“Avner, are you close to my sis?”

“Me? Personally, no. I only came to visit her because I feel bad for her.”

“She’s different from the sis I know. It’s kind of worrying.”

“I understand that.”

“I saw the medications, so yeah.”

Dowal brought me out to the hall to have a private conversation in Lynda’s absence. He wanted to know more about Lynda’s condition, and since I’ve been with her longer than himself, he thought I could address some of his concerns.

“I’m going to get some food for her. How long are you staying?”

I checked the time.

“I’ll be going back in a little while more.”

“You’re not going to have lunch here? I can buy food for you if you’re alright with it?”

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m going to have lunch at home.”

“Too bad. Then I’ll go now to get those potato cheese wedges she asked for. Stay with my sis a little longer. She’s been complaining about how lonely she feels.”

“Right.”

I saw Dowal off before returning to the room.

“What did my brother say to you? Nothing weird I hope?” On the couch still chewing on a cracker, Lynda asked.

“He asked me if we’re close, I said no.”

“Not yet at least.”

I took a seat on the chair.

“Do you still feel weird? Up here?”

“My noggin? Sure do.”

She just admitted that there’s something wrong with her brain. I really didn’t know what else to say. Is it insensitive to ask anything more?

“Did the doctor say anything? You should still be able to return to school as normal next year, right?”

“Should be. I don’t think they’ll keep me here too long. I’m getting discharged next Monday, three days from now.”

“That’s good.”

“Avner, thank you for noticing.”

“Noticing?”

“Thank you for telling me about this disease. I don’t know what would’ve happened if I lost myself outside the hospital.” Lynda pressed the springy couch with her finger.

“There’s definitely something wrong with your noggin.”

“No point crying over spilt milk can I?”

“True.”

“See you next year then. Do you know which class you’re in yet?”

“I thought we stay in the same class, just with different years?”

“You’re moving up from junior to senior high school, remember?”

“Oh right. But I don’t think they revealed the list so early.”

“Are you hoping to join the science classes by any chance?”

“I’m probably going to enter the art stream though.”

“Art? Why?”

“It’s more convenient.”

“Don’t you learn more if you’re in the science stream?”

“I’d rather spend the time learning how to make money.”

“Make money? At this sort of age? Shouldn’t we enjoy life? It’s not like we get to repeat this experience in the future?”

I shrugged.

“You’re so weird.”

“By the way, your brother. Won’t he inherit your father’s company?”

“What? No way. Our father wouldn’t even allow us to touch it. He said something like a family feud is going to happen if he does that so he told us to find ways to earn a living on our own.”

“How’s progress?”

“What progress?”

“Nevermind.”

Of course she wouldn’t understand.

I’m the abnormal one for being concerned about money and life stability at this sort of age. Shin’s mind is the culprit to justify this thought process of mine.

“All I need is to find a capable spouse right?” Lynda gave a delayed reply.

“Good luck with that.”

I picked up another seaweed cracker.

And then I realized that Lynda was staring intently at me.

“Not me,” I said.

“Yet.”

“You won’t like it, trust me.”

“What do you mean I won’t like it?”

“No meaning.”

She phrases her words without any context. It’s hard to understand what she’s saying sometimes.

“Avner, who do you really like?” She leaned forward and picked up another cracker.

“I don’t like anyone.”

“No way. Then who’s that elf with the white hair?”

“Were you stalking?”

Lynda nodded.

She had all this free time in the hospital. It’s no wonder she’d do something so impractical.

“It’s not hir.”

“Who then?”

“I don’t know. Yet.”

“Yet? That means it’s open. Will you reconsider then?”

“I told you that I don’t like you already, Lynda.”

“Yet.”

“I’m being honest.”

“I’m being honest too. There’s no way you would’ve saved me for no reason at all.”

“I saved you because I didn’t want you to create a cult in the baking club.”

Lynda blinked.

“I created a cult?”

“You did.”

“With who?”

“Your friends.”

“Were you included?”

“You didn’t even know me.”

“But now I do. So does that mean I have to make you join my cult next year?”

“It’s better if you don’t. The cult began because more vampires began appearing, and everyone needed each other’s blood, that’s all.”

“I won’t. I’m saving my first bite for you.”

Goosebump appeared on both my arms.

Reminding myself I can’t reason with this girl. I recalled the Lynda described in .

In the novel, she is in a sense, the club troublemaker, creating new issues that have to be resolved every time. Rurita spends much of her time trying convince her from doing stupid things. To no avail of course.

Lynda’s case is rare among the many. Not every person infected with NtBM will have their mental state affected to such a degree.

“Lynda, you’re only going to scare others if you keep talking like that.”

“I know. I can’t help it. It’s me, I have to accept who I am,” she folded her arms.

“...”

“You’ll accept me as me right, Avner?” She looked at me with eyes hesitant for my reply.

I dipped my head a little.

“Then that’s all that matters. See you next year.”

Even though I hadn’t stood up to leave, Lynda was already waving at me with a blooming smile.

It made me question if I should have left her alone to begin with?

===

What kind of problems would appear moving into the main story line? I don’t know.

Stubborn, obstinate and an airhead. Lynda is slowly transforming into that unique character I’m familiar with in . The authentically silly personality which stands out as quirky is actually quite scary in reality.

Lynda in the original story was clingy, but didn’t particularly have anyone she liked. She was that cheerful aloof character who served the purpose of lightening the mood of the story.

As the character who brought joy to the readers, I didn’t think it would be so painful to see her personality distort in front of me.

===

Lia happily accompanied grandma and grandoa in their galactic war base management game.

Meanwhile, I did some checks on the supplies I would need for next year’s class.

The holiday ends in another week.

Both Lia and I were somewhat excited for the return.

I downloaded the preloaded textbooks and workfiles which would be used throughout the year.

In , Avner is a student of class 4A despite the main storyline happening in class 4I. I wasn’t sure which class I’d end up in because of the changes I’ve made, so it’s something to anticipate. I think it’ll only be revealed during the first day of the official opening.

That asides, my Arthub profile which had been gaining some attention lately had suddenly just fallen into a flat dip. I began wondering again, what exactly I should do as an artist.

Saturday passed just like that.

===

dotturndot: Ah yes.. I’m dropping more hints on the school arc– it’s coming so yea~

Actually, back to my previous author’s note, I’m really just ranting. You know, those writing blues? (Not writer’s block, writer’s block is really just procrastination). I can’t help but be affected by the statistics or how I receive negative feedback on how confusing my writing is and stuff.

It’s a creative fallacy. Those that are satisfied tend to stay quiet, those that are dissatisfied would voice their concerns. So there’s that bias. I wonder if I really do need to call it quit at times?

If push comes to shove, I’ll just drop this series and try again.