Yui leans into Apollon, arm brushing his as she points out the correct answer. Apollon smiles, too close to her for Balder to feel comfortable. He sits on the edge of his seat, long hair spilling over his shoulder as he watches the two of them, that familiar agony of loss that accompanies Yui burning in his stomach.

She glances up, eyes wide for a moment as she catches Balder's stare. He pauses too long for his next move to really be considered apologetic, but he does eventually look down at the floor, a soft flush coloring his cheeks.

Takeru holds her hand for a split second longer than necessary when he helps Yui to her feet, his rough fingers entwined with hers. She laughs and blushes and brushes herself off while he mutters something to her that is probably an insult.

Balder tells himself that he's not really spying on them - he's just walking by. But he's been walking by for as long as their run has gone on, watching like he always does. He should feel bad, but he has to admit that part of him really doesn't.

Sometimes, the image of Tsukito attempting to kiss Yui strangles his thoughts.

Sometimes, he catches the way Hades watches her with the kind of longing that Balder really can't appreciate from others.

Sometimes…

Sometimes, Balder can't stand himself and the way his teeth grind together whenever Yui flashes that smile of hers at Loki.

She catches him watching her, and her face lights up a little, her beautiful smile gracing him this time as she approaches. "Good morning, Balder!"

And it's just like that, so easily, that most of those angry thoughts are driven away. That the pain in his chest eases. That he can relax again, the lines of his body soft instead of tense.

He steps in closer, invading her personal space, and he likes the way her breath flutters and the way pink crawls over her face as she looks up at him. "Good morning, Yui."

They're quiet for a moment, watching each other. It'd be so easy, he thinks, to lean in and claim her mouth. Claim her for good this time. To tell her that she should spend her time with him. But he doesn't, because that's not…

That's not what he's being taught, and it's not what she would appreciate.

"Should we walk to class together?" he asks, and she nods happily, taking his hand in hers.

Today, right now, he doesn't have to bear the weight of his own jealousy.