<Elliot Amaryllis (♀)>

“Warm? Not cold?”

He looked at me puzzled.

“Look. Unlike you, I have to deal with something called period cramps, got that?”

I don’t know if he knew that having cold stuff during a period can actually aggravate the pain.

“Yeah, yeah. Sure thing then.”

Elliot ♂ offered to help make me a drink. I had no reason to deny. Today was a chill Saturday afternoon with nothing to do after all.

We went to dig into our mini-library for manga to read. The collections did not only include the series’ that I liked, but also those from my elder sister, my mom and dad. Jasper didn’t like manga, so he had a separate section for his light novels.

Mom had mature tastes. So… what better chance to take a look at her most recent steal than when she was out, right?

“It’s really…”

Mom’s preferred manga were…

“Lewd.”

…Yeah.

Elliot ♂ and I read it side by side.

I tried to flip a page.

He held on.

I didn’t want to mention it, but did he need to stare at the heroine’s breast so much?

I took a sip of the warm jasmine tea he made.

“Hey Elliot, since you’re interested in girls, do you not get aroused by the male body?”

“If it makes you feel any better, I’d say I do. Personally, I just prefer the female body.”

The thought of burying myself in between two soft breasts makes me drool a little.

I heard him sigh.

“You know, let’s pick some other manga.”

“Eh? Why all of a sudden?”

“Well, unlike a girl, guys get a boner.”

I don’t know what it’s like having a boner, but wouldn’t it be uncomfortable having the boner forced down by tight underwear?

“Huh? So? Just because you’re having a boner right now you’re stopping?”

“Don’t you think we shouldn’t be reading porn together, like this?”

Ohya?

This manga wasn’t doujin. It was more of an adult story.

Sure, it had explicit scenes littered all around, but the story’s main focus had nothing to do with it. So, I wasn’t sure if calling it porn was appropriate.

“But we’re both the same person? Plus, weren’t you the one who first suggested this idea?”

I was the one who suggested the idea huh? Good point.

Could it be that as a male, he’s more depraved?

Could it be that right this moment, he was thinking about doing lewd things to me now?

Hentai. Pervert.

You’re a complete cock-brain.

“Cock-brain.”

“Slut.”

Nevermind. It seems we do sync up after all.

Btzz.

I put the manga aside and picked up my phone.

He seemed to feign ignorance as he went to pick a different manga to read.

Oh, a text from Ellis.

‘I’ll give you my answer during culture festival day.’

“Huh?”

Answer?

What answer?!

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

<Elliot Amaryllis (♂)>

It was the first day of a new week.

Richard-sensei entered the class with some breaking news.

“You two seated at the back over there. You’re this year’s culture festival presidents. Good luck.”

“…?”

“…What?”

“I’ll give you the rest of the period to discuss your plans. I expect a report on the ideas the class comes up with. Toodles.”

He left the class with those words.

No drawing lots, no discussion.

He made a declaration and walked away.

I wasn’t sure if he was having his ‘PMS’ or if this was just the way he handled every year’s culture festival. It was the first time our class had Richard-sensei as our homeroom.

Ellis and I looked at each other.

Her bright blonde hair shadowed her emerald eyes.

“No way. I’m out.”

I said.

“Then why not tell Richard-sensei to swap you for the other one? I’d much prefer her than you.”

She snorted.

Was Richard-sensei out of his mind? We’d never get along.

My blood began to boil.

I stood up and walked out of class.

Damn it.

Why am I always the one to clear up her mess?

Fortunately, I didn’t need to go far.

Sitting a few steps up the flight of stairs, Richard-sensei waved at me. I looked at him dumbfounded as he patted the space beside him, inviting me to sit.

He had been expecting me.

“Are you going to explain something?”

“You must be curious why I chose the two of you?”

“Yeah. And you seem to have a reason for it?”

“I do.”

I was now more curious than mad. Richard-sensei probably didn’t have any ill intentions.

“Do you know what my blessing is?”

“No, I don’t.”

In fact, I don’t even know what most of my classmate’s blessings were. It’s typical to keep it a secret… part of just how the culture here works.

“I call it ‘Hint and Fix’.”

“Hint and fix?”

“Yes. You and Ellis aren’t on good terms, right?”

“So the news has even reached the teacher’s department?”

“We’ve known about it since last year.”

Ugh…

“I thought this would be a good opportunity for you to make up. Even if it’s impossible to get back together, I thought it would at least be less of a burden for you if you could turn your hostile relationship neutral.”

“…But, isn’t it good to avoid needless drama?”

“I don’t know about that.”

He shook his head.

“I’m simply suggesting that this decision is a hint given by my blessing. If it’s correct, then after the culture festival, your relationship with Ellis will change.”

“Change… for the better?”

“Yes.”

“Hm…”

“Of course, if you think you can’t handle it, then you could always have Elliot take your place.”

“Um… alright?”

Richard-sensei squeezed my shoulders with a firm grip.

“It’s our secret little deal. Don’t tell anyone about it. Otherwise, the whole purpose of this would be for naught.”

Hint and Fix. It seems to be a fate-altering blessing.

“I’ll… think about it.”

“You’re welcome. Now go and get me the ideas.”

He patted my shoulders, signalling the end of the conversation. He got up and went his way.

What a surprise. I didn’t think he’d actually use his ability to help me out with my relationships.

“Thank you sensei.”

I’m grateful.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“So, how did it go?”

Ellis asked, casually looking at her fingernails.

“No luck.”

“…”

“Let’s just start already.”

I headed up to the blackboard and split the board into three columns.

“Let’s begin brainstorming ideas for the culture festival. Anyone with any ideas, raise your hands and speak.”

The suggestions were slow at first, but as momentum picked up, ideas began flowing like an ever-constant stream.

Elliot ♀ came to the front voluntarily to help me chalk down the ideas.

Ellis… didn’t seem to harbour any intentions of helping.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

Maid cafe <3.

“…This is the most suitable option for our class?”

Elliot ♀ was just as stunned as I was.

Our class was made up of some of the hottest girls on the block.

And one of the biggest gyaru in this class was Willow Hart. Oliver’s girlfriend.

Now, what has this got to do with the main cafe?

Well… Willow Hart leads the girls’ cosplay troupe.

“Girls! We’ve got to step up our game!”

She cheered like a cocaine-overdosed cockatoo.

“Yeah!”

“I’ve always wanted to wear a maid costume.”

“We’re actually going to cosplay? Oh yeeeah!!”

That’s one major problem resolved. As for the boys…

“Damn, imagine Tility in a maid costume.”

“I’m in!”

“A maid cafe has always been a man’s dream!”

Yeah. I might have to do something about that…

“Gordon, Oliver.”

“Yes?”

“What?”

“Can I leave it to you two to be in charge of the menu?”

The two guys looked at each other. One was a pastry-making enthusiast, the other was the son of a chef who cooks ramen.

“Sure.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

They looked fired up enough.

“And drag in the boys with you. I can’t let everyone go scott-free.”

The male monkeys all shuddered at Elliot’s ♀ sharp glare. The tumult quieted.

The class will be divided into three groups.

Chefs. Attendants. Technicians.

Chefs would be in charge of menu creation, ingredients and making the actual food on the day.

Attendants were the maids and ‘potential butlers’ that would be part of the fan service.

Technicians were in charge of decor, equipment, posters, and management of assets within the other two groups.

Next up would be funding.

We do have class funds, but I doubt it would be enough. So I needed to gauge a convincing estimate before telling the class to pay up. I expect the costumes to be the biggest expense here.

“Willow, do you know how much it costs to get a maid costume for each person?”

“Why not rent the costumes instead?”

“Rent?”

She suggested something I wasn’t familiar with.

There was such a service to rent something like a dozen maid costumes? I wonder which entrepreneurial paedophile came up with such an idea?

“I know a friend who operates a clothing rental service. We just need to choose the best attire for the price. I can’t give you a price estimate yet though.”

Aria suddenly raised her hands.

“I’ll shoulder the costs.”

“Uh? Huh? No, it’s not fair. It’s a class thing, so everyone should contribute.”

“But…”

“Yeah, I think it’s better that way.”

I wasn’t sure why Aria thought to do this, but it’s out of the question to have a single person sponsor everything.

“I don’t mind paying for a new costume. I’ve always wanted to cosplay as a maid.”

“Ain’t no way we’re going to let a single person pay for everything.”

The rest of the class voiced similar thoughts.

Before we could round up the discussion, our mathematics teacher arrived. The meeting had to be adjourned, sensei looked amused by our draft-up of the class project.

Meanwhile… I couldn’t help but notice Ellis’ constant, cold gaze on me.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“Hey, Elliot.”

“Yeah, what?”

At home after dinner, we drew up a duty roster for the maid cafe. We had the same brain, so who’d she assign to which role was exactly who I’d assign to that role.

“Thanks.”

“Thanks? Why?”

“In class earlier in the morning when we needed to plan for the culture festival.”

Ellis, the bitch didn’t even care enough to perform her duty. If not for Elliot ♀, I don’t know if things would’ve gone so smoothly.

“Why would you have to thank me for that?”

“I just felt like it.”

“You’re such a weird me.”

She sighed.

“Ellis is kinda pissed at me now.”

She said.

“What? Why? It’s not like you did anything right?”

“Who knows what goes through the mind of that girl when the situation involves you. Frankly, the Ellis I knew before my birthday wasn’t so aggressive and clingy. Just what happened between the two of you?”

“Well…”

“Don’t need to tell me if you don’t feel like it. There are things I’d rather keep buried in. I’m sure the same goes for you.”

My hands went awry, I messed up a name.

“Ah shoot. Oliver just became Oilve.”

“I’m sure no one will notice.”

She showed me the duty roster she was working on.

Oliver’s name there was also written as ‘Oilve’.

“Yeah. You’re right.”

I rolled my eyes.

I guess some things were really just better left in the dark.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

It was a warm Saturday afternoon.

“What? No you pervert you shouldn’t go. Do you really plan to watch the girls pick out maid outfits?”

“…”

Elliot ♀ had a good point there.

The only problem was that she should’ve told me about it yesterday, not right up when we were about to head out.

“We’re both perverts, so why does it matter?”

“…”

It was her turn to be speechless.

Aren’t I right, ‘me’?

I could somewhat tell what was going through her mind.

She’s lesbian, so ogling girls in delectable costumes must be incredibly appetising. So much so that she wanted to monopolise the feeling.

Hell, I ain’t a voyeur.

We’d been living in the same room, going about our routines in a very similar fashion. We ate at similar times, used our phones at similar times, studied at similar times…

And because of it, neither she nor I had any privacy to well…

Watch porn.

Or masturbate.

This is literally the second longest I’ve gone without nutting.

I don’t know about her, but I feel like she must’ve set a similar record.

Disgusting?

Well, perhaps.

But if I’m disgusting, then so was she.

“Come on, we’ll be late if we don’t leave now.”

“Sometimes I wonder how much you know.”

“About?”

“Shut up.”

I don’t know if I know. That’s for sure.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“This is the meeting place right?”

“We always arrive early when it comes to these sorts of things for some reason.”

Elliot ♀ and I checked the time using our phones.

And following that action, we naturally began to scroll through social media.

We hadn’t posted anything since we became two separate people. I wonder how our followers would perceive us if they were to suddenly receive a post.

Elliot ♀ and I lifted our phones up at each other at the same time.

““Huh??””

And performed a double selfie where we were both taking a photo of each other taking photos of each other.

“What the hell is with this coincidence?”

“Just when I thought we were starting to become different, this happens?”

We looked at each other.

Her brunette hair had been tied into a side ponytail, a golden butterfly pin held her tucked bangs in place.

She wore a pale blue blouse and black tights. Her simple style matched well with the ocher-coloured handbag she carried.

For some reason, the thought that we were having a date crossed my mind.

I felt self-conscious all of a sudden.

She and I looked away at the same time.

We both ran our hands through our hair…

What the fuck was this situation?!

“Don’t get the wrong idea…”

“I-I know.”

We’re not dating.

This isn’t a date.

There’s absolutely nothing going on between us.

We’re overthinking.

Yeah…

Damn it, someone arrive already! It’s getting super awkward standing here like this.

It was only then did I realise the peculiar gazes of the people around us.

And from among them, I saw…

“Damn prick.”

…Oliver and Willow taking photos of the two of us.

“W-Wow!”

“Delete that right this instant!”

“I’ll kill you if you don’t!”

Elliot ♀ and I complained to the snobbish couple.

Oliver and Willow burst out into laughter.

We must really look like a joke to them, don’t we?

Similar appearance, similar actions, similar complaints.

“Don’t worry, we’re not going to leak it everywhere.”

Oliver dismissed our worries with a waving gesture.

“But weren’t you two just taking a photo of each other earlier? That was so cute and couple-like you know?”

““We’re not a couple!””

Go to hell.

It was only a coincidence.

“Look, not only does their scowl look the same, they even bite their lips at the same time.”

Oliver remarked.

Elliot ♀ and I exhaled.

Deep breathes.

Calm down.

Peace… I am peace…

The more agitated we were, the more they would not take us seriously.

“Did we arrive on time?”

“Wow! The Elliots look so good together.”

“Yeah, they’re like twins!”

The rest of the girl’s gang arrived.

It broke my pride to hear their impression of ‘us’.

“Huh? Where’s Aria?”

Elliot ♀ asked.

“She said she couldn’t make it.”

“But don’t worry, I have her three sizes on the top of my head,

Elliot’s ♀ gaze sharpened at Willow’s words.

Wow, when did Willow take the measurements?

“Is there anyone missing?”

“Yeah, Ellis hasn’t arrived yet.”

“We’ll wait a little longer.”

“Oh, and there she is.”

“Nice. We can go to the cosplay shop now.”

I turned in the direction where Oliver pointed.

And when I saw her,

For a moment I thought I felt my heart ache.

Seriously?

A dark blue coat over her white shirt and light blue jeans. A large barrette held her hair in place and… that gold butterfly pin.

The exact same one which Elliot ♀ wore.

Elliot ♀ probably failed to give it to her, that’s why she owns it.

But the one Ellis had was… a gift I got her for her birthday last year.

I don’t get it.

Why was she wearing that?

“All here?”

Ellis asked in a casual tone.

“All here, let’s go.”

Then nodded and turned away.

Acting as if I didn’t exist.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

This was my first time exploring this district. To sum up everything into one word, it would be ‘Akihabara’.

There was no spot you could turn to where you wouldn’t see a single anime banner, figurine, or cosplayer. Heck, even the safety cones on the street had anime ads pasted on them.

It was an otaku’s dreamland.

“Up here.”

Willow led us deep into a shady alley. It wasn’t mouldy, smelly, or anything like that. More like, a purposefully designed secret shortcut only veterans would know.

Then the impact hit me all at once when we were pulled into a boutique store.

Instead of your usual shirts and jeans, they were selling… an entire suite of maid uniforms.

A uniform from the Victorian age? Oh, there over in the corner. How about one from the dark ages? Ah, that one there which comes with a holster and fake sword. How about fantasy? We have it too. Do you want a cute one, a mature one, or one suited for assassination?

An old man would go senile from all the choices.

“Oh, customers. How wonderful it is to see you all.”

Willow warned us to be careful of the shop owner, saying that she had a ‘peculiar’ personality.

At first glance, the shopkeeper seemed like this beautiful young lady completely immersed in her role-play.

But…

“We’re lucky that she’s not cosplaying as a succubus maid today.”

Willow heaved a sigh of relief.

“Dear me, what are you saying Miss Willow? It’s not good to talk behind the back of your dear maid now?”

The owner showed a modest chuckle.

“Oh Miss Reliana, could you help me pick out outfits for these dear guests of mine? They all need uniforms for work in due time.”

“But of course, I shall see to it. Could you furnish me with the specification?”

“Our school festival. We’re running a maid cafe.”

“Splendid. I assume it would need to be attractive, neither too ostentatious?”

“Would it be possible to rent them instead?”

Reliana smiled.

“Of course my dear. It just happens that we have a rental option for maid uniforms of this particular design, what do you think?”

“What do you think girls? Does this look good?”

“Wow! The fabric is so silky.”

“Do they come with headbands and high socks?”

“I’m surprised by how legit they look.”

“Actually, couldn’t I just buy my own?”

“Me too actually.”

“How many would like their own set, how many would like to rent, please let me know.”

Elliot ♀ who was observing from afar suddenly looked at me with an expression I couldn’t put into words.

She looked like she wanted consent for something.

Do you need consent for something like this? Guilty conscience? I simply nodded, whatever it was going through her mind then.

She moved towards Willow as if in a trance.

“As for you darling, do you also need a maid dress disguise? I’m sure many would find you attractive in such an outfit, no?”

Fuck…?

When did she come up behind me…?

“U-Uh, no thank…”

Before I could finish, I felt her vice-like grip dig into my shoulder.

“You never try you never know?”

Her breath tickled my ear.

“N-No…”

What the fuck…

“Please take your time, I have some special request to attend to.”

“Hey—mff?!”

I was, out of sight, dragged by the demoness into a separate room. Fancy full-body mirrors, armchairs, cosmetic tables, artificial wigs…

She had me stand straight and started taking my measurements.

“Now then, let’s see…”

“H-Hey. I have no intention of dressing up as a maid!”

“Ara, ara? Aren’t you running a maid cafe? If a male happens to cross-dress, it would help a lot in the sales, no?”

“No way! It’ll only disgust the…”

She placed her fingers on my lips.

“Hush darling, don’t be shy. I can tell what you want deep down inside.”

Tell what I want deep down inside…

It must be because you keep imagining what it’s like to be a girl.

I remember Elliot ♀ saying something like that.

Is that true? Could I actually have such a weird fetish?

No.

It can’t be…

There’s no way…

“Oh yes it is. Otherwise, why would you put up such little resistance? Normal people would’ve scolded me by now. Or perhaps…”

She placed the measuring tape aside.

Then bent over and shook her abundant breasts in front of me. There was a card placed in between the crack.

“…You were expecting something from a beautiful servant like me?”

I didn’t know why, but my instincts were telling me that if I grabbed the card, it would mark the end of something inside me.

Yet as if denying my own thoughts, my hands moved on their own. I was just about to reach it when…

Knock. Knock.

Her expression loosened at the sound of the door knock.

“Mnn… how unfortunate.”

She released me. Taking the card away from her breast and putting it into her pocket, she unlocked the door.

“Excuse me, could I have Elliot back?”

On the other side was…

Ellis Cole?

Her expression was cold as she stared at Reliana.

“But of course.”

Ellis glanced at me once and then turned back. She didn’t say anything, but I could tell she was telling me to follow her.

Escaping the demoness’ den, I heaved a deep sigh.

“Hey, where did you go?”

Elliot ♀ asked.

I noticed that she was holding a brand-new maid costume in her hand.

So she… seriously decided to buy one?

“Elliot, come here quickly already!”

Ellis complained.

“Alright, alright.”

“This is the total price. Since a good number of them decided to buy for themselves, the rental would only amount to…”

Of the fourteen girls here, only four of them chose to rent. Those that decided to buy it would fork up the fee themselves… I was dumbfounded.

“What a shame. I could’ve given the rental completely free if he only took the card.”

Reliana said disappointingly… while squirming.

…Took the card? Willow suddenly smacked my head.

“Ah! Why didn’t a virgin like you take the discount ticket! Even Oliver, who already has me, got it last time!”

So that thing she placed between her breasts wasn’t her phone number, but rather a discount card?

Fuck?

“…Fuck what?”

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

We left the demoness’ den after paying for the deposit and outfits.

One of us will have to pick up the five rental uniforms a few days before the culture festival day.

Aria wasn’t here, so her’s had obviously be rented.

Of the four that didn’t buy, Ellis was among them.

I didn’t understand why she didn’t get one. I thought she liked these sorts of things?

“So what the hell happened back there? Your face was all red.”

“Huh? Why do you want to know?”

I didn’t understand why Ellis was talking to me all of a sudden.

“What? So you mean I can’t talk to you?”

“No, sorry, I just… no. Nothing happened inside there.”

“You always treat me like this.”

She clicked her tongue.

“…”

Right. I’ve always treated her in this manner, haven’t I?

Assuming the worst, I often brushed some conversations aside just because I didn’t want her to make a fuss out of things.

“…She tried to seduce me.”

“…What?”

“That discount ticket, whatever, she put it between her breasts.”

She laughed… snorted.

“Wow, as expected of you.”

“What did I do wrong there? Trying to pick a fight or something? ”

“No. Nothing.”

Now she was treating me the way she hates me to treat her. That’s seriously unfair.

I looked up at her hair. More specifically at…

“I thought you threw it away.”

I said.

“What?”

“That hairpin.”

She scowled in confusion.

It took her a few seconds to realise what I was referring to. When she did, she touched the gold butterfly pin once.

“…You gave it to me. Why would I throw it away?”

“…”

Why exactly would you not throw it away…?

What are you trying to imply with those words?

“We’ll cooperate just this once. After this is over, I don’t want to talk to you again.”

Some things were best left in the dark.

But what if that ‘something’ was coming out into the light?

Should it be pulled out or… pushed back in?

What then?

I don’t know.

This feeling.

This conflicting feeling…

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

Who is Ellis?

My first love.

She was also the person who I gave my first kiss to, and whom I experienced my first breakup with.

Our relationship began during the first year of junior high school, it lasted almost two and a half years before it broke down.

Before we knew it, we didn’t just become estranged from each other. We started to hate each other.

I was immature, and so was she.

It was enough of a blessing that I got to date my childhood friend. Most people never even got to kiss their first crush.

I don’t know how it all went wrong… or when it all went wrong.

So when I saw her wearing that pin, I don’t know why but… the thought of ‘what if’ crossed my mind.

“…Hey Elliot!!”

Elliot ♀ screamed into my ear.

“What the fuck, did you have to yell so loud?!”

I glared at her.

“You weren’t responding, so I had to. What’s up? Thinking about what happened between you and that sexy maid we met earlier in the day?”

“Shut up.”

I turned away and covered my head with the pillow.

“You’re acting abnormal. Like you’re lovesick or something.

Lovesick?

I’m acting lovesick?

Over what?

Ellis?

No way in hell.

“Elliot, what the fuck. What’s going on with you? It’s scary that the male me is more emotional than this me you know?”

Elliot ♀ complained.

“Give me some time to sort things out…”

“…It’s not about the maid thing isn’t it?”

“…It’s not.”

“Then…”

Then you should know what I’m talking about. Since you saw me talking to her so much earlier.

“…Alright. I won’t try to interfere too much but, if you need any help, you know that I’m here.”

“So you guessed it huh?”

“Well of course.”

“As expected of me.”

“Don’t worry. You’re not the only one troubled.”

“Really?”

I paused and thought about it, wasn’t it abnormal that Elliot ♀ wasn’t as chummy with Ellis as of late?

“Is it about the same thing too?”

“Nah. I’ll deal with mine, you deal with yours. If things get too tough, then I’ll tell you. It’s still manageable now.”

“…You’re making me suspicious.”

“Don’t think too hard about it. Simply, if you need an ear, I’m here. Good night.”

“Right… same here I guess. If you need me to hear you out, feel free to tell me. Good night.”

The sound of her phone softly playing in the background. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.

Ellis Cole.

Why the hell am I thinking about Ellis Cole?

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“Morning.”

“Good morning.”

We started greeting each other as of late.

Since we were seat neighbours and all.

“Elliot, I heard from the other class that you need to submit some kind of report to the student council.”

“Richard-sensei said he would take care of that for us. I don’t think there’s any other class hosting a maid cafe like us, so we’re probably safe.”

“I don’t think so either.”

Which means there won’t be competing agendas. We were free to do the maid cafe however we liked.

“Elliot, Ellis, what do you think of this design?”

It was Tility.

Our cute, short, baby-face class president whom the boys would die over if she wore a maid outfit.

Too bad she ended up being part of the technician team. No amount of persuasion would make her wear a maid uniform.

She showed us concepts of the cafe and the materials needed to decorate the class.

There was another reason why she was among the few girls who had been left out of the service team.

Her talent in designing.

I heard she wanted to become an architect, following in the footsteps of her father.

“What do you think?”

“Where are we going to get the white cloth?”

“I have a lot of these materials lying at home. My father already gave me permission to use them.”

“Then how much funds do you need to get the rest of the supplies?”

“What I need aren’t funds, what I need are people willing to stay back to help me build and carry the furniture. That you don’t worry about, I’ll just ask the boys under the technician team to stay back to help out.”

“Alright. Then that resolves the cafe setting. Elliot, has Oliver said anything about the menu?”

“Well…”

I secretly took out my phone and showed her the images Gordon took of the mini cake samples he made yesterday evening.

“…I thought phones weren’t allowed in class…”

“Wow! These look good!”

“He said the cost and price of the cakes hadn’t been decided yet. He’ll bring the cakes today for taste testing, but said not to let too many people know since it’d be difficult.”

Ignoring Tility’s complaint, I told them about the taste tasting session later during break. Oliver needed only a few people, but I thought a few more opinions wouldn’t hurt.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

Break time.

“Elliot, let’s go.”

I called out to Elliot ♀, who was talking to Aria.

“Oh, okay.”

“Where are you going?”

Aria asked.

She seemed to have noticed Ellis behind me. Tility had already gone first with Oliver and Gordon.

“It’s kind of a secret.”

“A secret only you three know about?”

“Not really.”

Elliot ♀ sent me a sharp sidelong gaze.

Well. I’m sorry I spilled the news to Ellis and Tility! If you want more cake then we could just order it separately from Gordon!

“You’ll know about it eventually since it’s got to do with the maid cafe.”

“Be sure to tell me about it.”

She smiled.

“Okay…”

I don’t know if it’s because I hadn’t interacted with Aria in a while, but her smile looked somewhat odd.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

We went out of class and headed to the roof where the cake testing zone had been established.

“When did you two get so close I wonder?”

Elliot ♀ asked with a cold gaze.

“…”

“…”

Neither Ellis or I could answer her question. The current relationship we have was only a temporary thing… right?

Yeah, there’s no way that’s true.

Ellis quickly rushed up to Elliot ♀ and grabbed her hand.

“…What?”

“Let’s leave him in the dust.”

She said.

“Huh? But why heeeh…!”

One dragged the other as both of them ran ahead of me.

Seeing their intimacy like this was unusual.

I imagined that this was what their original relationship was like if I didn’t exist.

If I didn’t exist, huh?

I shook my head at the thought.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“Green tea milk and tiramisu cheesecake.”

“Green tea milk cheesecake and chocolate velvet cake.”

“So all in all, 2 slices of green tea milk, one tiramisu, and one slice of chocolate velvet?”

““Yes.””

Elliot ♀ and I couldn’t just let this opportunity pass.

The cake Gordon made was too good to not have another bite.

Darn it. I knew I shouldn’t have told Ellis and Tility about it.

“Wow, wow, wow. You two are pre-ordering already?”

Oliver seemed to find our pre-emptive strike quite excessive.

“They like cake, just let them be.”

Ellis said with her fork still stuck in her mouth. It was obvious she wanted more when there wasn’t any.

“You like cake too, don’t you Ellis?”

“Though not as much as you…”

“Add one more tiramisu. That’s for Ellis.”

“Hey wait! You didn’t need to do…”

I glared at her once. She stammered to a stop.

“It’s fine. It’s just one slice, plus, it’s your favourite isn’t it?”

“…I’ll pay for it myself. Gordon, tell me the price when you have it.”

“I will.”

“I’ll pay for it.”

“No. Why would you pay for something that’s mine?”

“Wow, calm down, calm down. What’s up with you two huh?”

Oliver cut in between us.

“Ellis, just think of this as our treat.”

Elliot ♀ followed up with a supporting remark.

Ellis pouted.

“…Then it can’t be helped.”

But I could secretly tell she was happy.

Because it was one of her habits which I’ve grown to know since a long time ago.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

It was finally the day of the culture festival.

As presidents who arranged the whole maid cafe, Ellis and I had the role of supervising the others.

“You’re wearing this.”

“What…?”

For some reason, on the morning of the special day. Elliot ♀ threw a shopping bag at my face.

I checked the contents.

“…Since when?”

“Willow told me to keep a secret. Since you’re the team leader, you should have something special.”

“Is this even the right size?”

“Didn’t that sexy maid take your three sizes back then?”

“…”

Right. It couldn’t have been otherwise.

Fuck you and your grin.

…

“Dear me, what do we have here?”

““Mom…””

She kept snapping photos of me and Elliot ♀ as we stood side by side.

Elliot ♀ was wearing a button-up maid uniform with a headband, while I wore a light blue vested Sebastian-type butler uniform.

We must look like those retainers of nobility that come out of manga.

“Your father must be so excited to see you both in these costumes.”

Mom chuckled.

““Ugh…””

Father is coming back home today. Mom will pick him up from the airport and he’ll be just in time to visit us at the cultural festival later.

“Well, then you better support us a lot.”

“Buy more cake to take back home.”

“Oh if you two say so.”

Jasper who just came down the stairs in his pyjamas was rubbing his eyes. He bumped into the two of us just as we were about to leave, stopped and stared for a full minute.

“Wow, I can’t wait to tell my friends about this.”

““You dare…””

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“Elliot.”

“Yeah?”

“You know, I just realised something.”

We were coming up to the station.

“Are we really going to hop on the train w-wearing this?”

Elliot ♀ picked up the frilly hem of her maid dress and raised it a little. Her shy expression was quite a sight to see.

“We’re going early today, I don’t think there’ll be that many people on the train yet.”

“Ugh, but it’s still so nerve wrecking.”

“Even if there are, I mean, aren’t you proud to look so pretty?”

“Wow, giving a compliment to yourself, how gross.”

“Gross? I’m giving genuine praise to you damn it.”

“Haha! Then you should look at yourself in the mirror!”

We continued bickering like that until we reached the train station. Sure enough, while there were several sneaking glances sent our way, it wasn’t too severe that we had to pay mind to it.

“Hey, Elliot.”

She suddenly grabbed the edge of my vest.

“What?”

It was unusual.

“…What do you think about Ellis now?”

Her voice was barely audible. I almost didn’t catch it.

What do I think about Ellis now?

No.

She’s asking how I feel about Ellis now.

“I don’t know.”

I don’t know how to feel about that girl.

I broke up with her, so I don’t have the right to say I want to return to the way things were.

“I see…”

“That’s not it, isn’t it? What you actually mean to confirm is that she hasn’t given me her reply too, correct?”

I said.

“…”

“Just like I had to assume she rejected me because she never told me the answer. You had to assume she rejected you.”

Were the events that took place the same between us? Perhaps there were deviations.

“Normally, if a confession isn’t rejected, that would mean the person doesn’t want to let go of you right? So isn’t that a positive sign? Why did you think of it as rejection?”

“Don’t dodge the question.”

“Yes, that’s the truth.”

I was the one who decided to break up with her.

I was the one who thought our relationship couldn’t last.

It had been almost half a year, and I assumed that Ellis had given me her reply through a lack of response.

That we were officially over.

But… if we looked at things from her perspective…

“You’re expecting something from her today, isn’t that right?”

I asked, looking at her, Elliot ♀.

Just as it has for me, something must’ve been brewing between her and Ellis.

Something was going to happen today.

She shook her head.

“I don’t think she likes me.”

“What if she did?”

Hypothetically. I mean, Ellis has changed after all.

“In that case, what would you do?”

Elliot ♀ reflected that same question back to me.

What would I do?

The culture festival.

Two years ago on this very day, I confessed to her.

If Ellis said she wanted a restart… what would I do?

So that’s what Elliot ♀ would do huh?

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

The school was already bustling by the time we reached the gates.

Halls were packed with classes busy in preparation. Many posters and signboards catered to uniquely organised shows to be hosted at the auditorium later.

From a grand theatre play to a stand-up comedy skit. A haunted house to a mini arcade, the school culture festival was stirred up with variety.

There was also a food bazaar down at the school field for anyone that wished to create their own small business.

Elliot ♀ and I took the stairs and entered our classroom—the new maid cafe.

By Tility’s engineering magic, the boring space had transformed into a fancy cake house. We got permission from a neighbouring classroom to extend the floor plan of our cafe.

Aria and I almost bumped into each other at the entrance.

“Aria…?”

Gulp.

“You two look surprisingly good today.”

“T-Thanks.”

The crimson princess had turned into a gorgeous maid.

Standing in a triangle, we found ourselves completely enamoured by each other.

Aria twirled around in her maid outfit.

“How is it?”

How is it?

My heart is completely shredded by your killer charm… Huh?

Did she just indirectly ask me to compliment her?

Elliot ♀ suddenly grabbed Aria’s outfit by the scruff.

“Ah?”

“You didn’t tie this properly.”

She fixed up the knot of the apron.

“Yo! Yo! Look who we have here!”

Oliver yelled, I turned over to him.

“Waaw! It’s perfect, it’s perfect!”

Meanwhile, Willow was screaming.

“What the hell…?”

“This vest should be positioned like this. The harness should loop around the pocket.”

With swift movements, Willow began fixing up my clothes much like what Elliot ♀ was doing to Aria.

“Not bad, not bad. You even styled your hair today. Haven’t seen you do that in a while.”

“It’s a special day after all…”

“Oh, and you should see Ellis’ outfit.”

“Ellis?”

“Yeah. I ordered her a matching outfit. It’s one of a kind.”

Willow winked.

You did what…?

I felt my stomach churn.

“Ah, so you two are…”

And speak of the devil.

Ellis who wore not a maidservant’s uniform, but a light blue dress party dress with exposed shoulders. Her words fell as we made eye contact.

Blonde hair tied into a half ponytail adorned with fake white lilies and… I felt my heart rate accelerate.

No.

What the hell is wrong with you Elliot?

You shouldn’t be feeling like this.

You’re crazy.

She smiled at me.

I thought I was going to faint.

Ellis turned to the person who instigated this whole scheme.

“Willow… I’m going to kill you.”

“Oliver! Save me!”

“Now, now. You two are the presidents, of course, you’ve got to wear something a little more dashing right?”

Oliver jutted me by the elbow as he embraced Willow.

“Yeah… I think I need to dig your head with my fist”

“Yo! I was just trying to help!”

As I was trying to screw Oliver over, I heard Ellis laugh.

She laughed?

How long had it been since I last made her laugh?

It’s weird.

Silly actually.

How this interaction felt as if the four of us had returned to the past.

Last year was just like this: Willow and Oliver, Ellis and I.

Just the four of us, fooling around with each other.

Our irrecoverable past… felt just like this one…

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

The culture festival starts from ten in the morning to late afternoon, depending on how long we wanted to run the program.

Right now it was about 2 pm in the afternoon.

Rush hour was over, and we were planning to close up shop in another hour’s time.

Frankly, with so many of the drinks and cakes now out of stock, I’d say the maid cafe was a success.

“That would be 21 dollars.”

“Here you go—the cake was quite delicious, where was it from?”

“Oh, our classmates made them. The head patissiers are Oliver and Gordon.”

The customer turned to the display set with astonishment.

“They made them?”

“Yup.”

“The cake was delicious. Tell them I enjoyed it.”

“I will. And I completely agree that the cakes they made are top-notch.”

Gordon and Oliver really worked their chef’s magic into the desserts.

“Dad!!”

I was dealing with the payment of the next customers when I heard Elliot ♀ shout.

“Elliot! And… oh my god! Another Elliot!”

It was dad. He had just arrived at our maid cafe.

I rolled my eyes.

“What in God’s name is this?”

Following right after was my unstable elder sister Luna. Mom and Jasper were also here.

“I’ll take over, you go greet your parents.”

Ellis offered.

“I owe you one. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

She and I swapped places at the cashier. I headed over to my family.

“Can we have a seat for four?”

“Right this way dad!”

Elliot ♀ guided them to a four-seater table. She deftly set down the menu.

Luna glanced between Elliot ♀ and me as if she were looking at duplicate ghosts.

“I recommend buying up all the cake and bringing it back home. It’s limited edition, you won’t find them anywhere else.”

Elliot ♀ joked.

“There are only a few slices left.”

And those few slices were those that were delicious in terms of taste but… the ones we really wanted were fast gone.

“What about the drinks? What do you recommend?”

“I recommend this one. The honeydew moonshine.”

I reached over and pointed at the shiny blue drink.

“Why? Because it’s blue like your clothes?”

“No. Because it tastes good.”

I had a taste of all the drinks, and this one was by far my favourite. Elliot ♀ thought the same.

“If you say so.”

“I want Matcha Milk.”

Said Jasper.

“I’ll have a latte, extra sugar please.”

Was mom’s preferred choice.

Elliot ♀ passed the order to the drink maker.

“Honestly, there’s so much I want to talk about.”

My dad said while scratching his head.

“I find it hard to believe that both of you are my son and daughter.”

Elliot ♀ and I nodded in agreement to dad’s concern.

“That’s just how it is.”

“I find it harder to believe most people find it normal for there to be two Elliots roaming the world.”

Dad’s reaction made much more sense when you compare it to how most of our friends reacted.

“How should I address you? Male Elliot? Female Elliot?”

“Anyway that seems right for you I guess.”

While I do sometimes mistake Elliot ♀ for myself when someone calls out our name, I thought it was no different from any two people with the same name.

If ‘Alexander’ is a common name, then it’s not as if there wasn’t another person by the name ‘Elliot’ in this world.

Dad was puzzled by the duplicate memories of us, so we had to explain to him in detail what we thought was actually going on. We both were Elliots, and the memories of him taking care of us weren’t truer for one more than the other.

“Elliot.”

Ellis called out to me in the middle of our conversation.

“I think it’s about time we start closing, what do you think?”

“Oh, and who may this be? Your friend, Elliot?”

With complimenting outfits, it made sense why dad would be curious about her.

“It’s Ellis.”

“Ah, so this is the girl you were talking about?”

“Dad… shut up.”

“Um…”

“Elliot, you entertain mom and dad for a bit. I have to start finishing up things with Ellis.”

“Alrighty.”

Leaving my family to Elliot ♀, Ellis and I started informing everyone of the closure.

We stopped accepting customers and began counting our profits.

The amount of cash we got had quite literally reached four digits. It was a significant amount.

“This is… a lot more than I expected.”

“What should we do about all this money?”

Ellis and I turned to each other.

“Maybe we’ll think about it after deducting the cost of the ingredients.”

Ellis was the first one to turn away.

“You’re right.”

I felt a little hesitant.

When did it begin, when did it change?

Just as Richard-sensei had predicted, our hostile relationship had somehow fixed itself.

How should I put it? I’m both happy and worried?

“Good job.”

Amid my thoughts, the devil himself came and patted my shoulder.

“You two presidents deserve a compliment for the success of the shop. This is the best maid cafe I’ve seen so far since my years working as a teacher.”

Really now… he must be happy his blessing did its trick.

“Thanks.”

“I still think most of it was thanks to Elliot. I didn’t do much, he was the one who initiated things.”

Ellis said, trying to downplay herself.

“But you did help him out in the end didn’t you?”

“A little bit.”

“Not just a little bit, what do you think Elliot?”

Richard-sensei was trying to put me on spot wasn’t he?

“Ellis, thanks. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“…”

Ellis did help out a bunch.

She lowered her head.

“Now then, I’m sure you two can settle the rest of this. I’ll go see the other students.”

Richard-sensei said with a wave and left.

Ellis and I stood there for a bit, unsure of what to do after the awkward situation.

“…Elliot.”

“…Yeah?”

“Could you spare a moment for me later?”

She didn’t need to explain anything.

“Alright.”

I didn’t know anything about her intentions but… I could tell rejecting her invitation here would be devastating to both of us.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

<Elliot Amaryllis (♀)>

“I… I like you!”

A long time ago, I confessed to Ellis behind the school auditorium building.

Holding down her silky blonde hair swaying by the wind, her gaze turned to the ground.

“Um… by that you mean, as friends?”

Maybe because we were naive, maybe because neither of us knew anything about love.

“I-I don’t know.”

I truly had no idea back then, if these feelings I had for Ellis were normal or… abnormal.

I only knew that I had to do something about them. Otherwise, I would’ve imploded.

“…But I like you!”

Was I stupid for saying such a childish thing to my childhood friend?

How long had we been together?

Two years? We’ve been stuck to each other like glue even since our primary school years.

“Elliot…”

She called out my name, my heart tightened, body froze.

“…Can you give me some time to think about it?”

And by then, two more years had passed.

“What’s this?”

“My answer…”

Ellis said with a slightly bitter yet sheepish expression.

Holding the envelope in hand, I held it up to the sky.

She even used a wax seal on this. How much effort did she put into writing this reply letter anyways?

“…Can I open it now?”

“No. Not yet. Do it when you return home.”

“…Alright.”

What did write… what were her true feelings?

I wanted to know.

I was afraid to know.

Elliot’s ♂ behaviour had been suspicious as of late. I could tell that the matter had to do with Ellis.

I wasn’t a fool to not realise Elliot ♂ and Ellis had secretly ditched the class midway.

I looked down at the bazaar from the high windows.

At the distant pair of students wearing matching blue.

“Willow, I’m going to go out for a bit. Can I leave things to you?”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know, somewhere?”

“Okay.”

Willow and I weren’t part of the technician’s team. But we helped out a little with post-cleaning anyway.

I rushed down the stairs and ran to where I last found their trace.

But I was late. I missed their tail. Stuck in a maze, I tried to predict their next move.

If Elliot ♂ was facing the same problems as I was…

I made my way to the back of the auditorium.

And just as I was about to walk out behind the fence, I heard Ellis yell something. My feet halted where their eyes would not see.

“…I’m sorry.”

“I hate you.”

“So be it.”

“I really, really hate you.”

It really was them.

I was eavesdropping in the middle of a confession…

“So let me tell you my answer you’ve been waiting for so long.”

…This uneasy feeling in my heart.

Ellis’ reply?

So it was the same as…

“Let’s start over.”

Those words sank into my mind.

I turned tails…

“I’ll stop hating you, in exchange, stop hating me. We’ll…”

No. Apparently, Ellis felt differently towards Elliot ♂.

And ran.

Hands clutching tightly upon Ellis’ envelope which I kept in my pocket, I tore the seal open.

‘Dear Elliot…’

I read it.

‘I’m sorry, I can’t reciprocate your feelings.’

The knots in my heart came undone at each word.

It was liberating.

And… infuriating.

“…She sure took a long time to respond.”

Of course, I know it’s totally fine to reject someone.

But to take this long?

Two years.

Two and a half years…

And in those two years, she even dated and broke up with Elliot ♂. Now she wants to get back together?

What bullshit?

Just because I’m a girl, not because I wasn’t Elliot ♂.

That’s why Ellis rejected me.

Gender affects so much.

It’s ridiculous.

I hate it.

Being a girl.

Why him?

Why him, not me?

Why can’t I be him?

Why did he have to mess up the love he should’ve cherished?

“Elliot?”

“…Aria?”

“You… are you alright?”

“Ah…!”

I quickly shoved the envelope and paper into my back pocket. It was a blessing the maid uniform came with plenty of secret pockets.

“You… what’s happening?”

“What’s happening?”

“Oh. Nothing.”

“You’re crying.”

Crying?

I brought my hands to my eyes.

Certainly… it was slightly wet…

“There’s no way it’s nothing.”

She bent down in front of me.

Her crimson eyes looked straight on.

“Are you really alright?”

“N-No. But it’s fine now.”

I wiped my tears away with the sleeve of the uniform.

For some reason, I didn’t feel like telling Aria about this.

I felt as if I had no reason to.

Which was odd considering how I always confided in her every time I faced trouble.

“Sorry, Aria. ”

We were close.

But our hearts felt distant.

I no longer felt comfortable being with her. It felt stony.

She sighed disappointingly.

The thought of—what if my relationship with Aria was to become the same as this?

“You know, let’s take a walk together. We hadn’t explored much of the bazaar hadn’t we?”

A way to take my mind off of things.

Aria invited with a trying smile.

“You’re right.”

She… had always been like this.

Always considering my feelings.

Aria, she…

Makes me feel guilty for taking advantage of her kindness.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

“Yo.”

“Yo.”

I saw Elliot ♂ at the gate.

We gave each other a heads-up, and then walked the trodden path back home.

After a few moments of uncanny silence, I couldn’t stand it anymore.

“So? How was it?”

I asked.

He scratched his head.

“…She gave me a second chance.”

Even though I already knew. Hearing him say so felt like a knife had just lodged into my heart.

This wretched world…

“But I don’t think we’ll be getting back together as a couple. The furthest we’d get is probably to the point of being close friends.”

Huh?

“So don’t worry.”

He said with a smile.

“We’re both in the same boat.”

“What…?”

“What do you mean, what? I got rejected of course.”

Ellis rejected him?

So I misheard?

Or was he lying…?

“She rejected you too, didn’t she?”

He bent down and rubbed my back.

He couldn’t be lying…

I wouldn’t dare lie about something so consequential.

Which only meant one thing…

Stop crying.

“Hikh.. sob…”

Stop crying.

I kept rubbing my eyes.

There’s no reason to cry.

“I cried too when we broke up, so…”

He said.

“Do your worst—me.”

Trying to soothe me.

Accompanying me as I let my emotions pour out.

I see…

So Ellis did still love him…

But for my sake she…

Ellis liked both of us.

Just in vastly different ways.

That’s why she ended up answering both our forgone confessions.

Had Elliot ♂ not been here… this probably wouldn’t have happened.

Had Ellis not cared about me… she would’ve continued to say nothing.

When I realised that I…

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

<Elliot Amaryllis (♂)>

It was only Ellis and me.

By the time we finished clearing everything, it was already late evening. Mom and dad left early, and the technician team was left to finalise the cleanup.

Neither Ellis nor I got to experience the special attractions hosted by the other classes. But we weren’t too disappointed by that fact after the class made so much money.

We made our way down the school field.

Many of the stalls had closed, and only a few were still in operation, selling the leftovers.

“Ellis, do you want takoyaki?”

I asked.

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? I’m just asking if you want it or not.”

“That depends on you.”

Depends on me? Hell, it’s a question meant for you.

“Fine.”

I got the last of the takoyaki for a bargain price.

Unfortunately…

“It’s soggy.”

“I agree.”

Well, at least it hasn’t gone bad.

“They still have some ice cream there.”

Ellis looked at the portable refrigerator.

“You want that?”

“I’ll buy it myself.”

I decided to tag along.

“Here, want some?”

She handed me a second spoon.

“You alright with sharing?”

“It’s mutual.”

“…”

“…”

Does Ellis realise what she’s doing?

No.

Do I realise what I’m doing?

How exactly did it come to this?

The development feels surreal. We went from lovers, to enemies… and now to this?

What exactly did Ellis call me for? I’m sure it wasn’t just to hang out here like this.

The bite of ice cream I took couldn’t compare to Gordon’s cake, but nonetheless, it was not too bad of a treat to accompany this warm evening.

We walked around mindlessly for half an hour just like that. Looking at the various stalls half-closing.

“Golden week starts tomorrow.”

Ellis spoke.

“So it seems.”

A week of holiday.

“A long-deserved break finally.”

“But after that would be midterm exams.”

“Ugh, don’t talk about that.”

“It’s in less than two months.”

“But can’t you just not say it? It ruins the mood.”

“Well, I’m sorry. It’s not like I know bringing up an arbitrary topic could make you angry?”

“…”

“…Sorry.”

She stopped, prompting me to do the same. She looked at me.

“Elliot. Follow me for a sec. I have something I want to tell you.”

“…Got it.”

She just walked ahead.

I followed her.

“This is…”

“Right.”

The place where I first confessed to her.

It made me cringe to think back to that time. Telling her to come behind some shady area of a school building… heck, the rooftop would’ve been a better option. Couldn’t my 14-year-old self have come up with some better way to confess back then?

“You’ve been waiting for my answer.”

Her emerald eyes looked at me as if to lay down my verdict.

“I’m going to give it to you now before I change my mind.”

I felt something choke my neck.

“But answer me this first.”

Yeah, finally. How long had she delayed this?

“You like Aria don’t you?”

“…”

I like Aria.

I never told her, but I wonder how much she knows?

It all happened during the period of a messy fight.

And then falling for a different girl amid that pain.

I don’t know why I was so stupid then to think that maybe Ellis wasn’t the one for me.

Aria’s consolation was so comforting.

So on the spur of the moment, I told her I wanted to break up.

Of course, I was naive.

I regretted it.

This whole situation was my fault.

Which leads now to this moment.

It was already too late to turn back.

After confiding myself in endless lies.

“I don’t know.”

I don’t even know if I really liked Aria. She could just be a sedative I’m using to numb the heartbreak.

Elliot ♀ said it herself right? Even though she was ‘rejected’ by Ellis, she was still able to be her friend because her direction had shifted elsewhere.

I was sure if I dug deep enough, I would realise that Elliot ♀ still loved Ellis.

Which would mean that I too…

“So it really is like that huh?”

Ellis looked at me with that characteristic ‘thought so’ expression.

“I thought long and hard why things turned out the way they did.”

“I didn’t know why you would break up with me.”

“I don’t know why I couldn’t let you go.”

“Our love turned to hate.”

“Don’t think it’s just you? It was really painful for me too, you know?”

“I know I’m not perfect, and you’re not either, so why do you expect me to be?”

“The fact that I’m angry with you means that I still can’t let go of the fact that I once loved you.”

“Say something Elliot.”

“Say that you broke up with me because I was a bitch.”

“Aria was much better. Kind, gentle. She was always considerate to everyone around her.”

“Say it!”

“Say that you like Aria more than me!”

She knew in the end.

How did she find out though? Instinct?

Or was it based on a hypothesis she drew from having duplicate memories of me and Elliot ♀?

“…I’m sorry.”

“I hate you.”

“So be it.”

“I really, really hate you.”

Ellis didn’t cry, so I didn’t either.

“So let me tell you my answer you’ve been waiting for so long.”

She must’ve shed a lot of tears before this, so she was already prepared to face me like this.

“Let’s start over.”

“…?”

“I’ll stop hating you, in exchange, stop hating me. We’ll be back to how things were before our relationship even started.”

To ask why she would even consider this would be… only making the problem worse so…

“Are you… alright with that?”

“I don’t know.”

Her eyes were bloodshot.

“But I’m sure I won’t fall for you twice.”

We probably still liked each other.

But, this love was perhaps never meant to be.

“Thank you.”

I don’t know if I deserve her consideration like this.

“Don’t mention it.”

But what I do know is that… she had given me a second chance.

It definitely wasn’t because she had completely forgiven me but…

I can’t disappoint her again.