129 More than Friends, Less than Lovers?

『Huh? Are you two childhood friends?』[Nova]

The relationship between Alex and Kikhia seemed a bit strange to be just childhood friends.

Something about it caused Nova to doubt them.

『Well… we've been together since we were kids…?』[Alex]

『...We aren't friends.』[Kikhia]

Alex looked like he just got hit in the gut.

『..?!...Oh. I thought...』[Alex]

She looked away and murmured under her breath.

『...Of course we're more than friends...』[Kikhia]

Alex cheered up with a bright look in his eyes when she said this.

『Oh… Right! Best friends!』[Alex]

This time, it was her turn to get depressed.

Nova awkwardly laughed off both of their suffering.

They arrived at the cafeteria,

『Uh… How about we go inside and eat?』[Nova]

He opened up the door, exposing a completely empty cafeteria.

『Food…?』[Alex]

When they came in, there was nobody inside, with no smell of any food in there.

『...Hello? Is anyone here?』[Nova]

They looked around, but there was no sign of any cooking in the cafeteria.

『...Oh, no. Is the cafeteria closed for the week?』[Nova]

『...I should have thought this out better.』[Kikhia]

Nova took his phone and gave Freyana a call.

Alex and Kikhia stared offhandedly at Nova.

『Hello?! Nova?!』[Freyana]

『Hello? Uh… Is the cafeteria open during Drasil week? 』[Nova]

『Oh. Nope! Did you want to go eat?!』[Freyana]

Nova muted the phone for a moment.

『Did the both of you want to go eat dinner with me and my girlfriend?』[Nova]

『Well, sure, of course.』[Kikhia]

『Are we not already going to do that?』[Alex]

『Well...』[Nova]

He unmuted himself quickly.

『Yeah, but… There's two others with me, is that alright?』[Nova]

Instead of getting a straightforward answer from her like he expected, he got a question from Freyana.

『Are they your guy friends?』[Freyana]

『Yes and no..? There's a girl an-』[Nova]

『I'll be right there.』[Freyana]

The call suddenly cut.

『...Huh?』[Nova]

The two bystanders stared at him in confusion.

『Is the cafeteria closed?』[Kikhia]

『Oh, well it's closed through all of Drasil week.』[Nova]

Alex's excitement turned downcast.

『I see… So I guess we're going to sleep hungry?』[Alex]

『Huh? No. We're going to go eat.』[Nova]

『Wait. What? Where?』[Alex]

『At a restaurant, probably?』[Nova]

『A..A… restaurant?!』[Alex]

Kikhia seemed to put up her guard.

『Isn't that… dangerous?』[Kikhia]

『...No? It's safe, as long as you don't go to a weird restaurant...』[Nova]

Her eyes seemed to narrow before Alex grabbed her hand and began to shout.

『Let's go, Kikhia! I want to go!』[Alex]

In his blind excitement, he didn't get to see Kikhia look off and blush.

『...Fine.』[Kikhia]

Suddenly, a loud noise screamed loudly, seemingly from outside the cafeteria.

A loud boom crashed through the cafeteria as Freyana stood at the door in a fancy light green dress.

『I'm here! Am I late?!』[Freyana]

『...Why are you so dressed up?』[Nova]

『Huh? I thought we were going on a double date...』[Freyana]

She looked at Kikhia, who had her arms around Alex's.

『...It still doesn't look like I'm wrong?』[Freyana]

『Oh, uh… we're just bes-』[Alex]

『Yes. A double date. Let's go get some more elegant clothing as well.』[Kikhia]

『Huh?』[Alex]

She began to drag him away.

『Please wait for us. We will return here momentarily.』[Kikhia]

Freyana and Nova stood in shock for a moment.

『W-Wait! Kikhia! Boys dorms are the other way! Let me go with him! I need to get some fancy clothes as well!』[Nova]

She turned around jerkily and awkwardly.

『A-Ah. I… see! Yes! Thank you, Nova!』[Kikhia]

She let go of Alex's arm, letting him stay there in silence as she ran off.

『...Uh… Right. Let's go to the dorm.』[Alex]

Freyana seemed to still be in shock, but she put her hand up toward Kikhia.

『Wait! Uh… Excuse me!』[Freyana]

Kikhia turned around, still a bit awkwardly.

『Y-Yes?』[Kikhia]

『Shall we… go together?』[Freyana]

『Ah.. But you already have your-』[Kikhia]

Nova caught on to what Freyana wanted to do.

『No-no! You should go together!』[Nova]

『Oh… Then, I will accept your offer. Thank you for accompanying me.』[Kikhia]

The two of them began to walk the other way, causing Nova to sigh in relief.

『But… she had her dress already. Why would she need to go there?』[Alex]

『...To get to know her. Freyana doesn't have many friends at this school yet.』[Nova]

『Kikhia doesn't have any either, now that I think of it...』[Alex]

Alex suddenly seemed a bit distraught.

『...Oh! She's been with me the entire time… Is that.. My fault?』[Alex]

『No. Nothing wrong with spending time with the girl you like-』[Nova]

Nova realized that he might have said a bit too much.

『...How did you know?! Did I accidentally tell you?!』[Alex]

Nova decided the best choice here was to quickly play it off.

『Oh… It was a slip of tongue. So it was true?』[Nova]

Alex threw his hands around, trying to explain, before eventually giving up.

『Ack?! Uh... I shouldn't have said anything...』[Alex]

Nova laughed out loud for a bit, before turning to walk the other direction.

『Hahaha! No, it's alright.』[Nova]

Alex turned to Nova and watched him walk off before walking after him.

『Huh? What do you mean?』[Alex]

Nova put his finger to his lips

『Your secret is safe with me. Let's go for a walk.』[Nova]

Alex followed along, still a little worried.

『I'll promise you. I need to take my mind off of some stuff, so would you like to tell me about yourself?』[Nova]

Nova found that he was still worrying about Yudola's group of people.