Chapter 17 When A Man Falls In Love
"Nami, don't talk like that! You're making me look like a bad person by forcing Sydney to tell me about her and Ethan's relationship!" Lea protested. She knew she shouldn't have interfered so much in Sydney's private life, especially since they'd only just met again after three years. However, since she felt that she and Sydney were already quite close, even though they'd been very close three years ago, there shouldn't be any secrets they hadn't shared.
"Haha... I didn't mean it that way. But if you really want to tell me, I don't mind listening," Nami said. She had no choice but to mingle and listen.
"Come here, Nami!" Sydney took her hand and motioned for her to sit on her bed.
"Okay."
"Were you offended by Ethan's comment at dinner last night?"
"Not really, I'm used to hearing that, so you don't need to worry, Sydney! I'm fine."
"Is that so? Thank goodness. I was a little worried that Ethan would be hated!"
"Judging by his attitude, it's natural that many people don't like him. But like I said earlier, Syd, you don't need to be so protective and defensive of him if he's your half-brother!" Lea said. She reverted to her annoyed state, even though she seemed fine just a moment ago.
"Half-brother? So he's your half-brother?"
"Yes, Ethan is my half-brother. My father and Ethan's mother married when I was in high school. We also went to the same school. Lea and Ethan were classmates in elementary school, so they already knew each other.
"Is that so? No wonder you care so much about him!"
"It's because Sydney likes Ethan!" Lea blurted out. Sydney's face immediately turned red, as if she were embarrassed.
"Really? So that's why?"
"But Ethan doesn't have any feelings for me." He only sees me as a sister."
"Have you really told him you like him?" Lea asked firmly, as if she already knew Sydney's weakness.
"Of course I can't tell him!"
"Why?"
"It seems like Ethan has already realized my feelings, which is why he's become increasingly cold towards me." Sydney's expression was desperate. Nami remained silent, unsure how to comfort Sydney. This was her first time gathering and chatting with friends her own age. She, who had always been shunned as a troublemaker, was experiencing awkwardness in a social situation for the first time.
"How do guys usually act toward girls they like?" The question slipped out of her mind. She didn't know what love was or what it truly was.
"Actually, I don't really know, but there might be a slight difference in how men and women fall in love," Lea said.
"If a man is in love, I think he will be very attentive to the woman he likes. They will make time for you even when they are busy, they will give you small gifts, attention, and unconditional, sincere affection. I think that's what happens when a man is in love."
This morning, all the Yeager recruits gathered on the field to listen to instructions from the teachers and trainers tasked with training and guiding them during their two-year training.
It was her first day, and she felt very excited. As all the recruits gathered, Nami realized for the first time that there were many young people like her who had chosen to take the path.
They were asked to line up in their respective groups. Many students appeared arrogant, acting overconfident, as if they were underestimating the monsters that had killed hundreds of Yeager soldiers in the line of duty. This arrogance was especially evident among the espers.
It wasn't clear what made them underestimate the monsters' strength; they were simply too quick to believe their own strength was comparable, and quite a few even considered themselves far stronger.
"You two see that guy over there?" Lea said, pointing to a young man with pyrokinesis abilities. His classmates kept asking him to demonstrate how he could create fire with his mind.
The young man was the center of attention, and he seemed very proud of it. Lea clearly disliked people like that who were too quick to show off their abilities just to get attention.
"Pyrokinesis, huh?" Sydney didn't seem particularly impressed by someone with that ability.
"I think it's amazing. He can create and control fire with his hands and thoughts. I wonder what's inside his body," said Nami, the only one impressed by someone else's abilities.
"Maybe he doesn't have blood, just fuel!" Sydney joked. The three of them were silent for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha..." They all laughed, oblivious to the people around them.
"You guys are noisy!" Ethan, who had just entered the line, immediately sarcastically and coldly mocked them.
Lea, who had initially disliked Ethan's personality, disliked him even more. She felt like she was doing something wrong when she was around him.
"If you want space, you should stay in your room!" Lea said. Although she and Ethan were in the same class in elementary school, their relationship was more than just classmates, not very close, as they shared many similar traits: introverted, disciplined, structured, and cynical toward those they weren't close to.
Realizing that it was pointless to reply to Lea's words, Ethan simply stood in his row, indifferent. Nami glanced at Sydney, who was silently watching Ethan. Sydney's cheeks were flushed like plum blossoms in the off-season. She looked even more beautiful.
"Sydney seems to really like him," she thought to herself. A woman in love, she wanted to know how it felt.