"Thinking about it again, aren't the guys in our group a little too dense? We’re the ones making all the moves here, so they really should be more... you know, responsive!!"
"Well, you might have a point. But then again, there are times when their obliviousness actually works in our favor. Shouldn't we look at it that way?"
"It is true that while their intuition is sharp in the heat of battle, they are utterly hopeless in times of peace... But I suppose that sort of contrast has its own charm! It is a... a... what was the word?"
"A 'gap,' right?"
"Yes, that! That is it!!"
The location had changed to the cafe where En and the others worked, and a Girls' Night was currently in full swing. The theme was supposed to be a romance talk... but in reality, it was a venting session for grievances against the men in their lives.
While Raiha, who was expected to be the main focus of the conversation, fidgeted nervously, Yui spoke up to reassure her.
"I wouldn't worry too much about what you're feeling, Raiha-san. My brother is truly hopeless when it comes to those things. Besides—"
"She's right! I hate to say it, but Yugo, Marcos, and Ryuga are all the type of guys who are completely clueless about a girl’s feelings!" Melt added, jumping on Yui’s point.
"The pathologically dense Yugo, the indelicate Marcos, and Ryuga, who doesn't even bother to pay attention to such things in the first place... it’s three different flavors of oblivious," Setsuna remarked.
"At least the three of them get along well together!" Raiha chirped, trying to find a silver lining.
Raiha found herself nodding in agreement with Melt and the others, though she felt a twinge of guilt for siding against the boys. At the same time, an image of the trio skipping along with their arms linked, shouting, "The Dense Brothers! We have no idea how girls feel!" flashed through all their minds. The sheer absurdity of the thought made everyone burst out laughing in unison.
"That's why Ryuga hasn't noticed your feelings for him yet, Raiha. Honestly, we should be grateful for how thick-headed he is," Setsuna said.
"My feelings... it's not really like that..."
"Oh, give it up. The boys might not see it, but it’s painfully obvious to the rest of us."
"Ugh...!" Raiha was left speechless by Setsuna’s sharp insight.
Melt realized that pushing the subject further might be hard on Raiha, so she decided to give her a breather by intentionally changing the topic.
"Even so, Ryuga joining the group has really changed the dynamic... Seeing him and Yugo fighting side-by-side gives me a lot of mixed feelings."
"Oh? And what exactly are you feeling, Melt?"
"Hmm... jealousy, I guess? I’ve felt this way for a while, but I’ve been relegated to recovery and rear support more and more lately. I feel like that sense of 'fighting together' is fading. Even though I was the first one to team up with Yugo—the first one to be his Partner! It’s frustrating, like my position's been stolen!"
"You can do so many things, Melt, and Yugo relies on you, doesn't he?" Setsuna sighed. "For a newcomer like me who can only provide covering fire, the physical distance I see between myself and Yugo feels like the actual distance between our hearts. It’s pretty hard to take."
"I have my own concerns as well, even standing on the front lines," Raiha admitted. "My skills are nowhere near Lord Ryuga's, and Lord Marcos is a first-rate specialist when it comes to defense. I feel like I am losing my place—or rather, I cannot see where I am supposed to stand."
"Listen to you guys. You can actually fight," Ann chimed in. "I don't even have that luxury. My specialty is technical, and my combat skills are a step or two behind yours."
"But Ann, you’ve secured a one-of-a-kind position!" Melt cried. "I'm so jealous! It's not fair!!"
"...From where I’m sitting, I’m the one who’s jealous of you. It’s a bit different, but I understand how Fee feels. Every time Yugo does something reckless, I wish I were stronger so I wouldn't have to let him put himself in danger. I feel like if I were a better engineer, I could make the Blaster armor safer... I end up hating my own powerlessness."
"...Everyone is struggling with so many things," Yui murmured. "I couldn't tell because there was almost no Soul Fluctuation."
"Well, of course not. We can’t exactly sit around moping in front of Yugo. And besides... there’s someone else who’s even more jealous and worried than we are."
Yui had thought of Melt and the others as strong, cool women, but she was surprised to find they had insecurities about their roles as Magic Knights alongside their romantic woes. Hearing Melt's words, she understood exactly who she meant.
"He’s unfair in his own way, too!" Melt continued. "He’s incredibly strong and a Reliable Partner, even if he doesn't realize it himself. I wish he wouldn't worry so much!"
"His point of comparison is just skewed, so I wish he had more confidence," Raiha added. "Though we won't lose to him when it comes to the desire to grow stronger!"
"Now that we’ve mentioned him, it’s a reminder of just how big of an obstacle Fee is! On the Most Important Things to Yugo Ranking, he’s the immovable number one!"
"That’s true... but they’re family, so that’s only natural. And if you think of it as a hurdle you have to clear to become family yourself, the height of it makes sense..."
"Wait... could it be that the boys are actually our greatest rivals in love?"
A Reliable Partner, a rival desperately chasing from behind, and a precious younger brother. Looking at it that way, the boys were a formidable force. Melt and the others hung their heads, re-evaluating the sheer difficulty of the situation and wondering how they were supposed to wedge themselves into that tight-knit circle.
"Romance is truly a complicated thing..." Yui said. "You’re surrounded by rivals, and since you can’t talk to them about it, it must be exhausting."
"Exactly! And that’s why we rely on Raiha at times like this!"
"Since Raiha isn’t aiming for Yugo, and she’s very tight-lipped, we can talk to her with peace of mind," Setsuna added.
"Wait, what...?" Raiha looked up in surprise as her name was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Her friends looked back at her with warm smiles.
"That's why we have to listen to your concerns today, Raiha. Think of it as a way for us to pay you back for everything you do for us."
"Even if we cannot solve everything, just letting out what is trapped inside will make you feel lighter!"
"Talk to us. We want to help you, even if it's just a little bit."
Melt spoke up after the others. She wasn't entirely sure how to phrase it, but she believed that if she spoke from the heart, Raiha would understand.