10:15 AM
I just returned to my room when I receive a message from Mary.
- Tomorrow, we meet in my office at 10:00. -
- Ok Boss. -
Thinking about it, something about her doesn't convince me. The way she spoke implies she knows the "truth" written on those papers. It's as if she has evidence, despite wanting to prove the opposite. Ahhh, it gives me a headache to think about it.
....
1:00 PM
The rain has stopped outside.
What will I eat today?
Let's see what GoodYoueat restaurant has to offer.
Mmmmh, they have meat cannelloni. I haven't tried them in this world, so I buy three portions.
I set the table and await the blessing.
My phone vibrates.
- Where are you? -
It's Leya.
- I'm in my room. About to have lunch. -
- Food of the Gods? -
- Yes 🤤, where are you? -
- Went to the gym with the others. Heading to the refectory now. What did you buy? 🤔 -
- Meat cannelloni 🤤... Just arrived. -
- What are those? Why are you eating without me? 😢 -
- *Picture of the cannelloni* -
- 😩 -
- Don't make that face; you can order them too. -
She doesn't reply.
I put the phone down and start eating.
The first bite is heaven. It's been years since I had them, so delicious!
In about ten minutes, I've finished two portions; I'll save the third for tonight.
My phone vibrates again.
Leya sent another message.
- *Picture of Leya eating the cannelloni* -
- 🤤 -
....
4:00 PM
I went to the gym to train. I plan to use the training room that allows me to fight monsters. It's similar to the Virtual Room but only creates monsters, not environments. The space inside is much more limited, around a square kilometer.
Before entering, I have to input some information on a monitor to choose the monsters. You can select from various basic categories: zombies, demonic wolves, giant spiders, giant lizards, demonic tigers, demonic bears. I choose all of them, setting their strength to 50% of their real capabilities.
Needless to say, the pain threshold is at a minimum. Once I die in this room, I'll be thrown out unharmed. I prefer not to experience it again, but I'm confident I'll survive. Training with Koto has made me stronger compared to a month ago.
'I will win.' With the sword in my right hand, I enter.
....
4:15 PM
I get thrown out.
The worst experience ever: Those monsters cooperated.
The wolf made me lose balance while the tiger seized the opportunity to bite my right arm. Panicking, I didn't see the bear behind me and ended up giving him a leg. The spider trapped me with its webs, forcing me to watch the lizard feast on my remaining limbs. Finally, the zombie started biting me until I died.
I head to the changing rooms, disheartened. These battles made me realize something: if I faced the Darkness demon, I would die 100%. I can't even imagine how I could imprison him in my current state.
I'm slow, predictable, and lack technique. Before I could even use the Prison Sphere, I'd be dead.
I sit on a bench.
The Darkness demon: the first real major threat in this story. A demon in human form, with reasoning. A monster among monsters.
Before the big event, it had already killed about ten cadets. The chances of it targeting Leya and me should be low, but not zero. Why kill us? If it killed those extras in the original story, why would it change targets now? It wouldn't make sense.
I just hope that's the case...
No one has bought my demon flesh yet, so I don't know how to defend Leya and me if, for some reason, it attacks us now. Should I lower the selling price? Mmmh... I'll wait a few more days.
"Heheheheh" Ah... Just the thought of receiving 60 million stark sends me into ecstasy.
"Why are you so happy, assistant instructor?" Koto's voice interrupts me.
"Don't call me that; I'm not proud of it."
"Why not? That way you can also be close to M-A-R-Y."
Now he even spells it out.
"Shall we go train? I've already done a bit of warm-up." Although, more than a warm-up, I was raped in that room.
He looks at me, smiling, then reveals: "But I won't go easy on you."
I nod.
Koto is indeed the protagonist... He managed to hold off that demon. When he heard about the attack, he rushed to help the older cadets and instructors, facing the demon in complete darkness... A monster! Once higher-ranked Heroes arrived, the Darkness demon fled, realizing it couldn't kill them.
....
6:00 PM
I return to my room, exhausted. I feel like I've been hit in the head with a sledgehammer.
I flop onto the armchair and rest for a moment before taking a bath.
I grab my phone and notice Leya sent another message.
- When can I come? -
She sent it an hour ago.
- I'll wash up soon. You can come in half an hour. -
I go to fill the tub.
....
10:30 PM
After having dinner together, we sit on the armchair to watch a movie.
It's spacious enough for both of us to sit comfortably, even now that she's recovered.
Suddenly, she looks away from the TV, gazes at me with a serious expression, then exclaims: "Assistant instructor."
Now she's doing it too?
I pinch her cheek.
"Ouch, ouch, sorry."
Her cheek is very soft, but I won't bother her further, reluctantly withdrawing my hand.
Why do I feel the desire to touch her?
Shit... I sigh, realizing I'm truly in love now...
"Why are you sighing?"
"The movie doesn't convince me. Too little action, what do you think?" I reply, trying to sound as natural as possible.
"We're already halfway; maybe it gets better towards the end... But if you prefer, we can watch another one." She stretches towards me, trying to grab the remote on my right.
The scent of her hair fills my nostrils, and almost as if my body is controlled by someone else, I bring both my hands to her cheeks, starting to caress them.
She remains bewildered, looking at me. Her confused and surprised face makes me feel tender.
"Ban... What are you doing?" Her voice is very low, almost a whisper.
I want to kiss her.
I slowly bring her closer to me, making my intentions clear.
She's not resisting, and I don't know if it's because she agrees or if she still needs to process what's happening.
Our lips are just a few centimeters away; the closer they get, the more I feel like losing control.
I look at her face and notice she closed her eyes... At this point, there's no need to think anymore.
I press my lips against hers, and we kiss.
"BOOOOOOM"
After just a few seconds, a violent explosion interrupts us. Leya gets scared and, in an attempt to get up, accidentally headbutts me, hurting herself in the process.
I place a hand on my throbbing forehead.
"Ahah" I let out a brief laugh.
I glance at Leya on my left; she's moved away a bit, massaging her head.
"Not a bad movie then." I say, watching the explosion generated by an atomic bomb.
She also turns her gaze to the movie, then looks at me embarrassed.
She covers her mouth in disbelief and says:"Y-You...kissed me!?"
Her stunned expression makes me want to tease her: "What? I didn't do anything; you came closer."
I respond with a faint smile, trying to stay as serious as possible.
"But... Why did you do it?"
This time, I approach her. Her gaze becomes increasingly embarrassed.
She doesn't seem to have any intention of pulling away, so I bring my lips closer to hers, close my eyes, and kiss her even more intensely than before.
"Now I've kissed you, so we're even."
Her happy and embarrassed look makes me feel good. It's like she's spreading honey on my soul.
She brings her hands back to her lips. Her expression seems to say 'Why did you do it again?'
I lean against the back of the chair, looking at her.
I never thought something like this would happen to me... in a world taken from a story.
"I think I love you." I confess.
She remains silent and motionless, almost fossilized.
At that moment, a doubt arises: does she feel the same way? She showed affection, but what if she considers me only as a brother?
"I love you too." Her voice, clear as water, dispels any doubt.
I approach her again, this time to hug her.
I speak softly into her ear:"In the future, I might hug or kiss you when you least expect it. I'll try not to do it too often, although I can't guarantee it, okay?"
She returns my hug.
I give her a kiss on the neck.
"Ah! You're tickling me!"
"Hehe... Get used to these surprise attacks."
....
1:30 AM
Leya sleeps by my side, but I can't fall asleep because something worries me.
...
Will I be arrested? In this world, adulthood is reached at 20, and Leya is still a minor...
...
I feel a real chill in my wrists.
...
I turn to look at her.
As long as I stick to cuddling, it's okay, right?
After clarifying things with myself, I also drift off to sleep.