As Sia and Alice plotted and maneuvered in their rivalry over Yujin, there was one woman who, alone, sat happily at the eye of this storm—Yujin’s teacher, Aika.

---

*Grinning widely*

“My student calls me by my first name... heh, we really are like a couple, maybe even newlyweds!”

Aika was quietly thrilled. In Japan, calling someone by their first name without honorifics, *yobisute*, is something usually reserved for family or lovers. It made her feel as if they were really dating. She was genuinely pleased to feel as if they were in a relationship.

… Meanwhile, Sia and Alice …