12 - I'm Staying Over Tonight?

"Senior, next Tuesday. Clear your schedule."

"Ah......"

Her red eyes shook like there'd been an earthquake at my announcement. I knew. Right now, it was impossible. For a hikikomori who'd been holed up in her room for over two years, 'going out' was as terrifying ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as a normal person doing a bungee jump. But next Tuesday... an event-free weekday, and at the quietest time of day.

"Senior, do you trust me?" I gazed steadily into her eyes.

"Just hide behind my back and follow me. If anyone stares, I'll block them all."

Gulp. In the silent room, the sound of her swallowing hard echoed loudly. She avoided my eyes for a long while before finally nodding with a resolute expression.

"O-okay... If Evan-nim says so that much."

Good, first hurdle cleared.

"It's a promise, right? Oh, of course, we'll decide based on how you're feeling that day. I won't drag you out if it's too much."

"Ah... Thank you, Evan-nim."

She smiled in relief. Outing quest accepted, for now. Next up, dealing with the most annoying part.

I set down my chopsticks and got serious. "But, Evangeline-senior."

"Yes?"

"I'm the junior here. A commoner with no pedigree at that. You're a noble lady from a marquis house—doesn't it feel weird calling me with formal speech and attaching '-nim' every time?"

Anyone overhearing would think I was the noble and she was the maid.

"Just call me 'Evan' casually."

"Wha?! N-no, I can't!"

She jumped in shock, waving her hands frantically.

"You're my lifesaver—how could I dare call you by name... Absolutely not."

"......"

There it was again. That damn debt of gratitude. Her fingertips trembled. Every time she looked at me, 'gratitude' took a backseat to 'guilt' in her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes. This wouldn't do. A relationship bound by guilt wasn't healthy. Above all, for romance... no, for a flirtation to work, I had to shatter this vertical dynamic first.

I made my decision.

"Evan."

I cut her off sharply.

"Y-yes?"

"Evan."

"Um, wait..."

"Evan."

"What do you..."

"Evan."

I repeated my name like a broken radio. Her eyes started spinning from my shameless assault.

"Um, Evan-nim?"

I didn't back down, staring straight into her eyes.

"Think about it, senior. If you go around outside calling me 'Evan-nim, Evan-nim,' what will people think?"

"That..."

"They'll assume I have some dirt on you. The prying will never end."

"Ah...!"

Her mouth fell open. She hadn't considered that far. As expected, for someone as pure-hearted as her, using 'my position' as an excuse hit home perfectly.

"You don't want me getting hate, right?"

"O-of course not!"

"Then practice. Come on, repeat after me: Evan."

I mouthed it slowly, like teaching a child to talk.

"Ugh......"

Her face turned beet red as her lips twitched. For a noble ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lady raised on etiquette her whole life, casually calling her lifesaver by name was apparently a massive challenge.

"Hurry up. I'm getting dizzy."

"E... Ev..."

She squeezed her eyes shut.

"E... Evan."

A tiny, creeping voice. But success.

"Good job. Now drop the formal speech too."

"B-but that's impossible..."

"Hey! Using formal speech outside will get me hate too, you know?"

I put on a stern face, and she pouted sadly.

"O-okay."

She hung her head, mumbling in a mosquito-like voice.

"Okay... Evan."

Thump. Foul ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠play. Her shy banmal hit like a truck.

"Yes, perfect. Spot on."

Confidence is key for a guy. I grinned, thumbs up. She flushed to her ear tips and hid her face with both hands. Adorably so.

Good, buildup complete.

Now, just manipulate her reputation.

We finished dinner and cleaned up spotlessly. The clock read 8 p.m. She hesitated wistfully before speaking.

"It's... time for you to go."

"Huh? I'm staying over tonight?"

"Huh?!"

Her eyes went wide. What nonsense is this? her face said. But I calmly shook out the dishcloth.

"And senior, we promised earlier, remember? Casual speech."

"Ah! R-right."

She stammered in panic. Not used to it yet.

"Y-you're really staying...? Evan?"

"Yeah. After what happened today, how could I sleep easy? Just in case, I'll monitor your condition tonight."

"Ah..."

She zoned out with an indescribable expression—surprise, fluster, and a hint of joy mixed in. Probably her brain short-circuiting at 'a guy staying over.'

To ease her burden, I preempted.

"Don't worry. I'll crash on the living room sofa. No sleeping bag, so just give me a blanket..."

"No!!"

She suddenly shrieked, blocking my path.

"Absolutely not! How can I make a guest—no, my benefactor—sleep on that cramped, dusty sofa?!"

"No, I'm fine. I like it."

"No! You have to take the bed. Non-negotiable!"

Her eyes blazed. Her usual timidity vanished, replaced by homeowner stubbornness.

I waved it off, refusing.

"Urk!! Fine."

She beamed, finally satisfied.

The clock hit 10 p.m. I quickly laid out spare bedding and slipped under the blanket.

"Ah, Evan!!"

"Evangeline-senior?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"Are you turning me into a scumbag who steals a fragile girl's bed while making the owner sleep on the floor?"

"Huh? N-no... That's not what I meant..."

"If I take the bed, you'll be on the floor. My conscience won't let me sleep. Just let me stay here."

She hemmed and hawed before climbing onto the bed with a sigh.

"Fine... If you insist, Evan."

We settled in our spots. Click. The bedside lamp went out, plunging the room into darkness.

Rustle. From bed above and floor below. Breathing sounds close by in the silence.

Her voice came softly. "Evan..."

"Yes, senior."

"Then... call me by my first name too, not the family name."

"Sure, Piarot-senior."

"Heehee..."

A muffled giggle as she buried her face in the pillow, embarrassed. A ticklish atmosphere. Perfect for drifting off, but she wasn't sleepy yet.

"Evan..."

"Yes, Piarot-senior."

"Why did you save me?"

"Why...?"

"How can you risk your own life to save a stranger like that?"

Her voice grew misty. Memories of the last loop. Offering my neck to her as she died.

"I... didn't mind dying."

True. I'd just loop back anyway.

"Not anymore. I took your skill... but you helped me again."

"Yeah. No life-risking this time."

"....."

Rustle. She scooted to the bed's edge, peering down at me. Even in the dark, her glowing red eyes burned resolute.

"Then, from now on, I'll risk my life to protect you, Evan."

"Huh?"

"Like you said, I don't mind dying now..."

If she died, I'd be game over too. My last life. Beating the demon king without this A-rank bus driver? No such route existed. Better odds if I threw myself in.

"No, put your own life first, senior."

"No, you did it for me."

Argh, I never planned to die for real.

"We might not loop this time... Please."

Bad Ending Loop wasn't a death-rewind for players. Would it apply to her? Too many variables.

She pondered, then spoke. "Fine, then... Promise me too, Evan. Put your life first."

"Okay. Promise."

"Good... It's a deal?"

She smiled brightly, retreating inward. "Night, Evan."

"Goodnight, Piarot-senior."

Silence returned. Breathe... breathe... Steady rhythm tickled my ears like a lullaby. Exhaustion hit; my eyelids drooped, pulling me into deep sleep.

Chirp, chirp. Birds outside the window. Nature's morning alarm.

"Mm......"

I lifted heavy lids, shifting. Time to get up. But my body felt leaden—literally. Something heavy and warm clung to my waist.

......?

Blearily, I looked down. Raven-black hair. Her face buried in my chest, slender arms koala-clutching my waist.

"Gasp!!"

Breath caught. Piarot. She'd been on the bed? Why was she down here beside me? Rolled off in sleep? Or unconsciously sought warmth?

Whatever, the situation was dire. Soft, yielding pressure everywhere. Her body heat through thin pajamas, sweet lemon scent teasing my nose.

Morning. When a healthy guy's body reacts strongest.

Urgh... Hold it together, black flame dragon inside me.

I mentally sang the anthem through verse four, suppressing instinct as I gazed at her.

"Mmm... Evan..."

She mumbled in sleep, burrowing deeper with a happy smile. But my eyes lingered elsewhere. Deep dark circles under her eyes. Sallow skin.

Haa...

A pang in my chest. How much anxiety had she felt scrubbing floors all night, watching me? Even asleep, scared I'd leave, crawling down for reassurance.

Surge of desire ebbed, replaced by tenderness. "Sleep more, Piarot."

I gently—oh so gently—slid my arm free. She whined, but I swapped in a pillow quick. Then scooped her up from below.

Light as a feather. Gotta feed her more.

I laid her softly on the bed, tucking the blanket to her neck. Stroke stroke. Smoothed her tousled hair.

"See you later."

Regret trailing, I slipped quietly out the door. Dawn air chilled. I dashed to the dorm, changed into work clothes.

Entering the 2nd Cafeteria, familiar battlefield stench hit.

"Evan! Sunday—why're you here again?"

The nutritionist aunties' eyes bulged.

"Wait, isn't the cafeteria off your duties now? You're assigned to that witch... er, Evangeline student, right?"

Rumors spread fast. Academy intel hub: the cafeteria network.

"Auntie~ Must be tough without me. Had time, so I came to help!"

I grinned warmly, tying on an apron.

"Such a good boy. If the new part-timer was half like our Evan, I'd have no regrets."

"Yeah, kitchen doesn't run without him."

"Haha, too kind."

I cinched the apron tight and dove in. Chop chop chop! My knife danced. Onion mountains crumbled to white innards in seconds.

"Lord, look at that speed."

Aunties' eyes turned hearts as lunch rush ended. Prime 'tea time (gossip time)' arrived.

I brewed mixed coffees, handing them out. As vibes warmed, I dangled bait.

"Oh yeah, aunties. About that rumored witch, Evangeline-senior..."