Chapter 120: To the Kindred.

From that day onward, the frequency with which Violet and Yuran saw each other gradually decreased.

Of course, as the exams drew nearer, both of them naturally devoted more time to studying.

Even so, compared to previous exam periods, the reduction felt noticeable—and the cause could be summed up in one name without needing to say it aloud: Mary June.

Violet had seen Yuran studying with Mary June more than once or twice.

That said, they were never alone; Gear was usually there, or else a handful of unfamiliar students joined them.

To Violet—who had braced herself for the possibility of the two spending time together one-on-one—this came as unexpectedly welcome news.

For her, Mary June remained an unavoidable trigger for old complexes.

She had genuinely worried whether she could keep up her usual show of strength if she ever witnessed the two of them alone.

That said, there was no denying that the time Yuran had previously spent with Violet was now being given to Mary June and the others.

The larger group had also increased the number of sessions beyond what she had anticipated.

She had prepared herself to some degree, so she had no intention of complaining.

Fortunately, Violet had also made friends she could spend time with, so she never found herself at a loss for company.

“Violet-sama, shall we take a short break?”

“Oh my—is it already that time?”

The salon they had reserved for just the two of them happened—by coincidence—to be the same room where Violet had last spoken with Yuran at length.

Though not that much time had passed, she found herself feeling a faint nostalgia, as though remembering something long ago.

Spread across the table before her were textbooks and pens instead of the tea set from that day.

“I requested a tea set earlier. I also ordered chocolate tarts, so let’s enjoy them together.”

“When did you……? I didn’t notice at all.”

“You were so focused, so I took care of it while you were.”

They moved to the small tea table—barely large enough for two place settings—and Rosette poured the black tea.

Violet added milk and sugar to make hers even sweeter, while Rosette seemed to prefer it straight.

The chocolate tarts came in two varieties: one topped with whipped cream, the other with berry sauce.

Naturally, the whipped-cream version was placed in front of Rosette.

The two exchanged glances and burst into quiet laughter.

“Even you sometimes want something sweet, Rosette?”

“And you, Violet-sama, have the bitter chocolate tart?”

Giggling, they swapped plates.

This kind of mix-up had become routine by now.

Correcting it felt like too much trouble, so they had simply let it turn into a standing joke.

They both understood perfectly well that sweets and cute things suited Rosette far more than they did Violet—and that the reverse held true as well.

Violet had long since stopped minding.

When she began reliving this second year, she had simply decided to stop caring.

At the time it had felt more like resignation than cheerful acceptance.

She took a generous bite of the whipped-cream tart—sweet chocolate and crisp pastry melting on her tongue.

Her cheeks naturally softened into a smile.

Suddenly, she remembered the last time she had been in this room.

“I still prefer this one after all.”

“After all?”

“I once ate an incredibly bitter chocolate. Someone who doesn’t like sweets the way you do said it was delicious and ate it happily…… but I couldn’t manage it at all.”

“You are quite the sweet-tooth, Violet-sama.”

“I was eating the snowball cookie, and he looked like he couldn’t handle it either.”

“Ahaha—I think I understand how he felt more than you do.”

“Fufu, perhaps the two of you are more alike than I realized.”

Rosette and Yuran.

At first glance they seemed to have little in common.

Yet upon reflection, the similarities were striking.

How others perceived them, how they responded, their tastes, their worries.

Of course, this was only Violet’s perspective—she might be mistaken.

Still, both were people Violet had been drawn to.

“So this ‘he’ is…… a boy, then?”

“Ah…… I’m sorry. Saying someone of the opposite sex resembles you isn’t exactly ladylike, is it?”

“My tastes do lean masculine, so I’m honestly happy to be compared to Violet-sama’s friend.”

More than anything, it felt like someone finally understood her true nature—beyond the “princess” image others projected.

To be likened—even casually—to someone Violet thought of so often felt like higher praise than any flowery compliment.

Rosette already knew in the back of her mind who this “he” must be.

She also knew that true mutual understanding with him would likely never come.

She preferred not to admit it, yet she couldn’t deny the resemblance.

“Perhaps one day I’ll introduce you. He’s a boy, so whether the two of you would get along is another question.”

“……I would very much like to meet him and offer my greetings.”

Violet nodded, her smile bright and sweet.

She looked forward to that day—not only because she was excited, but because she trusted Rosette as a dear friend.

Understanding that, Rosette returned the smile—keeping the identity of “that man” a gentle secret between them.

She quietly wondered how far in the future that day might be.

And what name Violet would use to introduce him when the time came.