Chapter 113: Aika Shiki refused to accept it.

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Translator: Soafp

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That morning, Aika was taking extra time to do her hair. Her mother had arranged for treatments at a salon, and switching back to her old shampoo had helped her restore its former quality.

“…I'm going to be late.”

She always ran late because of how long her grooming routine took, but lately, that wasn't the only reason. She stood, carefully hiding the faint shadows under her eyes with makeup. When she stepped out of her room, a housemaid who had been with the family for years was already waiting.

“Milady. Breakfast is ready.”

“As long as it's nutritionally sufficient, that's fine. Just prepare the usual.”

“You've been studying late into the night recently. It would be better to eat properly.”

The plump maid looked at Aika with genuine concern. But Aika didn't meet her eyes.

“…I'll eat in the car. I'll make up for any missing nutrients with supplements.”

She couldn't say the words rising in her throat. That would be showing weakness. Even if the maid was a long-time acquaintance, she couldn't let her parents find out how she was really doing.

The cousin who once understood her without her having to say a word—was no longer by her side.

As her silver hair fluttered, Aika stepped into the car parked just outside the gate. Inside, Mio was already waiting.

“Good morning, Aika-sama.”

“Morning, Mio. How long have you been here?”

“About thirty minutes. Since I live nearby, it's no trouble.”

“I see.”

Mio, dressed impeccably in her starched uniform, opened her planner. Though she had been appointed to manage Aika's schedule in Sora's place, she had been gradually improving through trial and error.

“I'll eat now. Read me today's schedule.”

She mechanically ate her bland breakfast—boiled vegetables and a single boiled egg.

“Today is the closing ceremony. There will be a speech from the grade representative and an announcement from the student council. The script is prepared.”

Aika washed down some vitamins with water and opened her phone, checking the school SNS for posts about herself and Sora.

“After the ceremony, there's a meeting about the school exchange program with a Canadian high school. That's it for school matters. Afterward, we have an appointment with a dressmaker to select your outfit for the family's summer party.”

As the stream of schedule updates continued, Aika pressed her phone to her forehead.

“Aika-sama?”

Mio looked at her with concern.

“…It's nothing. Make time for me to work on a painting for the summer oil painting contest. I've hit a bit of a block.”

“Yes! Please leave the student council work to me!”

“I'm counting on you, Mio.”

Flushed with pride, Mio turned back to her planner with renewed motivation.

Aika turned off her phone and put it in her bag. The screen had been filled with positive comments about Sora. There were some compliments about Aika as well, but it was clear she was no longer the sole star of the school. And what bothered her more than anything—there were even a few criticisms of how her clique treated Sora.

She averted her eyes from those comments and closed them.

About ten minutes remained before they reached the school. She let her weight sink into the seat, as if this short time was her last bit of peace. She had been ensuring she got enough sleep, but she hadn't truly rested.

She kept having that dream. From middle school—
The moment her cousin, who had just begun to bloom with talent, was discarded by her mother.
Aika had believed that if she trampled Sora down, dulled that brilliance, she could be free of this feeling.

“I'm not like her… I'm better… I'm more exceptional…”

“Aika-sama?”

“It's nothing. Wake me when the school comes into view.”

Upon arriving, Aika stepped out of the car with a smile and greeted everyone around her. The chime for class had already rung. Entering the classroom directly, she immediately noticed how the students' gazes split—some directed at her, and some at Sora, who was hovering around Ginji's desk.

She was smiling.

Even though Aika had taken everything from her. Even though she had discarded her—just like her mother had.

“Even though she was abandoned.”

Aika mouthed the words but didn't say them aloud.

If Sora kept rising and eventually proved herself to be truly ‘that'—

If she was seen as the real thing… what would that make Aika?

She pushed the thought away and picked up the script for the closing ceremony.

—

After homeroom, the test rankings were posted.

Aika's rank—her worst ever: 16th.

And Sora's score…