“It’s okay, just take a deep breath.”
I carefully sat Rin on the bed as I entered the room. Rin wrapped her hands around the marked parts, sweating and trying to calm her breathing.
While Rin was settling down, I turned on the mood light placed between the bed, just in case the basic light might not be enough.
As she closed her eyes and started to restrain her energy, Rin’s expression gradually relaxed, and the purple light of the imprint she was emitting began to fade.
Eventually, it completely lost its light and returned to its original state.
“Are you okay?”
“Uh-huh, I think I’m fine now.”
Wiping her sweat with the towel I handed her, Rin forced a smile as if to reassure me, even though she must have been the most scared and anxious one right now.
Her front buttons were undone, exposing her cleavage, and I immediately turned my head. I couldn’t casually let my eyes wander even if the important parts weren’t visible.
“It’s fine.”
Laughing with a half-hearted joke, Rin continued to wipe her sweat. It felt like it took longer than usual.
“But what was that just now? I’ve felt like someone else was interfering before, but never this clearly.”
“…Probably the God of Death.”
Or was it a Goddess, judging by the voice?
Still with my head turned away, I crossed my arms and sighed as I spoke.
“We should avoid any situation or place where that thing can intervene. It’s better to stay indoors at night.”
If we carelessly ventured into a place without light, risk losing our body would be the end. I thought Rin’s death would trigger the earliest apocalypse, however…
‘It might not just be that, considering what happened just now.’
If Rin’s death indeed connects to the beginning of the apocalypse, her gradual loss of her body to the God could also be one path to that beginning.
“However, this time felt a little different.”
“Different feeling?”
Curious about what she meant, I turned, but Rin hadn’t buttoned up yet, so I immediately turned back to my original position.
“In the past, when I was swayed by the imprint, it felt like a destructive instinct where all I wanted to do was smash everything and kill, but this time…”
“This time?”
As I pressed her for the continuation, Rin let out a breath like she was embarrassed and finally responded.
“Daniel, I wanted you.”
“…?!”
Without realizing it, I jerked my head around, only to quickly turn back because Rin was in her state as before.
“Come on! Button up a bit!”
Frustrated by the awkwardness of talking to the wall, I shouted, and I could hear Rin snickering.
“I was wondering when you’d say it.”
“Don’t tell me you were here!”
Just then, a girl suddenly kicked open the door and entered.
It was May Plov, with a candy in her mouth, bursting through the door, and the situation was bizarre.
Rin was redressing herself like after a clandestine operation, while I, feeling oddly shy, was turning red as well.
“Huh?”
The bold smile on May’s face turned to stone. I instantly realized she must have misunderstood something as I tried to say something, but Rin instead laughed and warned her.
“May, you need to knock when entering someone’s room. You surprised me. Daniel finished locking everything up.”
Rin spoke with a voice as smooth as a madam. I quickly turned, and she struck a relaxed pose with her legs crossed.
“Ah, uh… huh?”
May’s expression was one of complete shock, with her mouth agape. The candy in her mouth fell to the floor, perfectly reflecting her current sentiment.
Her bright pumpkin-colored eyes, wide open, darted back and forth between Rin and me, and then she clenched her fist and grabbed me by the collar.
“Get off!”
“Wha?!”
No way, this isn’t my usual image.
Before I could process her strange words, I heard Rin snickering from behind again. But that didn’t seem to matter to May at all.
With a face as red as a beet, she pushed me toward the bed as she tried to take off her hotel gown.
“Damn it! Your choice was a childhood friend? They say guys can’t forget their first love, is that it? I’ve been trying to give you space because of the elf, but you couldn’t hold back and started messing around with her?”
“Hey! Wait a minute! That’s not true!”
“Shut up! I’ve put up with it long enough! You jerk! I should’ve been your childhood friend!”
I could tell how genuine her shouts were from the tears welling in her eyes, causing Rin to rush over in a panic.
“Don’t make her fall for you if you’re not going to take responsibility!”
“Wait, Wait May! No! It was just a joke!”
“Shut up, you bastards! Was it good? Was it?!”
May’s scream echoed throughout Bairn. It took her a whole ten minutes to calm down, but thanks to that, the previously heavy atmosphere lightened up a bit.
Or did it get heavier?
“Sob.”
“Geez, Daniel can’t have forgotten Eris already. Right?”
“I know!”
May was embarrassed about showing her tears, so she yelled even louder. I subtly handed her a tissue that was lying around, and pretending not to notice, she naturally wiped her eyes.
“I won’t tell the kids.”
“If you do, we all die.”
If word got out that the back-alley queen of Aios Academy cried over a guy, her image would be ruined, not to mention the weirdos who’d swarm around.
“So, is it true that this one has the same weird marking that Ares has, making her end up becoming a bad person?”
May pulled out another candy from her pocket, making a sound as she popped it in her mouth. How many candies were in that pocket?
I wondered if it was okay to tell someone else.
‘But she’s someone I can trust enough.’
If it’s May, I can definitely trust her. Her loyalty runs deep, so while she may not be able to offer direct help, I was sure she would keep her mouth shut.
“Was that why you checked her chest? Daniel must’ve really had a hard time, looking at that flimsy girl’s stuff.”
“Wait, what does that mean? I can’t let that slide!”
Seemingly quite offended by what just happened, Rin reacted fiercely when May poked at the situation.
“Guess your eyes were spoiled by the elf and Eve, huh?”
“Don’t drag me into that filthy conversation.”
“That’s not something May should be saying!”
Rin complained, while May chuckled and leaped up.
“I’m still better than you, crazy girl.”
“Who cares when you always cover yourself in a hoodie!”
Hmm, I was feeling thirsty.
I was about to get up to get a drink when both of my thighs were grabbed by different hands.
“Decide!”
“Who are you?”
“…”
Not answering.
If I talked carelessly here, a bloodbath could happen with just a word.
However, the two stunning girls, used to attracting attention from guys, quickly read my expression.
Their reactions were a mix of joy and bitterness.
“This guy’s eyes are wandering!”
“Ha, just like Daniel.”
As May lunged forward, Rin nodded with a satisfied smile.
Once again, I had no choice but to waste some time trying to stop May.
*
It was late enough into the night that it was almost morning.
As the disturbance from the students faded, the door opened and a pair of students walked in a bit more forcefully.
“Ugh, mmm.”
The two students, fiercely exploring each other’s lips, entered the warm room from the cold outside, continuing their passionate kiss.
“Phew, let’s grab what we need and go.”
As Ares whispered quietly, Arni Duratan nodded with a disappointed expression.
They originally planned to head to Arni’s room, but just stopped by to grab the clothes Ares would be changing into tomorrow.
Arni’s room was empty, as she had asked her roommate to vacate it. The two had spent longer outside than they thought and wanted to jump back in bed for more love.
“But thinking about who might be there gives me a little thrill.”
Arni chuckled, hiding her face and laughing. Though her eyes hadn’t adjusted to the darkness, Ares showed a similar response to his girlfriend.
“Thank goodness Daniel is asleep. If not…”
“Dad doesn’t sleep.”
With a click, the mood light beside the bed turned on, revealing me lying down, watching the two.
And also, May and Rin appeared as they pulled back the blanket from the opposite bed.
“Wow, I thought I was watching a play.”
May applauded, laughing as she witnessed the intense kissing scene.
“Ares, congratulations! The townsfolk will be thrilled!”
Rin also clapped her hands, but not mockingly, genuinely congratulating him.
Ares and Arni’s faces turned bright red as they fumbled to explain themselves, but the truth remained that they were the ones who enjoyed intense skinship in the room I was sleeping in.
Ultimately, trying to keep quiet, the two were hastily plotting to escape, but I’m afraid today wouldn’t be a heated night for them.
“Wait up. I have something to say.”
“…Something to say?”
Ares looked flustered, having not expected me to bring them to a halt. I pointed at him, more precisely at the marking drawn on his hand.
“I’m talking about that.”
