Five minutes in the empty classroom were silent. Only filled with the sound of heated breaths.
"Ah~ Vincent~ I can't take it anymore~"
Perseus Reiss, who was now sitting on Vincent's lap with his hands tied behind the desk, looked at Vincent with an aroused face. She injected herself with a low-dose aphrodisiac and hugged Vincent as a means of self-gratification.
But Vincent was not a fool who would easily give up and accept his fate.
"Perseus."
Perseus's hands were busy caressing something protruding from under Vincent's uniform pants. She lifted her face upon hearing her name called.
"Yes~?"
"What do you really want? If you truly desire affection, I'm sure with your intelligent mind and high personality, you wouldn't do something as disgraceful as this."
Perseus fell silent. Vincent looked at her seriously. The long dark blue-haired girl turned her head in a random direction.
It was already late afternoon outside, the sky was starting to turn orange, preparing to bid farewell to the sun that had worked all day.
"Vincent.. actually, I can't communicate with anyone in a proper way. I'm not used to chatting with strangers, or even my own family."
"..."
Vincent decided to remain silent and listen.
"In the eyes of strangers, they see me as perfect. They adore me, so I can't act like a normal teenager. In the eyes of my family, I'm just one of their failed experimental children. Seeing you being kind to everyone regardless of their status made me admire you."
"Why do you see me that way?"
Perseus looked into Vincent's eyes. "I saw you walking with two girls beside you and you seemed close to them. I also once saw you talking to old people and small children with a smile on the school road. I admire you for being able to easily get close to someone regardless of who they are."
Vincent wanted to scratch the back of his head but couldn't. Could someone really be impressed for such a cliché reason?
"So? You did all this to me because you admire me?"
Perseus opened her mouth slightly, then nodded slowly while turning her face away. Vincent could see a blush on her cheeks.
"But why you did this? If I were some boy, you would be in trouble for forcibly harassing someone. In the worst case, that boy would be traumatized and never go to school again. Unless it's a boy like Gregor." Vincent said with a sigh. This way he understood Perseus's impulsive unilateral actions.
"I know. But... If it wasn't like this, I would never be able to talk to you.."
Perseus's eyes welled up again. Tears began to pool in her eyes.
"Hah... Perseus. If you just want to have a friend, you only need to ask me nicely. I will be your friend."
Perseus turned and looked at Vincent in surprise.
"Really? You won't hate me? After all this?"
Vincent nodded slightly. "As long as you don't do something like this to anyone again, I will be your friend." He smiled faintly.
Tears streamed down Perseus's face. She then hugged Vincent tightly, saying "Thank you".
***
"By the way, why did you have to inject yourself with an aphrodisiac?"
After Perseus was satisfied hugging Vincent, the girl finally untied Vincent's hands. They both stood awkwardly in the middle of the empty classroom.
Perseus was back to her usual self. The effect of the aphrodisiac seemed to have worn off. She looked like a beautiful noble girl who was perfect in every way.
"Oh, that." Her eyes glanced at the syringe on the floor and picked it up. "I have trouble controlling my emotions. I can't get angry, happy, sad, disgusted, or scared in normal situations like this. I need an aphrodisiac that stimulates the emotional senses in my brain so I can feel emotions like before."
Vincent nodded hearing her. He felt a little sympathy for the girl. What kind of life had she lived that she lost the basic human trait of emotion? And had to rely on drugs to bring it out?
"I did something bad to you today. I'm sorry." Perseus gave a small bow to apologize to Vincent. Vincent gave a small nod, forgiving her.
"Yeah, I don't really mind. Luckily, we both didn't cross the line."
Both their cheeks flushed imagining what would have happened if Perseus had crossed the line. It would have been a huge scandal in their lives.
"Well then, see you tomorrow. Vincent Fortis." Perseus tried to smile, though it still looked forced. Vincent smiled back and waved at Perseus who was walking away towards the classroom door.
"Perseus.." Vincent was about to ask something but stopped himself. The girl had already walked through the door and left. As if this afternoon's incident was just a daydream.
"That girl.. I feel like I've met her before."
***
"It took you so long! What were you doing inside the school just now? We've been standing here for half an hour, you know. Hmph." Aria puffed out her cheeks like Vittoria when she was annoyed. Vittoria, seeing Aria imitate her style, shivered with amusement.
"Yes, what were you doing in the classroom, big brother? Did something happen?" Vittoria asked. She noticed Vincent's messy uniform and the red mark on his wrist.
Gregor was also waiting for Vincent at the school gate.
"Um.. I'll tell you later." Vincent scratched the back of his head, which wasn't itching. Was it wise to tell his friends about what just happened? Probably not.
Aria, Vittoria, and even Gregor narrowed their eyes suspiciously at Vincent.
"Ah, I see. If you dare to cheat on me, my future husband... Just be prepared for tonight.."
Aria said sweetly, hiding her angry expression. Vincent shook his head and let out a long sigh.
"I'm not cheating. And I'm not your future husband."
"But you promised when we were little that we would get married when we grew up."
"That.." Vincent felt like he was checkmated in chess. Aria smiled widely in triumph, seeing Vincent not refute her.
Meanwhile, Vittoria looked envious and jealous hearing that Vincent had made such a promise to Aria.
"No! Big brother is mine! Father already told me that I belong to big brother and big brother belongs to me!" Vittoria found a stronger reason and smiled victoriously at Aria, who opened her mouth in surprise.
"What do you mean, Vittoria?" Gregor asked.
"When Vincent's father died, Vincent's father gave Vincent a will to take care of us and marry us in the future—"
Vincent immediately covered Vittoria's blabbering mouth to prevent her from getting into trouble. But alas, he was too late to cover his tsundere stepsister's mouth.
"Really?" Aria looked at Vincent with a fearful gaze. She was afraid that her feelings for Vincent would be ruined if Vincent married his own stepfamily.
Meanwhile, Gregor's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe Vittoria's words just now. And he was also very envious of the life Vincent had.
"No, no, no. That was just my father's prank."
"Is that so?" Aria asked disbelievingly. She became gloomy hearing that Vincent would marry his own stepfamily.
"Aria.."
Slap!
Suddenly, Aria slapped her own cheek and put on her usual sweet smile.
"If Vincent wants to marry his stepfamily, Vincent must marry me first! That way we all get a happy ending!"
Seeing Aria's sweet, wide smile made Vincent and Vittoria feel guilty for saying those mischievous things earlier. But they both smiled in agreement with Aria.
Not for Gregor, he was casting a curse spell on Vincent because he could no longer bear his towering envy.
"Damn you, Vincent. Damn you, Vincent. Damn you, Vincent. How dare he create a harem before me!" He said it while shedding tears of envy.
***