2.7.

"Quick! Cut these chains, otherwise hikh!?"

"Excuse us," Iona appeared out of nowhere and was about to take Nynim away–

"Wait, wait! Iona, what's going on?" Sequencee interrupted.

"The elf has been watching the two of you from afar. I judged her to be an enemy."

"Says who?!"

The passerby were attracted by the commotion, suspending the flow of people, they created an ever expanding peanut gallery.

"She's not an enemy, calm down."

"If that's what you judge, then I will obey. Should I release her?"

"Yeah.. you probably should.."

All it took was a touch from Iona's fingers to turn the black chains into dust. Nynim was finally free, but her haggard figure looked like nothing but trouble. She jumped towards Leticia the instant she got up.

"Who is this woman!" Holding Leticia, Nynim pointed at Sequencee. Iona moved to cover him.

"What are you doing here Miss Nynim.."

"No reason in particular. Don't dodge my question."

"Uh.." Leticia's mind was trying its best to process the situation in front of her. It's very likely that the woman standing beside Sequencee was yet another succubus. At this rate, wouldn't it mean that Sequencee had already laid hands on at least one of them?

"This is Schwii's maid okay?"

"You mean that other girl? Why is her maid with you? And why the hell is her maid so scary?"

"As if I would know. Iona."

"Schwii has been waiting at the foyer since ten minutes ago. Your lateness has warranted her concern and she dispatched me to locate your whereabouts."

"I see.."

'I lost track of time talking to Leticia. Darn it.'

"Right, right. Sorry, I'll be going. Leticia, Nynim, sorry I got to go.."

"Huh? You're simply going to leave?" Nynim asked in disbelief.

"I'm late for a meeting."

Saying so, Sequencee and Iona quickly disappeared into the peanut gallery. What was unusual about their movements was how the two of them had, as if, just disappeared into thin air. Leticia and Nynim were left speechless at the sight.

The crowd soon dispersed as the flow of people returned to normalcy.

"How did it go?" Nynim asked after a moment of befuddlement.

"I don't know?"

"This is bad. At this rate he might actually fall for her."

"He already.. has.. probably."

"No. Don't give up yet, there's still a chance. It's at the final stretch where the winner is decided, not the beginning."

"..."

Nynim was the one who noticed Sequencee first. She pushed Leticia towards him, changing their initial plan of exploring the streets together so that she can watch them from afar. Their 'date' was going well until a 'maid' just had come to interrupt her sweet view. It was all downhill from there.

"I don't know where they are. Let's return first and come up with a new plan."

"R-Right.." Leticia wasn't even sure why Nynim was supporting her in such a useless pursuit. Truth was, Leticia had been preparing her heart for the eventual rejection to come.

As a student in the first class course, she would likely act separately from Sequencee. Even if they were on the same campus, meeting each other would be a rare occurrence unless they made plans beforehand. Not to mention, Schwii's presence had already sealed most of the hope Leticia had.

It was bitter. But she knew it was a medicine she had to take to get over the pain.

Nynim dragged the now depressed Leticia to the dormitory complex. They were just about to take the elevator when a familiar shade of silver caught her eye. At the bakery nearby was a trio having a deep discussion about something.

Nynim traced Leticia's gaze, a smirk bloomed on her face.

"Let's go."

"Eh? B-But.."

"Get your priority straight. We're going for a blitzkrieg!"

"Nynim?!"

Nynim grabbed Leticia's wrist and together they scattered into a burst of light, appearing at the entrance of the bakery. Sequencee, Schwii, Nynim and a few other students that were spending time at the bakery turned to them in unison. Leticia stiffly turned to Nynim

"Let's go," she said once more. Nynim dragged the frozen Leticia over to Sequencee's table.

Schwii said something to Iona, and at that she got up and prepared two seats from the nearby table.

'Huh?'

Leticia thought the succubus would dissuade them from joining. It was unexpected that Schwii had consideration for her and Nynim.

"Please take a seat," Iona pulled out the two chairs for them.

"Are you legit?" Nynim narrowed her eyes at her.

"I don't entertain doubters," Iona retorted gently.

"Leticia, you sit there. I'll take this one."

"Y-Yes.."

Leticia took the seat beside Sequencee. It was a wonder why Schwii allowed something like this in the first place. Sequencee tried to see past the mask she was putting on, but couldn't derive any concrete emotions from it except that her smile was stunningly chilly.

'If she's jealous of Leticia she should've just rejected her. Is she testing me or something?'

Now that both of them had settled down, Iona returned to her seat, partitioning Nynim from Schwii.

"Do you two have any inputs on stall recommendations?" Schwii continued from where they were previously.

"Recommendation?"

To Nynim's confusion, Schwii tapped the list on the paper. There were half a dozen food names on it. Apparently, Schwii, like most people, wanted to experience the cheers and crowds in a festival like this. The list is simply a game plan which will help them narrow the choice, preventing the classical mistake of overspending. Though it wasn't like they were going to follow the list in exact order.

Nynim and Leticia added their own opinion to the matter. She ended up adding one food item from each of them out of pure curiosity of their taste.

"So you're going to buy the food back to your apartment?" Nynim asked.

"It's going to be extremely crowded on the first day. I've been to festivals like these and it's best to enjoy the food elsewhere. Moreover, the area with the tables and chairs is just too small," Sequencee said.

"Isn't the entire cafeteria's second floor open for the occasion?" Nynim said.

"Really? But wouldn't it be packed too?"

"How about we have a party together. We'll reserve a seat at the refectory on the third floor for you three too."

"If that's your decision, you should top up two more seats for the others who aren't here at the moment," Schwii added.

"So five. Then I'll go book a table of ten," Nynim got up.

"Where shall we meet?"

"Schwii, correct? I'll notify the staff to allow you entry into the third tier."

"Do they even allow that?"

Nynim showed a smug smile, "Yes they do. Pass me your student ID for a moment."

Recording down the number, Nynim left to make a booking in advance. In this case, Schwii and the other four will have to group up before going up the stairs as only Schwii's name would be registered.

"Right. Pardon me, I just realized you didn't order a drink. Would you like one?" Schwii noticed the empty space in front of Leticia.

"No.. it's alright."

"I won't force you then," Schwii picked up her cup of latte and took a gulp. Sequencee tried not to not think of the fact that she added five packets of sugar into that.

"I'll determine the location of each food item," Iona picked up the paper.

"Thank you. And also, please tell Ro and Lilian to come back. Have them rest before the event."

"Understood," Iona bowed and left.. more like she disappeared.

A moment of silence ensued. Now that they were done with the plans, all that was left to do was execution. Leticia fiddled around, Sequencee eyed her from the corner of his vision.

'What are you doing, Schwii?'

There was no reason for Iona to leave at this time. Leticia had the same thoughts.

"Are you sure you don't want a drink? It'll take a while before Iona comes back?" Schwii prodded once more.

"What's your.. relationship with Sequencee?" Leticia tightened the grip on her fist."

".. Sequencee, do you know what kind of drink she likes?"

"I think I do?"

"Order that."

Sequencee, though a little perturbed by Leticia's sudden question, obeyed Schwii's instructions. He got up from his seat and left.

"To your question, that answer is simply that we're childhood friends."

Leticia glanced at Sequencee who was taking his time ordering. She wasn't familiar enough with herself to know what drink she likes yet Sequencee had a clue?

"It may be a shallow guess from me, but your fondness would likely not reach him."

Her words struck like a knife. Leticia knew she had dug her own grave when she asked that.

"What other concerns do you have?"

Sehwii was a succubus, a respectful one at that. Leticia wasn't too acquitted with the normal behavior of a succubus, so she can't tell if Schwii was being kind or that this was a succubus' way to win over one's heart.

"What do you want from him? If you're his childhood friend why did you only appear now? And not when he was.."

"Issues at home. I can't divulge too much about it," Schwii stared straight at Leticia with her poignant eyes.

'Could it be that she's from the demon nation?'

"Home.. as in?"

"What do you think?"

"..."

'What am I doing here.. it's not like she's trying to hurt Sequencee. I'm being overly paranoid..'

Leticia peaked towards Sequencee's direction once more. It seems he's having trouble deciding.

"Are you going to let go or remain?" Schwii asked.

"W-What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb with yourself Leticia. You know it better yourself why you're here right now."

"..."

'I don't understand. What is she trying to do?'

"If that's your answer then it's unlikely that you'll pose much of a threat to me. Get it? No? Haah.. first love really is pitiful."

'I see.. that's why..'

"..."

'What reason do I have to keep Sequencee by my side?'

"Schwii.. why did you choose Sequencee?"

"How about you?"

".. Because he's.."

'He was there for me. He protected me. He cared for me when everything was gone. But..'

"He's.. my nourishment."

"Nourishment?"

'Right. Who was it that told me to have more confidence in myself? Who was it that took care of me when I needed it the most? Who was it that taught me to see things to the end? Who was it that saved me from that wretched place?'

Leticia loosened a shivering breath.

'Why I'm I so dumb… this girl here is succubus. What if Sequencee was being deceived? There's no way she's up to any good. Which is why I need to… ensure his safety.'

– A reason to advance, a purpose to continue.

'What is her agenda, what trap did Sequencee fall into and what kind of past he had with her. I need to find out all this before I can truly relieve myself.'

– Delusion or reality; it's the blurry line which drives motivation forward.

'Sequencee is the son of the late Anna, it's likely she's here to exploit him in some way.'

– The seedling struggles.

"That's a really odd way of looking at him. Well, it's not like I don't get where you're coming from," Schwii stirred her coffee silently.

"Yes.."

Leticia looked towards Sequencee for the third time. He glanced her way, showing a concerned expression. Seeing that alleviated some of the pent up anxiety she had in her heart. She showed a meek smile.