9:07 PM
I return to the main building and head to the council room to check on how Mikoto is feeling. Also, we still haven't had the chance to talk privately about her sudden change of heart regarding my taking a more direct approach against Ailiss.
With some hesitation, I stop in front of the door. Unsure of how to face her after secretly meeting our enemy, I knock.
No response. Taking the initiative, I turn the doorknob and enter the room. As I expected, Mikoto is leaning against the window, staring intently outside as usual.
"I figured you'd still be here. Has everyone else gone?" I ask.
"Yes, I preferred to stay here alone to clear my head. I must admit, I am still quite shaken by what happened earlier," she replies in a monotone voice.
And who wouldn't be? I think only a lunatic like me would decide to approach a criminal with friendly intentions. Being shaken by witnessing a massacre would be the natural reaction of any mentally sound human. Something is definitely wrong with me...
Given everything we went through this noon, she might want some time alone to reflect on what happened. I should have considered that before coming here.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. This hasn't been easy for you, so we can talk another time," I say, taking a few steps back into the hallway.
"Wait a moment."
Surprised, I turn around, and she continues.
"You misunderstood. What I said does not apply to you. Please, have a seat. I just prepared some tea. I know there are things we need to clarify between us, so we can discuss them while drinking something warm."
"In that case, I'll accept. It's impossible to refuse tea on a cold winter night like this," I say as I return to the room, pull out a chair, and sit in front of her desk.
As she prepares the tea, I take the opportunity to bring up her abrupt change of plans.
"Mikoto, now that we have time to talk, can you tell me why you changed your mind about the plan we agreed on yesterday? Everything seemed clear between us, so why?"
She pauses briefly as she hears my question while heading to get the tea set.
"Do you remember when I called you to talk for the first time? The truth is, from the moment I discovered you were one of the three players, I acted dishonestly toward you," she pauses. "I was terrified. The same fear of dying that led me to conjure this cursed ritual," she replies and resumes her task.
"That's natural. Anyone would be scared, probably even more than you."
"That is not the problem. Before I even realized it, I was influencing you to fight Ailiss—not just that, but also to serve as a scapegoat to fulfill my condition for escape. From the beginning, I planned for you to kill her, and with both of you dead, I would be free. Until recently, my survival was my only motivation," she says as she sits across from me and pours my tea.
So I really was being used by her. The alliance she proposed was a death sentence for me. Should I be angry about being manipulated? Unfortunately, I can't feel anything negative toward her. It seems I have the same problem with her as I do with Ailiss.
"And why did you so easily abandon the idea? I think I'd have died content in ignorance; we both would've gained from it," I say as I take the teacup.
"Yesterday afternoon, I implied that I intended to sacrifice myself in your place, but at no point was that my real intention. As I mentioned, from the first day, the only thing I cared about was my own safety—escaping here regardless of how many others had to die. It was all a performance to gain your sympathy so you would protest and take on my role as the martyr. In the end, I succeeded relatively well. However, when you finally resolved to follow my plan, I regretted it. Simple as that."
I'm not even surprised about all the teasing. My rational side always kept a foot out the door regarding a girl as spectacular as her showing interest in me. However, even knowing it was fake, I enjoyed her provocations. I yielded so much to her that I danced in the palm of her hand within this sacrificial plan. I understand—it was all a false gem, but even a fake jewel still captivated me.
"Regretted it? Was it an ethical epiphany?"
"I wish. The impression I always try to give is that I am a fair and orderly person who acts objectively based on right and wrong. But deep down, I am inherently selfish. I only ever thought about myself."
"So if you didn't stop because you realized you were doing something wrong, what was it?"
"Perhaps... love?" she narrows her eyes, emphasizing the last word.
"Love?!" I nearly choke on the tea.
"Do you have a problem with that term?"
"No particular problem; I just didn't expect to hear it. But honestly, it's hard to take seriously coming from you."
"Do you have no sense of tact when choosing your words? Saying that to a girl is downright outrageous. How can you so cruelly dismiss my feelings?" she says melodramatically, feigning a sorrowful expression.
Taken out of context, this could easily lead to a public lynching for making such an angelic figure lament. But let's be honest—the actual victim in all this is me.
"Mikoto, if I didn't know you, I'd be applauding you right now. Now, explain seriously why you abandoned our original plan. You just admitted you were deceiving me; why should I believe what you're saying now?"
"Oh, did you not understand the reason I just gave? How low is your self-esteem to doubt a girl's confession? All this time, I have been playing with you, trying to seduce you into submitting to me. And ironically, in the end, the one who fell for the younger boy I thought I had complete control over... was me."
Falling for me? Is she serious? How should I interpret this? Was today's "beloved" just another fake provocation? On one hand, I can't believe she's serious; on the other, a slight possibility that this is real strikes me deeply.
Ah, damn... how do I handle this? Precisely because it's her, I'm nervous and at a loss for words.
Shocked, I simply avert my gaze, unable to respond.
"That is exactly what I am talking about. Your reactions are priceless! Hahaha," Mikoto covers her face and starts laughing.
"Hey, s-stop laughing," I stammer.
"Sorry, that is an impossible request. You always have this deadpan face, but when I provoke you, you show such adorable expressions that you hardly seem like the same person. The contrast is so striking it is unbearable not to laugh," she continues laughing at me while pulling her chair closer to mine.
I never thought I'd be teased like this, and the worst part is I'm still at a loss for words. I'm so pathetic right now that any attempt at self-defense will come out as gibberish.
Is this... embarrassment?
"I'm glad to know I can entertain you this way," I mutter, turning my face away.
If I avoid eye contact, maybe I can maintain some level of coherent communication and not seem like a complete idiot.
"What was that, Johann?" she comments on my reaction. "Do not tell me you are embarrassed because a girl sat beside you. I must admit, it never occurred to me that you would be so shy—I have never seen you struggle to communicate with other girls."
I've never felt this ridiculous because I've always viewed all the girls I interacted with as mere humans. Since I place no value on social interactions, I've never cared about my behavior around others. However, Mikoto has shown herself to be on a different level, making me act like a timid boy with no confidence.
"It's just that those other girls weren't conniving tricksters who act solely to put their interlocutors in awkward situations."
"Oh, does it bother you to be in such circumstances? My apologies—I did not realize it made you uncomfortable. In any case, you should not feel bad about your reactions. You should value yourself more—after all, it is precisely why you have captivated me so much," she says as she snuggles closer to me and gently touches my hands.
You know very well how uncomfortable this is for me; you don't feel the slightest regret and still repeat the same action you were just talking about.
I can feel the warmth of her body enveloping me. Not even a cold winter night can stop me from sweating. She must have noticed as she held my hand.
This is a battle I cannot win. The only way out is to steer the conversation toward a topic where I have an argumentative advantage—in the realm of logic.
"Mik-koto, I still have qu-questions about the game's me-mechanics. C-could you clarify some d-details?" I stutter, stumbling over my words as I try to shift the focus of the conversation.
Her face draws closer to mine, making avoiding her serene blue eyes impossible. With that, I quickly realize that no excuse I invent can escape the trap she's set for me.
"We can talk about this later. For now, let me enjoy this moment. Who knows if I will have another chance," she whispers, gently touching my face with the palm of her right hand.
Closer.
Closer.
I can feel her breath getting nearer.
The closer she gets, the faster my heart races. At this rate, it feels like my chest might explode any second.
There's no resisting this; I'm in her hands, wholly ensnared in her invisible web. Unsure of how to act or what to think, I decide to simply close my eyes and let her take the lead.
This interval of darkness feels immensely long. This is likely because my neural connections are working at hyper-speed, allowing me to think of dozens of things simultaneously. Yet, based on our breathing, I know only a few seconds have passed.
Finally, her lips gently touch mine. It sends me into a kind of trance. This is my first time in such a situation with a girl, and it's not just any girl—it's Mikoto, the most extraordinary presence I've ever had the honor of encountering.
She continues kissing me softly and teasingly as if provoking me to ask for more.
You're so unfair with these little games, Mikoto. You know I don't stand a chance against you. My brain relentlessly craves more, obsessed with exploring her taste more deeply.
My arms start moving, though I'm sure I didn't command them to. With one hand, I gently touch her delicate face, mimicking her earlier action. The other wraps around her back, pulling her closer to my body so we can kiss more intensely. As I do, I let my fingers slide through her long black hair while pressing her against my chest.
As I draw her closer, she reacts by pulling my tie with equal force. In doing so, I receive my reward. I didn't think it was possible to feel more incredible ecstasy than the trance I was already in, but savoring her full kiss brings a pleasure beyond anything I've ever experienced.
We remain like this for an indeterminate amount of time. Nothing external matters to me anymore; I just want to stay this way with Mikoto forever. My sense of smell is entirely addicted to her fragrance, and it feels like a magnet in her chest prevents me from pulling away.
Memories of the first time I saw her mix with more recent ones intertwine in my mind. I recall resisting her charm, wanting to avoid becoming just another one of her countless admirers at this school. But the truth is, her mystical presence always fascinated me. Now, at this moment, I truly understand that I love her.
Even though it's our first kiss, which theoretically should have been clumsy, it turns out to be exquisite. This is so strange... it feels like we've done this a billion times before.
How long have we really known each other?
As our tongues slowly part, I open my eyes to gaze at her magnificent face.
"What have I done? My sincerest apologies. I acted on impulse. I did not even let you properly express yourself," she says, pulling her face away.
I'm still too dazed to judge anything clearly. But about this, she can't fool me. She was fully aware when she decided to advance; her provocative actions from the start betrayed her true intentions.
"I think it's a bit late for apologies," I reply, turning my face away.
"I am apologizing sincerely; do not be so merciless," she laughs.
Apologizing... sure. You've told better lies than that. Still, it's better to let it go to avoid making things even more awkward.
"Oh, that is right. I almost forgot your question. What exactly did you want to know about black magic?" she asks.
You know full well why I asked that, you trickster. You're just highlighting my ineffective tactic to mock me further. Even when I try to help us and swallow your flimsy excuse, you still manage to ruin everything again. And the funniest part? I willingly accept it. Ultimately, it's still fun despite all the complications you put me through.
"Forget it. I don't even remember what I was going to ask anymore."
Mikoto smiles, gets up, and walks to the window.
Only now have I noticed the heavy snowstorm outside. I hardly felt the cold, thanks to having my body pressed against hers.
"It is quite late. I am sorry for keeping you here so long. I completely lost track of time. Such carelessness on my part, how embarrassing."
Still, playing this coy act? I'm curious where this conversation will go if I humor her further. After what just happened, I doubt anything can surprise me now.
"It's not your fault. But going back to where Manabu and Haruki are sleeping is tricky now. I'd probably wake them entering the room, and they need plenty of rest after the beating they took."
"Oh, what a shame. It seems you have no choice but to stay here tonight," she replies with a teasing smile.
"That's not a bad idea. If you don't mind spending more time with someone inexperienced with girls," I say, moving closer to her.
"And you think that is a disadvantage? Hate to inform you, but I have never been with boys either."
She said that just to see my reaction, didn't she? I can't fall into her traps again.
"What is wrong? Do you not believe me?" she continues, seeing my startled expression.
"It's hard to believe you could be inexperienced and yet so seductive."
"I will take that as a compliment. Besides, have you not heard of natural talent?" she says smugly.
"Sometimes I forget you're the school's prodigy student, possibly the city's or the country's. But even so, that's unexpected information."
Judging by her expressions, she doesn't seem to be lying despite clearly speaking in a teasing tone to mock me. Having a natural gift for seduction is a very plausible theory for someone like her.
She looks at the thermos from earlier, touches it, and comments.
"Looks like we got so distracted that the tea went completely cold. I will have to heat it up again."
She reheats it, and we drink and chat for a few more minutes.
Soon, we prepare to rest. I sit against one of the walls with Mikoto nestled against my chest. Together, we bundle up for the cold night ahead.
"Tomorrow is our last day to free ourselves from this conjuration. We cannot back down under any circumstances," Mikoto comments.
"I'm not usually an optimist—far from it. But we'll figure it out. I'll do whatever it takes to get you out of here."
She sighs, looks into my eyes, and pinches my cheek hard.
"Let go, that hurts," I say.
"It is supposed to hurt. Maybe this way you will learn. Do not limit yourself to just me. I need you to survive, too. Remember, I love you. You would not want a girl like me to lose her first love in such a tragic way, would you? So make better plans."
You can be so sweet sometimes.
"Of course. Let me correct myself: we'll get out of here tog—"
She interrupts my sentence with a quick kiss.
"Gotcha! You need to be more careful. At this rate, any girl could steal a kiss from you. I do not like that idea one bit," she says with a smile, celebrating her playful mischief.
As she finishes speaking, I grab her arm and return her little prank in kind. But I decide to prolong my payback, kissing her for several minutes while running my left hand through her long hair.
"Bold of you. Only I have permission to play like this," she says as we part.
She lies back against me, and we continue exchanging sweet touches and kisses for a few more minutes until we finally drift off to sleep.