The next few weeks were a whirlwind of awkward adjustments and forced coexistence. Albedo's disdain for humans—and her unwavering devotion to Ainz—made progress slow, but Aoyama wasn't one to give up easily. Despite her cold demeanor, he started to notice moments when her icy facade cracked, revealing hints of vulnerability.
---
One evening, Aqua and Aoyama sat on the couch, watching a cheesy rom-com Aqua had insisted on. Albedo, who had claimed the armchair as her throne, was trying her best to ignore the movie while scrolling through her phone—a habit she had reluctantly adopted in this new world.
"This is absurd," Albedo muttered as the lead characters shared a dramatic kiss in the rain. "No one acts like this."
"You're just saying that because you've never been in love," Aqua teased, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Albedo stiffened, her golden eyes narrowing. "How dare you! I am deeply, madly in love—with Lord Ainz!"
Aqua raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And how's that working out for you, considering you're stuck here?"
Albedo glared at Aqua, her fists clenched, but said nothing. Aoyama quickly stepped in, sensing the tension.
"All right, that's enough," he said. "Let's not start World War III over a movie."
Albedo huffed, crossing her arms. "This world is insufferable."
"And yet, here you are," Aqua said with a smirk.
---
The next day, Aoyama decided to try a different approach. He waited until Albedo returned from her shift at the supermarket—still fuming about an unpleasant customer—and offered her a cup of tea.
"What's this?" Albedo asked suspiciously, eyeing the cup.
"Tea," Aoyama said, setting it on the table. "You looked like you needed it."
"I don't need anything from you," Albedo snapped, but she sat down and picked up the cup anyway.
They sat in silence for a while, the tension between them palpable. Finally, Aoyama spoke.
"You know," he said, his tone casual, "I get that you miss your world. Your friends. Ainz. It must be hard."
Albedo's grip on the cup tightened. "You can't possibly understand what it means to serve someone as perfect as Lord Ainz. He is everything. My purpose. My life."
Aoyama nodded slowly. "Maybe. But it seems to me like you're more than just a servant. You're smart, capable, and... maybe even a little kind, when you let yourself be."
Albedo blinked, clearly caught off guard by the compliment. She looked away, her cheeks faintly tinged with pink. "You're delusional."
"Maybe," Aoyama said with a shrug. "But I mean it."
For a moment, Albedo said nothing, her gaze fixed on the steaming tea. Then, almost imperceptibly, she muttered, "Thank you."
---
That night, the system updated again.
---
Name: Albedo
Affection Level: -35/100
---
"Ten points," Aoyama murmured, staring at the screen. "Not bad."
Aqua peered over his shoulder, grinning. "Looks like you're getting through to her. Slowly."
"Slowly is right," Aoyama muttered. "She's like a brick wall."
"She's also head over heels for someone else," Aqua pointed out. "Don't expect miracles."
"I don't," Aoyama said, closing the system. "But... I think there's more to her than she lets on."
---
The next week brought an unexpected development. Aoyama had just returned home from school when he found Albedo sitting at the kitchen table, flipping through a cookbook.
"Are you... cooking?" he asked, genuinely surprised.
"Is that so shocking?" Albedo said, not looking up. "I'm perfectly capable of preparing food. Unlike you."
Aoyama smirked. "Fair point. What's the occasion?"
Albedo hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of the page. "I... thought it might be useful to learn. Since I'm stuck here."
Aoyama felt a pang of sympathy. For all her bravado, Albedo was clearly struggling to adapt to this new world. He decided to take a chance.
"Need any help?" he offered.
Albedo glanced at him, her expression unreadable. Then she nodded. "Fine. But don't get in my way."
---
The cooking lesson was chaotic but surprisingly fun. Albedo's natural precision clashed hilariously with Aoyama's haphazard approach, resulting in a messy but delicious meal. By the end, they were both laughing—Albedo's laughter light and genuine, a sound Aoyama hadn't heard before.
"You're not completely useless," Albedo admitted as they sat down to eat.
"Thanks," Aoyama said dryly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Albedo smirked, her golden eyes softening. "You should."
---
Later that night, Aoyama checked the system again.
---
Name: Albedo
Affection Level: -20/100
---
"Another fifteen," Aoyama murmured, his chest tightening with a strange mix of pride and relief. "We're getting there."
He glanced at Albedo, who was sitting by the window again, her gaze fixed on the stars. For the first time, she didn't look quite so distant.
"You're not so bad, Albedo," he whispered, smiling to himself. "Not so bad at all."
To Be Continued...