«Aoshi… your friends already think we're dating. So why do you still refuse to consider me your girlfriend?» Eliss grumbles, walking arm in arm with him on their way home after another long night at the Moonlight Club.
Since their apartment is only a few minutes away on foot, Aoshi always prefers walking rather than leaving his precious bike unattended late at night — as if anyone would actually risk getting arrested for stealing that rusty old clunker.
«Because my friends don't know the truth,» he replies. «And I've told you a thousand times not to introduce yourself to them as my girlfriend — but apparently, talking to you is like talking to a wall…»
Eliss puffs out her cheeks like a balloon, her face turning red with frustration.
«Y-You're such a cruel man, Aoshi! My heart goes crack every time you reject me, you know? I don't see what's so wrong with letting me act like your girlfriend, at least in front of them!»
«If tomorrow morning you suddenly broke free from the curse that ties you to me, what would I tell them then? That I dumped you? Yeah, right — like anyone would believe I dumped you! They'd all think I got dumped again, just like with Miori! My excuse about you being a cleaning lady who also works as a rental girlfriend was perfect — I could've just said, "I don't need her services anymore" and that would've been it. But now I'll have to endure Ayane's pitying eyes, Takuma's teasing, and everyone else's stares at university when they see me showing up alone again. But what would you know about not being appreciated? Wherever you go, people go crazy for you…»
Aoshi looks up at the starry sky and sighs deeply.
What a mess I've gotten myself into…
And yet, he can't help but wonder what these last ten days would've been like without her. In a way, he's grateful — if she hadn't kept his mind busy 24/7, he'd probably still be holed up at home, whining while scrolling through Miori's pictures and replaying every second of that one pathetic month they shared.Yeah — in her own strange way, Eliss had saved him from a miserable fate.
«I see… I guess it won't be easy to explain things to your friends,» Eliss murmurs . «But what about now? We're alone, and yet you don't even want me to hold your hand. What's so wrong with treating me like your girlfriend, at least when it's just the two of us? I may be in love, but I'm not stupid — I know you don't feel the same way. Still, what would it cost you to pretend? Don't you think it'd be more fun if we acted like a real couple?»
«You're asking what it would cost me to pretend you're the girl I love, huh…?» Aoshi turns slightly toward her, his eyes heavy with resignation and melancholy. «The problem is… if I keep pretending, what happens when I actually fall for you?»
Eliss parts her lips as if to answer — but no words come out.
He's right… I promised Ayane I wouldn't make him suffer. It wouldn't be fair if, because of my selfishness, Aoshi ended up falling for me. It's already a miracle he hasn't — I mean, who wouldn't fall for me? Still, it's so damn hard… and knowing that my feelings are nothing more than an artificial emotion — a self-inflicted curse born from my own magic — doesn't make this emptiness and dependence any easier to bear. I'm really trying not to act like the perfect girlfriend — the kind of girl he'd regret losing for the rest of his life — but it's stronger than me. It's getting harder and harder to weigh every word and gesture that would come so naturally around him. Ugh, what a pain…
A heavy silence hangs between them all the way back to the apartment. But just as Aoshi slides the key into the lock, Eliss stops him, grabbing his arm.
«I was thinking…» Eliss murmurs. «Since tomorrow's Saturday and you don't have university… how about spending the night out?»
Aoshi stares at her, baffled — as if she'd just suggested the most absurd idea in the world.
«Ever since I came here, the only places I've seen are your house, the university, and the road between them!» Eliss grumbles. «And I've never even left Ueda! Since every day here could be my last, wouldn't it be a waste to go back to Elyndra without seeing at least a little of this world?»
«Yeah, but… it's night! And I'm exhausted from work! Not to mention it's freezing, and there's basically nothing to see within an hour's bike ride!» Aoshi complains.At this hour, after ten hours of studying and nearly five more working, the last thing he wants is to play tour guide around Nagano Prefecture.
«So what? Places that are beautiful during the day become even more magical and romantic at night! And if you get cold, I'll be here to warm you up!» Eliss insists.
How the hell am I supposed not to fall for her when she acts like this? She's the living definition of the perfect girlfriend, damn it!
«That's exactly the problem…» Aoshi murmurs, a faint blush spreading across his face.
But no matter how hard he tries to stand his ground, Aoshi has one fatal weakness — a weakness Eliss has learned far too well over these past ten days and now exploits without mercy: the puppy eyes.
His iron will melts like an ice pop under the August sun the moment Eliss unleashes those big, glossy eyes, accompanied by soft whimpers like a wounded puppy begging for affection. A lethal combo that knocks Aoshi out every time — and this time is no exception.
«Ugh… fine, you win! But just for tonight, alright?! Give me one minute — I'll grab the bike, some warm hoodies for both of us, and we'll go…»