With his wrist being grabbed tightly without warning, Ultear didn't get mad at all—in fact, she was oddly cooperative.
She stood there quietly and let Shane hold on to her. She even turned slightly sideways, her face settling into a subtly "well-behaved" expression.
"…."
Erza's scarlet hair fluttered lightly in the evening breeze.
She noticed the moment she looked up—the two of them "pulling and tugging" at each other.
Because Shane's body blocked the view, she couldn't clearly see whether their fingers were interlaced, but the intimate atmosphere that came with that kind of contact was impossible to fake.
Before this, the way Ultear and Shane interacted had sometimes given Erza a vague sense of danger—but it felt more like two bad-tempered frenemies constantly clashing.
But now…
Ultear was too composed.
That girl who always seemed bristling with thorns now looked like a black cat that had tucked away its claws and was lazily dozing in the afternoon sun—radiating an unsettling calm and certainty.
The two girls locked eyes.
The air seemed to freeze.
No one spoke, no magic surged—yet Shane felt the temperature around him plunge like they'd been tossed back onto the northern ice fields.
I can't just sit here and die!
I have to take control!
Shane chanted wildly in his head, then forced himself to break the suffocating standoff first.
He pointed with his free hand at the "crime scene" at Erza's feet.
"Erza… what happened to Gray?"
It wasn't only a diversion—he really was curious.
With how obsessed Erza had been with training lately, she should've been in the yard swinging her sword at this hour. So why was she at the boys' dorm entrance, and why was Gray lying there like that?
But Erza didn't even glance at him.
Those sharp, jet-black eyes stayed fixed on Ultear—whose cold expression had softened into a faint smile.
That subtle change in Ultear made Erza instinctively uneasy.
She was increasingly certain that whatever had happened on Shane's trip out… involved Ultear, and it wasn't something small.
"I just asked him what happened," Erza finally said, her voice muffled and low.
"And he reacted way too strongly. I hadn't even done anything yet—he knocked himself out and passed out."
"…."
Shane's mouth twitched.
So Gray would rather knock himself unconscious than answer a question…
That idiot definitely thought Erza was prying about the Time of Memories book—anything involving Ur was something he'd guard with his life.
What could be so important that you have to hide it from me?
Erza pressed her lips together, hit by that familiar feeling—like she was being excluded, like everyone knew the secret except her.
And also—
Am I really that scary?!
Her thoughts churned, and annoyance rose in her chest.
It was just one day without sword practice—stupid Erza! Why didn't you go with him when he asked yesterday?
What were you even thinking?!
If you'd gone, you wouldn't be standing here like an idiot guessing in the dark!
"Is there something on my face?"
While Erza was internally at war, Ultear suddenly raised a hand and touched her own cheek, asking softly.
Ultear's impression of Erza had always been pretty good.
Warm, righteous, serious, reliable—like a knight's sword that would rather break than bend.
Because those were qualities Ultear had long since lost—or maybe never had—she found it hard to truly dislike Erza.
So she'd never really wanted to make things hard for Erza.
The one she wanted to torment had always been the bastard beside her—currently gripping her hand so tight it made her want to grind her teeth.
Ultear tilted her head slightly. What she enjoyed most was Shane's current expression—shaken, conflicted, completely cornered.
The more she imagined him panicking, terrified she'd say or do something in front of Erza, the more her lips curved into a delighted smile.
Served him right—for always playing dumb, and even when she took the initiative, ruining the moment with annoying cold jokes.
That smile is evil…
Watching the malice bloom across such a beautiful face, even Shane—usually fearless—felt his spine prickle.
He genuinely couldn't understand how someone could look that pretty while wearing an expression that made people go cold inside.
"Pfft…"
A tiny, quiet laugh came from behind them.
Ur covered her mouth with the back of her hand, watching her daughter "bully the man she liked" with practiced ease, her eyes full of astonishment.
So this is what Tear is like when she's in love?
Nothing like me… kinda mean, actually.
"…Nothing."
Erza shook her head hard and forced the mess of thoughts out of her mind.
She'd always been straightforward. If she had a doubt, she didn't keep it buried.
"You… have you and Shane gotten closer lately?"
"!"
Shane's heart shot up into his throat.
He whipped his head around. Now was the time for all that "endure and survive" to pay off.
He shot Ultear a frantic look, practically begging her with his eyes—please, just this once, have a shred of conscience and don't murder me.
"Heh…"
Ultear's eyes shimmered. She glanced at him lightly.
That single look made Shane's scalp go numb, and he reflexively gripped her hand even tighter.
The squeeze—tense and unmistakable—broadcast his sheer will to live through their palms.
Having successfully toyed with him, Ultear raised an eyebrow, satisfied.
Then she didn't answer directly. Instead, she looked at Erza and asked back:
"Do you care?"
"Why?"
"…."
The question struck Erza like thunder.
"Huh…?"
The foot she'd unconsciously started to step forward froze mid-motion. She went blank.
Yeah.
Why did she care?
If they were comrades, wouldn't it be good for them to get along?
But then—
She suddenly realized: at some point, she'd started caring too much about Shane.
Whether he was looking at her.
Whether he was beside her.
Everything he did.
Even whether he was getting too close to other girls—
"So… why?"
Erza's face filled with obvious confusion. That dazed, slightly dumb look was a sharp contrast to the fierce, aggressive Erza from moments ago.
Feelings like this were unfamiliar to a girl who charged forward in swordsmanship without hesitation—far outside her understanding.
She desperately searched for someone who could give her an answer.
Master Makarov? No—old pervert would just enjoy the drama.
Natsu? He was a fire-breathing idiot.
Gray? He was on the ground playing dead.
After thinking for ages—
Everyone around her was either a drunk uncle or a loud idiot.
"Wait here."
Erza suddenly lifted her head, stared seriously at Ultear—then at Shane.
"And you too!"
Then she turned and sprinted toward the guild hall like a soldier charging into battle.
She'd figured it out.
Only Cana—the one who'd once suggested "being stricter with Shane"—might actually be able to talk about this.
She had to find Cana right now and ask what was happening to her, why she was caring about Shane this much.
"…Huh."
Watching Erza's back disappear—still full of momentum, yet visibly flustered—Shane's whole body slackened as he released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.
"That… worked?"
"So what?" Ultear tilted her head and tossed him a pretty little eye-roll. "You're not happy?"
Honestly, even she hadn't expected it to be this easy for Shane to slip through.
Erza really was dense and too pure when it came to feelings.
"Hey, that red-haired girl…"
Ur, who'd been quiet this whole time, finally stepped forward, staring after Erza with open admiration.
"What a great gaze. Straightforward and strong."
She turned to Shane, completely sincere.
"Shane, your guild's girls are really high quality!"
Then she elbowed him in the waist, grinning mischievously.
"No wonder you were so tense—Tear's got serious competition, huh?"
"Cough—cough—cough!"
Shane almost choked on his own spit.
Ur was so busy eating popcorn she didn't seem remotely worried about her daughter's romance, and Shane had no idea how to respond.
Right then—
"Shane! Ultear!"
The poor bastard who'd been lying on the ground "playing dead" finally chose the perfect moment to wake up.
Gray sprang upright, clutching his head and shouting with his eyes squeezed shut:
"I didn't say anything! I swear I didn't say anything! I kept my mouth shut!"
He'd been haunted by how Shane and Ultear always treated him like he was useless.
If he'd promised to keep a secret, he was going to prove he could do it—prove he was reliable!
But after he yelled…
Silence.
Gray cracked one eye open.
Shane was staring at him like Are you an idiot?
Ultear looked completely emotionless.
And only one person walked straight toward him.
"Bonk!"
Ur didn't hesitate—she smacked him on the head with a crisp, clean flick.
"Ow ow ow!"
Gray clutched his head and crouched again.
"You little brat!"
Ur planted her hands on her hips and glared down at her idiot student, putting on an angry act.
"Weren't we supposed to come pick me up together?! You dared to stand your master up?!"
~~~
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