(Erza's POV)
"You're…"
No. No way. What have I done?
If she finds out I'm his wife... everything falls apart. Yuuta won't just be in danger—he'll be a target. And I'd have led them straight to him.
I watched her eyes squint, studying me. I braced myself for the truth to come crashing down.
Then, suddenly, she grinned.
"Ohh, so you're Yuuta's big sister?"
Ehh?!
I blinked. My entire body tensed for a moment. Just a flicker.
But I couldn't let it show. I couldn't let her suspect a thing.
I forced the smallest of laughs and gave her a polite nod.
"Ah… yes. I'm his sister. That's right."
The words tasted like acid. I wanted to bite my own tongue off. Calling the one I love my brother—I could barely stand the thought. But if this lie keeps Yuuta safe… I'll say it a thousand times over.
She didn't even blink.
"Ahhh, that makes total sense," she said brightly. "You guys have the same last name. And let me guess—you're here because you're the overprotective big sister who doesn't want him dating anyone?"
I clenched my jaw slightly. I couldn't let my irritation slip. This entire situation was spiraling into absurdity.
"...Something like that," I muttered, barely managing to keep my sigh inside.
Then, out of nowhere, her tone softened. Her gaze shifted, studying me with unexpected sincerity.
"Wow, though… You're seriously beautiful. Like—goddess-level."
I blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
Not the kind of comment I expected from a spy or rival, but okay.
I crossed my arms and offered a modest, confident smirk.
"Of course I know," I replied smoothly. "But… thank you."
For just a second, her compliment dulled the headache building in my skull.
But then, of course, she had to open her mouth again.
"Yuuta, though?" she laughed, rolling her eyes. "He's like a hyper monkey. Always running around like he just escaped a mental hospital. I mean—he wore a jacket to a date. A jacket!"
I froze.
My smile disappeared.
That jacket… was mine. I gave it to him. I picked it out for him. He wore it because I asked him to. He wore my gift.
And this loudmouth brat… was mocking it?
I stepped forward slowly. My eyes narrowed like a predator stalking prey. Calm, measured steps—like the air before a lightning strike. Then I placed a hand—firm and ice-cold—on her shoulder.
"...You're crossing the line, you little brat."
She blinked, visibly shaken by my sudden shift in tone.
"W-Wait, did I say something wrong? Did I make you mad?" she stammered. "I-I didn't mean to—I'm sorry!"
I let out a long breath through my nose and stepped back before I did something truly regrettable. I had to stay focused. I couldn't afford to slip now.
Not here. Not with her.
She's just… annoying. Ignorant.
She doesn't know the truth. She doesn't understand. But still...
How dare she insult him?
Insult the man I chose—mock the clothes I gave him with my own hands?
Hmph. If she weren't useful to Fiona's lie, I'd bury her where she stood.
Yuuta's voice rang out clearly.
"Let's go enjoy our time together."
Then—he reached out and held her hand. Just like that. As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
And Fiona… she smiled, blushing like some lovesick schoolgirl, and leaned in closer.
I nearly choked on my breath.
The two of them strolled off like a picture-perfect couple, fingers intertwined, while I stood there frozen behind a tree with Erika crouching beside me like we were on some low-budget spy mission.
"They're actually holding hands," Erika whispered, squinting through the leaves. "Man, he's clingy. Who holds hands for that long? What is he, a walking Velcro strip?"
I didn't reply.
I was too busy watching them walk off toward the festival street—the glowing lights, music, and rows of colorful stalls creating an annoyingly romantic backdrop.
Seriously? A festival street? Could he get any more cliché?
Erika kept talking beside me, clearly unimpressed.
"He brings a girl to a festival and thinks it's charming? That's his idea of a date? Pfft."
I wanted to agree.
But all I could think about… was how easily Fiona smiled at him. How relaxed he looked with her. How natural they seemed walking side by side, their hands never letting go.
I didn't like it. Not one bit.
We kept following them—ducking behind signposts, hiding behind cotton candy stands. Honestly, it was less of a spy mission now and more of a stalker comedy. But I couldn't turn away. Not when every glance, every laugh, every blush felt like a knife twisting in my gut.
Then they stopped near one of those festival strength games—the kind with the mallet and rising light.
Yuuta went first, all confident. He lifted the mallet and slammed it down.
Clunk.
The light barely reached level five.
He scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "Huh… okay, wow. Might need to hit the gym."
I sighed.
Then Fiona stepped up with a bright smile. "Let me try!"
She lifted the mallet and brought it down hard.
DING! The light soared—up to 10… 15… 18!
The crowd clapped and cheered. Some even whistled.
"She's so strong!"
"Eighteen? That's awesome!"
"Almost hit the top!"
Yuuta's face lit up with admiration. He took her hand again and said, "That was amazing, Fiona! I had no idea you were this strong. I'm seriously impressed."
Fiona blushed so hard she had to look away.
And I—
I saw red.
You like strong girls, huh?
You mortal idiot. Did you forget who I am?
I could bring down mountains. I've defeated dragons. I've shattered dimensional rifts with a flick of my wrist. And you're acting like she just saved the world because she scored 18 on a carnival game?
Tch.
As soon as they walked away, I stepped forward.
The booth attendant looked up at me, slightly startled.
"Wanna give it a try, miss?"
I didn't even answer. I just grabbed the mallet, took a breath, and slammed it down with everything I had.
CRAAACK!!!
The machine exploded.
Not just figuratively. Sparks flew, the bell shattered, the meter snapped off the top like a rocket, and the poor machine collapsed in a heap of metal and shame.
The booth guy stared in horror. "M-MY MACHINE?!"
I flipped my hair and turned around calmly.
"Oops. Guess I'm stronger than I thought."
Honestly? That felt amazing.
Erika popped out from behind me, her jaw halfway to the ground.
"That was insane! You're… seriously strong, sis."
I paused, blinking. "What?"
"You know," she said with a grin, "big sister vibes and all that. Kinda badass."
I wasn't sure whether to roll my eyes or smirk.
Big sister… Hmph.
If only she knew the truth.
Still, I did feel a little better. Breaking a carnival game was surprisingly therapeutic.
But I wasn't done yet. Because that "fake date" wasn't over—and I still had eyes on my so-called little brother.
(Yuuta POV)
The festival street shimmered under the early evening sky, lanterns swaying gently with the wind like fireflies tethered by string. The golden hour bathed everything in a soft, honey glow—warm light spilling over the old cobblestone path and painting every moment in dreamlike stillness.
Beside me, Fiona's hand rested in mine. Her fingers laced delicately between mine like she wasn't even thinking about it anymore.
I wasn't sure when it had started to feel… normal.
We weren't really a couple. I knew that. But the way she looked up at me—her eyes bright beneath the lanterns, a faint blush warming her cheeks—it made me forget the truth for just a second.
We strolled without talking, letting the sounds of laughter, sizzling food, and festival music fill the silence between us.
Then I spotted it.
"Hey," I said, nodding toward a stall adorned in soft pink paper lanterns. "Goldfish scooping. Ever tried it?"
Fiona perked up. "Never. But it looks cute."
We approached, paid, and knelt beside the shallow tub filled with darting goldfish. The surface shimmered like liquid gold under the lights.
I dipped my scoop in first—too fast. The flimsy paper tore instantly.
Snap.
"…Okay, I meant to do that."
Fiona chuckled softly beside me. "You're terrible."
"Hey, don't shame me. Maybe I just wanted them to live freely."
"Oh, how noble of you," she teased, rolling her eyes.
Then she leaned forward, her hand steady, precise.
Scoop. One fish.
Another.
And another.
"Okay, seriously, are you some kind of fish whisperer?" I whispered, stunned.
She smiled but didn't answer, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe I just have better hands than you."
"…Uncalled for," I muttered under my breath, grinning as I helped her gently place the fish into the tiny plastic bowl the vendor handed over.
Behind us, the air shifted.
Like someone was watching.
(Erza POV)
"He let her win," I growled, narrowing my eyes.
"Nope," Erika replied casually, crouched beside me behind a takoyaki stand. "She just kicked his ass. That's three fish, clean."
"I don't care," I snapped. "He should've been better."
She munched on a piece of takoyaki, amused. "You're way too into this for someone pretending to be his big sister."
I shot her a look that could've burned the food right off her stick.
She quickly shut up.
We kept tailing them, weaving through the crowd like poorly trained spies. Well—I was being careful. Erika was waving her candied apple like a victory flag.
"They're heading for the ring toss," she said, licking her fingers. "Oh no. Do you think she's gonna pull the 'oops I missed, help me from behind' move?"
I imagined it in vivid detail. Him stepping behind her, whispering softly, adjusting her hand like—
"Stop," I snapped out loud.
Erika blinked. "Stop what?"
"Nothing. Just… shut up."
(Yuuta POV)
Fiona squealed when one of her rings actually landed on the bottle's neck. "That's two wins for me. What's your excuse?"
"I'm conserving my luck," I said flatly. "For more important things. Like… avoiding Erza's wrath."
We drifted through more stalls—balloon darts, candy pulling, the mystery prize wheel that gave me three pencil erasers in a row. Meanwhile, Fiona won a big stuffed bear and proudly named it Yuu-bear.
"You're naming it after me?" I asked, half-laughing.
"Just a little," she said, holding it close to her chest, her cheeks tinting a soft pink.
Eventually, we stopped by a food cart that smelled like roasted heaven. We bought grilled corn and sweet dango, found a quiet corner near a koi pond tucked behind one of the older shrines.
The noise faded slightly—only laughter and music echoing faintly behind us.
Fiona was quiet, chewing slowly. Then she spoke, her voice just above a whisper.
"Do you… hate me for this?"
I turned to her. "What?"
"This whole thing. The fake dating, the lies… dragging you into my mess just to avoid getting interrogated."
I didn't answer right away. I wanted her to feel the weight of my words.
"Fiona… if it keeps you safe, I'd lie a thousand more times. I'd fake this a hundred different ways."
Her lips parted, eyes wide with something like disbelief… or maybe something deeper.
"Yuuta…" she said softly. "You're way too kind for your own good."
I scratched the back of my neck, half-flustered. "Or maybe I'm just trying to keep the peace before Erza sets half the city on fire."
She laughed—genuinely. The kind of laugh that reached her eyes.
(Erza POV)
"Did he just say he'd lie a thousand times for her?" I repeated, jaw clenched.
"Yep," Erika replied, biting into her apple. "Kind of romantic, actually. I am amazed you can hear them clearly."
My fists were already curled so tight my knuckles turned white.
But beneath the jealousy, something deeper was growing.
A quiet fear.
Because I was standing here, hiding in the shadows, while someone else was out there sharing memories with him. Laughing. Holding his hand. Looking at him like he was her whole sky.
And I started to wonder—
If I keep pretending… if I keep hiding…
Will he forget the warmth of my hand?
I stood quietly near the edge of the park, watching them from a distance—Yuuta and that witch girl. They looked like they were deep in conversation, and for some reason, that made my chest feel... tight.
But then, out of nowhere, a little girl in an oversized panda costume came running into view. Her tiny legs were wobbling with every step, but her excitement carried her forward like the wind.
"Papa!!" she squealed, waving both hands high in the air.
Yuuta turned just in time to catch her in his arms as she leapt toward him, giggling uncontrollably.
My heart skipped a beat.
That voice… that energy…
No.
It can't be.
My eyes widened as I took a step forward. "Elena?" I whispered, the name barely making it past my lips. "What is she doing here…?"
She was supposed to be with Grandpa at home. There's no way she could've come all this way alone—especially not like this.
I was still processing what I was seeing when Erika, who had been standing silently beside me this whole time, leaned in.
"…Did that little girl just call Yuuta papa?" she asked, blinking in disbelief..
I didn't respond. I couldn't. My mind was spinning.
Why now?
Why her?
I looked up at the sky, as if it had answers. The stars above seemed colder tonight.
"No… Gods, not now," I whispered under my breath, gripping my arm tightly.
Why did she have to come when everything was already falling apart?
To be continued…