Sparks of jealousy

The soft glow of Purgatorio's dim sky greeted me as I stepped into the small natural basin. The cold water was a welcome relief against my sore muscles after another grueling day of training. I sank into the water, letting out a sigh as the tension in my body eased.

Just as I closed my eyes to enjoy the peace, a cheerful voice shattered the moment.

"Kuro-sama! Mind if I join you?"

My eyes snapped open to see Alice standing at the edge of the basin, her silver hair shimmering in the faint light.

Before I could respond, she slipped into the water with an effortless grace, settling far too close for comfort. Her soft smile and wide violet eyes brimmed with mischief.

"Alice… this is supposed to be private," I managed, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Oh, don't be so stiff, Kuro-sama," she teased, leaning slightly closer. "After all, I'm just here to make sure you're relaxed after all your hard work."

Her fingers brushed lightly against my shoulder, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Alice—" I started, but she interrupted me with a laugh.

"You're so tense! Here, let me help."

Before I could protest, she began massaging my shoulders, her touch surprisingly skilled. I stiffened, unsure of how to react.

From the corner of my eye, I saw movement. Aurora stood a few feet away, her arms crossed and her expression a dangerous mix of anger and disbelief.

"Alice," Aurora said sharply, her tone like ice. "What do you think you're doing?"

Alice didn't even flinch. "Helping Kuro-sama, of course. He's been working so hard, and I couldn't just let him suffer in silence."

Aurora's jaw tightened. "He doesn't need your… help."

Alice turned her head, a playful smirk on her lips. "Oh? Jealous, Aurora?"

Aurora scoffed, though a faint flush crept up her neck. "Don't be ridiculous."

Alice giggled, leaning closer to me. "You know, Kuro-sama, you're so much calmer than she is. I admire that about you."

I glanced between the two of them, utterly lost. "Maybe we should—"

"No," Aurora cut me off, her glare fixed on Alice. "We're done here. Kuro, finish up quickly. Training starts in ten minutes."

Training: The Tension Builds

The tension between Aurora and Alice was palpable during the morning drills. Aurora's commands were sharp, her tone clipped, while Alice seemed entirely unaffected, her cheerful demeanor only adding fuel to the fire.

"Focus on your footwork, Kuro!" Aurora snapped as I stumbled slightly during a sparring exercise.

"Don't be so hard on him," Alice said, her voice light. "Kuro-sama is doing great."

Aurora's eyes narrowed. "If you're so confident, why don't you demonstrate?"

"Gladly!" Alice chirped, stepping forward.

As we continued, Alice found every excuse to get close to me. Whether it was adjusting my stance, guiding my blade, or even brushing stray hair from my face, she was relentless.

"Careful, Kuro-sama," Alice said, gripping my arm as I overbalanced. "You wouldn't want to fall, would you?"

Aurora's patience finally snapped. She slammed her weapon into the ground, the sound reverberating through the clearing.

"That's enough!" she shouted, her voice echoing.

Alice turned to her, feigning innocence. "Oh? Did I do something wrong?"

Aurora's expression was thunderous. "You want to help so much? Fine. Let's spar. Right now."

Alice's smirk widened. "If that's what you want, Aurora, I'd be happy to oblige."

The air between them crackled with tension as they squared off, their weapons materializing in their hands. I stepped back, unsure whether to intervene or let them settle this on their own.

As they faced each other, Aurora's eyes burned with determination, while Alice's playful smile never wavered.

"Let's see how long you can keep that smug attitude," Aurora muttered.

Alice winked. "Oh, Aurora, you're so cute when you're mad."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. This was going to be a long day.