"That concludes the roll call for today. You've all worked hard," the dorm supervisor announced. As soon as her words fell, the students scattered—some heading straight to bed, others lingering for late-night chats with friends. Meanwhile, in my room, Yuri had just arrived.
She walked in wearing comfortable pajamas—long sleeves and pants made of soft, breathable fabric—and carried only a pillow. The moment I let her inside, she beamed at me with a wide, bashful smile.
"Feels like old times... hehe," she giggled as she made her way to my bed and promptly flopped down, rolling around as if trying to claim it.
"Hmm~ So this is your bed, Elys~"
"Yuri, it's the same bed as yours," I pointed out dryly. There was no difference between the beds in our single rooms unless you counted the occasional sheet change. The academy wasn't exactly lavish enough to provide unique furniture for each student. But Yuri didn't seem to care. She continued to squirm and roll around, clearly enjoying herself.
"But~ it feels more comfortable than mine~" she replied, still in her own little world.
Watching her act like that made me feel a bit embarrassed. After all, having another girl roll around on your bed is... something. But seeing how much fun she was having, I didn't bother stopping her. Instead, I focused on tidying up my desk and preparing for the study session.
After a few minutes of rolling around, Yuri finally seemed satisfied. She lay sprawled across my bed for a moment before taking a deep breath and sitting up.
"All charged up! Alright, let's start," she announced enthusiastically.
Charged up? I thought back to earlier when Yuri had spaced out while helping me study. It seemed she was more tired than I initially thought. I hadn't realized tutoring me took such a toll on her. She sat down beside me, pulling her chair closer. As she did, I caught the faint scent of soap and fresh linen from her recently washed hair.
"So, where were we?" Yuri asked, flipping through her notes.
"We finished the basics. Now it's time for the application section," I replied.
Sure enough, the application part of the textbook was filled with practical problems and examples, much more complex than the earlier sections.
"But don't worry," Yuri smiled reassuringly. "You've got the basics down, so this shouldn't be too hard."
"That's only because you explained everything so clearly," I said, trying to hide my relief.
"Hehe~" Yuri giggled softly at the compliment, clearly in a good mood tonight. Her mood was infectious.
"Well, I'm counting on you for the rest, Sensei!" I joked, bowing dramatically toward her.
"Of course! Let's get started," she replied with a playful smile, matching my energy.
And with that, we resumed our study session. Yuri was as patient as ever, guiding me through the problems step by step. She showed me not only how to solve them but also how to approach them with caution, offering tips from her own experience. Her teaching method was gentle yet thorough, and thanks to her help, I finally felt like I had caught up with my math lessons.
By the time we wrapped up, I felt confident enough to tackle the rest of the subject on my own with some practice.
I stood up and made my way to the small fridge that came with every dorm room. The academy might be expensive, but at least they provided certain amenities like these.
"You must be thirsty after all that talking. Want something to drink?" I asked, pulling out a carton of milk. The fridge didn't have much—just some water, milk, and a few bottles of coffee.
"Should I warm it up for you?" I offered. I'd heard somewhere that warm milk helps with sleep.
"Sure, that sounds nice," Yuri agreed with a smile.
I poured us both some milk and gently warmed it, making sure it wasn't too hot. After pouring it into cups, I handed one to Yuri and sat back down.
"Thanks for all your help today," I said sincerely.
"It's nothing, really. I'm sure you would've figured it all out on your own. You always do well in class anyway," Yuri replied, glancing down at her cup.
"It might seem that way, but honestly, it's tough to keep up sometimes. Especially after missing a week," I admitted. If it weren't for Yuri's help, I would've been stuck for days trying to catch up. I would've missed more hangouts and stressed myself out.
Yuri gave a small nod and sipped her milk, her expression turning a little more serious. "I'm glad I could help then... I always feel like you're helping me so much, but I never get the chance to return the favor."
Her voice was soft, and she stared into her cup as if it held all her thoughts. Sensing her change in mood, I finished my milk in one gulp, even though it was still a bit hot.
Without thinking, I stood up, moved behind her, and gently placed my hand on her head, pulling her into a soft hug. Maybe it was a little too intimate, but it felt like the right thing to do at that moment.
"You've helped me a lot today, Yuri. You're amazing in so many ways," I said, my voice soft as I stroked her hair.
For a moment, she remained silent, simply resting against me, her head tucked against my side.
"If you ever feel unsure or scared, just remember, I'm always here for you," I added, my voice barely a whisper.
Yuri didn't know that I wasn't the real Elysia. But that didn't mean the feelings between us weren't real. The kindness she'd shown me was more than I deserved. Even if I couldn't tell her the full truth, the least I could do was be genuine in moments like this.
After a few moments, Yuri inhaled deeply, exhaling with a soft "Phew~."
"Heeyah?!"
Startled by the sudden breath against my skin, I jumped slightly, making Yuri giggle. She looked up at me, her usual smile back on her face.
"All charged up again!" she declared with a wink.
What exactly are you charging, Yuri?
"Don't forget your promise. You'll always be on my side, right? I'll remember that whenever things get tough," she said with a bright smile.
"As long as it helps you, I'll be here," I reassured her, mirroring her smile.
Yuri finished her milk, stretched, and stood up. It was getting late, and we both needed to get some sleep.
"Alright, let's get ready for bed," she said, putting her cup down.
I pulled out an extra blanket and spread it out on the floor. It was standard dorm fare, but I wasn't one to be picky. My assassin training had taught me to sleep anywhere, though I'd much rather sleep on a blanket than the cold floor.
As I was setting up, Yuri tilted her head, clearly confused.
"Elys?" she asked.
"Yeah?" I responded.
"Why are you setting up on the floor?"
"Huh?" It took me a second to realize what she was asking. Was she upset I was taking the blanket instead of the bare floor? No, that couldn't be it...
"I thought we'd sleep in the same bed?" Yuri asked, blinking innocently.
"Ah..."
For a moment, I froze. Of course, to Yuri, this was completely normal. We were both girls, after all. But I still had my memories of being a guy. Sharing a room was already nerve-wracking enough. Sharing a bed? I might not survive the night!
I scrambled to come up with an excuse. "W-Well, I move a lot in my sleep. You wouldn't be able to rest if we shared the bed. I wouldn't want to keep you up all night."
Yuri looked at me skeptically. "I don't mind! I toss and turn a lot too."
"No, really! My sleep-tossing is... intense. You're my guest, so you should take the bed. I'll be fine here."
I practically begged her to take the bed, and after a moment of hesitation, she finally relented.
"Okay... I really wanted to sleep next to you like old times," she muttered, pouting as she grabbed my pillow off the floor.
"But I'm still taking your pillow. I like hugging something when I sleep!" she declared, holding my pillow close like a treasured possession.
That was fine by me. I had plenty of spare pillows anyway.
Once Yuri was settled in, I turned off the lights and crawled into the blanket on the floor. The heated floor kept things warm enough, so I didn't mind.
As I got comfortable, Yuri spoke up again. "You know, this reminds me of when we were kids... You probably don't remember, but I used to love sleeping next to you."
Her voice was soft and a little wistful. She thought I'd forgotten those memories because of the demon attack and the trauma that followed. Little did she know, I had never actually lived those memories in the first place.
"Why don't you tell me about it?" I suggested. "Maybe hearing about the past will jog my memory."
Of course, I knew I wouldn't remember anything, but hearing her talk might help ease some of the sadness I heard in her voice.
Yuri smiled, her tone a bit brighter as she began recounting stories of our—Elysia's—childhood. She spoke of times we'd gotten into trouble in the woods, how we'd pranked Elysia's younger brother, and how she would often whine to her older brother.
Though none of the stories were mine, I listened carefully, slowly feeling my eyes grow heavy.
* * * *
I woke up to the warm sunlight streaming through the window and the faint sound of birds chirping outside. Normally, I relied on my alarm to wake me, but today I'd woken up a little earlier than usual.
I tried to get up, but something was holding me down.
Groggily, I glanced down at my body and saw... an arm?
I blinked in confusion. Was I still dreaming?
No... That was definitely a person's arm.
?????
As I looked more closely, I realized the arm was wrapped around me, and as I traced it up to its source, I saw Yuri sleeping beside me.
"Ah!"
I jerked back, fully awake now. Why was Yuri sleeping next to me? She had been in the bed when I fell asleep, right?
Did I end up climbing into the bed with her? No... I was still on the floor. The pillow and blanket were right where I'd left them. Then how did Yuri end up here?
I glanced down at her peaceful sleeping face. She looked so content, holding onto me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
...Had she crawled down here at some point in the night? I couldn't remember hearing or feeling her move.
Slowly, I tried to free myself from her grip, but every time I moved, she tightened her hold on me, making it impossible to escape.
Her scent filled my nose, and I felt my face flush. Great, now I'm the one being weird. What kind of pervert notices something like that at a time like this?
As I lay there, trapped in place, the alarm finally rang out, filling the room with its loud, cheerful chime.
Ding ding ding~ Good morning~♪
The sound must have woken Yuri because she stirred, stretching slightly before opening her eyes halfway. Her sleepy gaze met mine.
"Hehe~ Good morning, Elys~" she mumbled, still holding me tightly.
"G-Good morning..." I replied, unsure of what else to say.
Yuri yawned, squeezing me one last time before finally releasing me and sitting up.
"Charged up and ready for the day~!" she chirped, her usual bright smile back in place.
As she stood up and stretched, I finally managed to pull myself to my feet. My body was stiff from sleeping on the floor, but I'd survive.
"Hey, Yuri... Why were you sleeping on the floor with me?"
"Hmm~? I don't know! I guess I just ended up there," she said with a shrug, looking genuinely puzzled.
But her smile was as bright as ever. Whatever had happened, she didn't seem to mind at all.
"Well, I should get ready for class. See you later, Elys!" Yuri waved as she left.
As she walked away, I noticed something strange. The pillow she was holding...
Wait. That's my pillow, isn't it?