[This area does not et system requirents]
...
[This area does not et system requirents]
...
[This area does not et system requirents]
...
After trying so many places, it still didn't work.
The classrooms had windows that could be opened, and without being locked, they didn't count as a "confined space."
With the system's ti limit approaching, Yvonne's expression grew anxious.
Because of the scene requirents, the system had given 30 minutes of preparation ti this ti, but it would be wasted if they continued searching aimlessly.
"Hmm? Are we looking for a place to lock
up~?"
Being pulled around by Yvonne, Elsa was overjoyed, her voice becoming sing-song.
"Yes, do you have any good suggestions?"
Yvonne asked tiredly.
"Hmm~ The materials storage might work."
"...!"
"That place might indeed work."
She rembered seeing that storage room full of various alchemy tools during class. Located underground with only one door, it was perfect as a sealed room.
But she seed to recall that the door was usually locked, and they couldn't enter without a key.
Where could they find a key in such a short ti?
"Look~"
Elsa waved a small tal key like a magician, placing it in Yvonne's hand.
"I happen to have the storage room key."
Elsa looked at Yvonne like a puppy waiting for praise. Yvonne could almost see a wagging dog tail behind her.
"Thanks..."
As Yvonne reached for the key, she realized sothing was off.
What's going on? The person about to be bullied is giving her ideas??
Isn't this extrely strange?!
"...How do you have the storage room key?" Yvonne felt her head starting to hurt again.
"Soone in class asked
to get materials before afternoon lessons, so they gave
the spare key~"
She blinked, and Yvonne felt like more little flowers were flying towards her.
No, wait—Although she seed happy about it, this was probably bullying, right?
Unlike Elsa who had transferred mid-sester, Yvonne, who had been enrolled for so ti, knew that those alchemy materials and equipnt were heavy and easily broken if not handled carefully. Usually, no one wanted to take on such a task. To dump it all on a transfer student unfamiliar with the rules?
When did this—
Just thinking about soone bullying Elsa without her knowledge made Yvonne's blood boil.
"The storage entrance is downstairs~ Let's go."
Creak—
The iron door of the storage room opened with a click. Yvonne entered after Elsa, gently closing the door behind them with another click.
"Eh? ...Weren't you going to lock
in?"
Seeing Yvonne follow her into the storage room, Elsa looked puzzled.
She had thought it would be so kind of isolation play, but apparently not?
"...Aren't you scared, being alone in a place like this?"
Yvonne looked around, frowning. The place reeked of dust and mold, filled with years-old materials. There wasn't even a single lamp. Once the door closed, only a sliver of light from under the door remained visible.
As the protagonist of an oto ga, Elsa naturally had one or two very girlish weaknesses, giving the conquest targets opportunities to trigger events.
'Fear of darkness' was one of them.
Yvonne rembered a scene in the fateful encounter storyline where the heroine was locked up and nearly lost control of her magic power. In the end, the second prince cald her down, bringing them closer.
...Wait, does that an by entering a similar scene with Elsa, she had triggered such a side story?
Yvonne had an ominous feeling, but quickly dismissed the thought.
...No way, no way, this is supposed to be bullying!
How could anyone genuinely like soone who bullies them every day?
After steeling her resolve, she locked the door from the inside and slid the key under the door gap. The system finally displayed the [Confined Space Achieved] prompt, and the mission tir began.
According to Elsa, first-year students had alchemy class in the afternoon, so the door would certainly be opened then. There was no need to worry about being locked in all day.
Good,
Now they just had to wait an hour to complete the task.
Without light, the confined space beca pitch black. After sinking into the oppressive silence of darkness, Elsa, who was usually chirping non-stop like a little bird beside her, beca unexpectedly quiet.
Listening carefully in the silence, Yvonne could hear slightly trembling breaths.
...So she really is scared after all.
At least she hadn't left her alone.
"If you're bored, just talk about whatever like usual."
Yvonne couldn't help speaking first.
The breathing paused briefly, and Yvonne could clearly sense Elsa's surprise before she let out a chuckle.
"What's so funny?"
"I was just thinking how kind Evie is... You haven't changed at all from before."
"...You make it sound like we were close before."
Even when they were at the sa school before the exile, they didn't interact much.
And this wasn't kindness at all.
She grumbled inwardly.
This was just a self-serving act of compensation, driven by guilt for having to bully her, from soone as despicable as herself.
...Why isn't she angry? She should hate being in such a dark place...
All along, it had been Yvonne forcing Elsa to do things against her will, yet she had never once refused.
Whether due to character traits or plot requirents, the bullied protagonist never fought back. Although she had retaliated when Yvonne was bullied earlier, if she herself was the victim, she would always accept it calmly.
In the storyline, the n surrounding the protagonist would often stand up for her, but there were no conquest targets in this backwater place. If she continued not fighting back like before, unlike in the noble school, she'd be treated like a pushover in this savage environnt—
If you hate it, just say so—
Thinking of Elsa smiling while being bullied, Yvonne couldn't help but worry.
"Although it's scary being in the dark... I like being with you, Evie."
"Well, I don't like being with you."
...She blurted it out without thinking.
A sharp intake of breath ca from beside her.
"Could it be... you hate , Evie?"
In the darkness, the voice that had been slightly trembling now clearly sounded on the verge of tears. Realizing the situation, Yvonne quickly softened her tone:
"S-sorry... I didn't an it like that—"
Due to her protagonist traits, Elsa often inadvertently dragged those around her into dangerous events, or put herself in perilous situations—This girl was like a walking bomb, liable to explode at any mont.
That's why Yvonne had chosen to flee from that unknown chaotic vortex, but she never imagined she would still be caught by her like this.
"Uuu... uuuu..."
No good, no good—She couldn't let her emotions fluctuate too much at a ti like this. It would be trouble if her magic power went out of control.
"...I don't hate you."
With no other choice, she could only say these words.
"Really?"
"...Really."
Yvonne felt quite helpless, but at least Elsa's mood seed to improve a little.
"Then... between 'like' and 'hate', if you had to choose one for , which would it be?"
"...I suppose it would be 'like'?"
Although she said it half-questioningly, this answer still made Elsa extrely happy.
"— too!~ I like Evie the most??"
In the darkness, the hand at her side was grasped by Elsa's soft one.
"Um... can I hold your hand?"
"...Do whatever you want."
If it could ease her anxiety a little... Yvonne didn't mind being touched by her.
But she soon regretted it,
Because slender fingers intertwined with hers, their hands interlocking.
"Hey... don't hold hands in such a weird way!"
Yvonne couldn't help but complain. She was grateful for the darkness; her face must have turned bright red from the finger contact, which would have been utterly embarrassing.
"Hehe~??"
The little puppy beside her let out a silly laugh. After the touch, Yvonne could clearly feel Elsa relax considerably.
Never mind, whatever thod works to calm her down is fine.
They're both girls, just holding hands is nothing—it's nothing!
She could only comfort herself this way in her mind, trying to quickly escape this shaful state of embarrassnt.
"Why are you so willing to be bullied... Really."
"...Because you need to bully , right?"
Her tone was very calm,
As natural as if she were comnting on nice weather.
Yvonne could even imagine the faint smile on Elsa's face as she said this.
She used the word 'need.'
Not 'want' to bully, but 'need' to bully.
"If you don't bully , it won't work, right?"
"............"
How much... does she understand about ?
The sensation of her tightly held right hand transmitted Elsa's touch. Yvonne felt her back heat up, an inexplicable feeling surging in her chest.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
—27 minutes left.
Maintaining the hand-holding state, Yvonne stared blankly at the system countdown only she could see.
More than half the ti had passed.
...Strange,
Why did it feel like ti was passing so quickly?
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