It was the next day, which meant that there was a shift change for the Knights and Kapel. As expected, Captain Ryov and one other Knight entered the house early in the morning. Meanwhile, Kapel and Fron would return to the campsite which was just inside the plot of grassland just behind the Maladin household.
Garty left after her father came to pick her up with his car. She meekly waved at Zenover before getting in. Only after that did Jogrin remove the backpack and contact lenses.
Speaking of him, as usual, Jogrin was simply seated on the couch, seeming to be in his own world. Without bidding him farewell, Kapel and Fron left the house.
"Jogrin? It's me again. Um..." Captain greeted Jogrin, only to receive awkward silence in return.
"Captain Ryov is speaking to you! Show some respect!" The Knight that came with him yelled at Jogrin furiously.
"Kron, settle down and don't cause a scene." Captain Ryov put his hand on the shoulder of the Knight who was named Kron. It reminded Jogrin of someone who just left the house just now.
"Let me introduce him. The Knight that'll be accompanying us today is Kron Urta. He's the twin brother of Fron."
"Twin?" Jogrin finally spoke up after turning to take a look at Kron, but he wasn't able to see any resemblance since Kron kept his helmet on.
"Jogrin. I have to tell you to behave yourself under our presence. I heard that just yesterday you brewed up some kind of turmoil when you were out. Make sure you don't do that again."
Unlike Fron, Kron was a headstrong person, who expressed their opinions in a straightforward manner. While many might find his attitude irritating, that was how the supervisors should be acting in the first place. That was what Jogrin believed.
Contrary to his anticipation, Kapel wasn't all that strict with him. Kron, the Knight with a lower rank, acted more like how he expected Kapel to. Frankly speaking, Jogrin thought that the supervisors in the past two weeks were being too friendly with him. Not that he cared how they treated him, since he knew they wouldn't be like those other Darkians who saw him as nothing but a target of assault.
"Don't worry. As long as nothing comes up, I can just sit here all day long without moving a single millimeter." He expressed his honest opinion as well, but Kron thought that was a satire.
As he was about to retort, Captain held his hand in front of him to stop him.
"Please keep your voices down, and please get along. Jogrin, Kron might be blunt, but he's not a bad guy, same for you too, Kron. Please get along."
"If you say so, Captain Ryov."
"Sure."
Kron glared at Jogrin due to his curt reply, but managed to hold back. Just like that, another day started. After a few hours of nothing happening at all, the three siblings came downstairs one by one. It was glaringly obvious that Zanphia didn't get much sleep, as proven with the bags under her eyes, which looked worse than the ones she got previously.
Just like yesterday, the atmosphere between Zanphia and Zenover were the same, with Suzannia seeming more positive, but when she saw Zanphia, she became a little down again.
Jogrin and the two Knights didn't make any comments and only waited for them to leave for school. Knowing that they shouldn't pry into their privacy, Captain Ryov and Kron didn't attempt to pursue for answers from Jogrin who might've known what took place.
The reason that they didn't know about Zanphia's situation was because both Kapel and Fron made an agreement not to divulge anything, but they did disclose the fact that Jogrin was approached by the residents of the neighborhood. Perhaps Kron misunderstood it as Jogrin having caused a commotion, which explained his hostility earlier, but Jogrin didn't care enough to give an explanation about it.
Other than that, as well as occasional interactions with Proxer and Naytia, the day went by uneventfully, and Jogrin really just sat through the day like he told Kron, which actually left the latter a little impressed.
Eventually, evening arrived, and the three siblings returned home. From "emotional perception," it was clear to Jogrin that all three of them had been gloomy as soon as they entered its range. Their emotions didn't change for about half an hour until they reached home.
As soon as they reached the house, Zanphia headed for her room after briefly greeting Captain Ryov, Kron, and Jogrin with a smile, but it went without saying that that smile was fake. After Zenover and Suzannia dourly watched their sister go upstairs, they instantly shifted their attentions to Jogrin, who was sitting still.
"Jogrin..." After hesitating for a while, Zenover finally called out to Jogrin.
"I can't do anything to help you, or her." Without Zenover even saying what he wanted, Jogrin rejected to offer any help.
"Please Jogrin! You're my angel! Please!!!" Suzannia begged as she went to grab Jogrin, but since it was his right arm that she went for, Jogrin had to avoid it by leaning to his left, which made Suzannia begin to bawl.
Immediately, Jogrin reached out to pat her head with his left hand to calm her down.
"Sorry, it wasn't my intention to treat you like that, I just don't want you to come into contact with my right arm."
"Then that means I can still hug you?"
"... Just don't indulge yourself too much."
"Nn..."
Suzannia was expecting Jogrin to readily agree with it, but Jogrin refused to indulge her like Proxer always did. As he told Proxer before, she would never grow if this kept up.
"Jogrin, can you at least tell me why you won't help Zanphia?" Zenover, frustrated, asked.
Jogrin glanced at Kron, who showed a look of bewilderment before glaring back at him.
"Those girls from yesterday were interested in me for some reason, and when they saw Zanphia acting familiar with me, they got jealous and said those words."
Right after Jogrin finished, Captain Ryov choked on his on saliva and coughed loudly. He managed to cover his mouth and turn away, so props to him for that. He then looked at Jogrin and spoke up.
"W-wait... Jogrin, you didn't just say that, did you? I know you have a nice face and all, but aren't you getting full of yourself?"
"No? I described precisely what I picked up on with 'emotional perception.' My memory couldn't be wrong either. Is there a problem with that...? You can ask Kapel if you don't believe me."
"Actually, I think he's not wrong..." Zenover solemnly followed up on Jogrin's words when he recounted what came out of those girls' mouth yesterday. "But... what does that have to do with you not helping Zanphia...?"
"Well, think about it. If I get involved by standing on Zanphia's side, being blatantly against them, it would undoubtedly aggravate them even more. The consequence of that would be their words evolving into actions, and if I continue with that, their actions would get even more intense."
Zenover stayed silent for a few seconds, emotional pain written on his face for all to see.
"I guess... you're right."
"I can give you some advice on what you can do, however."
"What can I do?!" Zenover raised his voice at Jogrin, but the latter didn't mind it.
"Suzannia. Do you remember what you did to cheer up Kapel and Tyron?"
"Nn..."
"Then you know what you should do."
"I need to play with Zanphia...? Does she want to play with me?"
"She'll look like she's bored, or annoyed when you invite her... but don't be disheartened by that. By being persistent, perhaps... she'll open up to you eventually."
"Really?!"
"Well, it's worth a try. Zenover, you can join Suzannia, I suppose..."
"You don't sound certain about this." Zenover wondered if this would really work.
"Just from my personal experience. It was forced to come to an end before any 'opening u-'... Anyway, like I said, it's worth a try. Do you agree, Proxer and Naytia?"
"I should've expected to be found out..."
"I knew from the start, just didn't see the harm in letting you eavesdrop."
"'Emotional perception' huh?... I do think it might make her open up to us, so your Papa is counting on you, Suzannia."
"Me too!"
Proxer and Naytia encouraged Suzannia about the mission she was given, and she became pumped up with a scowl of determination.
'When I mentioned about "words evolving into actions," Zenover was filled with fear, and most of all... guilt. I see, it's already begun, likely even before my arrival. Now the next question is: since when did all this start?'
Jogrin cast his gaze on the black television again, and ignored everyone else who were present.