"That's right, that's right! Koushi, your sister even came to school in your place these last two days! Wow, she's a real beauty! And her cooking is super—great! The dish she made in Home Economics class that day, just smelling it made my mouth water!"
Hiroto's words were like another heavy hammer blow to Shido's heart. Several classmates nearby were also drawn in, gathering around curiously.
"Huh? Koushi, you didn't know you had a sister?"
"Really? She came to school to substitute for you the day before yesterday!"
"Yeah, yeah, substituting for school! That's so cool!"
As the classmates peppered him with questions, Koushi's confusion turned into a slight panic and the pain of trying desperately to recall. He rubbed his temples hard:
"What are you all talking about? I really don't have a sister... Substituting for school? I... I completely don't remember any of this... I just remember feeling unwell for the past few days and resting at home..."
He looked at the certain expressions of his classmates and Origami's calm yet insistent gaze. His expression grew more and more confused, even showing a hint of self-doubt:
"Could it be... that I was delirious from the fever? But... I genuinely don't have a single memory of this..."
He looked at Shido, seemingly wanting a denial from his best friend:
"Shido, what exactly... is going on? Did you really... see my sister?"
Stared at by Koushi's eyes, which held pure confusion and a plea for help, Shido felt his throat clog up.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Admit it?
That would mean dragging Koushi into that dangerous and cruel truth?
Deny it?
But that would be a betrayal of Chinatsu's existence, and lying to his friend... (What should I say? What should I do?!)
Just as Shido struggled violently internally, nearly unable to bear this silent interrogation, a gentle, slightly weary voice rescued him.
"Alright, alright, everyone return to your seats. Class is about to start."
Murasame Reine Sensei appeared at the classroom door, pushing up her glasses. Her tone was peaceful yet carried undeniable authority.
She walked up to Koushi, gently patted his shoulder, and then faced all the students, explaining in a clear voice:
"Everyone might be mistaken. The student who came the past few days, Phoenix-in Chinatsu, is not Classmate Koushi's biological sister."
"She is a transfer student returning from abroad. She merely temporarily borrowed the surname 'Phoenix-in' to complete temporary enrollment procedures. Since Classmate Koushi happened to be absent those days, the school arranged for her to briefly experience this class for administrative convenience."
Reine Sensei's words were smooth and natural, as if stating an established fact:
"Due to arrangements made by her family, Classmate Chinatsu already left Amamiya City the night before last and returned overseas. Therefore, everyone doesn't need to discuss this matter anymore."
This official explanation sounded plausible and instantly resolved the doubts of most students.
"Ah, so that's what happened!"
"I knew it. Koushi never mentioned having a sister."
"A transfer student returning from overseas, no wonder her demeanor was different."
The classmates dispersed gradually, discussing among themselves.
However, Shido clearly saw that while Koushi also adopted the "I see" expression of sudden realization like everyone else when Reine Sensei explained,
the fleeting, deeper confusion in the depths of his eyes did not escape Shido's notice. As for Origami, she remained expressionless, merely glancing at Reine Sensei without saying anything further.
The crisis seemed temporarily averted.
But Shido knew that some things had fundamentally changed.
He looked at Koushi's profile, which bore some resemblance to Chinatsu but was currently filled with "normalcy" and "confusion." The guilt and heaviness in his heart did not lessen; instead, they grew thicker, like constantly accumulating dark clouds.
(Koushi... I'm sorry...)
(Chinatsu... Why did you... go to such lengths...)
He silently sat back down in his seat and buried his face in his arms. The noise around him felt distant.
All that remained was his own deafening heartbeat and the complex emotions—a mix of sadness, guilt, and endless confusion—that threatened to overwhelm him.
This seemingly returned normalcy had, for him, become a silent, continuous torment.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Rexlent
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"