How is this idiot suddenly so sharp at a time like this…
Meeting Kiana Kaslana's probing gaze, Hikari Aoi clicked his tongue silently before speaking.
"So what you're trying to say is—you don't have a home, but you still have somewhere to stay? And you actually have enough money to buy food, you were just 'too forgetful' to eat? And breaking into a building—no, into my dorm—was just for fun?"
Kiana was rendered speechless.
Realizing just how miserable her current situation actually was, she took a deep breath and raised her delicate fist at him.
"Just so you know—don't underestimate me. If you mess with me, it'll be dangerous!"
That all-too-familiar line made Hikari Aoi pause for a moment.
Looking at the girl trying her best to act intimidating, he couldn't help but smile.
"Got it, got it."
"…So—I can really stay in your dorm building? No problem?"
Kiana didn't want to refuse.
She truly had nowhere to go right now.
And Hikari Aoi's behavior—well, aside from that earlier nonsense about "one hundred million"—had been consistently kind. Trustworthy, even.
Just the fact that he bought her a meal…
If he weren't a guy, she might've already been tempted to marry him on the spot.
"No problem," Hikari Aoi said casually.
"There's no way Tachikawa Academy will suddenly assign a dorm supervisor to a boys' dorm with only one resident. If you don't say anything and I don't say anything, no one will know."
It sounded a bit like they were doing something shady—
But Kiana had never been the obedient type.
In fact—
She felt a little excited.
The way Hikari Aoi put it made it feel like he was on her side.
"Even if someone does show up later, I can just apply for another dorm slot."
Thinking about how well he was treated at school, Hikari Aoi was pretty confident he could manage that.
Kiana, on the other hand, immediately relaxed.
"Then let's go back quickly!"
She didn't even bother bringing up whether they'd share a room.
There was no need.
A guy and a girl who just met wouldn't live together.
If they were the same gender—maybe.
Recently, Kiana hadn't had proper rest at all.
Right now, all she wanted—
Was to collapse into bed like a salted fish.
And maybe charge her phone.
Even if the bed was just a hard wooden board—
As long as she could lie down, it was enough.
Her father had told her that when she was eight, she hit her head and lost all memories before that age.
After eight—
Most of her life had been spent traveling with him, fighting Honkai.
Luxury?
Comfort?
Those things barely existed.
In the wilderness—
Money didn't matter much.
So—
She didn't really care about the condition of the dorms.
But Hikari Aoi did.
The problem wasn't that the dorms were bad—
It was that the empty rooms had nothing.
No bedding.
No pillows.
No blankets.
No towels.
No basic supplies.
They'd have to buy everything.
Unlike most girls—
Kiana didn't enjoy shopping.
Or rather—
She didn't enjoy buying things that weren't immediately edible.
She couldn't feel their importance right away.
So—
She kept urging Hikari Aoi to hurry.
Right now, she just wanted to lie down and sleep.
She seemed a bit willful—
But in reality, she only urged him.
Even though she knew where the dorm was—
She didn't leave him and go ahead alone.
After Hikari Aoi sped up and finished buying the necessities—
Kiana even took the initiative to carry the bags.
Both hands full.
Of course—
Hikari Aoi's hands were full too.
Blankets and bedding weren't exactly small.
"Now we can go back, right?"
Holding two large bags, Kiana looked at Hikari Aoi expectantly.
But suddenly—
His tone turned a bit… strange.
"Do you need me to go buy underwear with you?"
"…Huh?!"
If Kiana hadn't been holding things—
She might've punched him right then and there.
The way her expression shifted—
Yeah, very likely.
Hikari Aoi quickly tried to look serious.
"You were lying around in a dusty unused dorm earlier. You probably got dirty."
"Don't you want to wash up and change clothes?"
"Ahem—just to be clear, I have no intention of peeking while you bathe."
That last sentence made things worse.
Now—even if she hadn't thought of it before—
She definitely was now.
"No need!"
"Alright then," Hikari Aoi shrugged.
"I'll give you some cash later. Buy what you need when you want."
"I have classes during the day anyway, so you won't have to worry about me being around."
Kiana paused.
Her eyes flickered slightly.
Following behind him, she hesitated before asking:
"…Why are you being so nice to me?"
Hikari Aoi immediately put on an exaggerated look of surprise.
"Oh? You can actually sense my kindness?"
"Whether it's kindness or something else—I'm not sure yet. But are you treating me like an idiot?"
…Sorry. You kind of are.
Hikari Aoi kept that thought to himself.
He knew there was a limit to teasing.
So this time—
He answered more seriously.
"Because I like helping people."
"And when a girl is in trouble, I don't mind lending a hand."
Kiana wasn't moved.
Instead, she lifted her chin proudly.
If her hands weren't full—
She'd probably have struck a cool pose.
"You think I'd be that easy to fool? Don't underestimate me."
"…But anyway—thanks."