Who exactly is Alex? Why does he have such strange superpowers?
Has Chloe been abused by him? Does she have the same Succubus Mark as me?
Mackenzie's head was about to explode, various chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind. She looked at Chloe, trying to organize her words.
It was currently lunch break, but because it was raining heavily outside, the classroom was full of students. Aside from those who went to the cafeteria, everyone else was eating in the classroom.
"Chloe…"
"Mackenzie, what's wrong?" Chloe took out her bento box from her drawer, humming a tune in good spirits. She looked up at her friend with her beautiful eyes. "Your expression is a little strange."
"I want to ask you something about Alex…"
"Alex? What about Alex?"
Hearing Alex mentioned, Chloe was curious. Mackenzie and Alex didn't have much interaction, did they?
Unbeknownst to Chloe, Mackenzie looked bewildered. Alex? She's calling him by his first name? What is going on?
"I think Alex… is a bit dangerous. Chloe, he hasn't done anything to you, has he?" Mackenzie stammered for a moment, speaking quietly.
"Done what?"
"Just, you know, bullied you or something…"
Bullied, he did bully me before, the extremely outrageous kind, Chloe thought shyly, cupping her cheeks with her hands. But she said aloud, "No, he hasn't bullied me."
"Are you sure?" Mackenzie was suspicious.
"I'm sure. Alex is actually a very good person. Mackenzie, you shouldn't judge him so harshly."
"Then, on your body…"
Glancing at Chloe's uniform, Mackenzie was about to ask if she had the same Succubus Mark as her, but before she could finish, Anya walked over, swinging her ponytail.
"Chloe, let's go."
"Coming, Anya," Chloe said apologetically to her friend, picking up her bento box. "Sorry, Mackenzie."
"???"
Dumbfounded.
Anya? Wait, what is going on with you two? Yesterday, you were hostile and competing against each other, and now you're calling each other by intimate names and eating together? Since when did your relationship become so good?
I really don't understand you anymore, Chloe.
The sight of Chloe and Anya suddenly joining forces left Mackenzie full of questions. Alex wasn't in the classroom either. She sat in her seat for the entire lunch break, doubting her life.
They had Physical Education in the afternoon, but since it was pouring rain outside, Suho Sensei announced that the class would be held in the indoor gymnasium. For Chloe and Anya, they weren't particularly fond of PE.
It mostly came down to one reason: having to change into gym clothes.
And now, there was one more girl who disliked PE…
Speaking of which, the Lewd Succubus Mark on her body… it was indeed a bit shameful to expose. But shame aside, Chloe wasn't planning on avoiding everyone secretly like she did last time.
Compared to her initial fear and dislike of Alex, Chloe—whose heart was now fully devoted to him and who loved him more and more—no longer rejected the Succubus Mark on her body. In fact, she even liked it.
This is a unique mark left by Alex. It's a brand that signifies I belong to him, and it can even protect me. I don't care if others see it.
They are all girls anyway…
With her shift in attitude, Chloe walked toward the locker room with Mackenzie, lost in thought. She fantasized about the happy times with Alex, the joy and happiness of being intimate with him.
She didn't notice the strange looks her friend was constantly shooting her way.
"Chloe!"
"Huh?" Before they reached the locker room, they ran into a familiar person on the stairs. Chloe tilted her head slightly, looking up at the boy standing at the top of the stairs. Her expression showed a hint of surprise. "Yuto Senpai?"
It was Yuto Senpai. She felt like she hadn't seen him in days.
The upperclassman she once liked… Now, Chloe felt nothing when she saw him. He was just a stranger, at most evoking a bit of melancholy.
"Chloe, where are you going?"
"To the locker room to change. We have PE soon," Chloe replied with a polite but distant smile. A sense of alienation radiated from her.
"I see…"
"Then I'll be going now, Yuto Senpai."
What's wrong with Chloe? Didn't she like Yuto Senpai? Why is her expression so flat?
Yuto also sensed a change in the girl. His expression tightened. "Wait! Chloe… I have something I need to talk to you about."
"What do you need, Yuto Senpai?"
Chloe fiddled with a strand of her hair, meeting the boy's gaze with her beautiful, large eyes. Her look was very calm—a calmness that made the upperclassman feel inexplicably panicked.
"It's about you and that person… Last time, that boy wasn't…"
He hadn't forgotten. The day the slouchy guy dragged Chloe away right in front of him. He had been unsettled for days, constantly worrying about Chloe and that person.
Now, he had finally made up his mind to find her and clear things up.
"Oh, you mean Alex? What about him?"
"Didn't he drag you away that day? I don't know who that guy is, but I will protect you, Chloe," Yuto Senpai's eyes were firm, his expression serious and sincere.
"No matter what happens, I will stand by you and help you. I won't let him hurt you…"
The old Chloe would have been deeply touched.
Unfortunately…
"Um, Yuto Senpai, I'm sorry," Chloe shook her head, cutting him off. "Alex hasn't hurt me. There's no need for you to help me. I appreciate your concern, Yuto Senpai."
"What?" Yuto froze.
"My business with Alex has nothing to do with you, Yuto Senpai—"
"Chloe? What, what do you mean? I just want to help you! You and him…"
The upperclassman began to panic, stepping forward urgently to grab her, but the girl took a step back, dodging him.
Chloe clutched her arm, her eyes no longer showing the affection of the past, only awkwardness and caution. "Yuto Senpai… Everything that happened between Alex and me was my choice."
Something happened with Alex?
Mackenzie, listening silently, was stunned.
Chloe gazed at the upperclassman with a complicated expression. She suddenly bent down and bowed deeply. "I'm sorry. Everything with Alex was my choice. I… I like him. No, I love him."
The ringing in the ears wasn't just for the upperclassman. Mackenzie, the bystander, was also dumbfounded.
Mackenzie's mind went blank. What did she say? Like, she likes Alex?
Is this really Chloe?!
"Love? Impossible! He must have forced you…" Yuto Senpai couldn't believe it. He refused to believe it.
He had a crush on Chloe and genuinely liked the underclassman. Didn't Chloe like me? She should like me. Why, why would she fall in love with a guy like that?!
It's impossible!
"Yuto Senpai!" Chloe frowned, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes. "I'm telling you the truth! If you keep talking about Alex like that, I will get angry!"
"…"
Yuto Senpai stared at her blankly.
"Hoo," Chloe's expression softened a little. "Honestly, it's not your fault. Yuto Senpai, you didn't do anything wrong, but… love is love. I've already fallen in love with him, and I can't change it. I won't like anyone else."
The girl cupped her Chest, a blissful smile on her face.
"I'm very sorry, but please don't look for me anymore. I'm afraid Alex will misunderstand."
With that, she walked past him, leaving him standing there, frozen at the stairwell, unable to move for a long time.