Asura Mountain Path — Mountain Base Trail

February 11th — 8:02 AM

Perspective: Elfina

The morning air on the mountain trail was chilly, but it felt amazing. The sky was a clear, crisp blue, and I had managed to snag a warm custard bun from the bakery on my way out. A perfect start to the day.

Well, almost perfect.

I chewed on the sweet pastry, adjusting the strap of my training bag as I walked up the winding stone steps. The academy was far behind me, its spires just distant needles piercing the morning mist.

"Rigel!" I waved my hand high, catching sight of a familiar broad-supported figure sitting on a stone bench near the base path.

Rigel flinched, his head snapping toward me. His eyes went wide, his mouth slightly open in utter disbelief.

"Elfie? How... what are you doing here?" Rigel stood up, looking around the empty mountain trail as if expecting an ambush.

"How did you even find this place?!"

"Kai forwarded your location to me!" I cheered, popping the last bite of the bun into my mouth and dusting off my hands. "He said you were sulking up here, so I came to get you."

"Kaiser?" Rigel’s face went pale, then red. He immediately stepped toward the wooden railing, leaning over to peer into the bushes. "Is he here? Does that bastard have some kind of tracking device on me? Is he hiding in the trees?"

"Nope, just me!" I giggled, walking over to pat his arm. "Though with Kai, you never really know. He might be watching from a telescope on the roof!"

Rigel let out a long, ragged sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. He looked exhausted, deep dark circles under his eyes.

"Go back, Elfie," Rigel muttered, turning away to stare at the steep cliffs rising above us. "I’m not in the mood for this."

"But it’s day 2 of our training to be the best!" I pumped my fist in the air, trying to sound as encouraging as possible. "You promised you’d help me with the spear, and I’m going to help you swing that big sword of yours!"

"I don’t want to train," Rigel said, his voice flat and hollow. "Just leave me alone."

"Leena was really worried about you, you know." I stepped closer, my tone softening. "I was worried too. You didn’t come back to the dorms until super late."

Rigel didn’t answer. He just tightened his grip on the strap of his training sword.

"One loss doesn’t define you, Rigel." I tried to catch his gaze, but he looked away. "Novenol is just a mean noble who got lucky with some portal trick. You can totally beat him if we practice and work hard."

Rigel scoffed, ignoring me as he began walking up the path, his boots dragging on the gravel.

"Hey, wait!" I jogged after him, reaching out to grab his shoulder.

He stopped, but he didn’t turn around. His shoulders were tense, locked tight.

"Come on, Rigel." I tried to peer around his face, blockading his path. "We can’t just give up."

"There’s no use." Rigel stared at his hands, his voice trembling slightly. "You have to hold back and use melee only just to spar with me. It’s not real practice."

"It’s not a joke!" I stamped my foot. "I learned a lot from you yesterday! You’re really good at explaining balance."

"I’m not a teacher, Elfie." Rigel kicked a loose pebble into the ravine. "I’m not the best. You’re wasting your time."

"That’s not true!" I stepped right into his path, my brow furrowing. "You’re really smart, and you’re the one who coordinates our team."

"You can do better alone." Rigel whispered, his gaze fixed on his boots. "You don’t need a loser like me slowing you down."

"We’re a team, Rigel!" I grabbed his sleeve, refusing to let him walk away. "You’re not a loser!"

"I’m terrible, Elfie." Rigel shook his head. "Just face it. I’m terrible."

"You aren’t terrible!" I took a deep breath, trying to look firm. "You just need to accept the loss, put it behind you, and set a new goal to win next time. That’s what a leader does."

"I don’t want to deal with your bullshit right now!" Rigel suddenly snapped, his head whipping up.

"Firstly Kaiser, and now you! Why can’t any of you just leave me the hell alone?!"

I flinched, taking a half-step back. The raw anger in his eyes was startling, but I forced myself to stand my ground.

"Because you’re valuable to us!" I shouted back, my own voice rising. "You’re the reason Kai and I passed the entrance exam in the first place because of your strategies! You defended me to be the class rep when everyone else was laughing, and you mapped out the dungeon runs! You’re honest, and you’re smart, and you’re not pathetic at all!"

Rigel stared at me for a second.

Then, he burst into a dry, mocking laugh.

"Ahaha..." Rigel laughed, the sound hollow and grating, echoing off the cold stone walls of the mountain path. "Valuable? Honest? Are you actually blind, or are you just stupid, Elfie?"

He stepped directly into my space, his chest heaving, his face contorted in an ugly, desperate grimace.

"I didn’t strategize anything! I didn’t defend you to be representative because I believed in you—I did it because I was terrified of Kaiser and needed to keep Leena safe as a protection! I’m a fraud, Elfie! Every single thing I’ve done since I got to this academy has been a desperate lie to cover up the fact that I’m a coward!"

Tears finally spilled over his eyes, tracking through the dirt on his cheeks. His voice cracked, a desperate, breathless gasp slipping out.

"I swing this heavy iron sword until my palms bleed, and for what? I couldn’t even touch Novenol! He didn’t take a single step, and he ground my head into the dirt like a bug! I have dry, weak mana. I can’t even cast a basic spell without it fizzling out!"

Rigel shook violently, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists, his voice straining under the physical weight of his rage.

"I talk like I’m some proud, tragic protector, but the truth is I’m just a pathetic, small-minded coward who ran away from a master’s whip and now acts like a parasite pretending to be a savior! I ruined Leena’s life! I took her noble title away, and now I’m here pretending I can protect her while she cries because of my weakness! I hate myself, Elfie! I hate my weak body, I hate my pathetic mana, and I hate how I stand next to all of you pretending I belong here when I’m nothing but a parasite!"

He paused, choking on a sob, his chest heaving as his energy drained completely. He looked utterly broken, his broad shoulders slumping as if the gravity of the mountain itself had settled on his back.

"I can’t do this today." Rigel whispered, his voice barely audible as he looked down at the gravel. "I... I need time. I’m sorry."

He turned around, and began walking down the mountain trail, his head hung low.

I just stood there in the cold morning air, watching his retreating figure disappear into the mist, unable to say a single word.

I stood in the silence of the mountain trail, watching Rigel’s broad shoulders disappear into the thick mist. My hand still hovered in the empty air, the warmth of his sleeve fading from my fingers. I wanted to run after him, to yell that he wasn’t a parasite or a fraud, but the sheer weight of his pain had rooted my feet to the spot.

He was just having a rough time, his heart bruised and bleeding after the duel. I needed to give him space, and for now, all I could do was wait.

But I wouldn’t stand still. I would practice alone, swinging my spear until my arms ached, sharpening my senses so I could stand strong beside him and Kai.

Asura Academy — Class C Dormitories

February 12th — 8:23 AM

Perspective: Elfina

Yawning loudly, I stretched my arms over my head, the soft morning light filtering through the window curtains. I rolled onto my stomach, burying my face into the fluffy pillow.

"Mmm, Kai..." I mumbled, wrapping my arms tightly around it and planting a soft, sleepy kiss right in the middle of the cotton fabric.

The pillow didn’t argue or call me an idiot. It was the perfect substitute.

A sharp chime vibrated on the wooden nightstand. I reached out, my fingers fumbling with my Dwarvian Phone until the blue screen flickered to life.

It was a notification from Cressida Vael.

[Cressida]: The girls are meeting up today. You should come.

I stared at the screen, letting out a small groan as I buried my face back into the pillow. I really didn’t feel like dealing with social outings today, not with Rigel’s words still echoing in my head.

[Elfina]: I don’t think I can make it today. I have to train.

[Cressida]: You must come. It is urgent. There is something you have to see.

My eyes widened slightly. Urgent?

[Elfina]: What is it? Did something happen?

[Cressida]: It is a secret. Just come to the Meridian Hall Restaurant at 10 AM.

I bit my lip, staring at the screen. A secret? Was it about the exams? Or maybe something about Class C’s credits?

I threw the blanket aside, my feet hitting the cold wooden floor. If Cressida was calling it urgent, I couldn’t just ignore it.

I walked over to the wardrobe, searching for something cute to wear. I settled on the "Blossom Breeze" dress—a powder-blue knitted sweater dress with a delicate white lace collar and a flared skirt that reached my knees. I brushed my pink hair and tied it into a high side ponytail, fastening it with a matching pink silk ribbon.

As I reached for my training bag, my eyes caught the small wooden box on my dresser. I opened it, staring at the silver ring resting on the velvet pad—the Sea of Hearts.

Kai had told me not to wear it outside. I pouted, running a finger over the smooth metal. Why would he say such a thing? It was the proof of our bond!

But then I remembered his practical nature.

What if some high-level thief saw the rare mana signature, snagged it, and ran? I certainly didn’t want to lose it.

"Fine, you win, Kai." I whispered, reluctantly leaving the ring in its box before locking it tight.

I headed out of the dorms, making my way across the academy grounds toward the Meridian Hall Restaurant.

The path was crowded with students, and I couldn’t help but notice the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Dozens of boys stopped walking, staring at me with wide, admiring eyes, while several girls whispered to each other, their glares dripping with open jealousy.

I touched my cheek, wondering if I had custard from yesterday still stuck to my face.

I walked faster, slipping through the glass doors of the restaurant.

"Elfie! Over here!" Serena waved her hand energetically from a corner booth near the back windows.

I smiled, weaving through the tables to join them.

Vivienne sat on my left, already holding her small notebook and tapping her silver pen against the wood. Next to her was Serena, leaning sideways on one elbow, her asymmetric horns catching the light. Across from us sat Cressida in her usual loose, unhurried posture, a small dried violet behind her ear, and next to her was Mira, her soft grey cat tail swishing lazy arcs.

"Welcome to the high table, Class Rep." Serena cheered as I slid into the booth next to Vivienne. "Or should we call you the Queen Bee now?"

"Congratulations, Elfina!" Cressida added dryly, taking a slow sip of her herbal tea.

"Queen Bee?" I blinked, completely confused as I looked around the table. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you are officially the social apex of the academy," Vivienne explained, clicking her pen twice. "The girl at the very top of the hierarchy. Every boy wants you, and every girl wants to be you."

"That’s impossible..." I scoffed, waving my hand dismissively. "I’m just Elfie. Besides, I’m Rank 0. The boys are probably still making fun of me."

"Oh, they definitely aren’t making fun of you," Serena laughed, sliding her phone across the table.

"Look at this. The server just updated the list today."

I looked down at the screen. It was the same Top 10 Most Beautiful Girls in Year 1 list we had seen weeks ago. But the order had completely changed.

1. Elfina (Class C)

2. Rose (Class A)

3. Sylvia (Class B)

4. Ivy (Class B)

5. Cecily (Class A)

6. Delyra (Class C)

7. Belial (Class B)

8. Sonya (Class B)

9. Leena (Class C)

10. Vonia (Class B)

I stared at the number 1 next to my name, my jaw dropping in sheer shock.

"I’m... first?" I whispered, my eyes scanning the names again to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. "Above Rose? Above Sylvia? How did this happen?!"

"Your performance in the dungeon exam." Mira’s soft cat ears swiveled slightly toward me as she spoke. "The boys saw you covered in blood, using celestial portals to save your friends. It left a big impression."

"Exactly!" Serena laughed, leaning forward. "A beautiful, blood-soaked Valkyrie. The boys went absolutely wild for it. They’re calling it the ’dangerous gap’ appeal."

"I don’t understand," I muttered, my cheeks warming. "Why would they like someone who looks scary and covered in blood?"

Vivienne clicked her pen again, opening a fresh page in her notebook. "It’s basic psychology, Elfie. According to my research, there are 5 core needs a boy looks for in a girl, and you currently tick every single box."

She held up 5 fingers, counting them down one by one.

"1: The Protector Factor—boys secretly want a strong girl who can save them when they’re in trouble. 2: The Unattainable Gap—the ice queen who seems out of reach but is actually incredibly cute. 3: Visual Brilliance—unique features like your starlight-pink hair and eyes."

Vivienne paused, tapping her chin with the pen.

"4: Fierce Loyalty—knowing you will fight to the death to protect the people you care about. And 5: Domestic Vulnerability—the soft, sweet side you only show to that one special person."

I stared at her, feeling completely glazed by her explanation. My face was burning now, my ears turning red.

"And the best part?" Serena laughed, her eyes flashing mischievously. "The moment the list dropped, I messaged Delyra. She didn’t even reply, but the message shows ’seen’."

I swallowed hard, realizing that Delyra—the proud queen of Class C—was now ranked 6th, five places below me.

I was officially considered the prettiest girl in the class. No, the entire academy.

But I didn’t care about the other boys.

I remembered the cafe, the way Kai had looked at the table and said he disagreed with my 8th rank.

I voted for Elfie. Only Elfie.

She is the most beautiful girl in the world, and I don’t care if you don’t think so.

She’s my Elfie, and I’ll always love her, no matter what.

A small, silly smile spread across my face.

I buried my hot cheeks in my hands, my heart fluttering wildly as the memory warmed me from the inside out.

"So, Valentine’s Day is in 2 days." Serena leaned back, her small horns catching the light as she grinned. "Since you’re number 1 on the list now, Elfie, you’re probably going to get a literal truckload of chocolates from the boys."

"My ears are already hurting just thinking about the crowd that’ll follow you." Mira’s soft cat tail swished lazily behind her. "So, who are you going to give your chocolate to?"

All four girls leaned in, their eyes sparkling with intense curiosity.

"Only Kai." I took a slow sip of my berry juice, speaking completely blankly. "I’ll give my chocolate to him."

The booth went absolutely silent. Serena’s jaw dropped, and even Cressida froze with her tea cup halfway to her lips.

"Wait, seriously?!" Serena slammed both hands on the table. "Kaiser Everhart? You’re going to waste your first-place chocolate on him?!"

"Elfina, you’re the Class Representative and the number 1 beauty now." Vivienne shook her head, clicking her pen in rapid-fire succession. "You can do much, much better. Honestly, Kaiser is a giant red flag."

"A red flag?" I tilted my head, looking at Vivienne. "What is that?"

"It means he is a warning sign of a terrible partner." Cressida set her tea cup down with dry precision. "A good boy—a green flag—should be sophisticated, polite, and have elegant manners. My type is someone who appreciates proper personality and intelligence."

"Kaiser, on the other hand," Cressida sighed, waving her hand dismissively, "drinks cheap water, sleeps through lectures, and stares at everyone like they are bugs."

"Exactly." Vivienne opened her notebook, her expressive eyebrows raised. "A green flag is a boy who communicates openly, is emotionally available, and remembers details about you. That’s my type."

"Kaiser communicates in single syllables," Vivienne clicked her pen. "He acts like a brick wall, and his DIS profile literally orders people not to text him."

"For me, a green flag is someone warm and soft, who lets me nap and makes me feel cozy." Mira yawned, her cat ears drooping in a lazy arc. "Kaiser radiates an aura that feels like a frozen tundra."

"He’d probably wake me up just to make me clean his nerdy books." Mira added, her tail swishing in annoyance.

"Hey, come on!" Serena smirked, leaning her chin on her palm.

"He was fiercely loyal to Elfie at the cafe, wasn’t he? He even said he only voted for her and loved her."

"He probably just did it in the heat of the moment to make a point." Cressida tossed a sugar packet onto the table. "There are much cuter, brighter flags out there, Elfina. You shouldn’t tie yourself to a block of ice."

"Kai isn’t a block of ice!" I slammed my hands on the table, my cheeks flushing a deep red. "He’s warm when it’s just the two of us! He makes the best meals, he always carries my bags, and has been my bestfriend for a long time!"

"He’s my Kai," I shouted, "and I don’t care if you think he’s a red flag!"

"Oh, wow." Mira’s tail swished rapidly as a lazy smirk spread across her face. "A loyal girlfriend defending her boyfriend. How cute."

I buried my hot face in my hands, my ears burning as the girls giggled at my reaction.

"Well, if you’re so sure, why don’t we put him through a test?" Serena’s eyes flashed with pure, demonic mischief.

"A test?" I peeked through my fingers, my heart beating a little faster. "What kind of test?"

"We make him spend a day hanging out with another girl." Serena grinned, tapping her phone screen. "Not you, obviously. Just another girl, to see how he behaves."

"Then we can judge," Serena added, "if he’s actually a loyal green flag or a cheating red one."

"No way!" I sat up straight, crossing my arms firmly over my chest. "Absolutely not! I don’t want Kai spending the day with anyone else!"

"Are you jealous, Elfie?" Vivienne raised an eyebrow, her pen hovering over a blank page.

"Jealous?" I blinked, my anger faltering as the strange word hung in the air. "What does that mean?"

"It means you want him all to yourself." Vivienne explained, tapping the tip of her pen against her cheek.

"You get upset at the thought of another girl replacing you in his life."

Jealous...

I lowered my arms, staring down at my lap.

All those times my chest felt tight when other girls looked at him. All those times I selfishly wanted to hold his hand and keep him from walking away.

Was that jealousy?

"If Kaiser is really as loyal to you as he said," Mira murmured, her honey-brown eyes softening. "And if he really only loves you, then you shouldn’t be worried. You just need to trust him."

I do trust him. I trust him more than anyone.

If Kai says he only sees me, then he only sees me. A silly test won’t change that.

But... my chest still feels a little tight.

"So, who’s going to be the girl?" Serena turned her gaze to Mira. "Mira, you do it."

"Absolutely not." Mira flatly refused, curling her tail around her waist. "I’d rather take a 5-hour study session than spend a single minute alone with him. Besides, Kaiser’s glare would give me a migraine, and my ears are too sensitive for his scary silence."

"Vivi?" Serena turned to Vivienne.

"I’ll pass." Vivienne shuddered, clicking her pen rapidly. "I prefer taking notes from a safe distance. I don’t want to get vaporized by his dark mana just for trying to strike up a conversation."

"Why don’t you do it, Serena?" Mira teased. "You’re the rules-breaker."

"No way." Serena flatly waved her hand. "He is definitely not my type. Too scary, too quiet, and way too intense."

"Then we have a problem." Vivienne sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "If none of us can do it, who is left?"

"What about that girl?" Serena snapped her fingers, a devious grin spreading across her face.

"Your friend, Elfie."

"Who?" I asked, blinking.

"Leena!" Serena grinned.

Leena?

No way. That is completely impossible.

Leena only has eyes for Rigel. I can’t even imagine her agreeing to spend a day with another boy, let alone Kai.

"Come on, Elfie, it’s a challenge!" Serena nudged my shoulder, her eyes sparkling. "Don’t you want to see how he handles it? It’s the ultimate test of his loyalty."

"Leena would never agree to it." I shook my head, tapping my juice glass nervously. "And besides, Rigel wouldn’t like it."

"Why wouldn’t Rigel like it?" Serena grinned, leaning closer. "Is he jealous, just like you are?"

"I’m not jealous!" I protested, my cheeks turning pink again. "I just... they’re really close friends. I feel like he won’t like her going out with another guy."

"Then let’s ask him first." Vivienne clicked her pen. "Text him and tell him to come over."

"I can’t." I stared down at my blank screen. "Rigel has been ghosting me since yesterday. He won’t reply to my messages."

"Leave that to me." Serena smirked, snatching my phone right out of my hands.

"I know exactly how to get a boy to run."

Exactly 20 minutes later, the glass doors of the restaurant flew open with a loud bang.

Rigel sprinted into the dining hall, out of breath, his hair messy and his uniform half-buttoned. He scanned the room wildly before spotting our booth and charging over.

"Elfie! Where is Leena?!" Rigel gasped, slamming his hands onto the edge of our table. "What happened?! How did she get into an accident?!"

"Sorry..." I cringed, hiding behind my hands. "I had to trick you to get you to come here."

The other girls smiled, looking extremely pleased with themselves.

"A trick?" Rigel stared at me, his panic turning to absolute confusion. "A trick?!"

He pulled out his phone, holding the screen directly in front of my face.

"You texted me: ’EMERGENCY! LEENA GOT RUN OVER BY A runaway carriage! SHE IS BLEEDING OUT! COME TO THE RESTAURANT TO SAY GOODBYE!’ What is wrong with you?!"

"We had to ensure your prompt arrival." Cressida took a calm sip of her tea. "A minor embellishment."

"It was a tactical necessity." Vivienne clicked her pen. "For data collection."

"You guys are insane!" Rigel rubbed his temples in frustration. "Just tell me what is actually going on!"

"We’re setting up a date Leena will go on." Serena stated flatly.

"A date?!" Rigel and I shouted in unison, our eyes stretching wide.

My heart squeezed uncomfortably, and Rigel’s face went completely pale, his jaw locking tight.

"What is this about a date?!" I demanded, my hands clenching into fists. "We never agreed to a date!"

"Calm down, it’s not a real date," Serena laughed, waving her hands. "It’s just two friends hanging out for a day. A social experiment."

"I don’t give permission." Rigel crossed his arms, glare-shielding the table. "Leena is not going."

"Why would Leena need your permission?" Serena raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely weirded out. "Are you her dad?"

"I just don’t trust any other guy in this academy." Rigel stammered, his face flushing. "Especially the elves. I’m just looking out for her safety!"

"Oh, so you’re just jealous." Mira’s cat tail swished with amusement. "How transparent."

"Shut up!" Rigel snapped, looking away. "Who is this guy anyway? Some Class A noble? A rich heir?"

"It’s Kaiser." Serena grinned.

Rigel froze, looking utterly dumbfounded. He stared at Serena, then slowly turned his head to look at me.

"Kaiser?" Rigel let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Elfie would never allow that. She’d tear the academy down before letting him go out with another girl."

"Elfie already agreed." Serena pointed a finger at me. "She’s totally on board."

"It won’t work anyway!" I pointed at Rigel. "See? Rigel is clearly not fine with it! We should just drop the whole idea!"

"Actually..." Rigel rubbed his chin, a strange, thoughtful expression crossing his face.

"I don’t mind."

"Why?!" I yelled, staring at him in utter disbelief.

"Because it’s Kaiser." Rigel smirked.

"I’m not worried one bit about Leena speaking to a brick wall, and Kaiser is that wall."

"That is so true!" Serena leaned back, laughing.

"Leena is going to try to have a nice conversation, and Kaiser will just stare at her like she’s a ghost."

"He’ll probably bring a book to read during the meal." Mira giggled behind her hand.

"And if she tries to speak, he’ll just say: ’Silence’ and turn the page."

"Or worse." Vivienne clicked her pen, her shoulders shaking.

"He’ll calculate the exact calorie count of her food and tell her she’s getting fat."

"He’d definitely ask her to pay for her half of the water." Cressida sighed.

"And then charge her interest for the cup."

"He’s going to fall asleep in the middle of her sentence." Rigel shook his head, laughing.

"Leena will be so bored she’ll leave within 30 minutes."

"It’s not going to be a date!" Serena wiped a tear from her eye. "It’s going to be a hostage situation where Leena is the hostage and Kaiser is the captor who doesn’t even want the ransom."

Right, it’s fine.

They’ll get bored. Within 30 minutes, they’ll both be begging to go home. Kai doesn’t even talk to her, and they have absolutely nothing in common.

Rigel was staring at the table, thinking the exact same thing. There was no way Kaiser—that robotic, anti-social lunatic—would even care enough to accept a date. He’d probably hang up the moment he heard Leena’s voice.

"Now, we just need to get Leena here." Serena smirked, pulling out her phone again. "Let me borrow your phone again, Elfie."

Exactly 10 minutes later, the restaurant doors flew open once more.

Leena sprinted inside, her face pale, her silver hair slightly messy as she looked around in absolute panic.

"Rigel!" Leena screamed, running straight toward our booth and catching her breath. "How did you get into an accident?! Are you okay?!"

"I’m fine, Leena." Rigel rubbed his neck, looking incredibly embarrassed. "It was just another trick."

Leena blinked, her panic slowly fading as she pulled out her phone, showing the screen to the table.

"But Elfie texted me: ’Rigel hit himself on a light pole while walking, fell over the railing, and tumbled down the bridge! He is currently unconscious!’ How could I not believe that?!"

"I’m so sorry, Leena." I buried my face in my hands, groaning. "Serena took my phone and wrote that. We just needed you to come here."

"A trick?" Leena’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing as she looked at us. "Why? What is going on?"

"We are setting you up on a date with Kaiser." Serena explained, leaning back with a grin.

"A date?!" Leena gasped, her silver eyes darting to me in shock. "With Kaiser? But... we are just classmates! Elfie, how could you agree to this?!"

"It’s not a real date, Leena," Serena sighed, waving her hand. "You’re just two friends hanging out. You’re completely overreacting. Right, Rigel?"

Leena turned her worried gaze to Rigel, her hands clutching the fabric of her skirt.

"I don’t mind." Rigel muttered, looking away. "It’ll only last like 30 minutes anyway before Kaiser gets bored and leaves. Just go."

It’s wrong to test someone.

Especially someone as honest and pure-hearted as Kaiser, who has always helped us without asking for anything in return.

But... what does Elfie see in him? I want to understand him better, even if it’s just to see what kind of person he really is.

"The main problem is that Kai will never agree," I muttered, feeling a tiny spark of hope. "He hates going out."

"Oh, he will." Serena smirked. "No boy can refuse a cute girl asking them out. It’s basic biology."

"Exactly." Vivienne clicked her pen. "According to my data, 94 percent of boys will agree to a hangout if the girl initiates it, simply because their brains are wired to seek validation."

"It’s true," Mira added, swishing her tail. "Just look at Rigel. If Leena asked him to jump off a cliff, he’d ask how high the water is."

"Hey!" Rigel snapped, his face turning red.

"Call him, Leena." Serena handed the phone to her. "Put it on speaker."

Leena took the phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she looked around the table.

Please be busy, Kai.

Please tell her you’re studying or doing legal work so this whole test falls apart.

Leena dialed the number and pressed speaker, the ringing sound echoing in the quiet booth.

Click.

"Yo." Kaiser’s flat, robotic voice came through the speaker.

"Hello, Kaiser?" Leena asked nervously, leaning close to the phone. "How are you?"

"I’m ok. Bye."

Click.

The line went dead.

We all stared at the phone, completely dumbfounded.

Rigel burst into a loud, mocking laugh, slamming his hand on the table. "AHAHAHA! See?! I told you! A complete brick wall!"

"Call him again!" Serena urged, pushing the phone back into Leena’s hand. "Don’t let him get away that easily!"

"Why me?!" Leena whined, her cheeks burning as she held the phone. "This is so embarrassing!"

She dialed the number again, holding her breath as the line connected.

"Kaiser, please don’t hang up!" Leena blurted out quickly before he could speak. "Why did you do that?"

"I thought you called to ask if I was alive." Kaiser’s voice sounded completely indifferent. "I answered yes. There was no need to prolong the call."

"But I wanted to say more!" Leena sighed, rubbing her temples. "Are you busy today?"

"I’m busy." Kaiser replied instantly.

Busy?

I leaned forward, my heart skipping a beat.

What could he be busy with? I nudged Leena’s arm, whispering urgently. "Ask him what he’s doing!"

"What are you busy with today?" Leena asked, parroting my words.

"I’ll be going home and spending the day taking naps and sleeping." Kaiser stated flatly. "I’ll be busy from that."

Click.

The call disconnected once more.

We all sat in the booth, staring at the black screen in absolute, stunned silence.

"Wow." Serena blinked, staring at the black screen. "Is he... actually just incredibly loyal to you, Elfie? He didn’t even give Leena a chance to pitch the hangout."

"I told you so!" Rigel wiped a tear of laughter from his eye, leaning back. "Kaiser doesn’t care about anyone except his books and his room. He would never accept a date."

"Maybe he really is just busy today..." Leena murmured softly, her fingers tracing the edge of the phone.

"Busy sleeping!" Serena, Mira, and Vivienne shouted in unison, their expressions a mix of disbelief and annoyance.

"Call him one more time, Leena." Serena pushed the phone forward. "We need a proper answer, not a sleep excuse."

"Again?!" Leena pouted, her silver eyes pleading. "Why do I have to be the one to do this? He’s going to hate me!"

"Because you’re the test subject!" Serena grinned. "Now dial!"

Leena sighed, dialing the number for the third time and putting it on speaker.

Click.

"Yo." Kaiser’s voice was flat.

"Kaiser, please just hear me out for 1 minute!" Leena blurted out before he could hang up. "Don’t click away!"

"You have 45 seconds." Kaiser’s voice returned over the line. "Make it useful."

"I wanted to ask if you’d like to hang out and eat lunch together today." Leena spoke quickly, her face turning pink.

"Why not with Rigel?" Kaiser asked.

"He has been missing since yesterday." Leena explained, looking at Rigel.

"Do you want his location?" Kaiser offered, his tone completely practical. "I have it ready-made. Let me get my telescope."

Rigel froze, his jaw dropping as he stared at the phone.

"No, I don’t need his location!" Leena waved her hands frantically. "I want to spend the day with you!"

"I can’t." Kaiser replied. "My room’s temperature is currently set to optimal sleeping levels, and leaving it would disrupt my circadian rhythm."

"It’s just lunch and a short walk!" Leena countered, trying to sound persuasive. "It won’t take long!"

"Walking requires energy and calories, which increases my daily expenses." Kaiser stated. "I did not budget for extra grocery expenses this week."

"I’ll buy you a pastry!" Leena pleaded.

"Pastries contain refined sugars that will lead to stomachaches during my scheduled naps." Kaiser explained.

"Goodbye."

Click.

Rigel laughed out loud, pointing at the phone. "Caloric demand! Circum-what rhythm! That guy is a complete freak!"

The girls slumped in their seats, looking defeated by the sheer wall of awful excuses.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief, a small, triumphant smile blooming on my face. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Yes! I knew it! Kai is only mine, and he would never hang out with another girl.

He doesn’t care about anyone else. I’m the only one he lets hold his hand and kiss his cheek.

Rigel was also smiling, a sense of relief washing over him as he crossed his arms.

Rigel’s thoughts:

Leena is safe. She won’t have to go on a date with that freak, and I can have her to myself for lunch.

I can watch over her without that weirdo getting in the way.

"Wait." Serena suddenly clapped her hands together, a sharp grin returning to her face. "I have one last way."

"It’s enough, Serena." I protested, crossing my arms. "We shouldn’t embarrass Leena anymore. Kai said no, and he’s not going to change his mind."

"She’s right." Rigel agreed. "Just drop it. Kaiser will never accept."

"Last time I saw him at the hangout del invited us too, he ate a ridiculous amount of food," Serena recalled, tapping her chin.

"I think we can bribe him with a free meal."

"Impossible." Rigel and I said in unison, shaking our heads.

"Try it, Leena." Serena pleaded, putting her hands together. "One last call. Just offer him free food."

"His excuses vs. free food?" Mira yawned, shaking her head. "That’s not going to work either. His sleep schedule is too powerful."

"There’s no correlation between food bribes and weirdo logic," Vivienne added, clicking her pen.

Leena sighed, her shoulders slumping as she dialed the number for the final time.

Click.

"Yo." Kaiser’s voice came through the speaker.

"Kaiser..." Leena spoke softly, her tone pleading. "How are you?"

"I was good before." Kaiser stated flatly. "Now I don’t know, after accepting this call. My answer is still no."

"Wait!" Leena blurted out. "If you come, I’ll be the one paying for the lunch!"

Rigel smirked, leaning back in his seat.

Rigel’s thoughts:

Kaiser has too much pride to accept a cheap bribe like that. He’d rather starve than hang out with Leena for a free salad.

I nodded in agreement, a smug smile on my face.

Kai doesn’t care about money or food. He only eats when he needs to, and he’d never sell his sleeping time for a free meal.

He is mine, and he is loyal to me, no matter what.

There is no way he agrees.

"Okie sure." Kaiser’s voice was suddenly crisp and clear.

We all froze.

"Let’s meet at 12 PM by the Gilded Crescent." Kaiser continued, his voice completely devoid of his previous lethargy.

"See you there, Leena."

Click.

The line went dead once more.

We all sat in the booth, staring at the phone with completely dumbfounded, frozen expressions.