Chapter 23
The streets of Star City basked under a bright sun, the kind of cheerful weather that made the air hum with life. Shops and stalls lined the way, their aromas alone enough to set mouths watering. Students clustered in groups here and there, chatting animatedly with friends. And weaving through them all was a pair so awkwardly stiff that anyone watching would have held their breath—a guy and a girl walking side by side on their way back to the dorms. Me and Dina.
Sweat beaded on my forehead, trickling down my cheek. It was insanely awkward, but in a way, this might actually be a good thing for me. She was the protagonist of this world, after all. An opportunity like this—to be alone with her—didn't come often. I had to use it to get a little closer. Befriending her would boost my survival odds.
What, we'd been alone plenty of times before, so why the sudden nerves? Have you ever tried dealing with a drop-dead gorgeous girl whose soul is that of a guy? No? Then shut up.
...I have no clue how to even approach her.
I stole a glance at Dina. Her face was shadowed, dark. Unless my [Intuition] was broken—which it wasn't—she was definitely hyper-aware of me. But I couldn't for the life of me figure out why.
Does she just hate my guts that much?
That didn't fit, though. The emotions rolling off her were a chaotic mess—shifting from one thing to another. Whether it was dislike or interest, nothing stuck long enough to read. And her being the TS protagonist sure didn't help.
First things first—break the ice?
I cleared my throat with a deliberate ahem. I could feel her scattered attention snap to me.
"Um..."
I barely got the word out before Dina shot me a razor-sharp glare. That look alone felt like a knife to the gut. I snapped my mouth shut.
Yeah, better just stay quiet!
One more word, and she'd probably murder me. My goal was survival, not a grave. Right.
Endless silence stretched on again. Maybe because the dorms were a ways from the main streets, the crowds thinned out until it was just us two. The only sounds were our footsteps crunching on the dirt path. I'd half-zoned out in numb resignation when—
"Hey."
She spoke up out of nowhere. I flinched hard, startled.
"Y-Yeah?"
She hesitated, like she was mulling it over.
"That... red-haired woman you were with all day."
Ah. Was that it? Maybe she just wanted to get close to Scarlett, and seeing me buddying up to her had her on edge?
So all those sharp stares were jealousy over my friendship with Scarlett.
Fair enough. Scarlett had looked pretty badass taking on that demon one-on-one during the entrance ceremony test. I decided to play matchmaker and introduce them properly. In Another World, Scarlett was one of the girls constantly chasing Dina around, so she'd probably love getting chummy.
"Scarlett? The one with the zweihänder?"
"Yeah, her. Um, by any chance..."
"You've got a thing for Scarlett, huh! She's super nice, you know? Total justice freak—runs to save a friend in trouble without a second thought. And she's got this puppy-dog side that's just adorable!"
"Huh?"
"Get this—she decided to become a knight because she hated seeing people get hurt in wars. Isn't that the sweetest?"
"......"
Man, Scarlett owed me big time. I was singing her praises to Dina like a hype man.
You better thank me later. For real.
I'd even spilled some Another World trivia without thinking... but whatever. It wasn't a major spoiler.
Still, Dina's expression seemed to darken even more.
Whoops. She's jealous, alright.
Another World hammered home her possessive streak. Probably hated seeing someone else cozying up to her Scarlett.
How to smooth this over? Play it down, say we weren't that close? I opened my mouth to backpedal, but she beat me to it.
"...You two seem really close."
I wanted to say no, we weren't—but after hyping her up like that, it'd sound fishy.
"Yeah, pretty good friends."
Dina shot me a side-eye and let out a smug little "Hmph."
Was she plotting my demise?
"How close, exactly?"
No point dodging now. Honesty it was.
"Close enough that if Scarlett were in danger, I'd run to save her."
Not a lie. Sure, it was just an illusionary entrance test, but she was the first comrade I'd trusted my back to in a fight. And she didn't even know it was a test...
She thought her life was on the line and still charged in with me.
Her combat skills weren't top-tier yet, but right now? Scarlett was the one I trusted most. If she'd risked her life for me, no way I'd hesitate to do the same.
Not that I'll let her get in danger in the first place.
Dina stared at me hard for a moment. She looked even more upset, somehow...
"...So, when did you two meet?"
"Huh? Yesterday."
"...Yesterday?"
She blinked, baffled.
"Yeah, first time on the way to the entrance ceremony."
Her face darkened rapidly. If there was a difference from before...
What the hell? Why's she on the verge of tears?
Her expression was nearly blank, but my [Intuition]-boosted senses picked up the faint shift. Earlier it was mild anger; now it was... sadness? Hurt?
What'd I do wrong this time?
Nothing in that last bit seemed tear-worthy.
"...I forgot something. You go ahead."
And with that, she turned and headed back the way we'd come.
"...?"
Damn it, why's she acting so much like a real girl?
Reactions like that were alien to a hopeless singleton like me. No idea how to handle it.
Is she actually a girl? The acting's way too convincing.
With her skills, she could probably fool even my [Intuition]. Total munchkin.
Screw it. Head back and crash.
We had S-Class supervision with her all week, but right now, I just wanted rest. My body felt like lead; even matching her pace had been torture. I dragged my weary legs back to the dorms.
*
Ughhh... this is so awkward.
It had happened a few times before, but walking alone with Siwoo was still mortifying. She wanted to talk, but nerves had her tongue-tied.
What do normal friends even chat about?
She longed for casual banter, but years without friends made it daunting. If only he'd start—but no, he was the one peeking at her, gauging her mood.
How much time passed like that? Then Siwoo spoke up.
"Um..."
She'd been so fixated on him that her body went rigid. She whipped her eyes toward him—and he clammed up.
That alone sent her inner world into chaos.
What was that? What was he gonna say?
No way to know, obviously. So she mustered her courage.
"Hey."
Her voice came out louder than expected; she flinched but played it cool.
"Yeah?"
His eyes met hers for a split second, and poof—whatever she'd meant to say vanished.
What was I gonna ask again?
Flustered, she blurted the thing that'd been nagging her all day.
"That... red-haired woman you were with."
Am I an idiot? Why bring her up now!
She inwardly cursed herself as Siwoo replied.
"Scarlett? The zweihänder user."
Scarlett, huh? Time to figure out what they are to each other.
"Yeah, her. Um, by any chance..."
She was about to probe their relationship when he cut in, unleashing a torrent of praise.
"You've got a thing for Scarlett, huh! She's super nice, you know? Total justice freak—runs to save a friend in trouble without a second thought. And she's got this puppy-dog side that's just adorable!"
Me, interested in some girl? And adorable?!
Did Siwoo already like Scarlett that much? No way. If they got together, her chances of getting close to him would tank. Approaching a taken guy? Unthinkable.
She'd never stoop that low, no matter how bad she wanted his friendship.
They can't be dating already... right?
"...You two seem really close."
"Yeah, pretty good friends."
No hesitation in his answer.
"Hmph..."
That response... maybe they're not together yet.
Still, better confirm.
"How close, exactly?"
"Close enough that if Scarlett were in danger, I'd run to save her."
Dina's head throbbed like she'd been struck. His words sounded like he'd gladly lay down his life for her—like a world without Scarlett held no value.
Already... loves her that much?
This might be a lost cause. No room for her.
One last question.
"...So, when did you two meet?"
His answer caught her off guard.
"Huh? Yesterday."
Yesterday? Not last year—yesterday?
He doubled down.
"Yeah, first time on the way to the entrance ceremony."
That thawed the ice creeping over her heart. For some reason, tears pricked her eyes.
"...I forgot something. You go ahead."
Dina fled Siwoo's presence, teleporting straight to her room. She face-planted into her pillow, sniffling as she thought.
...So they're not dating yet. Not officially.
If they were lovers, she'd back off. But if not...
"...Still safe to squeeze in."
There was still a chance to turn his heart her way.