Chapter 31: Azusa... again!

"Sorry for the wait, Azusa."

"Awww, they all look so cute, Eryn~!"

Eryn and the monstergirls left their home, walking towards the car. Azusa absolutely adored the new outfits the three monstergirls were wearing. She almost couldn't contain her voice from all the cuteness overload!

"Hello, Iris, Lofie, and Melty." Azusa dropped her hands to her knees. "It's good to see you three again!"

"Hello, Azusa." Iris greeted and bowed her head politely. "Thank you for helping Eryn."

"Hiya, Azusa!" Melty offered a hearty grin and raised her palm.

"… Hello." Lofie stood behind Eryn and poked her head out, clinging to his leg.

That's an improvement, Lofie. He gently stroked her brown hair. She made an effort to greet his best friend, despite disliking her a lot. Baby steps.

"Allow me to open the door for you." Azusa opened the car door and bowed at her waist in a dramatic fashion.

"Why, thank you." Eryn cracked a smile at her needlessly endearing gesture. He helped each monstergirl sit in the car and fastened their seatbelts.

"So!" Azusa got into the driver's seat. "How have you and the monstergirls been, Eryn?"

"Oh, nothing much, really." Eryn opened the door to the passenger's seat and rotated his seat around so it was facing the monstergirls. "We've been… pretty well, actually." Aside from Lofie sleeping underwater and Melty burning a hole through her jeans, everything has been normal!

"Good to hear that." She strapped in her belt. "So, you've been thinking about taking them to school?"

"Yeah, you could say that." He nodded, sitting in the car. "It's been on my mind since my visit to Little Flower."

"I see." She smiled, adjusting her glasses. "I didn't expect you'd reach out to me for this."

"Well…" he rubbed his neck. "You did say you could assist me with this, so I figured I could give it a shot…"

"You don't usually rely on others, do you?" she started the car engine. "Back then, you always lent your hand to others but never accepted anyone's in return."

"… Really?" He sighed. I was like that, wasn't I? He found joy in helping and doing favors for other people. But there came a point where he stepped over his own needs.

"But… it makes me happy, Eryn." She gently held his shoulder. "That you're reaching out to other people. That you're relying on me now."

"… Yeah." He bowed his head. "You always said you'd be here for me, but I never acknowledged that, huh?"

"Because you always felt you'd be bothering me." She narrowed her eyes. "I could never understand the way you think."

"I don't think I even understand myself either…" he chuckled. Since they were kids, Azusa had always been by his side but he felt undeserving of her support. I wonder why I felt that way.

"What matters now is… you're making improvements!" she patted his shoulder. "And I think, learning to depend on each other and realizing you're not alone is a big step."

"Is that so." He pondered her words. Realizing that I'm not alone, huh…? There was a time Eryn believed that being alone was the only way of living. He had cut contact with everyone, after all. He wouldn't care about anyone, and no one had to care about him. That was the life he fell into.

At least, until that day at the monstergirl shelter.

Funny enough… while I can accept living a life where I'm alone. His eyes drifted to the monstergirls sitting in front of him. I would never want them to be alone. I could never imagine a life like that for them. The life he used to live was not what he wanted to give to the monstergirls.

"I've said this already before." She smiled, a light blush gracing her cheeks. "I much prefer you like this, Eryn."

"I see." The corner of his lips curled up. "I guess I—… hmmm?"

Chills crawled up Eryn's spine. As if an ominous force was drilling into his skull. He sensed three pairs of eyes peering into his skin, two pairs of which were curious while the other pair was instilled with wrath.

"Mhhmm…" Lofie pouted, her eyes razor-focused on Azusa's hand on his shoulder.

"S-Say, Azusa…" Eryn coughed into his fist. Of course, I shouldn't be surprised by this point. Her eyes may kill me! "Mind if we get going now?"

"Sure thing." She winked, then latched her hands onto the steering wheel. "Off we go!"

During the drive…

…

..

.

I don't usually go this far…

Eryn looked out the window, seeing the horizon of buildings, vehicles, and skies passing by. As far as he's concerned, he's gone to nearby convenience stories but never to the main busy roads. But I trust Azusa knows best.

"I see so many cars!" Melty exclaimed, pressing her face against the window. Many cars of different shapes and colors passed by.

"Does Eryn have a car?" Iris put a finger on her chin.

"Ah, I don't have a car," Eryn replied. "I don't drive… well, I can't drive either. I know how to ride a motorcycle, though."

"Oh, I see." Iris nodded.

"You can't drive a car, you say?" Azusa asked, amused. "Well, well, well."

"… What are you getting at?" Eryn raised a brow.

"If you're feeling up to it, I could teach you how to drive!" Azusa beamed. "You'll have a good time learning it."

"I'm not really… interested." He briefly raised his shoulders. "I don't see myself practically using it."

"I know you like staying at home and all…" her eyes drifted to him. "And you might not drive it yourself, but you can drive for the monstergirls!"

"Eyes on the road." He reminded her with a sigh. "And for them?"

"Yeah!" She nodded. "Imagine all the places you could go to and spend time in with your monstergirls! I'm sure they'd enjoy going out and sightseeing."

"Huh…" He rubbed his chin, staring at the monstergirls. I never considered that. Would the monstergirls want that? "What do you all think?"

"As long as I'm with Eryn, I'll always have a fun time!" Melty grinned.

"I think that sounds fun." Iris smiled. "If we can go out with Eryn and spend time together."

"Humhum." Lofie nodded in agreement. "Very fun."

"I see." Eryn smiled. Maybe it's worth considering, then…?

"Heh…" Azusa smirked. "When the monstergirls are involved, you'll consider it? As long as you can make them happy, right?"

"… I didn't say anything yet." Eryn narrowed his eyes at her, a light blush glowing on his cheeks. He didn't want to outright admit it because her words hit the mark.

"You're so sweet, Eryn." Azusa giggled. "I know you cherish the monstergirls a lot, but I didn't know you had such a sweet spot for them."

"C-Cut it out…" He grumbled. Being told he cherished the monstergirls embarrassed him more than he cared to admit.

"Stop being lovey-dovey with each other." Lofie pouted, crossing her arms.

Eryn raised his brows. "Er, what do you mean by tha—…"

"Lovey-dovey, you say?" Azusa glanced at Lofie in the rearview mirror. "Why, are you afraid Eryn's going to fall head over heels for me?"

"Head over heels…?" Lofie looked to Eryn. "What does that mean, Eryn?"

"… It means she's worried I'll trip over my shoes." He sighed deeply. "Don't pay any mind to her."

"Oh, I see." Lofie nodded.

"Hey, that's not what it means!" Azusa puffed her cheeks out. "You're lying to her, Eryn!"

Lofie tilted her head. "That's not what it means?"

"I wouldn't dare lie to the monstergirls." Eryn stuck his tongue out at his best friend. "Azusa's the one lying, Lofie."

"Hey!" Azusa exclaimed. "She's lying to you, Lofie! You believe me, right?"

Lofie's eyes switched from Eryn to Azusa, then back to Eryn. She clenched her fists with the utmost confidence. "I believe Eryn!"

Eryn covered his mouth, trying to hold back a laugh. "You heard her, Azusa. I'll be tripping over my shoes instead."

"What is this feeling of betrayal…?" Comical tears streamed down her cheeks.

It can't be betrayal if Lofie's never trusted you in the first place… was what Eryn wanted to say out loud. But that sounds too mean.

"Eryn, Eryn."

"Hmm…?" He turned to the little Anubis. "What is it, Lofie?"

"I want to hold your hand." Lofie stretched her arms out towards him.

He cracked a smile at her endearing gesture. Well, doesn't this feel familiar? He remembered this also happening on their first car ride to the registration center. That was not too long ago…

"Sure, Lofie." Eryn reached out towards her belt and clicked it off. "There."

"Hum!" The moment her belt came off, Lofie leaped onto his lap, snuggling into his chest. Being in his embrace was always calming to her senses. Most importantly, she could make sure that Eryn won't trip over his shoes because of Azusa! Or whatever that meant.

"Not fair!" Melty pouted, throwing her fists down. "Don't hog him all to yourself, Lofie!"

"Don't worry." Eryn sighed, having expected this to follow. He removed her belt as well.

"Hihi!" Melty immediately squeezed into his lap with Lofie.

These two are a little too much sometimes. Eryn chuckled, wrapping his arms around the two monstergirls. Well, not that I'm against it. As long as he could see their smiles, he wouldn't mind spoiling them here and there. But now, there was one small issue here…

His eyes shifted to the lone monstergirl sitting opposite of them. She was twiddling with her fingers, her head bowed down.

"… Iris?" He turned to her. "Don't you want to come here?"

"A-Ahm…!" Iris raised her head. Her tail waved around from side to side frantically. "No, I'm okay sitting here."

"Really…?" He blinked, staring at her waving tail. It was strangely adorable seeing her animated tail which contrasted with her words. Even if she says that, her tail is telling me a different story. Does she feel like she'd be bothering Eryn? Or maybe there's not enough space for three monstergirls to sit on his lap. Last time, I settled with giving her head pats. But he wanted to give her attention as he did for her sisters.

And fortunately, an idea popped into his head.

"Lofie, Melty." Eryn tapped their shoulders. "Could you get off me for a moment?"

"… Why?" Lofie buried her head into his shirt.

"It's just for a moment." He stroked her head. "Please?"

"… Okay." Lofie reluctantly slipped her arms away. They both got off his lap.

"And… I'll just do this." He reached out towards Iris's belt and released it.

"Ah?" Iris raised her brows, her ears twitching.

"Sorry, let me lift you up for a bit." Eryn drew his hands under her arms and lifted her. He moved from his seat to their seat, setting Iris on his lap.

"Oh!" Iris looked left and right, then drew her chin up to look into his eyes.

"Is this fine with you, Iris?" He asked, patting her head between the ears

"This is much better!" Melty sat down beside him, wrapping her arms around his.

Lofie sat on his other side, nuzzling her cheek into his shoulder. "Eryn should always sit with us."

"… I like this, Eryn." Iris replied shyly, nuzzling into the warmth of his lap.

"Mhmm…" He let out a long sigh. That expression fits Iris better. And now, he has to deal with being squished by three monstergirls. Slightly uncomfortable, he would admit. But seeing their calm expressions made it all the more worth it. I can bear with this for a while…

Soon, vibrations tingled through his skin, almost making him flinch. W-What is that? The vibrations weren't unpleasant though; they soothed his nerves. He bowed his head, staring at the little catgirl purring on his lap. Ah, right… she's a cat. A fact he needed to be reminded of from time to time. Sometimes, I forget she doesn't just look like a cat.

Azusa drew out an exaggerated sigh. "Do you have space for one more, Eryn?"

"… Keep your eyes on the road."