The size of the library me and Reed were in was impressive. It was wide and spacious, filled with rows upon rows of books and countless open places to sit and study at. That was why a certain vampire girl NPC butting her way into sitting with us under the pretense that she was also studying chemistry raised some suspicion within me. Attention like this wasn't something I was used to and frankly, I've been receiving too much of it lately.
Humming to herself cheerfully, Closure was oblivious to the watchful and suspicious gaze I threw her way.
"So, so, you're Reed, huh?" the vampire girl asked. Her movement and speech was a bit on the hyperactive and quirky side.
"Yeah…" Reed answered hesitantly. Her wall, which seemed to have lowered after spending time around me, was now raised again at max height because of our surprise guest - her shy and quiet nature making itself known.
"Awesome~ The name's Closure, but enough about me. You know, you're pretty well known among the science teachers, especially those in the chemistry department," Closure blabbered on. A blush formed on the dragon girl's face at the indirect compliment.
"O-Oh, really? I guess I do have innate talent for the subject," Reed stammered in response, not elaborating any further. When I sent a questioning gaze her way, she gave a look that said, 'later'.
From the brief interaction I've seen Reed have with others, despite seeming fairly closed off around me, she was so much more around others.
"Kinda obvious, don'tcha think? Advanced placement class in the year ahead, some would call you a genius, Reed. There's even a rumor about how every lab you've conducted ends up with perfect results. Care to explain how you do it?"
By then, Closure had her body leaned forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity and eagerness clear as day in her body. The inquisitive questioning sent Reed's way was too much for her as she opted to grab my arm, lean in close to me and hide behind my shoulder.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about…"
Of course, Reed's reaction sent a rather misleading message the vampire girl's way. I didn't mind too much, gotta get used to these sort of scenarios if I'm to get my harem. Plus the heat from Reed's hands was comforting. Oh, and her sizable breasts pressed against me felt nice too. But I worry about Closure's reaction and how it's going to affect Reed.
"Oh my, it seems I was interrupting something the entire time. Sorry, sorry! I'll see myself out now," she apologized, standing up, bowing quickly. She didn't sound apologetic at all. And to rub salt on the wound, she threw a wolfish grin my way, mouthing something along the lines of, 'nice going, transfer student,' all the while holding up a single finger to indicate how long it took for me to score.
"It's not like that…" I tried to deny, albeit weakly. Mostly because I myself didn't quite fully understand the situation, my lack of experience with the opposite gender clear as day. This doesn't count as a date, right?
Reed let out a cute squeak as she realized the implications, her face turning a deep shade of red. She didn't deny it though, nor did she bother to pry herself away from my arm, resulting in Closure furiously wiggling her eyebrows my way in response.
Naturally, Dusk chose this as the perfect moment to show up.
"Sorry I'm late," Dusk said as she sat down beside me. Her mood was gloomy, dark clouds seemingly hanging around her. "My stupid sisters couldn't believe I'm not heading home first thing after school."
It seems in Dusk's foul mood, she failed to notice our uninvited guest. Or Reed, the invited one I failed to inform her about.
"Anyways, let's get started…" Dusk said, trailing off. Noticing the 2 extra people, she turned to give me an accusatory glare.
Whelp, she noticed now.
'Thank you for your keen observation, Blanc.'
Mhm~ Good luck defusing the situation!
In all honesty, a little bit of explaining should clear the air of any misunderstandings, but the presence of a certain someone and their eccentric and unpredictable personality made things unnecessarily difficult. In all but an instant, Closure practically teleported behind, an unnerving smile plastered on her face.
"Oh my, oh my!" she exclaimed, while putting a hand on my shoulder in a parently sort of way. Somehow, there were fake tears of pride in joy in her eyes. She looked like a mother looking proudly on at her offspring as they set foot into the unknown land of adulthood. "2 in a day, now that's what I call a good deal."
"Closure, please, it's just a study group," I attempted to explain as logically as possible to her. Though Reed still clinging onto my arm did not help my case at all in the slightest. And if that cool feeling on my other arm is indicative of anything, Dusk too had latched onto my arm. "This isn't what it looks like."
Hands on her hips, Closure gave me an unimpressed look. She didn't look convinced in the slightest.
"Sure thing, buddy~" Closure practically sung out.
Two shy girls attaching themselves to me in defense of an overly extroverted guest that made them uncomfortable. I knew that feeling. After all, it was people like Closure, people brimming with confidence, that mortified me. Being the introvert that I was back in my old world, I steered myself far, far, far, away from those sorts. Sure I'm different now, to some extent, but I definitely knew where the two girl's beside me were coming from.
They were hiding themselves behind the Alpha Male, my pure masculinity and charisma-
Master, please stop deluding yourself.
'Okay fine, be like that.'
I mentally pouted.
It's really because in the short amount of time you've known them, you were able to establish a comforting relationship.
'Yeah, yeah. And lemme guess, a small part because of my newfound powers, but also because of me stepping out of my comfort zone and actually talking to people?'
Yup!
'Who knew the best way to forge relationships was to actively talk to someone?'
"Why is the President of the Robotics Club here?" I heard Dusk whisper quietly into my ear. Her mouth was tantalizingly close as she spoke, her soft breaths sending ticklish sensations down my ear.
A small, suicidal, but cultured, part of my wanted to tilt my head slightly to the side so Dusk's lush lips could be pressed against my ear. Needless to say, I decided against it.
By now, we had turned around so our backs weren't to Closure, resulting in this tense but awkward stand-off. I say tense and awkward, but in reality, Closure seemed completely unaffected by the atmosphere.
"She's here because she overheard us talking about chemistry," Reed answered simply.
"And I'll be here no longer," Closure said, winking in the least discrete way possible at me. Observing the Biology textbook Dusk brought out, she added, "Plus, I'm not taking Bio. Absolutely horrid subject."
"I know right!" I agreed enthusiastically, before tempering myself. "I too have a strong dislike for the subject."
Closure let out a soft giggle, a noticeable contrast to her observed outgoing personality. Perhaps she had a more quiet, reserved, nerdy side?
"Lemme know if you guys are ever gonna study Chem, and are willing to include me. On that note, I'll leave you 3 be, now. Chow!"
Once the Closure left, I felt the two girls around me loosen up a little. For some reason, they were still a bit tense, clinging onto me still. I could harbor a guess as to why, though.
"I didn't expect to meet you here again, of all places," Dusk observed.
"Likewise," Reed agreed. "I didn't expect Hellastic to be getting tutored by you of all people, considering your personality."
There was a staredown between the two, each of them latching onto their respective arm like their life depended on it with me caught in between the crossfire. Just as the conflict seemed on the edge of boiling over, Dusk spoke up.
"So, how's PE now that I'm gone?"
"Great, actually," Reed replied.
"Still partnered with Dobermann?"
"No," Reed responded, smugness ebbing into her voice. "I'm partnered with Hellastic now."
"Mrghh."
Whatever jealous sound Dusk made sounded absolutely adorable. And what's with the closeness between the two dragon girls? I knew they were partners in Gym Class, but I didn't expect them to be such good friends.
"How are your siblings?" Reed asked. The question immediately caused Dusk's arms to tighten around me, her face forming into an angry pout.
"They're as annoying as ever. I can't wait until they graduate," Dusk answered. The way her arms latched onto me caused something soft and fleshy to also press firmly against me. Bigger than Blanc's but smaller than Reed's - the definition of medium is premium.
The temptation too enticing, I lowered my hand and softly poked Dusk's puffed up cheek. Reed watched in fascination as the opposite of what I expected happened. Instead of recoiling from my touch and reprimanding me, Dusk opted to close her eyes and lean into it.
"Mrghhh…"
Her cheek was smooth and supple; I can only imagine how her other cheek might feel.
As if sensing my dirty thoughts, or perhaps realizing what she was doing, Dusk's eyes flashed open in surprise. Backing away slowly, Dusk once again closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Please… get out your textbook, Hellastic," she managed to get out, her face burning red.
Why, oh why, does Terra have so many different races and animal species? And why do they all have to be so unique from one another? And why do I have to memorize and know every single one of them?
Oh, and apparently, 'Behavioral Patterns' also meant mating rituals and the like. But for the time being, I'm stuck struggling to memorize all the different races on Terra. Saves the embarrassing lecture for another time. Maybe when we're more comfortable around each other, not that we weren't already.
While I was struggling to learn the fundamentals, Dusk assigned some practice questions for Reed, helping her when needed. We had evolved into a fully fledged study group, as Reed also promised to help Dusk with chemistry - alongside me - once we had worked a bit on bio. It was surprising, honestly, how easily we got along. Sure Dusk and Reed knew each other and were friends from a previous class, but this was me we were talking about.
Instead of girls keeping a constant 5 meter distance from me, it was the opposite.
Did I mention the fact that Reed also wears glasses?
No.
'That was a rhetorical question Blanc, but thank you.'
Anytime, master!
Anyways. Despite Reed's athletic nature, it seems she also has her cute, nerdy side. She wore plain, black rimmed glasses, similar to the ones in her skin, while reading. They suited her well.
Turns out, after asking, she needs those glasses to read - the damage from her infection permanently affecting her eyes.
Despite the fact that I absolutely despised studying, time flew by in an instant. The loud sound of someone's, I won't say whose as to not throw false accusations, stomach growled-
It was yours, master.
-Ahem, signifying that it was time to grab a bite.
"There's a MacDouglas nearby," Reed commented after her giggles subsided. In my defense, I'm broke and cannot afford a filling meal - the BLT Sandwich could only satisfy my growing body's needs for so long.
"Sure," Dusk agreed without hesitation. Me, on the other hand, I hesitated. Eating out was expensive, especially when you had the option to make your own homemade food. I really needed to find myself a part-time job. Maybe Ines could give me a recommendation?
On second thought, I'd rather work somewhere less bold.
"...Alright," I eventually agreed with some reluctance.
Because I had 2 second year students with me who knew the campus well, I didn't have to suffer the fate of struggling to find the restaurant, taking a wrong turn and getting lost in some remote part of the campus. MacDouglas proved to be just as I expected: an equivalent counterpart to a certain fast food back in my old world.
Looking at the menu and the price tags listed beside the food, I stopped in my tracks, "You know, on second thought, I'm not so hungry after all. You two go on ahead."
I don't know about social norms in this world, but back in my old world, the guy usually foots the bill in cases like these, right? Well, I definitely don't have the funds for that.
"Money problems?" Reed asked. "Or is fast food not your thing?"
"The former," I replied weakly, a little bit of regret seeping into my soul for the unnecessary spending spree me and Blanc went on. That's what happens when you think with your lower body. My traitorous stomach growled in response.
What's with my body and it's newfound hunger? I remember going days at a time eating the barest of minimums, too distracted playing gacha games and watching anime to bother eating properly.
"I'll pay," Dusk offered.
"Huh? Seriously?" I asked in a mixture of hopefulness and disbelief.
"I have the money," Dusk said, shrugging her shoulders.
Still, I was hesitant. It didn't feel right having someone I just met pay for me. Then again, lots of things in this world didn't feel right. My day has been crazy thus far to say the least of things.
"You can return the favor later," Dusk added, noticing my hesitation.
"Really?"
I received a nod in response.
"Oh Dusk, I could kiss you right now," I exclaimed in happiness. "Thank you so much."
"Please…"
"Either I'm going crazy, or I just suffered sudden acute loss," I said, blinking a couple times in shock. "Maybe both. Could you, uh, care to repeat that?"
"Eh…? I-I said, 'Please do…'" Dusk murmured out, the end of her sentence still too muffled to fully comprehend.
"Oh good, I thought I was going crazy when I heard you say please do," I exhaled in relief. Sure we bonded nicely over study, but relationships don't progress this rapidly, as much as I wanted it to.
…
Right?
Master…
Looking away from the menu, I snuck a quick glance at Dusk.
'Eh…?'
Without me noticing, she was pressed up close against me, a wad of bills offered to me in her hand. Her eyes were looking elsewhere, her expression shy, cheeks tinted a rosy shade of red. Our faces were awfully close, so much so that I could feel her breath tickling against me. Gingerly, I grabbed the money offered to me.
"Thanks-"
I didn't have time to thank her properly though. After I took the money from Dusk's hands, our eyes made contact. Her pupils were dilated as Amber eyes met brown ones. Closing her eyes, as if to resolve herself, she closed the distance between the two of us and…
Kissed me?
Our lips made contact for but a single moment, yet the electric feeling that shot through me, and Dusk as well, judging from her expression, was intoxicating. I was almost tempted to go for round 2, maybe also lengthening the contact when an employee for MacDouglas appeared at the counter.
"Sorry bout the delay~ Issues at the back with the Ice Cream Machine. How may I help you?"
I blinked my eyes in stunned disbelief. Exusiai? It was just one shocking event after another.
Without batting an eye, my 2 study partners ordered their food. Actually no, scratch that, Dusk did take some time to recover herself before ordering. Left with no other option, I briefly suspended my disbelief and also ordered as well.
"Will that be all~?" the redhead angel asked once she got down our orders on the cash register. I was still in a state of shock seeing Exusiai here of all places, so Reed answered in affirmation for the 3 of us.
She did have a KFC skin, so I guess it made some sense for her working here. I still couldn't wrap my head around it, though. It didn't feel right.
"Great~ That'll be fifty five, fifty five," Exusiai cheerfully stated. Noticing the wad of bills in my hand, she added, "Cash, I presume?"
I nodded, then immediately stopped after counting the amount of money in my hand. It was enough to pay for all 3 of us.
"Wait…!" Reed, who had stayed quiet up until now, hurriedly said. "I feel bad having you pay for everything, especially after all the help you've done."
There was a faint hint of jealousy in her voice and expression. I guess she kinda was third wheeling mine and Dusk's interaction there for a bit.
Speaking of Dusk, the distance between the two of us was way closer now. Too close for friends and especially too close for someone I just met today. There was a sense of intimacy shared between the 2 of us after what had just transpired, our hands grazing each other ever so often as if debating the thought of holding hands.
"I'll pay instead," Reed offered.
And thus, I found myself in a rather peculiar situation where the 2 girls I was with were fighting over who would be paying the bill. In the end, it was decided that Reed paid 50% with Dusk paying the other 50% and me freeloading 100%.
"Please, wait over there at the counter for your food," Exusiai directed us. "Oh and Reed, you look cute in glasses; you should wear them more often."
"Oh, uhm… thanks?"
"Hehe, no worries~ You should be more confident in yourself! Anyways, see you Wednesday in P.E!"
"More confident, huh…?" Reed murmured to herself as we walked away from the cheerful waving form of Exusiai to wait by the deserted counter for our food. "Hellastic, turn around for a sec."
I did just as instructed and was met with Reed's heated lips pressed firmly against mine. The kiss lasted slightly longer than mine and Dusk's, the feeling a bit different as well, but no less stimulating.
"I get a kiss too for paying… right?" Reed asked shyly.
"Y-Yeah," I responded dumbly, my brain overloaded with what just happened
'What the hell just happened these past few minutes!?'
Blanc was no help, her voice much too amused and playful for my liking.
Great job master! Now all you need to do is take the two of them home and claim them!
'Blanc, you're not helping.'
I will admit, 2 girls on your first day. I'm actually quite astonished, really.
'Blanc, please,' I all but begged. What happened next could only be described as Blanc sticking her tongue out at me.
Bleh~
'Where is the mute button?' I asked, not expecting a response.
"Order 266!" Exusiai called out. Once we received our food, Exusiai threw a not so discrete wink plus finger guns at me as if she saw everything that transpired.
We chose a table by the window to sit. The view outside of the street and the setting sun was picturesque and dare I say, romantic. All things considered though, this was a fast food restaurant, so romance was probably not at the front of our minds.
A stomach growled - not mine this time, I swear!
If anything, food was at the forefront of my mind, right behind the thought of, 'Why are the 2 of you sitting beside me?' There was space in the seat in front, but nope, the two dragon girls opted to sit on either side of me. Rather closely as well, squishing me a bit, not that I minded.
The burger tasted the same, the fries were the same golden shade and the drinks were just as watered down - it was just like a certain fast food restaurant from my old world. A couple minutes later, I finished my food all too soon, satiating my hunger for the time being, leaving me in a situation wherein I could only watch the 2 people beside me dig into their food.
Noticing my plight, Dusk grabbed a piece of her own fries and offered it to me. I took a bite without hesitation.
"Nom."
You know, there's something about a cute girl hand feeding you food that makes it taste much better than if you had eaten it on your own. Reed, noticing what Dusk was doing, joined in.
"Nom."
I took a bite from the fries Reed offered me, only to feel Dusk's fries poke me in the cheek.
"Nom."
It was like a dam broke; I was stuck in a tug of war battle, head swiveling left and right eating the fries out of the 2 dragon girl's hands.
"Nom."
Reed was the first to run out, but that didn't stop her. Grabbing her partially eaten burger, she offered it to me instead.
"Say ahhh."
"Ahhh."
I'm not gonna lie, I was in heaven right now. If this is what a 'date' is, then by god have I been missing out.
It's a double date, master!
'Heh, I'm pretty sure that's not how things work, Blanc. Either way, life is good.'
AN: Thanks to all those who favorited, followed and reviewed.