Ethan's POV
"No way... I... Maybe I can't go back?!"
"Why are you asking me? I don't even know where you came from!"
Her face changes from an annoyed, hissing cat to something more gloomy. Her eyes lower, her shoulders slump, and she suddenly looks defeated. Now I'm starting to pity her.
"C-cheer up…" I blurt, awkwardly scratching the back of my neck. What else can I say? I'm just a normal guy. Words of comfort aren't exactly my thing.
Rubielle stays silent, slumped over, her silver hair falls down, hiding her face. Looking at her like this, I notice her clothes—torn, dirtied, and definitely not from around here. She looks like she walked straight out of a fantasy cosplay convention... or maybe... another world.
Driven by curiosity and maybe a bit of sympathy, I decide to poke. "H-hey, why don't you tell me about yourself? Maybe I can help." Just kidding—what could I even do? Still, for someone like me dreaming of isekai and fantasy, this is a dream come true!
Her gloomy face twists into a pout, and she glares at me. She's back to looking like an untamed cat ready to claw at anyone who comes near.
"Hmph!" She suddenly springs up and stomps over to my wardrobe, yanking the doors open like she owns the place and grabs one of my clothes.
"Hey! Thief!" I shout, but she just ignores me.
Before leaving the room, Rubielle freezes for a moment. Her fingers tighten around my clothes and murmurs, "Thank you…" Her face flushes faintly before she bolts out of the room, clutching the clothes like some embarrassed thief.
I sit there, stunned. Did she just... thank me? What was that? That was... kinda cute. My cheeks heat up as I snap out of it.
Suddenly, she peeks back in, her face red with irritation. "W-where's the bathroom?!"
"Ah, it's just next door," I manage to say. She slams the door and rushes toward the bathroom like her life depends on it.
With a long, tired sigh, I flop onto my chair. What a day. What a weird day...
Later, we share a quiet dinner—just some takeout because, let's be honest, my cooking skills are pretty tragic. The atmosphere is really awkward. Rubielle keeps staring down at her plate, nibbling like she's lost in thought. I wonder what happened to her before she ended up here.
When dinner's done, I set up the couch with blankets and a pillow. "You can sleep here," I say, motioning toward the makeshift bed.
She nods silently, still looking distant. My dad will be overseas for a while, so I guess it's fine…
Rubielle's POV
This place is really unfamiliar... Maybe I'm just transported to a distant land? I need to check outside to be sure. I glance out the window, but nothing looks familiar—Strange square structures... Glowing lights... and smooth roads stretch into the distance... Where am I??? There's no trace of magic—not even a faint pulse in the air. Yet, when I first saw Ethan human, I sensed... something.
A realization suddenly crossed my mind, "No way... I... maybe I can't go back?"
I was stunned in disbelief. My sister opened the crack... but now, I have no idea how to return. No guiding magic, no connection to home. I'm also almost completely drained of magic and the worst is I don't even have my sister's heart! Ethan human said the lights scattered... which means... I'm completely on my own.
But at the same time, a worry fades as I realize that maybe I'm far enough that they won't find me easily—not for a while, at least. But the uncertainty still hangs in the air. I need to find the hearts as quickly as possible.
"H-hey, why don't you tell me about yourself? Maybe I can help."
His voice pulls me from my spiraling thoughts. Help? As if someone like him could do anything. But... still, a small part of me is grateful that he saved me. Maybe I owe him... just a little.
As I think about it, maybe I should be kinder to him. Wait—what am I thinking?! My face heats up in embarrassment. Then I notice my dirty clothes in tatters. I need a reason to escape this awkward conversation. My fingers tug at the frayed fabric, and before I know it, I stomp over to his wardrobe and yank it open. There's a faint scent of something clean and comforting... I grab the first thing I see—a soft, oversized shirt.
"Hey! Thief!" he shouts.
I pause for a moment, clutching the shirt. Maybe... just this once... "Thank you..." I mumble, barely above a whisper, my face burning as I flee the room.
Wait... Where's the bathroom?!
The next room is dim, eerily quiet. How do these people clean themselves in the dark? I raise my hand and summon a small flame, the soft glow illuminating the space as I look around. My eyes fall on a strange button on the wall. Curious, I press it—and the entire room blazes with blinding light.
"Ack!" I shield my eyes, blinking rapidly. Another weird magic! Once my vision adjusts, I take in the strange objects. A large, reflective surface stares back at me—no, it reflects me. My dirty, disheveled reflection. How humiliating...
A strange bowl with a metal lever catches my eye. I cautiously pull it—and water gushes out! I gasp, watching it flow freely. Amazing! Another strange device is mounted high on the wall, with small holes. Does it shoot water too?
I step beneath the strange water-spouting device. A twist of the nearby handle, and a gentle, warm spray pours down, washing away the grime and exhaustion. My clothes are heavy. I removed it and it was comforting. For a moment, I let myself relax.
After drying off, I slip into the oversized shirt. It's soft, hanging loosely past my waist like a dress. It smells faintly... like him.
Back in the living room, Ethan human offers me food. The dishes are strange but... delicious—rich and savory, unlike anything I've ever tasted. It fills my stomach, easing the tension just a little.
Then he points to the small couch. "You can sleep here." My mouth twitches into a pout. Why do I get the small one?
Still, I nod silently. He went back to his room, leaving me alone in the dimly lit living room. Is it just me... or is a day here far too short?
I glance toward the window again. Resting can wait. I still need to check something.