Everyone Stays With Me
JI-ah slowly recounted everything that had happened over the past three days.
More had gone down than I'd expected.
And that's when I learned just how much she envied Vivian.
"JI-ah."
"Yes?"
"I'm pretty disappointed."
"...I'm sorry."
"Really disappointed."
"Hic..."
JI-ah tried to cover her eyes, but I blocked her hands.
She fidgeted, trying to look away, but I was right in front of her—impossible.
"Why'd you do it?"
"I... hic..."
"I get girls scheming together. Better than holing up in your rooms like you're ignoring each other completely."
"Yeah..."
"But why give up so easily?"
"...Huh?"
I wiped away her tears.
She looked up at me with those teary eyes.
I pulled her into a hug.
"Look, I'm seriously grateful for this life right now. I'm happy every single day. I know it's selfish, but I don't want to let go of anyone around me."
"Do-jun..."
"That includes you, JI-ah. But if you give up, it messes me up."
"..."
"I mean, I know I'm already a bit messed up..."
"No! You're not messed up at all, Do-jun!"
JI-ah cut me off.
She's too kind, as always.
Kind to a fault.
"So don't talk about sorting out your feelings or giving up. Got it?"
"Yes. Got it."
"And I told you before—no more 'sorry's. That's the second one today already?"
"Ah, sorry—"
"Third."
"Ughhh..."
JI-ah deflated completely.
Every time her emotions swing like this, I get the urge to tease her.
But now's the time for serious talk.
I'd said it before, but it hadn't sunk in.
"I'm not some great guy who deserves your apologies. If anything, I should be sorry."
"No! Why would you—"
"I'm the one dating multiple people to keep my heart steady. You're hurting because of me."
"I'm fine! I don't know about Vivian or Latynia, though."
"Vivian? Why bring her up?"
"Huh? Aren't you dating her?"
"Dating Vivian would be a crime. She's just... like a frail little sister I have to look after."
"Really? She doesn't seem to think that."
Does she?
No matter how I think about it, anything more with Vivian is straight-up criminal.
I can't even imagine it.
Even during those massages before, I kept thinking, Isn't this dangerous?
"Anyway, whatever with Vivian. Let's figure out what to do from here. Weren't you looking forward to something?"
"N-no way! I didn't spend the whole day thinking about you!"
"Be honest, and I'll do whatever you want today."
"...I did."
"Couldn't hear that?"
"The whole day... doing that..."
I wanted to ask what "that" was.
But I'd promised to do whatever she wanted today, so I let it go.
Instead, I released the hug and lay down beside her.
"Do whatever. I'll just lie here."
"For real?"
"Yeah. I said today, right?"
"That's embarrassing—forget it."
Even after I offered, she's still shy.
JI-ah squirmed in embarrassment for a bit, then gently rested her head on my chest.
She wrapped her arms around me.
"Hehe..."
Her breasts squished against me, that soft sensation spreading through.
Whether she knew or not, JI-ah rubbed her cheek against my chest, blissed out.
She must've been really jealous of Vivian.
But JI-ah was forgetting something important.
"JI-ah."
"Yes?"
"You planning to sleep like this?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Without answering, I lightly placed my hand on her pressed breast.
That's when JI-ah finally noticed the difference between her and Vivian.
Her face turned beet red.
"Ah... this is..."
"I'll stay like this too, so sleep easy."
"No way I could sleep like this..."
"Same here in this state."
"What do you mean—ah!"
JI-ah, who'd been clueless, realized my situation.
She hesitated a moment, then reached down.
"Then... let me make it comfortable for you."
────◆────◇────◆────
In the end, JI-ah didn't sleep until dawn.
Thanks to that, we both overslept blissfully and headed to the parlor late.
Waiting there were Vivian and Latynia, both looking seriously pissed.
The total opposite of JI-ah's glowing face.
"Good morning, Latynia. Vivian too."
"Morning? Lunchtime's almost here."
"Don't sweat the small stuff."
"I am sweating it."
"Yeah. It's annoying."
Rare for Vivian to back Latynia up.
Glad they're getting closer.
I patted Vivian's head.
"Sorry, Vivian. Did we bother you?"
"It's fine."
"Hey. Why's she get a different reaction?"
"Huh? But you can't help it."
I sat down, and Vivian hopped right onto my lap.
I stroked her head as I said,
"Isn't our Vivian the cutest?"
"She is cute, but..."
"Then that's that. Right, Vivian?"
"Yeah."
Latynia's expression looked anything but satisfied.
She's so cute, though.
The TV was still blaring about Olivia's big discovery.
A bunch of intellectuals droning on about some incomprehensible topic wasn't exactly entertaining.
The sad part? Every channel was stuck on that story.
JI-ah and Latynia seemed to get it, watching with interest.
"That's related to what you asked me about before, right?"
"Yeah. That origin stuff."
"Instructor Olivia's amazing."
"Sure. Though she doesn't explain it great."
"I think she summarized it pretty accessibly."
"Really?"
I glanced at the TV, just in case.
Olivia was still spouting nonsense.
"...No clue."
"Hmm... Probably 'cause you don't know magic, Do-jun."
"You explained it easy enough without knowing magic."
"That's... different audience levels. What Instructor Olivia's announcing is a once-in-a-century discovery."
"That big?"
"Yeah. She'll be swamped for a while."
If that's true, Olivia'll vanish again soon.
I don't know why, but my gut says so.
My intuition didn't fail me.
Vivian and JI-ah had slipped off together—probably scheming—leaving just me and Latynia in the parlor.
Suddenly, sounds of fighting came from the mansion's front gate.
Boom! Bang! Boom!
"What? A fight?"
"Dunno... Let me check."
Latynia fiddled with her smartwatch like a pro.
She couldn't even handle one when we met— she's grown a ton.
Made me proud for some reason.
If it were Vivian, I'd have patted her head.
But with the invisible mansion staff watching, it'd turn me into Shin/Do/jun. Couldn't risk it.
Latynia looked up from her watch.
"Some red orb appeared near the mansion. They're intercepting it."
"Wait. Is the red like blood-red?"
"Hold on... Yeah. Ominous blood-red orb."
"...I know her. Let her in."
"Huh? Okay."
The explosions stopped soon after, and the parlor door opened.
For the first time, one of the staff I'd only heard—never seen—appeared.
She vaguely resembled Latynia but had a totally different vibe.
She spotted me, paused, then reported to Latynia.
"We stopped attacking as ordered and tried letting it into the mansion, but it sank into the ground. We lost it. Sorry."
"It's fine. You're dismissed."
"Yes, Princess."
She glanced at me, then vanished.
Impressive stealth.
"Where'd that orb go?"
"Probably already inside."
"Huh? How?"
"Hmm... You'll see."
As if on cue, a hand rose from the floor and yanked me down.
By the time I snapped to, over half my body was sinking into the ground.
"Ah! Do-jun!"
"Don't worry. It's nothing."
"But...!"
"Seriously, no big deal. It's just how she is..."
That was the last thing I said before fully sinking.
As expected, the orb was Olivia.
The second she pulled me down, she slung her arm over my shoulder and leaned into my back.
Bit judgmental, but she's kinda heavy.
"Olivia. You could've just called."
"Summoning circle wouldn't activate for some reason. So I came straight here, and some weirdo blocked me."
"Shows up wrapped in an orb—course they'd suspect you. Why the orb?"
"But if I didn't, they'd recognize me! Then I'd have to deal with those boring old geezers again."
"That bad?"
"Yeah. They kept digging forever. Exhausting."
"Sorry. Didn't expect that much fallout."
"It's fine. It was for you."
Olivia looked admirable today.
All that work matured her.
"So why're you here?"
"Well... uh..."
Olivia stammered, looking away.
...Suspicious.
No way.
"Olivia. Be honest."
"Huh?"
"You ran away, didn't you?"
"Ran away? A witch has pride—no way I'd run!"
"Totally ran."
"Not running! It's like... a break. Reward for my hard work..."
"Tell anyone else?"
"No..."
"That's called running away."
"Gah! No mercy for the hardworking!"
Olivia shook my shoulders wildly.
Still stupidly strong.
I flopped around like wet laundry.
Then, mid-shake, Olivia suddenly kissed me.
Our tongues tangled in a long, deep kiss.
"Haa... Feels like I'm alive..."
"Olivia... Warn me before you do stuff?"
"Vital energy was too low. I was desperate."
"Can't you convert mana to vital energy?"
"Inefficient. And with prime stuff right here, why not use it?"
Olivia scratched her head innocently.
Still, no means no.
"Next time, ask first. Or I won't."
"...Got it."
Her mood flipped instantly—she deflated and squatted on the floor.
Can't stay mad at her.
I gently cradled her head.
"Not saying no. Just ask first."
"Okay!"
Her mood bounced back.
I sat beside the perked-up Olivia and asked,
"So, what now after running away?"
"Not running!"
"...What're your plans from here?"
"Well..."
Olivia opened her mouth.