CHAPTER 238: UNFINISHED BUSINESS [3]

"There is still one more unfinished business for me left to do."

Damn. Not again!

Rachel’s declaration made my steps falter for half a second.

Unfinished business, huh?

That phrase again. She’d said it before, back at classroom. I’d chalked it up to some dramatic hero speech. You know—one of those vague lines people like her always throw around, sounding important without giving you any actual information.

But hearing it again, so casually, made me pause.

I glanced sideways at her. She looked... calm. Too calm.

Hands tucked into her coat pockets, gaze forward like she was strolling through the academy grounds on a relaxing afternoon and not threatening to wage psychological warfare on a fellow cadet five minutes ago.

"You keep saying that," I said slowly. "Unfinished business. You mean that whole thing with Kiera?"

Rachel gave a soft snort. "Kiera? Please. That girl was just a footnote."

Ah. So not that, then.

"What is it, then?" I asked.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she looked up at the swaying branches overhead, the wind rustling the leaves in little waves of sound. A long, drawn-out silence stretched between us.

"Its Hero buisness...It’s nothing you need to worry about," she finally said, voice gentle in a way that made my skin crawl a little. "Not unless you plan to start picking fights with dangerous people."

That answer told me everything and nothing at the same time. I sighed and let it drop.

For now.

"Anyway, the first ranking match is coming up soon."

"Yeah... it is," I replied, trying to keep my voice even.

"...Don’t overdo it," she said, softer this time. "There’ll be more ranking matches in the future. If you push yourself too hard and get hurt, you’ll only end up falling behind. So pace yourself, alright?"

I nodded slightly, her concern landing heavier than I expected.

"And... make some time after the ranking match."

"Huh? Time for what?"

She looked away for a second, like the words tasted strange in her mouth. Then she continued, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Father said we should have a meal together sometime. As a family."

"...Oh. Sure," I said automatically, before I could think too much about it.

Rachel blinked. Her smile faltered just a bit, eyes briefly flickering with something I couldn’t quite place.

Disappointment? Relief? Maybe both.

"...Alright. Thanks," she muttered.

I watched her quietly, wondering what I was supposed to say next. This version of Rachel was a far cry from the imposing goddess who was threating—No—thats a Wrong words.

Yeah, educating Kiera few minutes ago.

At the moment, she was a sister trying to do her part in a broken family.

I needed to fix things between us.

But to do that... I had to figure out what actually happened in this family.

What the old Rin went through. What I inherited without even knowing it.

"Anyway. I’ll see you next time. There’s this unfinished business that I have to attend right now."

"What is this unfinished business?" I asked her again, out of curiosity.

Rachel tilted her head at my words, as if pretending to be surprised. "Saying what?"

"That you’ve got ’unfinished business’ here," I said, watching her closely. "You said it earlier in class. And now again."

Her lips curled into a small smile, soft but unreadable. "Oh, that? Well, I suppose I think I can tell you that much since you are family."

I tensed, expecting something dramatic.

"I’ve been using my free time to do a little... cleanup work," she continued. "Some low-level criminal rings in the area. A few scumbags who thought hiding in an academy city would protect them from justice. Nothing too big."

I blinked.

"Wait, you’re seriously going after criminals while inspecting a school?"

"I am a hero," she said, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Multitasking comes with the job."

I didn’t respond right away. I just kept walking beside her, hands in my pockets, mind trying to process that this was what she did casually. While I was trying not to fail my next practical exam, she was out here cracking skulls and taking names.

"...You ever sleep?" I asked finally.

"Not much," she answered without missing a beat. "But you get used to that. When you’re chasing people who hide in shadows, you can’t afford to rest too long."

There was a flicker in her eyes. A shadow of something heavier. Something personal.

"Anyway, I am going. Take care."

With that, Rachel was gone.

I stood there for minute.

...And it was time to caught the stalker that was stalking us till now.

"You can come out now, Kiera."

Kiera stepped out from behind the hedges, brushing a few leaves off her uniform. Her expression was awkward—guilty, like a kid caught stealing sweets before dinner.

"...Sorry," she muttered, not quite meeting my eyes. "I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just... I wanted to thank you properly. For earlier."

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "You really need to work on your timing, you know that?"

"I know," she said sheepishly, giving a quick bow. "I’ll be more careful next time."

Next time? I didn’t even want a this time.

Still, I waved it off. "It’s fine. Just... don’t get on Rachel’s bad side again. I’m not going to be around to play bodyguard every time she shows up."

Kiera nodded quickly. "Understood."

There was a pause. She lingered like she wanted to say more, but thankfully, she didn’t.

"Your sister was scary."

"I see."

"What should I do now? I think she will not let me go easily next time loser."

"You’re still calling me a loser after all that?" I raised an eyebrow at Kiera, who was visibly shaken just moments ago. "Stubborn, I’ll give you that. Whatever. Keep calling me a loser if it makes you feel better."

Kiera furrowed her brows, her lips pressed together in thought. Then, unexpectedly, she looked... serious.

"I’m not just calling you that to be mean," she muttered.

"...Huh?"

"I’m practicing." Her voice was quiet, like she was trying to convince herself more than me. "Soon, okay?"

I blinked. "Practicing... calling me a loser?"

Then she looked straight at me and said, with the most intense pout imaginable, "Shut up, loser. That’s why I’m calling you a loser, loser."

...Okay, she was seriously getting on my nerves now.

"I helped you out, you know? Saved you from getting scolded. Told you you could call me whatever you want. And this is the gratitude I get?"

Kiera crossed her arms, clearly done with the conversation—but before she could fully turn away, she squinted at me.

"But seeing her up close... you and your sister really do look alike."

I blinked again. "You mean me and Rachel?"

She nodded. "Yeah. You should clean yourself up more. Your sister’s seriously pretty."

...I don’t know. Last time I checked, we weren’t even blood-related.

But now that she brought it up, maybe I should look into that too.

Just in case.

I watched Kiera disappear around the hedge line, muttering something about "losers" and "hero lectures," and then... finally, silence.

I exhaled deeply.

That had been a longer afternoon than I expected.

My footsteps felt slower now. Like my body was only just realizing we were done with the whole ’angry sister confrontation plus stalker cleanup’ combo deal.