8 - As Planned

"There, all done!!"

I piled a generous helping of golden curry over a steaming bowl of freshly cooked rice. On the side, a crisp salad bursting with fresh texture. A perfect meal.

"Whoa... Evan, it smells amazing!"

She picked up her spoon in awe, and with every bite, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.

"It's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so good!! How are you this good at cooking?"

"Haha, I work at the cafeteria, y'know? This is basic stuff for me."

Who knew the tear-soaked experience of a work-study student would shine like this? The meal wrapped up in the warmest atmosphere imaginable. Before she could say a word, I beat her to it.

"I'll handle the dishes."

"No..."

"In exchange! You gotta go on that date we promised, right?"

Her face flushed as she fidgeted, then shyly nodded. 'Perfect. Right on plan.'

I whistled a little tune while knocking out the dishes, then opened the fridge. It was stuffed to the brim with supplies. This'll easily last four days.

'The real challenge is convincing the professor.'

That strategy I'd cooked up during Sage Time had to work.

"Evangeline sunbae, let's head out."

I shook off the stray thoughts and led her outside.

Crunch, crunch. We strolled down the quiet forest path behind the old annex. I wanted to take her to the bustling streets, but it was too soon. Sudden changes were poison to a shut-in like her. Expose her to too much light, and she might stress out and hole up again.

'One ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠step at a time... nice and slow.'

Just getting her outside was a massive win today. Next up: the self-esteem recovery project. I launched a barrage of compliments.

"Sunbae, that stew you gave me yesterday? Absolute gold. I could feel all the love poured into it."

"R-Really...? It didn't taste weird?"

"Nah, good medicine's always bitter. Thanks to you, I'm feeling like a tiger now."

She smiled shyly at my teasing. 'Good, next compliment.'

"And your heart's so kind, too. What other noble looks out for a commoner like me? You're an angel without wings."

"B-But... I almost cost you your life..."

Her face darkened in an instant.

"Huh? I'm alive and kicking right now, aren't I?"

"But... I stole your skill, too..."

Here we go again with the guilt trip.

"Thanks to that, we both survived. That's all that matters to me."

"E-Evan..."

She looked up at me with eyes full of emotion and regret. Ugh, the mood got heavy fast. Time for a pivot. I put on my best "world's so unfair" face and shouted.

"Man, this is seriously unfair!"

"Huh? W-What's unfair?"

"You got your ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hair trimmed today, and you're this pretty! It's a crime that only I'm getting to see it!"

"N-No, someone like me..."

"Sunbae, have you looked in a mirror? I thought a forest fairy was walking around. For real."

I drove it home. "I'd grab a megaphone and shout it from the rooftops if I could. 'Our sunbae's this gorgeous! The whole world needs to see!!'"

"Ughhh..."

With every word, her head drooped lower. Her ears turned beet red from embarrassment, but she didn't seem to hate it.

'Yeah, little by little like this...'

Swish—

A breeze rustled her neatly tied black hair. It carried her scent right to me—a dangerous mix of lemon and soap that shook my reason to its roots.

And it wasn't just my reason shaking.

'...Ahem.'

I hadn't noticed sitting at home. But with every step, faithfully obeying gravity, her... heart(?) was so lovely. Those hefty chest mittens jiggled in time with her footsteps. Even that baggy shirt couldn't hide their overwhelming presence. My eyes kept getting sucked in. Instinct. Total force majeure.

"Evan?"

Was I too obvious? She whipped her head around. I jolted and locked eyes with her.

"Y-Yeah? What's up?"

Look at the person, not the chest. If she caught me now, charm or no charm, a fireball to the face would be fair game. I might actually die this time.

She smiled faintly. "Nothing... just, thank you so much today, Evan."

"No biggie."

I wiped cold sweat and answered from the heart. "Compared to the grace you've shown me, Evangeline sunbae, this is nothing."

"Still..."

True story. If I had to pick between infinite regression and my little clone, it'd be the clone every time. She'd basically saved my soul. Proud son of the land of manners and gratitude here—repay kindness with kindness.

"Hmm... if it's weighing on you that much, can I ask one favor?"

"Sure! Anything!"

Her eyes went wide, and she nodded eagerly. I paused for effect, then grabbed her slender wrist.

"...!"

Her body flinched. The wrist in my grip was so fragile. No wonder I worried.

"Please eat your meals on time."

"...Huh?"

"Skip like this, and you'll collapse for real. I'm begging you."

"Ah......"

She stared up at me blankly. Not what she expected, huh? She bowed her head and murmured softly.

"...Okay."

Only then did I let go. Her cool, soft touch lingered on my fingertips.

"S-Sorry. I just... did it without thinking."

"N-No, it's fine..."

But don't forget—that slender arm packs [A-] strength.

Whooo—

A chill evening wind blew through the trees. The sun was dipping low.

"Getting cold. Shall we head back?"

"Yeah."

We walked side by side to the old annex. At the entrance, she gripped the doorknob, hesitating like she didn't want it to end.

"Go on in. You'll catch a cold."

"...Evan."

"Yeah?"

"Be safe... getting home."

She waved shyly. I started to say goodbye, then remembered something.

"Oh, sunbae. One more favor?"

"Huh? Sure, what is it?"

I put on a grave face. "Can I... borrow your name around the academy?"

"...Huh? My name?"

Her eyes went wide. Yeah, who else asks permission to straight-up name-drop like this? She stared blankly for a sec, then smiled faintly and nodded.

"It's fine. If it's you, Evan."

"Thanks for trusting me. Leave it to me."

I flashed a thumbs-up with total confidence.

Click.

The door shut, and I skipped lightly out of the forest.

'Phew... hope it works.'

Weekends are sweet honey for work-study kids too. But I was up at dawn, threw on my work clothes, and headed to the 2nd Cafeteria.

"Oh? Evan? Isn't today your day off?"

The nutritionist auntie blinked in surprise.

"Felt bad about ditching Friday. Figured you could use the extra hands."

"Oh my, what a good boy."

I grabbed a knife with practiced ease. Tat-tat-tat—! Mooli and potatoes dismantled at artistic speed under my hands. Century-honed knife skills.

"Goodness, look at those fast hands."

"Such a hard worker."

The kitchen vibe was different. Back then, they'd wrinkle their noses like, "Ugh, why's the stinky kid here?" But now?

"Evan, try this. Freshly fried potatoes."

"Thanks, auntie."

Sweet. This is the taste of goodwill.

'Ugh... finally.'

Tears welled up. The "disgust filter" around me was gone. Now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I was finally treated like a person.

Riding the momentum, I unleashed my century of social skills. I broke down the aunties'—the kitchen's info hub—guards and casually dropped bait.

"Hey auntie, about Evangeline sunbae living in the old annex..."

"Huh? That witch girl?"

"Yeah. Any incidents? Everyone seems scared of her..."

The aunties' voices dropped conspiratorially.

"Shh, don't even say it. Back at the start of the semester two years ago..."

I peeled potatoes while perking up my ears.

'So that's what happened.'

Monday morning. I used my free period to knock on the door of the work-study overseer professor's office.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

Professor Werner, the overseer, didn't look up from his papers, sounding annoyed.

"Evan. Our deal was just helping with your department transfer, right?"

"How could I forget."

Evan was a knight-aspirant. By the ending, he was strong enough to have my back. But pre-possession, he'd abruptly switched to the magic department. Risking blackmail on Werner's weakness, no less.

'Evan... what the hell were you up to?'

I loaded my voice with emotion. "I'm here for a consultation today."

Werner finally looked up.

"Friday... during summoning practice, Evangeline—that witch sunbae—dragged me off. S-Sob..."

"Uh... yeah, I heard rumors. What happened?"

"Wah... hick. H-Human experimentation... wah."

"H-Human experimentation?!!"

His glasses slipped down his nose.

"Yeah. They drew my blood... fed me mystery drugs... ugh-sob."

Not a lie. Got blood-sucked and ate mandragora stew, after all.

"And all weekend—cleaning, cooking, hauling stuff... treated like a slave."

"Hmm..."

"Had to no-show Friday lunch shift because of it. Wasn't my choice. Any way to fix the attendance?"

"W-Well... fine. Special circumstances, I'll let it slide."

Werner stroked his chin, looking troubled. She was the daughter of the Evangeline marquess house. Even a tenured professor like him found her untouchable—scary, even.

Now's the time. I sniffled and hammered it home.

"But... she keeps calling me back. Says come every morning to make breakfast..."

"What?"

"Isn't this a clear violation of academy rules? Using a student as a personal servant! Professor, just say one word to her! This is unfair!!"

"Wh-What!?"

Werner's face went pale. 'You want me to march into that witch's den and complain?'

I knew the rumors. You guys are the ones who chased Evangeline sunbae out of the cafeteria. Can't pick a fight over meals now.

He groaned forever, then gave the expected answer.

"No... forget it. You've had it rough."

"Huh?"

"If I step in... it could blow up. Bad for the school to feud with a marquess house."

He pulled out a paper and started writing.

"Here's the deal. I'll appoint you as Evangeline's 'dedicated assistant.'"

"D-Dedicated?"

"Yeah. Cut the cafeteria and cleaning duties. Just go there, butter her up. Easier for both of us, right?"

"P-Professor!!"

"That's settled."

I shuffled out like the world had ended.

"Tsk tsk, poor kid. How'd he end up marked by the witch..."

His low mutter chased me as the door shut.

Thud.

The second it closed, I smirked wickedly.

'Right on plan.'