System Down (3)

"Noel, enzymes exist in our bodies? How many of these enzymes exist? What's the purpose of their existence? Why do enzymes look like worms? Could an enzyme be a kind of worm?"

Liliath bombarded me with questions, her small little notebook filled with 'problems'.

As for me..

"I should probably consider getting the academic basics I skill book for Liliath," I muttered under my breath..

"Noel?"

"It's complicated if you still don't understand how atoms work.."

"Atoms are the building blocks of matter, correct? I do understand what atoms are."

"Cells?"

"Cells… prison cell?"

Kai who was sitting next to me-- who had his chair dragged over since he forgot his textbook from the previous class-- slammed his head on the table, bawling out in laughter.

Liliath sent him a chilly gaze.

"I suppose the teacher should've started with animal and plant cells," She probably forgot Liliath is a newbie to science, so she skipped the cells chapter since normal students have already learnt about it last year during junior high school. "I'll teach you about it when we get home since there's quite a bit to explain.."

"Alright, sorry for troubling you.. though, how do prison cells relate to enzymes?"

"Just cells.. there's no prison. Uh.. to put it basically-- it's complicated? Enzymes are like the factories that generate materials for the cells which can be represented as a kingdom-- something like that?"

"What's a factory?"

Ugghh… ah shit. I give up...

"Uh, Noel, I need to do something so see ya," Kai who was beckoned by Eunice said before leaving the class-- probably to the staff room.

When he left, Liliath spoke.

"Nevermind the academic stuff, Noel, be careful around Kai."

"Got it.. but why? I'm just wondering.."

"Because I'm worried, that's why," Lilith pouted.

Worried.. Liliath is worried about me. Cuteness is justice? I think I lost my head there. What did Liliath tell me again?

"Okay, I will try to be careful?"

Liliath nodded with a wary look on her face.

"You two aren't eating?" Voux, who arrived in class with food he bought from the cafeteria, asked. In his hand was a small box of potato fries and tomato sauce.

"Liliath, do you want to eat anything?"

To my question, she only shook her head.

"Well, there you go.."

"Liliath is so small though, you still growing aren't you?" Saria who tagged along with Voux said out of worried.

"It's alright Saria, I'm fine," Liliath tried to dismiss but..

"Here, you can share these with me," Saria offered the chocolate cupcakes. It came in a pack of six.

"Then I will take up the offer, much appreciated.." Liliath decided to accept it but when she was about to grab one of the cupcakes, Saria pulled back.

"We have to wash our hands first, I forgot! Let's go to the bathroom together Liliath," Saria said with sparkling eyes.

Uh.. why do I have a feeling that Saria planned all this?

"Yes, let's go together."

And with that, the two left off on a journey to the girl's washroom. I could never understand why girls do that in the first place.. it's the number one cause of bathroom congestion isn't it?

"Those two are pretty sweet together," Voux said, looking towards the door they were last seen.

"Yeah.."

"Here, want one," Voux offered a potato fry.

"No thanks."

"Suit yourself," He tossed the fry he offered me into his mouth.

Following that, Prune came in with her food-- also potato fries.

"You're not eating again Noel?"

"Nope."

Prune proceeded to her seat-- right behind me and offered a fry, likewise, i turned it down. She nibbled on it one at a time.

Following that, Nine came in with her food-- her group of 'girl' friends.

"Is Liliath around?"

"Nope."

"Where is she?"

"Noel, who is she?" Voux asked.

"Don't ask."

"Tsk, so mean.. so where's Liliath? Tell me Noel, tell me~" Nine begged like a cute ass puppy. Her friends who were looking at us from the door showed a similar puppy-like look.

"What did you do Nine? What are they here for?" referring to the group of girls outside.

"They wanted to see Liliath, I told them about her purple hair and how you're her summoner~"

"You.."

"Owh, they went to the girl's washroom," Voux casually answered.

Oh fuck, why did you have to tell her Voux!? WWWHHHYYY?! Do you know what the hell Nine is??!!

"Voux!" Prune shuddered.

"W-what?" Voux stuttered.

"Thank you! You heard em' girls! Let's go!"

"Nine! Don't you dare!" I grabbed hold of her arm.

"Let go! AH! You molester! YOU MOLESTER!?" she shrilled.

"Says the pervert! You haven't told anyone your TALENT yet have you!?"

"MOLESTER! MOLESTER!"

Nine managed to tear herself away and ran with the group-- not before she snicker at me in triumph..

"N-noel.. what now.. what now.." Prune fell into a state of chaos..

"Should I chase after her..?"

Ughh.. but those stabbing stares from the other girls! If only they knew the truth about Nine, damn bitch. No damn way I'm letting Nine see Liliath in the bathroom...

"Noel.. what's going on?" Voux asked.

"It's you--" Prune growled, glaring at him.

"W-what? I don't get it.."

"You shouldn't have told him.. her..!"

"W-what.. don't strangle me, hey.."

"Did I miss something?"

"""Huh?"""

Liliath and Saria suddenly appeared behind us-- Saria, dead on the table.

"H-How.. I thought you were going to the washroom.." Voux stuttered as he voiced.

"Ah, about that, I intended to 'troll' the pursuers," Liliath chuckled.

Prune and I looked at each other and let loose a sigh of relief.

That bitch Nine had failed in her attempts-- not really, she's still going to enjoy the scene in the bathroom with the other girls. Damn, she's a pervert.

"Did something happen?"

"No.. luckily you teleported here if not.. you'd be pinned down by Nine at the washroom.."

"Is that so? Quite fortunate indeed," Liiath replied in an expression of wonder.

Wait, she didn't know?

"Huh? Did you just say teleport?" Voux looked at me and Liliath bewildered.

"You didn't know that Nine was coming for you?"

Liliath shook her head in denial.

"Then.."

"Ahem. You can actually teleport, Liliath?"

"I attest to Liliath's power," Saria shot up from her seat and jumped at Liliath, rubbing her face against her. Liliath didn't seem to mind however. "Liliath is amazing~ ufufufu."

"Yes, I can bring a number of people along, however it does expend a good amount of mana which would take a few hours to replenish," Liliath added, gently pushing Saria away.

"Noel, You really got yourself a cheat summon.." Voux jaw seemed to drop.

"Yeah, I think so too.."

"Liliath, if it isn't Nine then-- who exactly are the pursuers?" Prune asked the question I was wondering also.

"Is that so? Then I suppose-- it's a secret," Liliath placed her index finger to her lips.

A new crazy mystery is unfolding.. ugghh..

But at least Nine failed..

"Um.. what is Nine's TALENT?" Voux's question faded into the wind.

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"WAAAAHHH!! PERIOD CRAMPS SUCK!!" Nine who was sprawled on the living room couch, head first in the cushion, complained.

"Why did you choose to be a girl in the first place, huh?" I scowled.

"UWAA… Noel onii-chan is so mean! So mean!" Nine started beating her fist against the innocent couch.

"You can turn back into a male and the period would disappear right?"

"Oh yeah, you're right," Nine twisted her head to look at me.

"So?"

"I'll eventually have to face the pain either way.. better now than later.. uwuwuwuw.." She cried.

"Can you just wait it out?"

Change to a male-- wait two weeks-- back into a female and period gone-- or is it that he'll get a period as a male if she swaps gender at this point in time? I don't dare to imagine the sight of that..

"I can't. It's like this, when I'm in my female body, the male one is frozen-- in a 'save' file-- vice versa. So if I change into a male, I won't have a period but once I change into a female, it would continue where I left off on my female 'save'. Uwuuwuwuwu.."

"Suit yourself.. pervert.."

"So mean.. Uwuwuwu.."

I think it's karma though?

I got up from the other couch and headed towards the kitchen where Liliath and Prune were cooking a meal to celebrate our first day of school-- instant noodles. Yes. Your typical college food-- except this isn't college but it's very similar.

"Should we add one of these sauces?" Liliath asked Prune who wore a yellow apron.

"Not recommended. If you want, you could always add it separately on your own plate later," Prune tossed the sliced carrots and tomato into the pot.

"Smells good," I said.

"Noel, what sauce do you think would suit the noodles?" Liliath asked, pointing towards the row of condiments she bought last time.

"Chilli paste."

"I will add lots on your plate later Noel, hmph!" Liliath turned away.

Hahaha. Looks like Liliath has gotten better at common sense.

The noodles were done, the entire pot was brought to the table-- let's not forget the coaster. Nine dragged her tiny body over, and took a seat.

Liliath consoled the suffering Nine while Prune took a photo of the meal before we started eating.

Liliath poured some of the tea she made into her own noodle broth. Eating heartily, I could only smile wryly at that.

Nine didn't have much of an appetite-- and she was adamant on facing the pain head on. She could always change to her male form and eat but wasn't keen on doing so-- saying something like bringing justice to those who always complain males don't understand the pain of period.

Makes sense..?

Though, my hypothesis is that Nine's female form would remain hungry if she ate with her male form-- since she sometimes eats double the portion when switching between male and female during the meal. It was a weird sight to behold.

"So is it?" Prune asked.

"It tastes good."

"That's great to hear."

"Noel, you wanted chilly paste didn't you?" Liliath who sat beside me pushed the said item over.

"No thanks.." I pushed it back..

"I knew it," Liliath puffed her cheeks.

Ignoring that..

"Thank you two for cooking this though.. rather.. for every other meal.."

Meals, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner were all cooked by either Liliath or Prune. The two girls in the apartment-- not..

"Don't look at me like that.. I'll cry, you know?" Nine looked at us with teary eyes.

"Isn't it a disgrace for a woman to not know how to cook?" Prune smiled.

"I'm a half-woman!" Nine complained.

Half-woman.

The three of us laughed at her response.