Discrepancy? Negotiation? Tea? (5)

Breakfast was-- awkward, Prune seemed to have noticed. I mean, how wouldn't she, there was a little bit of her fluffy white hair stuck on me before Liliath took it off-- she must have noticed a long time ago and left it there on purpose.

Liliath kept chuckling, Prune was.. slightly, or quite obviously embarrassed. Nine on the other hand, felt that something was amiss.

Welp, not like she deserves an explanation since the first thing Nine does after taking a morning shower is to hole herself inside her room-- most probably playing games.

"Hey Noel, what in the world happened?" Nine asked, noticing my silence.

"I got found out.."

Yeah, no shit. And there's no way I'm telling you what the hell happened.

"Found out what? You were caught cheating?" Nine narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously, her hands going round and round the plates. Bubbles continued to form on the surface.

"Maybe."

"What?! You pervert!"

"Says the guy dressed as a female."

"Oi, I'm a genuine female, you know? Or would you like to play with my breasts to burn the truth into your mind."

"Uh.. yeah. No thank you."

Wow.. so blunt. Not feminine at all. Zero points.

"Ah.. so that's why.." Nine said suspiciously.

I decided to stop thinking about it. Nine's only going to prattle on with some lewd topics.

"Tsk, a herbivore."

Then a moment of silence-- rather, the sound of running water.

"Noel, can I borrow Liliath later this evening?"

"Yeah? Why?"

"Oh, so you're admitting Liliath is your property huh?"

"..."

I got played by her words.

"Alright, alright. In short, my viewers liked her."

"Viewers?"

"I'm a streamer--duh~. And everyone wanted to see Liliath's appearance again."

Nine's a streamer? Is that why she's always locked inside her room? Oh yeah, she told me that before. I wonder how many subscribers she has? Also, my guess is that her 'interchangeable' gender is the leverage around her stream.

Ah.. this explains why 'she' has such an 'explicit' and 'perverted' persona doesn't it?

Though..

"I guess you can ask Liliath about that.. Yeah...why did you even have to ask me in the first place? It's not like I can force Liliath to do something she dislikes."

"For fun."

This bitch.

Our hands kept moving until all the plates were cleaned.

Liliath was in the living room, reading a biology book-- Prune was scrolling through social media. We have another hour to go before we leave for school.

"Nee-chan! Tell me what happened to Onii-chan!" Nine pestered Prune who was claser.

Prune glared at me, I could only lower my head.

"Prune nee-chan! Can your imouto know what happened?"

"Liliath.." Prune pleaded for help.

Liliath who took notice pointed her finger at Nine. Nine froze on the spot and turned to Liliath. Her mouth flapped up and down with an annoyed expression on her face, it was like a lecturing mime.

"You saved me Liliath," Prune heaved a sigh.

Well.. rather.. It's more like Liliath saved me and Prune.

"Noel?" Liliath turned to me and showed an implying look. I could guess what she wants me to do.. why does it feel like she's my mother? I mean.. different from my mom in a sense but still quite motherly.

"Sorry Prune.. I didn't mean it," I exhaled.

Nine who couldn't speak started beating at me with her weak fists.

"You have my smell on you know.." Prune whispered.

"Come again?"

"N-nothing. I-it's an accident right? J-just forget about it.."

"Yeah.. Sorry.."

I actually heard what Prune said.. well. I suppose her sense of smell is heightened.. and.. hah.. this is complicated.. fuck.

Nine kept beating at me with her fists while I drowned myself in my thoughts.

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Class.

Early morning, few students, pre-class.

Liliath, Prune and I shared a table.

It seems that Liliath is interested in biology. If anything, she's constantly asking about this subject in particular. Of course.. most of her questions only bring up more questions..

One of them which I'm wracking my head around is photosynthesis. I know there is a deeper explanation of photosynthesis in the later chapters but.. just what exactly happens inside chlorophyll?

From where Liliath came from, their explanation was that plants convert the mana from the sun into mana which is used to purify the air.

A simple explanation for a 'simple' process. A plant is after all-- a plant. Then again, in biology, scientists just had to use an overly complex explanation-- an organism that synthesizes nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll.

The problem is chlorophyll. What exactly is chlorophyll? And how does it act as a catalyst to modify the molecules.. our syllabus doesn't cover how and why the photolysis process happens..

"Liliath likes biology a lot huh?"

"Not quite.." to Prune's question, Liliath said.

"But you're always reading and asking biology related stuff though?"

"I prefer the subject of self-development, philosophy and economics.. "

"Heehh.."

"Prune.. how does one explain photosynthesis to Liliath?" I'm being tested to the limits.

"Photosynthesis? It's a process of changing energy, and molecules into sugar."

"What is 'synthesize' then?" Liliath pointed at the confusing lexicon.

"It's a fancy word for 'produce'."

"How complex," why does Liliath sound like she was praising the person who developed this word. Haah..

"Perhaps the teacher can give a better explanation, we have biology class later right?"

"That is true.."

"Morning Noel, morning Liliath, morning Prune," Kai who arrived greeted us before taking a seat.

""Morning,"" Prune and I replied.

Liliath-- remained silent.

Her vigilance still hasn't subsided. I wonder why.

Kai then went to Eunice's table and started discussing with her regarding class 'stuff'. Whatever that may be.

"You know, I'm feeling a rather odd repulsion when it comes to Kai.. similar to when I met Liliath," Prune commented.

Liliath then looked at me, "I don't understand why I'm feeling this way but.. be careful Noel.."

Again with this problem.. why exactly are they wary about Kai? He's a good, amiable person for the most part right? Or was there something deeper behind it.. what exactly is his TALENT? His explanation was rather crude.

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Science lab. Biology class.

Um…

"Liliath?"

I was about to go to my usual table with Kai and Voux when Liliath held my sleeve. Rather than say 'held', it's more like, she's going to rip it apart if i tried to pull away.

"I suggest to not get too close to him.. it is alright to shuffle between seats isn't it?"

"Aren't you being over--cautious?"

I wanted to say overprotective but.. it just doesn't sound appropriate.. honestly, this feels like a ridiculous development, I mean.. What in the world is this flag?! It definitely has something to do with my TALENT. Then again, I don't really want to play around with emotions.. it's ridiculous.. I've taken my share of pills from the incident where Liliath went to the hospital last time..

This is a school, and befriending people is appropriate isn't it? I don't think there really is any reason why Liliath has to stop me from joining Kai.. unless Kai is secretly a female, then it would make sense.

Though, I should also consider Liliath's superior instincts. She's a demon lord.

Then again… she told me not to trust her..

Hnngg…

What a ridiculous 'event'... wIll it turn into an event? I'm not sure..

"How about we take a seat further back..those groups of students there.. right, you have those questions you want to ask the teacher don't you?"

"I could always walk to the front or raise my hand. We should follow your suggestion."

"Alright then.."

Kai and Voux flashed an expression of confusion when I chose to take a seat in another group. I could only smile wryly.

The group we were at had another 3 people. Eunice, Wendy and Wake.

Wake-- as in wa-ke. A stout two syllable pronunciation, in a japanese accent.

"Hello! Qui!"

But the person-- or rather, the thing that greeted Liliath and I first was the rabbit plushie..

What. In. The. Fuck.

IT CAN TALK?!

Wendy smiled at Liliath and invited her to sit beside her. I on the other hand, had no option but to sit beside her, Wake to the left of me.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Noel. Qui!" The rabbit raised its paw. I wonder if it eats cotton carrots.

"Uh.. yeah.. nice to meet you.."

Eunice and Wake gave Liliath and I a nod as a greeting-- Eunice being rather cold as she shifted her attention back to the novel she was reading. Wake on the other hand, was a typical male with a medium build and balck hair accentuated by his black rimmed glasses.

An Asian.

Just like the rest of the class-- except Liliath and Prune-- who were also Asians, obviously.

"Is he your boyfriend?"I heard Wendy whisper to Liliath. I'm pretty sure she didn't mean for me to hear it but I still heard it anyways. Technically no? I got rejected by Liliath despite her still clinging to me. Yup, serves as a good explanation.

Liliath tilted her head before asking back in a genuinely curious and innocent voice.

"Which definition are you referring to?"

Which definition? Isn't it obvious?!

"No eavesdropping Mr! It's impolite," and before I could say anything, the rabbit plushie jumped and clung to my face.

The impact was like cotton candy moving at the speed of a bullet-- minus the stickiness of sugar.

Truthfully speaking.. whose rabbit is this.. It's a plushie for gosh sake.

"Are pets even allowed in class?" I asked Wake through the plushie.

"Yes, for familiars, but.." Wake's voice was your every-day casually-typical kind of student… oh wait. Let's not make a mistake, every student in Modai high had been 'specially' selected. I can't underestimate him like how I underestimated Nine.

Then again, It's a courtesy for both parties to share information regarding each other's TALENTS, not a one-sided exchange.

"Qui is a plushie! Plushies are banned from school!! But Qui is a rabbit! And a plushy Qui so Qui is a familiar! Qui!" The rabbit yelped in the most adorable manner ever. I'm surprised that it's so clingy. So much for its violent explanation.

"Noel, i've heard from the rumors bt just to confirm, you actually summoned Liliath-- is that true?"

"Pretty much," I tore the rabbit off my face. "Whose's rabbit is this?"

"Wendy's."

Ah.. so this is her TALENT? I wonder what's the catch..

"Oh, and if you're wondering about, my TALENT it's the ability to locate people with a touch. I can go up to around a hundred, and delete or add people in the list at my own discretion."

Wake poked my forearm.

Huh..