Velvet, she—fits better and it's too awkward to refer VelvetVice as 'he' at this point—shook her head sharply, clearly unwilling to go through with something like this.
"If you're doing this just because you care about me, then don't do it at all. Please think this through carefully, Midnight."
She said it firmly, though her voice trembled slightly, half-calm—probably from holding back desires already on the edge.
"And besides, didn't you hear what Akuma said? THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES."
God, she's hilarious.
She tried to mimic Akuma's tone, but the impression was awful thanks to her deadpan expression.
I, still holding both of her now-weakening hands, let out a soft, hiccupy laugh because of how stupidly funny that was.
"Heh, not funny, you know."
"I know. Thank you, VelvetVice."
"Just call me Velvet, I guess. And I should be the one thanking you, actually."
Oh, of course. She probably felt her soul being calmed by the warmth of my hands wrapped around hers.
"For what?"
"Obviously for helping ease something... out of control. So, again—thanks."
She smiled faintly, so subtle it was barely a smile—just a tiny curve at the corner of her lips.
And that was the first time I'd seen her like that.
"Yeah, it's nothing. So? If you're still up for it, I wouldn't mind, you know?"
"You're way too easy, you know that? And do you even get what she meant by that?"
"Oh, you mean the horny bear? What about her?" I replied flatly, emotionless—which only made her snort harder trying to hold back laughter.
"Khkk, pfft…"
"If you're gonna laugh, just do it."
"No, it's fine. It's just—you calling her 'horny bear' really got me."
After that short laugh break, she returned to her serious mode.
"Okay, enough small talk."
"Now, can you let go of my hands? I'm used to it now."
Reflexively, I let go of her hands—so soft—and shifted away from her, sitting down on the bed.
"Alright, let's talk."
I gave a small nod, knowing the situation was a bit messy.
Meanwhile, right behind the wall separating me and Velvet, an unpleasant voice cut through.
"Don't mind that. Midnight, right now we need to strateg—"
"Since when did I say I'd team up with you, femboy?"
His expression froze, like he couldn't believe it.
Good. Choke on that.
I was so done with know-it-alls who act like the world revolves around them.
Trauma? Maybe. But more accurately—I just don't like bookworms in general.
Why? Because they're boring to talk to—about games or trending stuff or anything fun.
But... in Velvet's case, maybe she's different. Not as bad as I thought at first.
Maybe.
Because honestly, I still have had trauma when it comes to guys.
Especially if they're also bookworms.
That's like a double kill.
Most of them, of course, mocked my hobbies for being "unfeminine," considering I'm a girl.
But they still would lose their minds when they see me at formal events.
All of them got fooled, asking who I was.
Me? I played dumb. As if I was deaf and couldn't hear them.
Or if I had to answer, I just said something like:
"Oh, I'm [X]'s friend."
That's it. Just enough to slip back into the shadows behind the blinding lights—and eventually become the darkness itself.
"I'm not a femboy. Get that through your head,"
She snapped, cutting through my thoughts.
"Also, then what, huh? You're gonna go at it solo? No plan, no direction?"
"Yeah. Something like that."
A moment later, she pulled something out of his bag—
"Hey!"
She showed something, so familiar I just wanted to puke.
Blackmail? Hold on—how the hell did he get that?
My mind kicked into overdrive, and I pieced it together on the spot.
"So it's true... You are working with them, huh?"
"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. Your assumption could be right—but you're lacking evidence."
"Oh, really? That so?"
Son of a—
Looks like she's trying to corner me.
But too bad—I'm not the kind of mouse you can tame that easily.
Without wasting a second, I reached into my own bag—or rather, my little "magic pouch."
I hoped I could find something.
Oh, there it is.
I pulled it out and showed her. Her face immediately turned red.
"Hey! Give that back!"
Fire for fire.
That's the proper way to handle this. Equal danger, mutual destruction.
And no, I'm not telling you what either of those items are. That's our private business.
"So now we're even. Deal?"
"Ugh, fine, you thirsty virgin widow."
"Take that back, you femboy nerd."
"Aren't you the one who was about to give something that important away for free? And you're mad about me throwing in an insult?"
"Tch."
"Don't 'tch' me. Next time, think it through—especially the consequences. Don't just act out of pity."
Consequences, huh...
Honestly, there might've been a hint in that announcement earlier—but what, exactly? Still no solid proof.
What's clear is, the experiment's results will affect both the 'winners' and the 'losers.'
"Don't act like you're some detective here. Midnight, you're a gamer—not a cop."
"Hmph. Shut up."
I had just figured something out—but there he goes again, ruining it.
"You in or not? If not, I'll make sure you sleep real well."
"Sleep well? What do you—"
"Forever," I cut in, my voice slicing like a dagger.
She fell silent, probably trying to be more cautious now.
What she didn't know was that among those thousand-plus items, I'd already prepared the sleeping drugs.
Yes. All of them.
After a moment of pause, I let out a sigh and said,
"How about if we go check outside this room?"