japanese romance manga, I'd gotten hooked too. Combined with my limited experience with guys, it birthed a romantic outlook not found in the original story. (Ceria and Ken taught me Japanese, so I handle daily conversation easily.)
At some point, I'd fallen for Tatsuya—that much was certain. Maybe it wasn't just love; there was something else, too. Ceria listened with a half-hearted air, perhaps because my feelings mirrored her own toward Yugen—a truth she kept to herself.
"I know you get it, Ceria," I said.
"I do," she replied. "Just… make sure you keep things clear."
Tatsuya was a suspected strategic-class mage, second only to Yugen. Colonel Balance had an attack planned against him, but as someone aware of his abilities, I knew it was doomed to fail. I couldn't say that without raising suspicion, though. Even if Balance used "Brionac," would it work on Tatsuya, who'd been influenced by Yugen? In more ways than one, he might be the one "falling."
Still, as a soldier, I tried to stay detached, but my heart wasn't calm. Ceria could only offer a wry smile at my turmoil.
Valentine's Day wasn't just chaotic for some. Countless girls were eager to confess their feelings, but when enthusiasm went too far, the results strayed far from "cooking."
"…"
"Izumi? What're you doing here… wait, that smell…" Kasumi trailed off.
At the Nanakusa family's main estate, Kasumi found Izumi outside the kitchen, looking like she was about to sigh. The smell wafting from the kitchen clued her in instantly. Izumi, noticing Kasumi, muttered under her breath.
"Kasumi-chan, Onee-sama's making that chocolate again… the one Yugen-oniisama said was nothing but bitter."
"She could make normal chocolate if she tried," Kasumi said. "It's not like Yugen-nii killed her parents."
In the kitchen stood Mayumi, and this was the twins' second time witnessing this. This year's ingredients looked even more bitter than last year's. How many guys was their sister planning to send to hell tomorrow? The thought was downright menacing. Mayumi's sly chuckle didn't help—it felt less cheerful and more like she was plotting something. (Kasumi had opted for store-bought, and Izumi had already sent her handmade chocolate, so the kitchen's state didn't affect them.)
"If she makes Yugen-oniisama eat that again, I won't forgive her," Izumi declared. "Or Father, for letting her use the kitchen."
"I get the first part, but Father's not to blame…" Kasumi said, exasperated.
Izumi's infatuation with Yugen—then known as Yugen Nagano—began five years ago at a Nanakusa family party. Despite her usual shyness in public, Izumi boldly approached him. Kasumi initially thought it was just Izumi's romantic streak, but her twin's expression was unmistakably lovestruck—a fact Kasumi, as her twin, noticed first.
Kasumi was roped in to rein Izumi in, which led to her befriending Yugen. Izumi's glare, carrying a clear "If you steal my first love, even you won't be forgiven, Kasumi-chan," forced Kasumi to insist she had no such intentions.
"Father's no better," Izumi huffed. "He teased me endlessly when I was thrilled about getting closer to Oniisama. I get why Onee-sama calls him a 'sly old fox.'"
"Let's get out of here before we're forced to taste-test," Kasumi said, retreating. (Sorry, Mother. Even I can't stop Izumi like this.)
The Toyama family's meddling and Father's probes into Yugen's background left Kasumi wondering what he was thinking. When she asked her mother, she learned it was tangled with unresolved feelings from an old love. Kasumi's takeaway? "Does this family go off the rails when it comes to romance?"
Unbeknownst to them, Mayumi had caught every word with "Multiscope." What followed… only they and the gods would know.
On Valentine's Day, Tatsuya and Miyuki left early for the Nine Temples. Miyuki, with a radiant smile, told Tatsuya, "I'll give you your chocolate when we're back. And… expect something special for your birthday." Erika's relentless teasing afterward was inevitable.
"Yugen's so popular, his desk'll be buried in chocolate by the end of the day," Erika quipped.
"Spare me," Yugen groaned. "Back in elementary and middle school, my desk was already overflowing, and the guys shot me jealous glares."
Despite his frail health limiting his elementary school attendance, Yugen's charm drew plenty of chocolates. He'd hoped the trend would fade in middle school, but it only grew, partly due to Gozo dragging him to greet various mage families.
"I'd be grateful if it was even one less," Yugen said, half-joking.
"That hope's gonna get crushed," Mikihiko replied.
"I'll throw that right back at you, Mikihiko," Yugen shot back.
By morning, Yugen had received obligation chocolate from Kyoko and a heartfelt one from Ceria. Voicing that doomed hope was, perhaps, his small act of defiance.
Mikihiko had gotten chocolates from Mizuki and Sana, while Leo was begrudgingly handed one by Erika, who unleashed a torrent of tsundere clichés straight out of manga. Teasing her would only backfire, so they stayed quiet.
Tatsuya and Miyuki were likely heading straight to First High from the Nine Temples, so Yugen arrived at school early. In the classroom, his seat was already adorned with several chocolates.
"I know I stand out, but I haven't done anything to make girls fall for me," Yugen said. "Beating up 'Crimson Prince' at the Nine Schools Competition was just payback."
"Payback, huh?" Mikihiko said. "I'm not one to talk, though."
Even as a student council member, Yugen avoided unnecessary meddling unless it harmed him or his loved ones—a stance unchanged since enrollment. Unlike his past-life brother's charisma, Yugen, once a direct Ten Master Clans descendant, had kept a low profile to avoid sharp-eyed peers.
The chocolates were all from Second Course girls. With fewer First Course students around early, it made sense, but knowing his seat without name tags suggested they'd been watching him. The girls of this world—especially those with mage potential—seemed aggressively forward.
"I brought some paper bags, but I don't want to think about filling them all," Yugen said.
"You saying that just jinxes it," Mikihiko warned.
"If everything I say comes true, I'd be a god," Yugen retorted.
Despite his resolve to lie low, girls kept handing him chocolates. Toya wasn't spared either—by the time Miyuki entered the classroom, both their bags were full.
"You and Toya are quite the heartthrobs, Yugen-san," Miyuki said with a smile that carried an edge.
"That sounds ominous coming from you, Miyuki-san," Yugen replied warily.
Honoka, absent from the classroom, was likely behind the lab building, giving Tatsuya her chocolate. A quick check with "Osiris Sight" revealed a surge of psion energy from her—her emotions running high before her crush. Tatsuya, trying to calm her, grabbed her shoulders, which only seemed to excite her more… until she fainted.
(Yugen-san, Onii-sama is… well…) Miyuki's telepathic voice reached him through their mental link, honed by training and tied by the "Oath."
(Don't say it… Even I can't handle this, Yugen thought back.)
Tatsuya knew he couldn't feel intense emotions for anyone but Miyuki. Yet, when it came to his own romantic affairs, he seemed even denser than in the original story. Yugen had asked about Lina before, and it was clear Tatsuya felt something strong for her.
Through training, Yugen and Miyuki had developed a telepathic bond—"Mind Speech"—allowing Miyuki to sense Tatsuya's state via the "Oath." Her words left Yugen speechless, caught in the complexity of it all.
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