Sitting on the edge of his bed, Roah let out a deep sigh before switching his perspective to the version of himself in the Sword Art Online world.
At that moment, Kirigaya Naoki, the persona he had assumed in SAO, was casually engrossed in a computer game. His nimble fingers danced across the keyboard, creating afterimages as his character executed impossibly precise and complex maneuvers.
After defeating a boss with zero damage, Naoki closed that game and opened another—I Wanna Be the Guy.
This game was infamous in his previous life, known for its ruthless difficulty and countless traps. Players needed perfect timing and immense patience to clear even the simplest levels. Roah remembered how he had struggled with it before—dying ten times on the first stage alone and over a hundred times on the second. He never even reached the third stage before uninstalling it in frustration.
Curious, he muttered, Why am I playing this? What did my autopilot self even do while I wasn't controlling it?
Unable to resist, Roah took over and played a few rounds. To his delight, he breezed through the game with ease, clearing it completely in one sitting.
Satisfied, he relinquished control of his SAO self and returned to his bed. He was about to drift back to sleep when an unfamiliar sensation jolted him awake—a hand had crept onto his chest.
Frowning, he opened his eyes, his delicate face now showing clear irritation.
Honestly, being this close to Roxy wasn't unpleasant; she was soft and warm. However, all Roah wanted at the moment was some rest.
Fortunately, Roxy didn't move further, and Roah let out a sigh of relief, allowing himself to sink back into sleep.
---
The next morning, Roxy awoke with her face mere inches from Roah's. Her cheeks flushed as she realized she had wrapped herself around the boy like a human pillow.
Roah's small, delicate face looked peaceful in his sleep. His soft, golden hair framed his features, and his slender frame radiated warmth. For some inexplicable reason, Roxy found herself mesmerized by the boy's charm.
Cursing herself under her breath, she gently extracted her hand from his chest and her leg from across his body. Roxy sat up, trying to shake off the guilty thoughts swirling in her mind.
Surprisingly, she felt well-rested—better than she had in months. She found herself thinking, Maybe he's just a really good pillow.
After getting ready for the day, she hesitated by the bed, watching the sleeping boy. His usual cold and composed expression had softened, making him appear even more angelic. The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his flawless features.
Roxy's heart skipped a beat. This should be illegal, she thought, he's too cute.
She had to suppress a strange urge to lean down and kiss his cheek.
Taking a deep breath, she gently shook him awake.
---
Roah opened his eyes groggily, rubbing at them as he yawned.
"Good morning, Roxy-sensei," he greeted, his voice soft and sleepy.
"Good morning, Roah," Roxy replied, her cheeks still slightly flushed.
Roah tilted his head, noticing her unusual demeanor. "Is something wrong?"
"N-no, nothing at all!" Roxy quickly replied, averting her eyes.
Shrugging, Roah got up and began searching for his clothes. However, he couldn't find them where he thought he'd left them.
"Looking for this?" Roxy asked, holding out his neatly folded coat.
Roah blinked in surprise, then gave her a faint smile. "Thank you, Roxy-sensei."
That smile was almost too much for Roxy. She felt her heart skip again, and a strange warmth spread through her chest. He's so cute today…
Shaking off her thoughts, she asked, "Would you like me to help you with your hair?"
Roah paused, running a hand through his messy locks. "If it's not too much trouble, I'd appreciate it. Of course, I'll help you with yours afterward."
Roxy guided him to sit in front of her, brushing her fingers through his golden hair. It was silky and smooth, the kind of hair most women would envy.
As she worked, a faint scent wafted from him—a clean, subtle fragrance that seemed uniquely his. It was oddly comforting.
"Your hair is really soft," Roxy murmured absentmindedly.
"Yours is too," Roah replied, turning to smile up at her.
Roxy blushed furiously, fumbling with the brush. "T-thank you."
When she finished, Roah took the brush from her hands. "It's my turn now, Roxy-sensei."
Roxy hesitated for a moment before turning her back to him, her long, azure hair falling down to her waist.
Roah began combing her hair carefully, his fingers moving with surprising precision. "Your hair is beautiful, Roxy-sensei," he said softly, his golden eyes reflecting the morning light.
Roxy's cheeks turned scarlet, and she stammered, "T-thank you. That's kind of you to say."
As Roah continued, his calm demeanor and gentle touch made her relax. For a moment, she felt like a child again, her mother brushing her hair with the same care.
"Roxy-sensei," Roah said suddenly, his tone teasing.
"Yes?"
"You smell like me now," he remarked with a faint smirk.
Roxy froze, her face turning as red as a tomato. She raised her hand and lightly smacked the top of his head. "Don't say weird things like that!"
Roah chuckled softly, rubbing the spot where she'd hit him. "Sorry, Sensei."
As they finished getting ready for the day, Roxy couldn't help but glance at him out of the corner of her eye. This kid… he's dangerous.