After their private conversation, both Valra and Sakura quietly made their way back to Leo's hospital room. The hallway lights buzzed softly above, and the scent of antiseptic lingered faintly in the air.
Just as Sakura reached out to twist the knob, her hand froze mid-air. Her fingers tensed on the cold metal handle as she turned her head slowly, her eyes narrowing toward Valra.
"Nod your head at whatever I say next... and remember—I'm only doing this because of that bitch. Not for you. If she wasn't in the picture, I swear, you'd be dead meat by now."
Her voice was emotionless... It wasn't a bluff. It was a warning layered in grudging tolerance.
Valra met her eyes, silent. Calm on the surface, she nodded slowly, hiding the anxiety twisting in her chest. Deep down, her thoughts spun in chaos.
Was she really doing the right thing?
Was this choice driven by honesty, by guilt, or by love?
Or perhaps all three... Or none.
Sakura clicked her tongue in irritation and muttered under her breath. She clearly didn't want to go through with this plan. The very idea of cooperating with Valra made her stomach churn, but unfortunately, she had no better option.
If she had to choose between clashing with Valra or dealing with that unpredictable woman who now clung to Leo like a parasite, she'd grit her teeth and take the lesser evil.
She exhaled deeply, steeling herself, and reached for the door again. But once more, her hand stopped mid-motion.
Her eyes narrowed as she stared through the circular glass window built into the door, the kind commonly found in hospital rooms.
"What now?" Valra whispered beside her, frowning.
Following Sakura's line of sight, Valra also leaned closer and peered through the glass. Her own expression immediately tightened when she saw what Sakura was seeing.
Inside, Pride and Leo were sitting closely—almost too closely. Their bodies leaned toward one another. Pride's fingers brushed against Leo's hand in a gentle, lingering touch, their warmth almost visible in the space between them.
Valra stiffened. She had never been the jealous type, especially not when it came to Leo and his Champion. Pride had always been around him. They'd fought together, bled together... survived together.
It made sense that they were close.
But now, for the first time, something about it made her chest ache. That soft touch. That gentle smile. It felt... intimate.
Was it just friendly comfort? Or was it something more?
"Come to think of it..." Sakura muttered beside her, her tone dark. "Who exactly is she? I remember your Senior mentioning something about her being his partner or something. Right?"
Valra turned her head, watching Sakura.
"She was his... training partner," Valra replied vaguely, her own words feeling insufficient even to her ears.
"Training?" Sakura repeated, eyebrows knitting together.
"Yes... He was... training something. She trained with him," Valra added, clearly avoiding the full truth.
Sakura gave a thoughtful hum, but her tone was anything but calm. "Well, then. Let's keep an eye on her too. We've got enough trouble as it is. We don't need more enemies. Especially not ones that are close to him."
Valra simply nodded in agreement, swallowing the uncomfortable heat blooming in her chest.
Finally, Sakura opened the door.
As they entered, Pride immediately noticed them. She stood up without a word, offering space by Leo's bedside, and stepped back with a composed expression.
Leo turned his head toward the two women, his smile curious and warm as he greeted them.
"What were you two talking about out there?"
Sakura's face stiffened instantly. The forced smile on her lips didn't reach her eyes as she lowered her head, her voice brittle and strained.
"I… I'm sorry, Senior."
"Hmm?"
His head tilted slightly. Something was off. Her tone, her face... she looked like she was being forced into something. His eyes drifted to Valra, who was clearly uncomfortable too. She stood awkwardly, fidgeting, her legs trembling slightly like she was bracing for a fall.
Sakura glanced at Valra with hesitation. Her lips twitched, her jaw clenched, and then—Valra, as if giving a signal, lightly shook her phone in her hand.
Sakura's brow twitched. A vein popped on her forehead. She let out a frustrated breath through her nose and finally spoke, her voice strained.
"The thing is… it's not just me… being your girlfriend… W-W-W—…"
Her words stuttered, choked, like she was forcing out poison.
"Ahem..."
She cleared her throat sharply, as if trying to physically shove down her pride. Her fists clenched tightly.
"We… are your girlfriends."
The moment hung in the air like a bomb had been dropped.
Valra's face turned red in an instant. She lowered her head and looked down at the floor, her heart thumping violently against her chest. It felt like her ribs might crack under the pressure.
Her fingers clenched the hem of her skirt as if trying to hide.
Would he believe them?
Of course not.
And as expected, Leo's expression contorted with disbelief.
"What… what are you talking about? You two…? My girlfriends?"
His voice was full of confusion and shock. He looked back and forth between them, completely lost.
This had to be a joke, right?
But Sakura slowly nodded, her eyes filled with reluctant honesty. "The thing is… we both proposed to you... at the same time."
Leo's brain stalled.
Two proposals… at once?
Moth**cker.
His face twisted into horror as he turned toward Valra, who was now redder than ever, her eyes firmly on the ground. Then he turned back to Sakura again.
"And… what did I say?" he asked carefully, dreading the answer.
Sakura bit her lower lip and exhaled a shaky breath. Her eyes wavered with emotion—conflicted, reluctant, but truthful. She gave one last look toward Valra before answering.
"You… accepted both."
"…"
Leo's entire world tilted.
He stood frozen, eyes bouncing between Sakura and Valra.
Both girls… he had accepted both?
That made no sense! That wasn't him! Or... was it?
His thoughts churned. It was true—Valra… ever since his memory loss, she'd been by his side. Always supportive. Always calm. Her voice, her gaze—so tender. Checked on him. Shared lunches.
Was this... love?
Why didn't they tell him on the first day?
Why were they hiding it?
Why was his chest tightening now in a way that was both warm and suffocating?
Something wasn't right. But it wasn't wrong either.
He frowned, eyes narrowing, heart pounding as he finally broke the silence.
"...Why didn't you say anything earlier?"
Valra flinched at Leo's question. Her body stiffened instinctively as she glanced sideways at Sakura.
Sakura, in return, rolled her eyes with exaggerated exhaustion before muttering,
"The thing is… she kind of didn't want to disturb you emotionally, you know? Since you lost your memories and all… she thought it'd be too much for you to handle. She's a worrywart. Always was."
Leo blinked a few times, processing her words slowly. Now that she said it… yeah, he had noticed it.
The way Valra worried constantly—hovering around him, protecting him even during their matches. She'd fought against him but always held back... Even when they clashed physically, her priority had been his safety, not victory.
Leo furrowed his brow, raising an eyebrow as he lightly tapped his forehead and muttered,
"So… you're telling me all of this now just because Sakura told me first… and you didn't want to be left out?"
"E-Exactly!"
Sakura answered quickly, though it wasn't her question to answer.
Valra stayed silent, eyes wide and full of turmoil. She didn't even try to speak. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, louder than any other sound around her. It echoed in her ears like war drums.
She felt sick, nervous, excited, and ashamed—all at once.
Leo sighed, running a hand through his already messy hair.
Here he was, thinking he was a decent guy who wouldn't hurt a fly.
And now? He somehow ended up with not just one girlfriend, but two—and both of them were absolutely drop-dead gorgeous in completely opposite ways.
One was tall, and full of fiery tsundere energy. The other was soft, curvy, graceful, and painfully devoted.
Was he a pervert? How the hell had he managed to say yes to both of them?
That guy—his past self—had some balls to pull this off.
Still though…
"You two… you're really okay with this?"
Leo asked cautiously, his voice trembling slightly as he looked between them with a horrified expression, as if asking whether they'd both gone completely insane.
Sakura's eye twitched.
Of course not! She wasn't fine with this!
But the words wouldn't leave her mouth. Instead, she growled inwardly and forced a nod.
"Yes… W-We're fine. Right?"
She shot a quick glance at Valra.
Valra flinched at the gaze. Her lips parted shakily, her body trembling slightly as she replied in a barely audible voice,
"Y-Yeah…"
Sakura quickly added with a sly little smirk creeping onto her lips,
"Although… you did say once we all got closer and understood each other better, you'd choose your best lover."
Leo felt that one hit like a straight arrow through his soul.
That line... He accepted them both and then said he'd pick one later?
What the actual hell?
That wasn't romance.
Was that really something he'd said? If so, it was messed up beyond repair.
Just who the hell was the former owner of this body?
Leo swallowed nervously and looked at the two girls in front of him. They didn't even seem angry. They were just… weirdly accepting. That made it worse somehow. They were either in deep denial… or far more broken than he was.
Was this… some kind of twisted relationship format?
Poly… something? Harem logic? Multiple-choice heartbreak?
He didn't know. And honestly, he didn't want to ask.
He cleared his throat and asked the one thing he still had hope for.
"I… I didn't do anything weird to her too, right?"
Valra tilted her head, a little confused, not fully catching what he meant. But Sakura knew. Of course she knew—because that's how she got him. She had been the one who seduced him first.
She turned slowly to look at Valra with a wicked little smirk. Valra, catching on, instantly flinched and gave the tiniest nod.
"…."
Leo felt his soul crack a little as it tried to escape his body. He looked up to the ceiling in silent horror.
What kind of man had he been?
A perverted bastard. That's what.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, Pride's eyes narrowed slightly. She had been quiet until now, observing them. Something about this situation didn't sit right with her. Something… felt off.
Her gaze shifted to Leo, who still sat surrounded by the two women.
Sakura, seeing Valra frozen like a statue, stomped down hard on her foot and hissed through gritted teeth,
"Go and hug him!"
Valra gasped in pain, nearly hopping on one foot. Her cheeks turned bright red as she looked away, shaking her head violently. She was already feeling overwhelmed with guilt. If she took even one more step, she'd drown in it.
Sakura rolled her eyes and, without hesitation, stepped forward and gently wrapped her arms around Leo.
Her hug was surprisingly soft. Her body moulded into his like it belonged there. Her breath brushed against his neck.
/Tsk. Go, Master. If you don't move, that girl's gonna win and you'll lose him./
Envy's voice echoed mockingly in Valra's head.
Valra bit her lip hard, trembling, then whispered in her mind, 'I feel so bad for doing this… Please forgive me.'
With shaky legs, she stepped forward and hugged Leo from the other side, wrapping her arms slowly around his waist.
For the first time… she was hugging her Leo.
Was this real?
HECK. YES.
Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might explode. Her cheeks were flushed, and her whole body was burning with nervous heat. The scent of his hospital gown, the warmth of his side… it made her dizzy.
Sakura, meanwhile, was barely managing to hold back. Her nails dug into her palm as she stopped herself from clawing Valra's pretty, blushing face off her Leo.
That much she hated it.
And yet… she was holding back. Barely.
Leo blinked in absolute shock, arms awkwardly half-lifted as he suddenly found himself hugged tightly by not one—but two women.
He didn't know what to do.
He wasn't sure whether he should be proud… or horrified. Or just cry.
Was he supposed to feel lucky?
All he could think was—
On one side, two mountains were squishing him. On the other side… well, let's not even go there.