I won't talk to him anymore. He is full of lies. He doesn't really trusts me. And most importantly, I hate him.

Why does he need to lie to me?

Why does he need to play me like this?

I should complete my objective soon. I should find my replacement as soon as possible.

And then...

...And then.... I'll go back to my mother... And we'll never see each other again.

“Sniff...”

No. I wiped my eyes. I don't need to cry. We are better like this.

“What are you doing up in here?”

I don't need to turn around to know who's walking upstairs. I already know him just all by his calm and steady voice.

“Why are you all alone up in here Eli-chan? It's already noon so I'm sure it's pretty hot in here.”

“.........”

That got nothing to do with you. So just leave me alone.

*Swoosh~*

“Oh I think I get it.”

“......”

“Is it because of the breeze. Fumufumu. The sun's love is too hot but the cool breeze balanced it out. Pretty comfortable isn't it?”

“......”

“Eli-chan. I apologize alright? You're making me worry with you acting like this.”

Liar.

Don't show fake concerns to me. I know it's fake. I'm nothing to you isn't it? So why would you be worried to me?

I'm just a nobody you can't trust. I'm unreliable and I'm not the most beautiful girl out there.

There's a lot of them that could easily replace me. So why don't you just invest your time to them?

“Let's talk.”

Stop. Leave me alone already! I don't want to talk to you.

I hate you very much.

“Fufufufu. Very well. But we should go because Lyn and everyone is waiting for us.”

No.

He tried to pull me up but I tightened my muscles. Mark didn't stop but increased his strength so we had a little struggle.

In the end, he only managed to lift me up slightly.

“Oh hell. Did you got tired walking upstairs? Then leave it to me.”

Eh?

Before I could understand what he meant by that. I am already looking at the bright blue sky.

I can no longer feel the hardness of the concrete wall going against my butt. I cannot feel the coldness of the wall against my back as well.

The floor was replaced by two arms holding me tightly. And the cold wall became a warm. And the hard muscles underneath his soft skin gives me a comfortable feeling.

But I....

No! Put me down!

I waved my legs and squirmed in his embraced. I wanted to get down.

Put me down! Let go of me!

But he didn't. Instead, he started walking downstairs!

No! I don't want to go with you.

“Stop it Eli-chan. It's dangerous.”

Shut up! I don't care!

Simple struggle won't work so I punched his face.

But I couldn't hit him.

So I increased the power and speed of my punches.

Yet Mark evaded all of them. He's even doing it with minimum effort. He makes it look so easy.

This is frustrating!

“You know Eli-chan. My best feature is my reflex and instincts. I honed them since I was young. Because it's the best way to protect myself from any threat and harm. No matter how powerful or devastating an attack is, it's meaningless if it can't hit me.”

Is that so? Then I'll make sure to attack you in a way that will not give you a leverage to dodge.

So I bit his upper arm because it's the closest target to my mouth.

“Ow! Wait Eli-chan— Ah!”

Mark was saying something but I couldn't hear it anymore.

The world started to spin. It's spinning very fast. But I feel like the time had slowed down.

What just happened...?

I focused my eyes and before I could completely comprehend what just happened, I saw the edge of one of the steps of the stair enclosing into my face.

We fell...?

And I'm going to die?

I felt scared for a second then realized this is fine. There's nothing to fear. It's just death. This is a good end as well.

I just hope Mark is okay.

My eyes cried which I closed it tightly and waited for the end.

Goodbye Mark.....I lo—

*BAM!*

In the darkness, I can tell that the world stopped spinning.

Did I finally die?

Is this death?

It's lonely.

Yet I felt warmth around me.

“F-Fufufu... What are you closing your eyes for? With your skills, I'm sure you can protect yourself.”

Eh?

I can hear Mark's voice. So he won't let me go even in the after life? He's just really...

“Hey! Open your eyes already. And why are you crying?”

He caressed the corner of my eyes. I can feel it.

I opened my eyes gently. At first it's blurry. Then everything became clearer.

What face me is his smiley face.

“W-Why are you.. here..?”

“Ohh. You finally spoke again. And what the hell are you asking? Did you hit your head? But I'm pretty confident I protected you well.”

“You're dead as well...?”

“Huh? Oh—Fuh-hahahahaha! Eli-chan, we're still alive. I'm not that weak hahahaha!”

But I am sure I died.

“Eli-chan, we're alive.”

What just happened?

I bit him. We fell downstairs. And now I'm in his bosom while his back is on the wall.

“Are you alright...?”

“Heh. Well I'm fine.”

“I-I'm sorry...”

I didn't mean to hurt him.

“Don't worry about it. Let's go now shall we?”

I helped him stand up.

I messed up. What if I caused his death? What if he's actually hurt and he's just lying to me?

“Ar—”

“Hmmm..?”

I want to know if he's really alright. But he'll just lie to me again. He lacks trust in me after all. There's no way he'll be honest with me.

I.....

....He really need... somebody better....

I'm sorry Mark...

“How do you feel Eli-chan?”

I feel guilty.

“Are you still mad at me?”

I.... I don't know.

“Well then. Let's forget about that for now.”

“........”

He pulled me forward by hand but I struggled to no avail.

“Fufufufu.”

He just giggled.

And just like that, in silence, we reached the canteen.

“Mark~ You're slow!”

“Good morning Mark.”

“Hello Mark-kun.”

“Yahho~ Mark-kun~~”

“Humph! Do you think you're a VIP or something? How dare you be so slow!”

“My bad.”

“Anyway, have a seat and eat. It's my treat today!”

Mark pulled me and made me sit beside him.

I don't want to be here yet he doesn't want to free me.

“This place is pretty silent. I didn't know there's a building like this in our school.”

“Why wouldn't you know? You're in Camhigh since you're in grade seven right?”

“Despite my appearance, I'm actually a busy person.”

“Busy for what? You're just an average student.”

“We average people also has things to be busy with.”

You're not an average person Mark you liar.

“Heh. Anyway, aren't you gonna introduce me?”

“Knowing your personality, I'm sure you already did that beforehand Lyn.”

Mary hugged Lyn's arm.

“Exactly Mark-kun. We're close friends now you know~”

“Do it anyway.”

“Very well. Everyone, this is Lyn. She's Al's twin sister.”

“Hey hey! I'm ‘Lyn D. Ellcrín’! Just call me Lyn hahahaha!”

“You sure are energetic. Anyhow, Lyn, that golden cow girl over there is Rose. She's a rich—”

“Mark! Who are you calling a ‘cow girl’!”

“Be mindful of your voice Rose. This place has few customers so you're voice is too audible.”

“Huh?! Don't lecture me. And you haven't answered my question yet!”

“Oh hell Rose. I'm sorry but we're both taken.”

“Huh??? Ah! How dare you! That's not what I meant by ‘answer’!”

“It isn't? Aren't you just misremembering things?”

“Shut up! Who would want to be with you?!”

“Eli-chan at the very least does.”

But we already broke up Mark. And I don't even deserve you.

“Uwaa~ You're group seems to be always having fun Mark.”

“Fufufu. You're so accurate in your judgement Lyn.”

“Do we look like we're having fun?! Humph!”

“Fufufufu~ Next.”

Mark suddenly pulled me closer to him which caught me off guard.

“This is Elizabeth. She's my pretty and strong girlfriend.”

“.........”

“““““..........”””””

“Why are you all looking at me like that?”

“Because you look like a thug who is forcing a girl to be his girlfriend. Look at your girlfriend's repulsed look.”

“Ehh~ Oh hell. I don't look like a thug Al. There's a reason for this.”

“What reason? Did your love potion finally lost it's potency?”

“Oh hey Rose. What's that supposed to mean?”

“Rose-chan, I think we both know the reason.”

“Huh? Mary? What are you talking about?—Oh. Ah. Humph!”

“What? What? Share it as well.”

“I'm sorry Lyn-chan.. but I don't think it's something we could share.”

“Tell me Mary! I thought we're already good friends. Hey Mae! Convince them as well. We shouldn't be left out!”

“Lyn, that's inappropriate.”

“It's not like we'll spread it.”

“Don't worry Lyn. I also don't what they're talking about. Anyway, Eli-chan and I are good.”

What is he planning this time?

I want to leave already.

He picked up his spoon and scooped a spoonful of rice. Mark then put it in front of my mouth.

What do you want me to do with that?

“Eli-chan, say ‘ahh~’”

You're going to feed me? But that's too intimate. We're no longer a couple so that's inappropriate.

I turned my head away.

“““““..........”””””

“Uh-huh. Oh hell. Fufufufu~”

“You sure you're both okay?”

“Yes of course Lyn. We're just having a small misunderstanding. But leave it to me.”

You lied to me Mark. You don't trust me

It's not just a small misunderstanding.

Unless— or rather, you don't really take it seriously right?

“Oh. Ha! Anyway, we should all start eating!”

“Very well. I've been waiting for it.”