"What are you doing with another girl?" Alice asked in a sharp voice, her wide eyes filled with shock. A dark, foggy aura began to spread around her like smoke, growing thicker with every passing second. She looked like a storm about to explode.
Brenna saw Alice's reaction and tried her best to hold back a laugh. She quickly let go of Maruti and stopped hugging her. Tears had formed in the corners of her eyes from laughing too hard, and she wiped them away with her fingers.
Maruti, on the other hand, stood there with a completely confused expression. She looked at Alice with a tilted head and asked, "Who the hell are you? Your voice sounds familiar."
She really didn't recognize her.
The first time Maruti had met Alice was during a battle with a giant ape. That time, Alice's hair had been blown back by strong wind currents, revealing her full face — calm, beautiful, and without her usual gloom. In that moment, something inside Alice had snapped, and her personality had shifted. She suddenly became bold, confident, and almost like a completely different person.
But right now, this was the real Alice — the quiet, shy, gloomy girl who barely talked to anyone. The girl with a shadowy aura and a low, whispery voice.
And Maruti just asked who she was.
Alice looked heartbroken.
"What do you mean, who am I?!" she cried out, holding her head in both hands as if the world had ended. "You're cheating on me right in front of my eyes and now pretending not to know me? That's so cruel!"
She fell to her knees dramatically, like someone in a tragic play.
Maruti blinked. "Wait… Alice? Is that really you? But you looked so different before… I mean, your vibe was totally different," she said, blinking rapidly.
Then something clicked in her mind. "So Fable was right… Esdeath said she's a max-level introvert with a creepy but funny dark aura. I guess she really does have some kind of split personality ," Maruti thought, scratching her head.
Even Brenna, who had been trying to stay calm, looked serious now. She leaned close to Maruti and whispered, "What… what is she saying? A girl-and-girl thing?" Her face turned slightly red.
"I mean, society would never…" she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. She looked away awkwardly.
Maruti sighed and shook her head. "You're getting the wrong idea!"
She turned to face Alice and pointed her thumb at Brenna. "I like girls, yes, but she's not my girlfriend!"
Then she pointed at Brenna again. "And you — she's Ethan's mother! She just came to see her son, nothing more!"
Maruti crossed her arms and glared at Alice. "It's your mind that's too perverted!"
Almost everyone in the academy already knew who Ethan was. And when Alice took a closer look at Brenna's face and saw her beautiful blue hair, the same shade as Ethan's, something finally clicked in her mind.
She blinked a few times. Maybe… maybe Maruti was telling the truth?
Alice's dark aura slowly started to fade. Her shoulders dropped, and her confident act completely vanished. She just stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say anymore.
Meanwhile, Brenna took a few steps back from Maruti. Her eyes softened, but she looked a little awkward too. "It was… a good time with you," she said with a small smile. "But I think I should go now."
She gave a polite bow and then quickly turned around. Without waiting for a reply, she ran toward the academy gates and disappeared inside.
Maruti stood there with a tired, annoyed look on her face.
Alice, now looking regretful, stepped closer with watery eyes. "I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry for doubting you!" she said with a trembling voice. "It's just… my heart burns when I see you with someone else…"
Maruti narrowed her eyes and backed away. "Don't come closer! We're not even in a relationship!" she said firmly, crossing her arms.
Alice looked desperate now. "We can be in one! I'll make sure you're happy! I'll—"
Alice leaned even closer, her hands trembling with emotion.
But Maruti, with a quick glance upward, pointed at the sky. "Look! A kite! With my picture on it!"
Alice's eyes instantly followed the direction of her finger. "Where?!" she asked, squinting at the empty sky.
But the moment she looked back down, Maruti was gone.
Alice stood there blinking, looking around. Then she smiled to herself and put her hands on her chest. "I guess… she's just shy like me." Her gloomy aura glowed a little lighter, filled with strange hope. "I need to try harder."
---
Inside the academy...
Maruti walked along the ground floor hallway with a heavy sigh of relief. "This trick always works," she muttered, brushing her messy hair back. "Here I thought Kaelith was scary, but this girl's on a whole different level."
But her peace didn't last long.
Up ahead, Alice appeared again, walking toward her slowly with that same creepy smile. Her foggy aura was back, swirling softly like a haunted shadow.
Maruti froze. "Damn… damn… damn…" she whispered, a chill crawling down her back.
She immediately turned on her heel and began walking in the opposite direction. Her steps were quick, but not too quick — she didn't want to look like she was running away.
I'm not scared, she told herself. Just… being careful.
After walking for a bit, she glanced back over her shoulder. "She's gone!" she sighed in relief.
But just as she turned around—
"Holy shit!" Maruti gasped and jumped back.
Alice was standing right in front of her again. Her smile was even wider this time.
"We can talk—"
"Nope!" Maruti didn't even let her finish.
She turned around and ran.
"Forget the ceremony! It's probably already over anyway!" she shouted in her mind as she dashed toward the stairs.
She bolted up to the second floor, which was still close to be fully repaired. The cleaning staff was around, and the floors were dusty, but Maruti didn't care.
She spotted an open classroom and rushed inside.
An old janitor stood by the door, sweeping slowly. He looked like he was close to retirement — with a wrinkled face and kind eyes.
"Yo, old man!" Maruti said, walking straight to him. "Let me help! Hand that over."
Before he could react, she grabbed the cleaning tool from him.
"Oh, no, no, this is my job," the old janitor said, stepping back and waving his hands.
Maruti gave him a sweet, innocent smile. "I know! I just want to help out, really. Please, just close the door from outside and make sure no one comes in while I'm cleaning. I'll have it all done in ten minutes, I promise!"
The old man looked at her, unsure.
But her smile was too convincing.
"Umm… okay. If you really want to help," he finally said, scratching his head.
Maruti exhaled with relief as the door slowly shut behind him. She slumped against the broom and whispered, "Finally… peace."
But how could peace ever last in Maruti's chaotic life?
Just when she thought she'd escaped, she heard the old janitor's voice coming from the hallway outside the classroom.
"Oh, you want to help too? Sure, sure! What a nice day!" he said cheerfully. Then there was a soft clatter as he handed another cleaning tool to someone by the door.
The next thing Maruti saw was the door creaking open slightly… and of course, the person standing there was none other than Alice.
Alice's smile was awkward but bright. "Umm… c-close the door," she said sweetly.
The janitor nodded and did as she asked, humming to himself as he left.
The moment the door shut, Alice's face changed. A mischievous smile spread across her lips. Without a second thought, she turned and rushed toward Maruti, arms open for a hug.
But Alice suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Her eyes widened in shock as she saw Maruti jump right out the classroom window—yes, from the second floor.
Maruti didn't even hesitate. She leapt out like it was something she did every day. After all, she was tough—it wouldn't hurt her anyway.
Alice blinked, then gave a small shrug. "Well, here I go!"
And with that, she jumped out too.
---
Maruti ran through the academy gardens, brushing past trees and flower beds. She finally spotted an empty bench under a shady tree and flopped down on it, completely exhausted.
She took a deep breath and stretched her legs. "Should I just run away from this academy?" she muttered, rubbing her forehead. "No, that'll make me look like a coward…"
Just as she started to calm down, she suddenly froze.
Her eyes widened. A hand had boldly grabbed her thigh.
"Ahhh~ such perfect thighs," a sultry voice whispered. "I wouldn't mind being choked by them…"
It was Alice again. She had appeared out of nowhere, her face just inches from Maruti's. Her smile was playful, and her violet eyes sparkled with mischief.
Maruti stared at her in disbelief. "How does she keep finding me?!"
Her eyes trailed down… and then she saw it: Alice's purple, swaying tail.
"Right… she's not human," Maruti remembered. "She probably smells me out like a dog!"
Maruti didn't bother replying to Alice. She just sighed, grabbed Alice's hand from her thigh, and slowly scooted away on the bench, inch by inch.
But the more she moved away, the more Alice followed.
It was like some silly comedy scene—one girl sliding away, the other leaning closer and closer, still smiling like she was completely innocent.
Eventually, Maruti reached the very edge of the bench. There was nowhere left to go.
Alice smiled sweetly and raised her hand again, ready to place it back on Maruti's thigh like nothing had happened.
But just as she moved, Maruti jumped up like a spring and ran.
"I'm not staying here a second longer!" she thought, her feet pounding the ground.
But before she could even take more than two steps—
BAM!
She crashed into something—or someone—and fell right back onto the bench with a loud thump.
This time, she didn't curse. Instead, her eyes slowly lifted… and her heart sank.
Standing there with arms crossed and a cold expression was Kaelith.
Maruti stared up in horror. "Don't tell me…"
Kaelith's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing with her?" she asked in a calm but sharp voice. "Is there really something going on between you two?"
Maruti just broke.
She threw her hands in the air and shouted, "Why me?! Why always me?! Am I cursed or something?!"
Her frustration poured out in every word. She buried her face in her hands, feeling like the universe was playing some kind of joke on her.
Finally, she looked up at Kaelith with tired eyes. "Of course not! Didn't I already say I'm not interested in relationships?!"
There was a raw honesty in her voice, something that made even Kaelith pause.
Kaelith stared at her for a moment, then smiled softly and nodded. "I knew it," she said.
She sat beside Maruti on the bench, the tension slowly fading.
Maruti blinked. "Knew what?" she asked.
But Kaelith didn't answer.
Instead, she leaned forward and hugged Maruti tightly. Her arms wrapped around her with warmth and care, and she gently closed her eyes, letting out a soft sigh.
"So peaceful," Kaelith whispered with a warm smile on her face.
Maruti blinked, a little stunned by the sudden affection.
But before she could react, Alice immediately wrapped her arms around Maruti's other side, hugging her just as tightly.
"That's cheating! She's mine!" Alice said playfully, burying her face right into Maruti's chest like it was her favorite pillow.
Maruti froze.
Her body stiffened, and for a moment she didn't move. Her brain felt like it had stopped working. But then—snap!
Her patience finally snapped.
"Hyaa!" Maruti shouted, throwing both Kaelith and Alice back just enough to break free from their grasp. She stood up, her face red with anger and frustration.
She spun around to face them, fists clenched.
"Why are you two so obsessed with me?!" she shouted. "I've got a horrible personality! I don't care about anyone but myself! And in case you forgot—I'm a villain! VILLAIN!"
She pointed dramatically at both of them.
There was a brief silence. No one said anything.
Then, Kaelith and Alice looked at each other… and smiled.
"Maybe that's what makes you more charming," they both said at the same time, their voices soft and strangely full of love.
Maruti blinked, her mouth hanging open.
"What charming?! What are you talking about?! I wouldn't even save you if you were dying! I flirt with everyone I see! And if it ever came down to it, I could kill you without a second thought! So don't get attached to me!" she barked in a scolding voice, like a teacher telling off two stubborn kids.
"EHE!",Kaelith chuckled softly, hiding her mouth behind her hand.
"EHE!, My Ass!" Maruti yelled.
Kaelith looked up at her with a teasing smile. "We're not weak, you know. We can protect ourselves. As for you killing us? You really think you can?" she said playfully. "I could literally push you down and have my way with you—but I won't, because I want something long-lasting."
Maruti's face went bright red."I guess someone forgot what happened last time?",She teases but it had no effect on Kailith, She acted like she didn't heard a thing.
Then Alice stepped forward, her grin mischievous and bold. "And if you ever try to flirt with other girls, I'll make sure you won't even look at anyone but me," she said, her voice sweet but firm.
Gulp.
Maruti gulped hard. She was outnumbered and overwhelmed, and honestly… kind of scared.
At this point, she realized something scary—there was no escape. Their obsession with her had gone way too far.
But then, a new thought came to her mind.
Her eyes turned serious. "What if I die?" she asked, her voice soft but heavy. "You're both strong… stronger than me. Let's say I get killed one day. Or maybe I just die from old age. Kaelith, you're a dragon—you'll live for thousands of years. And Alice… whatever you are, you'll probably live for hundreds. What will you do after I'm gone? Just find someone new?"
Her words cut through the playful mood like a blade.
Suddenly, everything went quiet.
Kaelith and Alice both froze. Their eyes widened slightly, and they didn't say a word. Then, slowly, they looked down.
"Without Maruti… what would happen to me?" Kaelith whispered, like she was muttering a spell or falling into a deep, dark thought.
"No way… I can't even imagine it… I would never…" Alice whispered too, her voice trembling.
They both looked truly shaken, like their hearts were breaking just at the thought.
Maruti's anger disappeared. She looked at them, and guilt started to creep into her chest.
"Crap… I asked the wrong question," she mumbled, scratching her head and trying to think fast.
A few seconds passed. Then she sighed and made a face like she'd eaten something sour.
"Okay, okay, don't be so dramatic," she said quickly. "How about this? Lett's actually get into an relationship, We can start from a date or something… Maybe you'll realize I'm just a boring person and give up."
She looked away shyly, her voice trailing off.
But the second those words reached their ears, Kaelith and Alice lit up like two excited puppies.
"Really?! It's me, right? You want to be my girlfriend, right?!" Kaelith asked, eyes sparkling like a cat who'd found a new toy.
"No! It has to be me! You're mine!" Alice shouted, hugging Maruti's arm again.
Maruti took a deep breath, then gave an awkward little laugh and looked away.
"…Let's do both."
-------------------------------
[author]
I wanted to ask an important question, I wanted to ask that if I should make Brenna, Ethan's mom, A love interest or not? And yep when I last said I had three to four girls in mind, These were four characters, Princess Ravenna, Alice, Kailith and Brenna...
But since it might make awkward and few other reasons can be that readers don't like it, So I'm just asking If I should do it or let it remain as just a wholesome funny moment...?
[/author]