Jaren was playing video gas when I left the estate. He was lying on my bed, controller clutched in both hands. The way his feet were kicking was like a girl who was in love.
He was absolutely locked in.
"Don't break my ga while I'm gone," I told him.
Without even looking away from the screen, he responded, "I'll try my best."
Jerman was waiting outside when I stepped out of the front doors. He asked if I wanted him to co along.
Shaking my head as I grabbed the keys from him, I answered, "Nah. Just making a quick visit. Won't be gone for long."
It wasn't anything serious that I would need his company for. I just had to have a conversation with Diana and felt like it would be more appropriate if I inford her of what I learned in-person rather than through text or a phone call.
I was worried for her and needed to make sure that she wouldn't be caught off guard if a vampire hunter were to appear at the academy.
As I was in the car, driving with my window down, an arm hanging out, music was playing. It was sothing upbeat and was a new artist I discovered who only existed in this world.
I tapped the steering wheel along to the pattern of the bass.
"I should get them gifts before those kids go feral," I chuckled as I pulled over at a shop on the shopping street that was on the way to my destination.
I could've skipped it, but it wasn't like I was in a rush.
It didn't seem like there would be imdiate danger according to the information that Jaren had given .
Grabbing a few things, smacks, toys, a makeup kit, and an expensive bottle of wine for the parents, I carefully placed everything into the back seat and got back on the ground.
"Mmm, mm, mmm~" I humd along to the song.
Once I reached the house, I grabbed the gifts and then knocked on the door. Small but rapid footsteps approached the door and it was opened less than five seconds after I knocked.
"Oh! Bell," Diana's mom said, smiling widely. She resembled Diana with the blue hair, except she was half a head shorter and her face had these subtle wrinkles. "It's good to see you."
"Hey auntie. It's good to see you too. Ouu! I can see that your diet is working," I lied. She looked exactly the sa as the last ti that I saw her, but a white lie that made others feel good about themselves was perfectly fine.
Her eyes lit up at my complint and her hand went to her cheek.
"Really?!" she gasped.
Stepping inside, I made sure to take off my shoes and put them in the corner where the other shoes were.
I barely had ti to breathe when the kids sward .
"Bell, did you bring sothing for ?"
"Big brother! Snacks?! Any snacks?!"
"You have a new toy for to play with, right?"
What a coincidence. I had everything they asked for. It was almost like this wasn' the first ti that I had done this.
These kids are so easy to please.
"Hahaha," I laughed as I crouched down and pulled things out of my bag like a magician. It was like there was an infinite space inside the bag. Snacks. A toy. Another toy. Then another toy.
Each new thing I pulled out made the kids happier and happier.
As they fought for the toy that they wanted, I shooed them away.
The only sibling left was Diana's little sister, the second-oldest daughter in the family. She didn't say anything but I could tell that she was expecting sothing.
Last ti we talked, she had brought up hints about it.
When I handed the makeup kit to her, her eyes went feral. Snatching it, she vanished downstairs without a word.
…She didn't even say thank you. Hahaha.
She was oddly very shy around but according to Diana, she was usually very talkative and extroverted.
Diana's mom shook her head, smiling. "Sorry about her. I'll have a talk with her later," she said.
"It's okay," I responded, waving it off.
After I handed her the bottle of wine, we chatted for a bit. It was just small talk about random stuff, but I could feel soone watching from the dining room.
Diana.
Why is she standing all the way over there?
Usually, she would be the first to get all up in my face.
When I glanced over in her direction, she looked oddly pale.
"What's up with your daughter?" I chuckled.
"Diana?" she uttered. She turned her head and saw what I was looking at. "Oh my. Is she daydreaming right now? Let get her attention."
She called out her na again.
"Diana? Diana? What's wrong with her? Diana?!" Each Diana was louder than the previous. "Aren't you going to say hello?"
On the third "Diana", she finally flinched as if she just realized that she was being addressed.
Turning fully toward her, I smiled. It was the sa one as always. The sa one that I knew could get butterflies to flutter in her stomach.
"Hey," I greeted.
Contrary to the reaction I was expecting, she didn't respond. She just stared at .
Okay…? This is a new reaction.
"Let leave you two alone so that you can have a conversation. It seems like you have sothing private you want to discuss with my daughter. I'll take the kids outside on a walk."
Even though I could've just made a mana bubble to block out the sounds, I didn't decline her offer and one by one, the house cleared out.
The doors closed, and it was just us in the living room.
"..."
"..."
Well, this silence is awkward. What's going on with her?
There was a gap between us and it felt like I would have to scream just for her to hear .
I took a step closer and with a jolt, she stepped backward.
…What is she doing? Did I do sothing? Is there sothing on my face?
"We spoke a little bit earlier, but how did training go? Are you and Ichiko still clashing heads?"
"..."
"I hear from her that the four of you are going to be tackling a tower the next training week."
"..."
No matter what I said, she wasn't responding.
Standing just a ter away from her, I tilted my head in confusion. Was she perhaps thirsty for blood? Was this why she wasn't paying attention to at the mont?
"Diana?' I called her na.
I could hear her heartbeat. It was fast. It sounded like the footsteps of the fastest man in the world running at top speed.
"...Why are you nervous?" I asked, curious.
If it were sothing I could help her out with, then I would happily do it. But if she refused to open her mouth, then that would be impossible.
Let's try to get her to speak.
I was in the middle of talking again when she began taking steps away from .
My hand flew forward before my mind could even process.
"...Why are you walking away?" I asked quietly. I was starting to get worried for her now. I could feel her emotions through our connection and it was a tangled ss.
Her wrist was warm under my fingers, and the rapid rhythm of her heart could be felt in my grasp.
She wasn't trembling, but she might as well have been.
Did I do sothing to her?
I asked my artifacts and all of them answered that as least to their knowledge, I hadn't done anything to warrant such a reaction.
Loosening my grip just enough to guide her without retraining her freedom, I said, "Hey. Sit down for a second."
Steering her toward the couch, I did it slowly and carefully. Sothing was wrong with her and I was worried that she would shatter into pieces if I moved too fast.
Letting herself be led, her movents were stiff and her legs moved as if they belonged to a robot rather than a human.
When she sat, her back was so straight that it was perpendicular to the floor.
"Okay," I murmured, more to myself than her. "I'm not sure what's going on with you, but let's get you a glass of water. You look like you're about to pass out any second now."
Turning to the kitchen, I grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with the water dispenser inside the refrigerator. Stopping the water right before it spilled, I had half-expected her to vanish when I ca back into the living room.
At least she's still sitting exactly where I left her.
Handing her the glass, I said, "Drink this. It might help with your complexion. If it isn't enough to quench your thirst, I'll hand you the other drink as well. If you know what I an."
She took the glass from my hand.
The mont her fingers wrapped around it, the temperature dropped.
I blinked once and when my eyes opened, the water had already turned into ice.
"...Oh?" I uttered.
Moving so that I was directly in front of her, I stared directly into her eyes.
In her case, she was staring at the glass, her pupils shaky.
For a full minute, I said nothing as I was wondering if she was going to explain herself.
Her heart isn't slowing down whatsoever.
Finally, after it seed like she wouldn't say anything first, I smiled. Reaching out to take the glass from her hands, I told her, "Looks like this one is no good anymore. I'll get you another one. Try not to freeze this next one."
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