Orihara Maya swiftly walked into her house. She bit back tears of frustration and fury, before she took a deep breath.
But no…it wasn't enough. She grabbed one of her throw pillows and threw it into the corner of the living room. It surprisingly made her feel better, and with that, she began to grab whatever she could and throw it into the corner.
She couldn't understand; she had just obtained the Orange Stone; why wasn't she happier?
Well, the Orange stone represented Wisdom, and if she was able to obtain it, didn't that mean she certainly had some? She clenched her fists as she remembered a certain Kirishima speaking to her.
This is why you can't get the Stones…
Maya was shocked to discover she had more tears springing into her eyes and she swiped furiously. She sat down on the floor, and drawing a magical pentagram around herself, took a deep breath, and began to meditate. She had to gather her emotions and sort through them. Why was she so angry?
Finally, she calmed down enough to realize what it was; or better yet, who it was.
Tsujiai Hiroki.
How dare he accuse her of not knowing the feeling of having feelings for someone? She clutched the key around her neck, jaw clenching. But deep down, more than that, she knew why she was angry.
It wasn't because he rejected her. It was because he rejected her for Nina.
…I hate you, Nina Saqurail.
Why did Nina always take everything from her? The Holy Stones… Nina didn't even love the prince! But at this rate, both she and Nina were both vying for a heart that Nina didn't even want!
Maya bit her lip, and then sighed. She had enough of this. Her anger finally dissipated, and Chiru and Ruru cautiously emerged from behind the couch.
"Maya…" the crow squawked. "It's about time you calmed down. What's gotten you so angry?"
"I'd like to know that too."
Maya's head snapped up, and she growled.
"Get out of my house," she snapped. Kirishima Yuta casually stood from the couch he had, quite uninvited, been lounging on.
"I'm hurt, Maya," he said dramatically. "This is what all these years of friendship mean?"
"Just because I knew you for eight years doesn't make us friends."
"You even remember how long we've known each other!" Yuta sang. "I'm touched!"
"It's not something to be touched by," she snapped. "Leave, Kirishima."
Yuta slowed, and paused in surprise. "Hey… you're angrier than usual. What's up?"
Why should I answer…? You're just another person who's smitten by the stupid klutz.
"Nothing that concerns you," she bit, and whirled around. "Go home."
To say she was surprised was an understatement, when Yuta suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Wh-? How dare you!" she tore herself out of his grasp.
"What's wrong, Maya?"
She paused, and found herself unable to speak.
…Tsujiai… I didn't really like you.
But… knowing that I lost to Nina… it hurt.
I didn't even like you, and even then I couldn't win against Nina.
She shook her head.
"I… I…"
She looked up into a pair of very clear, blue eyes, and found herself unable to speak.
"I…"
By instinct, she took a step back… and found herself stumbling.
"Watch out!"
Yuta instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist, forcing their bodies closer together.
Ouji-sama…
Maya quickly removed herself from his grasp. She was not going to think how nice it felt to have Yuta's arms around her.
There was silence… until…
"Hehe," Yuta grinned sheepishly. "I'm always used to catching Nina, that klutz… guess it was habit for now too."
Nina again!
Maya finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Get out!" Maya screamed. "You annoy me, Kirishima!"
Yuta's eyes widened. "Wh- What the hell has gotten into you, Maya?!"
"Just leave!"
She physically pushed him out, and then slammed the door after him, clutching the locket dangling around her chest. If there was one thing that could calm her down, it had to be this; the key she had received from the prince, years and years ago.
"Well, well…" Chiru cackled. "Lovers spat, was it?"
The next few seconds, anyone passing the Orihara house would have heard a very loud caw, sounding suspiciously like a crow being tortured.
Maya sliced the onion for her curry, lost in thought.
What was it about Nina Saqurail that made her so successful? Sure, she was bright, cheerful, and had that whole 'good-girl' thing going on, but that didn't explain why she was always so lucky. When she was reaching for the Red Stone, the wind decided to give Nina the luck, and blew it right into her hands.
And… why, of all people, did both Yuta and Tsujiai fall in love with her? Sure, she was cute, but she couldn't really imagine Tsujiai being interested in the cute type.
Why should I care so much what Tsujiai thinks?
…because I was still rejected.
She sighed. A rejection was still a rejection.
"Careful there."
Maya jumped, then let out a quiet wince when she cut herself by surprise. Yuta's eyes widened.
"S- Sorry!" he nervously took a step back, waving his hands. "I didn't think you would be that shocked!"
"I thought I tossed you out," she snapped.
"I… um… oh, whoa, hang on."
He tapped her finger, and within a millisecond and a quick sparkle, the cut on her finger was both healed and the blood had vanished.
"Don't I get a thank you?" Yuta asked cheekily.
"You get a kick in the pants for causing the injury," she pointed out as she slid the sliced onions into the curry. His eyes lit up.
"Eh, curry tonight, huh? Smells great!"
"What exactly is it you want, Yuta?"
"…I need your help."
Maya raised her head in surprise, before narrowing her eyes.
"Why?" she spat. "So you can figure out a way to become closer to your precious Nina?"
"No," he said it so simply, she actually believed him.
"…that reminds me. I want to talk to you."
"Does this mean I can stay for dinner!?" Yuta's eyes lit up. Maya rolled her eyes.
"If there's enough, I guess… I didn't cook with you in mind, you know."
"Great!" he cheered. "Thanks!"
Yuta carried the pot to the dining room as Maya brought cutlery and plates. As she went back to get napkins, Yuta suddenly broke out in a grin without her noticing.
He noticed something that Maya would never admit; she made enough for two that night after all.
"All right, I'll go first," Maya said bossily as Yuta chuckled. Maya was still Maya.
"All right, shoot," he said, spooning himself some curry.
"Why did you lead me to the Red Stone that day?"
Yuta promptly spat out the curry, before looking down at his plate guiltily. Maya released a huff of breath angrily.
"Would you just say it already? I can't be angry; you did lead me to it, so whatever you're going to say had better make sense, or else I'll know you're lying."
"…I wanted to help Nina," Yuta finally admitted. "I was going to help her, but… but…"
"But?"
"But I couldn't do that to you."
"…come again?" Maya raised an eyebrow disbelievingly. Yuta shrugged uncomfortably.
"Look… Nina Saqurail is the girl I care about more than anyone. I knew I wasn't going to be able to stop myself from helping her that night… but come on… you have to admit. With my help, the Stone may as well have been put under Nina's pillow with blinking lights and neon signs."
"…and so…?"
"So I decided to give you the advantage of time," Yuta shrugged. "I led you to the Stone first, and sure enough… I helped Nina later."
"…the breeze," Maya snapped. "I thought it was pretty unnatural."
"…sorry."
Maya's eyes widened. She didn't think he would actually apologize to her.
"I can't help how I act around Nina," Yuta admitted. "So… that's why I'm always going to be putting her first."
She just sniffed and glared at him.
"You know what that means, right? Nina will become the princess."
"…so long as she's happy."
Maya found herself unable to answer, and settled for shoving more curry into her mouth.
"Oh, yeah… what I wanted to say was…" Yuta giggled slightly nervously. "Um… so… I was kicked out."
"…"
Maya simply raised an eyebrow.
"And… And I need a place to stay for a while."
"No."
Yuta's mouth dropped. "Wh-? Aren't you being too cruel, Orphelia?!"
"Using my last name: double no."
"Look, please?" he pleaded. "I'll help around the house. I'll cook, I'll clean, I'll even brew those nasty potions you're always mak- ouch!"
"Ugh, shut up," Maya blew on her fist. "Why don't you just stay with Nina?"
"I don't… I don't know if I'll be able to control myself around her," Yuta admitted. "I start getting stupid with my powers when she's around."
"No, really," Maya said sarcastically.
"Please!" Yuta begged, hands in prayer before him. "It'll only be a month or so! And by then, it'll be the Promised Day! You and I can go back to the Magic Kingdom together!"
"What makes you think I want to go back with you?!"
"Maya, I'm begging you… for our nine years of friendship-"
"I said eight, didn't I, idiot?!"
Maya sighed in exasperation, but Yuta suddenly looked up, tears swimming hopefully in his crystal eyes. Maya rolled her eyes. She knew it was fake, but still…
"I really want to say no, but…"
Yuta's eyes lit up.
"Maya, you're the best!" he threw his arms around her, which he regretted a few seconds later.
"Oh, come on," he said grumpily. "Did you really have to hit me that hard?"
Maya looked up from her textbook on the low coffee table, eyes still full of her trademark anger. She glared at the boy who sat on the couch, wincing as he gently probed his cheek.
"You're the one who grabbed me like some kind of pervert."
"Maya-chaaaan," he whined. "I'm hurt. You make it seem like I'm some kind of lecher."
"Lecher."
"Maya-chan!" he howled. "How cruel! I'm only male!"
"Wh-?"
Maya's eyes widened as Yuta vanished and reappeared behind her, arms encircling her slender waist.
"Wh- What are you…?" Maya found herself unable to stop a blush heating up her cheeks.
"Oh, Maya…" Yuta smirked flirtatiously. "You're still the best-looking girl in the Magic Kingdom after all."
"O- Of course I am!" she managed out, hoping her voice was its usual cool tone. "Now, what are you doing, Kirishima?!"
"I told you, didn't I?" he said huskily, voice dangerously close to her ear. "Sometimes… it's hard to keep control… after all, I'm a man too."
"No, you're not."
Yuta only had a few seconds to register what she was talking about until he felt her elbow come socking down onto something very precious to his body.
He immediately tensed and keeled over in the same position. He let out a quiet whimper before falling silent.
"Pervert," Maya sniffed as she penciled in the answer to her math homework.
This was going to be a long month.