Day by day, the tables were turning for Eve. Eve was speechless by Chung's altruism and determination. After a week spent with him, he'd performed much higher than she had predicted. The first few days, she'd tested his mettle to see how he'd withhold the situation— the boy was ordered to help Oberon with some tedious task she'd assigned the Nasod and then come and relay his knowledge to her. But without her telling him to, it became a nature of his to do things altruistically. Not only that; his knowledge was rather invaluable to her. The information Chung was providing her was bringing her to new areas and fields that made discovering the Ancient Nasods much more attainable. She was closer to the secret of the Ancient Nasods than ever. Only a few questions still lingered about regarding the Nasods. Other than that, the progress they were making was miraculous, and he'd become somewhat of a necessity to her.

Actually, too much of a necessity.

He was overdoing himself. Knowing human nature, there was almost always some motive to a person's actions. Perhaps Chung was tracking the amount of information and accumulating a debt against her, waiting until the very last moment before he mentions it to pull in the payment. She couldn't possibly afford to be in such monstrous debt to him.

Of course, he himself had insisted that it was no big deal and that it was all off his own decisions. Despite that, however, she still felt as though he was planning something against her. When she thought about how in debt she was, discontent came to mind. She wasn't planning on letting him work extra again.

That definitely wasn't the worst part though. That thumping, pounding, and pulsing sensation she felt awhile ago? Sadly, it hadn't gone away. In fact, it only grew stronger as the days passed. The feeling of... interest and desire for companionship, they were things that could break her position as Minister. She definitely would not make such a sacrifice like that. Denying that emotion was her only option.

Now, Eve thought about these things as she watched Chung lay back on the couch. He looked peaceful, and exhausted, there. "Are you... tired?" Of course, it was obvious by his actions that he was fatigued, but she asked anyways.

"Yeah..."

The moment grew into an awkward silence. Chung's eyelids were shut closed. Eve's eyes were intently watching him. Thoughts were still flooding her head like a coursing river. It disgusted her that he truly did not mind straining himself to perform tasks. It irked her even more that he was doing it off his own accord. Did he not realize it was bad for his condition and health?

The echoes of clinking cans bounced off the walls into the living room. Ophelia had returned with a new load of stuff for her creator to work with. By the time Eve heard the noise, Chung was already sitting up to get the stuff.

"I-I'll get it!" Eve held her hands up to stop him. Surely if she did the work then the problem would be solved in its entirety. There would be no debt or accountability held against her. "Just stay and rest."

As she made her way to go help, she left Chung with a confused look. Since he'd come here, she'd never offered to do his share of extra work— mostly because it was Oberon's, Ophelia's or another Nasods' job to to it in the first place and he was jumping in just to be helpful. Lately, she even seemed mad at him for doing tasks. The fact that she was doing it now was baffling... But still sweet in itself. Maybe Eve just wanted to be nice to him.

Perhaps he'd let her take this one. Just this one time.

...

Or not.

She carried bulging bags and bags of cans into the room. The load looked like it might explode any second, and the person handling it was a little too weak for the job. The blonde boy stood and approached Eve, grabbing the bags from her before they spilled out.

She was rather calm about him jumping in; the task was much more challenging than it appeared, and she regretted even getting up at all. There would just have to be another option for ending her debt. For now, she would turn the duty over. As soon as he reached out and grabbed for the loops of the bags, she was compliant and loosened her grasp.

Before she released the bags, however, the tip of his fingers brushed against hers. The contact was like an electric shock that sent a tingle through her all the way up to her chest, even if it was only a light and momentary brush. With a slight flinch, her grip that had relaxed became tense.

"N-No, I got it. " Eve told him, pulling the load back towards her. She had to be more assertive than that! This position she was in was not to be taken lightly— the debt she was in now was bad enough, and this was the only option! The fact that she was passive ashamed her!

Chung laughed lightly at her. "Eve, it's alright. I'll help." It really wasn't that big a deal for him— anything he could do to help, after all.

"No I've got it!" She told him with more force. The sound of his laugh was light and bright, and it put discomfort inside her; so badly did she want to slap him. She would not let him do this. Her hands turned pale from tightly holding the loops of the bag. "Go and return to resting! You'll be working much harder if you don't listen to my instructions!"

"That's alright," was his response back. He just couldn't quite understand why she was being so insistent. "Would you still like some help Eve?"

Now she'd lost it— his response was so infuriating to hear! He'd want to do work so he could get more work?! That was counterproductive for his position! Was he really that big of a... a... an imbecile?! She completely released the bags and surrendered them to him. At this point, she was flat-out tired of fighting him. If he wanted it, he could have it.

"Thank you, Miss Eve." Chung readjusted his hold of the bag loops. Getting her to give in was surprisingly easier than he expected. Of course, he also wasn't expecting to get 'all' the bags she was holding either, but oh well. Nonetheless, it was a pleasant surprise that she wanted to do it herself. "Anyways, what were your plans for the rest of today?"

... Wait a minute. Had she really just submitted to him? How did that happen?

... It must have been his level head that won over her subconscious. Despicable, but clever in reality.

... Well, at the very least... She should express gratitude for his willingness.

As Chung turned around so he could go around to her work desk, she called out to him. "Chung."

"Hmm?" What could Eve be calling him for? He looked her way curiously.

"I..." Well, she didn't do this very often to be truthful, so the words were still forming in her mind very slowly, "I would like to thank you for your assistance." That was all she really needed to say. "That is all."

She... Was thanking him? He didn't expect that. The sides of his cheeks warmed up as he awkwardly smiled in response. "O-Oh, thank you Eve!"

At the sight of his strange expression, once again, she started to feel uneasy. How irritating and frustrating it was to feel this way, especially regarding Chung. And because of that, she very much desired to remove the innocent smile off his face.

So, she slapped him in anger.

Stumbling backwards and dropping the bags, Chung clutched the left side of his face. "Hey, that hurt!" It was so out-of-the-blue for her to do that too.

And right on cue Eve's pair of black and white servants flew from out of nowhere and began barraging— or rather, gently pushing— the blonde. "Moby and Remy, you may stop." Commanded their creator as she placidly watched. She'd honestly forgotten that they'd appear. It was amusing though.

"They aren't stopping." Chung was surprised— the two drones always followed orders from Eve, their master and creator. Perhaps, it was a malfunction? He simply continued to back up as they moved him. "That's kind of—"

Just to Chung's luck, one of the bags he dropped was just near his foot.

And he tripped.

"Gah!" The world suddenly felt like it was tilting and wobbling beneath him. He tried to catch himself with his other foot; instead, his foot caught the other and kept it from rebalancing himself. His life was flashing before his eyes even though he knew there was probably nothing dangerous behind him. "H-Help!"

Without thinking, Chung grabbed Eve's wrist.

"Huh?!" ... What was this?! He grabbed her! At first she attempted to pull herself upright or be released from him, but the touch of his hand pulsed a shock through to her chest that snapped her concentration. The bits and pieces of frustration diminished as she slowly began to plummet towards him. And despite having the knowledge that there was nothing but him and a couch behind to fall on, the lack of control on the situation made her squeeze her eyes tightly shut.

...The fall wasn't bad, Chung had to admit. The couch was soft. Comfy, actually. His mind almost completely shut down though. His heart was pounding from fear, even though it was a short fall backwards— only about two or three feet. He felt rather fine, other than that, and there really wasn't anything he should have been worried about.

His eyes were closed, shut tight. There was something heavy pressing against him, though, and it was emitting a light warmth. Something was pushing down on his mouth too. It was rather... Soft and plush, yet still weighing down on his lips.

... Hadn't he... Grabbed Miss Eve's hand?

He cracked his eyes open, daring to see what weird situation he had caused. His heart beat a mile a minute and his cheeks blushed scarlet as the scene repeated itself in his head from another perspective, accompanied with the view he had now. His cyan colored eyes were staring straight at tightly shut eyes, a blue globe, and silver hair. Eve was right at his face and tightly clutching his shirt!

But that wasn't what got the panicked and embarrassed reaction out of him. A little lower, something between the chin and the nose was revealed to be the thing pressing against his mouth...