13 - Sit, Stand, Give Me a Massage.

"The rumors... they were actually about this."

I lowered my voice dramatically and recited a tragic drama worthy of an entire episode. Isolation to avoid harming others, and the distorted rumors that followed.

When I finished my tale, silence fell over the kitchen.

"Aigoo... oh my god..."

"How tragic... tsk tsk."

"What do we do, we're so sorry..."

Moments later, the kitchen turned into a sea of tears. The emotionally rich aunties were busy wiping their eyes with their aprons.

Riding the momentum, I spilled the story of my own 'misunderstanding' too.

"Actually... I misunderstood at first as well. When my senior called me out, I thought she was going to do some scary human experiment on me, just like the rumors said."

I bowed my head like a sinner.

"But it turned out... she called me to lift the 'curse' that was on my body."

"Curse?"

"Yes. You all know, right? Back then, whenever you saw me, you felt inexplicably uncomfortable and wanted to avoid me."

"Huh? Oh, come to think of it..."

The aunties exchanged glances, their eyes widening round.

It was definitely true. That baseless dislike, the urge to stay away. Without reason.

"That was actually because of the curse on me. But Piarot senior noticed it... and healed me."

I drove the nail home with a quivering voice.

"The noble daughter of a marquis house... to save a commoner work-study student like me, with no gain for herself... she used those expensive herbs and her mana without holding back... sob."

"......!!"

"I had no idea... and spread those nasty rumors... I'm really, truly deserving of death."

My perfect method acting. The effect was devastating.

"Aigoo, Evan!!"

The head chef auntie grabbed my hand fiercely.

"We're sorry! We had no idea and hated on the poor student!"

"Right! It was all because of that curse. No wonder—he's so diligent, but I just couldn't warm up to him!"

The misunderstanding didn't just clear; regret exploded.

The witch became a 'hidden saintess,' and the outcast student turned into a 'tragic victim.'

"There, there, don't cry! Take this!"

The aunties started raiding the fridge.

"This is top-grade sirloin. Grill it up with that girl!"

"These are seasonal fruits! Gotta get your vitamins!"

"Come back tomorrow too! We'll pack something tasty!"

Now the rumors would spread through the cafeteria network.

"Thank you so much, aunties! I'll eat well!"

The next day, Monday morning. I slipped into my free period and headed back to Professor Werner's lab.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

As I opened the door, Professor Werner looked at me over his glasses.

"Oh, Evan. What brings you? That... matter with Miss Piarot is going well, I hope?"

He still couldn't hide his awkwardness.

I bowed politely.

"Yes, Professor. I'm here to correct a misunderstanding about that and give a report."

"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?"

"Actually... about that human experiment I mentioned last time. That was my mistake."

"Mistake?"

The professor's brow furrowed.

I calmly recited the scenario I'd prepared.

After hearing the whole story, Professor Werner let out a hollow laugh.

"Ha, a curse? Are you writing a novel now? In this day and age, something so unscientific..."

"If you want to verify if it's true, please call the other female professors."

"......Wait a moment."

Werner pressed the intercom skeptically.

Soon, Professor Helena from the Magic Department next door and Professor Lily from Herbology entered.

"Professor Werner? What's going on?"

He explained the situation to the two female professors.

Their gazes locked onto me. They were the types who usually treated me like a 'transparent human' or 'walking trash.'

But now, their pupils began to dilate.

"Uh......?"

Professor Lily adjusted her glasses and approached me.

"Wait, you're... Evan, right?"

"Yes, that's me."

"This is weird. Before, just being near you felt like moldy... sticky, unpleasant aura."

True to her herbology expertise, she sniffed around me.

"It's gone. That filthy aura... completely vanished."

"It's true," Professor Helena chimed in from the side.

My hatred filter was gone. Couldn't fool experts like them.

I hammered it home.

"Yes. It was Piarot senior who did it."

"That... student they call a witch?"

"Yes. While everyone avoided her as a witch, she was the only one who saw through my curse. And she healed me, even at the cost of her own mana."

I placed a hand on my chest with an expression of deep gratitude.

"She's not a witch. She's the epitome of true Noblesse Oblige, devoting herself to a commoner student everyone shunned."

"Oh my god......"

The professors' faces went blank.

The student they'd branded a 'problem child' or 'psychopath' had been secretly doing good deeds all along.

Their expressions slackened in shock. Scholarly pride and human conscience crumbling at once.

"We... had no idea..."

"It was a misunderstanding. That poor, kind girl..."

Professor Werner cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to regain control.

"Ahem! W-well then... sending you as her dedicated assistant was the right call."

You too, Werner—you were one of the professors who hounded Piarot senior.

I gave him a heavy, knowing smile.

"Yes. I'll do my utmost to repay the favor."

"Ahem... good. Understood. Your assignment will be fixed at the annex for now. Take care."

I bowed politely and left the lab.

Now I'd won over the two groups that dominated school opinion: the cafeteria ladies and the faculty.

The students' stares... that was Piarot's to handle. I'd manage it for her as best I could.

And tomorrow, Tuesday, was the big reveal.

I clenched my fist.

Let's go, Piarot. Time for the world to see the real you.

I bolted straight to the annex in the woods the moment I left the faculty office. My heart felt like it would burst, but my legs wouldn't stop.

I just wanted to share this good ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠news with her ASAP.

Knock, knock!

I pounded on the door without catching my breath.

"Huff, huff... Piarot senior."

Urgent footsteps came from inside, and the door flew open.

"Evan!! Come in!"

She greeted me with wide bunny eyes.

Her door-opening speed was now LTE-fast. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠She must've been waiting right there for me.

Even if it was wishful thinking, just seeing her face made me so happy.

"Huff huff... good to see you, senior."

"Oh my, look at that sweat... why'd you run here so fast? Something wrong?"

She reached out worriedly toward the sweat on my forehead.

I panted, grinning playfully.

"Huff... 'cause I missed you."

"......Huh?"

"I ran 'cause I couldn't wait even a minute or a second. Heh heh..."

"!!"

Her face turned red as a ripe apple in an instant.

"Y-you... Evan, really..."

She twisted shyly, then bashfully swung the door wide.

"Come in. Isn't it still cold outside?"

Her quick little steps led the way. No tail, but she was a puppy greeting its owner.

Ah, she's too cute, seriously gonna die.

We sat across from each other at the table. I gulped down the honey water she'd brewed, caught my breath, then told her everything that happened at school.

The cafeteria ladies' reactions, and how I'd fooled the professors.

"...I healed your curse?"

She blinked blankly.

"Yep. I got permission to borrow your name a bit, remember? This ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is it."

I nodded shamelessly.

"When people ask about me, just say yes. 'I used my mana to lift Evan's curse.' Got it?"

"B-but... I never used any great magic like that... lying feels kinda..."

She fidgeted awkwardly.

As expected—too pure-hearted for lies.

I gripped her hand tight, eyes serious.

"It's not a lie."

"Huh?"

"The mandragora stew you made lifted the curse. Thank you so much."

"Really? I actually helped?"

"Yes!! People won't believe complicated explanations. Just 'senior saved me'—that's the result they need to remember."

I squeezed her hand, nailing it down.

"Please, senior. For my sake."

"......"

Her eyes wavered at 'for my sake.'

She pondered, then nodded resolutely.

"O-okay. If that's what you want... I'll do it."

"Thank you."

"No, I'm more thankful... doing all this for me..."

She smiled shyly, gripping my hand back.

"What're you saying. You're my life's benefactor."

I grinned wide. Dead serious.

Without her, I'd be forever impotent... no, a loner till the end.

"Ehehehe..."

She beamed back at me. Warmth like spring sunlight filled the dim annex table.

"Alright, then—tomorrow, 5 PM."

I declared solemnly.

"Our first public date. Get ready."

"Date...!! Uw... I'll trust you, Evan..."

She bowed her head shyly.

I ate lunch with her and prepared apples for dessert. She offered a piece on her fork.

White fingers, even paler skin. Jet-black straight hair down to her waist, dreamy red eyes.

And lowering my gaze, that heavy volume not even hidden by the loose apron.

......Insane.

Her shyly blushing cheeks as she looked at me were lethally cute.

Glad I'm alive. Mom, I'm happy.

As I gawked with my mouth open, she offered again.

"Come on, say ah~."

"Thank you. Ah!"

I took the apple without hesitation. Crunch-.

Sweet juice filled my mouth.

But my mind was already soaked in the beauty before me, not the apple's taste.

"Tasty?"

"Yes, the best. This must be what the apple from Eden tasted like."

"Pfft, what're you saying."

She covered her mouth, giggling softly. My heart thudded down.

She speared another apple piece and offered it.

"Here, ah~ again."

"Aaah~."

As I opened wide, she flicked her wrist and popped it into her mouth.

Munch munch. She smiled mischievously, eyes crinkling.

"Ah, senior~!"

"Hehe, gotcha."

Good sign. Proof she'd found enough peace of mind to prank me like this.

I happily played along.

Excited Piarot tilted her chin with a playful voice.

"Want some? Then politely ask with both hands: 'please.'"

No biggie. I thrust both hands forward, face the most servile and desperate in the world.

"Mistress!! To this lowly worm... an apple... please bestow just one piece of apple charity!!"

"Puhahaha!!"

She doubled over laughing.

"What was that, Evan! You're hilarious."

"I'm serious. My blood sugar's crashing, I'm dizzy."

"Okay, okay. Here, ah~."

Still chuckling, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she fed me the apple. Crunch.

Sweet as honey.

"Now you feed me."

She put the fork in my hand, cheeks flushing.

"I'll... say ah too..."

Her shyly opening mouth was like a baby bird.

I carefully speared an apple and brought it to her lips.

"Here, my Piarot senior. Ah~."

"Aaah..."

Crunch, crunch. She munched, cheeks puffing like a hamster.

Too happy...

Is this married life? Peaceful afternoon, warm sunlight. And my lovely girl.

I wished this moment lasted forever.

Then mischief flickered in Piarot's eyes again.

"Evan."

"Yes?"

"Say... you love me."

"I love you, Piarot senior."

Instant reply. No hesitation, not even a second.

She burst into "Heehee..." giggles at the confession.

But.

......?

Her laughing eyes suddenly calmed, sinking deep.

"Evan..."

"Yes, senior."

"Stand up."

Pop. My body sprang up like a spring, against my will.

"Sit."

Thud. My butt hit the chair like a magnet.

Haha, she can joke like this now. She's so much brighter.

I was thrilled by her change.

"Ah......"

A sigh like a lament escaped her lips.

She stared up at me blankly.

"Evan..."

"Yes."

"Massage... my shoulders..."

"Yes, as you command."

I stood exaggeratedly, playing along.

Hm? Why's her face like that? Feeling bad for bossing me around?

Her expression was oddly stiff, but I brushed it off.

Couldn't miss a skinship chance like this.

Whistling internally, I circled behind her.

Evan stood and moved behind Piarot.

Soon, warm, large hands touched her shoulders.

The kneading of her knotted muscles was tender, like a lover's touch.

But Piarot couldn't feel the warmth.

Her mind flashed white.

No way...

It was just a playful command.

A command she'd hoped he'd resist.

But he reacted like a machine. No resistance, no questions.

Absolute obedience the instant his 'order' dropped.

The implication was clear.

He's... under my Charm!!

Piarot's red eyes shook violently, like an earthquake.