Elion watched the pigeons with a stern gaze until they disappeared on the horizon. Then, he turned his attention back to the girl, who was playing with the children. He thought:
This is the third person who knows the secret, after Bel and the clown. I can't remain calm knowing there may be more people like them, and their motives are unknown. I'm sure that bastard knows it, too. I need to figure out my own secret as soon as possible." He remained where he was, gazing at the children living peacefully.
On the way back, Noel noticed Elion's changed state again and questioned him about what had happened, but he remained silent. After much persuasion and reproach from her, they finally reached the dormitory and bought some food at a shop along the way. The walk took much longer than expected. The day was coming to an end, and the sun was gradually approaching the horizon.
The young man looked at the setting sun, quickened his pace, and headed for the entrance.
"Hey, where are you rushing off to again?!" the girl complained.
As usual, the guy didn't answer, which made her sigh in dissatisfaction more and more often.
Without greeting the woman at the counter, Elion entered the familiar, clean white building and began to climb the stairs at an even pace, heading for his room.
"What's your room number? Maybe we're neighbors?" the girl asked hastily, catching up with him on the stairs.
"...
"Wow, really! Can you believe it? I'm right next door. You're lucky, aren't you?" Noel said sarcastically, punishing him for his silence in her own way.
This time, the guy's eyebrows furrowed, but he hid it by quickening his pace.
Holding a knitted bag of groceries in one hand and his room key in the other, he walked down the long third-floor corridor.
Several students were chatting animatedly, apparently saying goodbye or planning to spend the night together. Eliona didn't care. He calmly inserted the key and opened the door, passing by everyone.
The familiar, clean, and spacious room greeted him. After a rather eventful day, he couldn't help but sigh with relief.
"Haah..." He exhaled with relief, glanced at the setting sun from the doorway, and entered the room without saying goodbye to his companion. He closed the door behind him.
He took off his shoes and immediately took the groceries to the kitchen. Then he went to the bathroom. After washing his hands and rinsing his face, he returned to the wardrobe intending to hang up his coat but saw an unnatural scene.
"Hi..." Noel looked pleased as she tried on his top hat and posed in front of the mirror.
Elion silently raised his hands and rubbed his eyes for the second time that day, hoping he had imagined it all. This trick never worked for him, though.
"Hey, why didn't you wear it today? It would have looked even cooler!" the girl laughed.
"... Realizing this, the guy's mind went blank, and his body froze in midstep.
"All you have is a top hat, a couple of T-shirts, and underwear. Shouldn't a guy your age have some entertainment or something? My room is full of all kinds of stuff. You'd definitely like it!"
... The young man just blinked, unsure of what to do.
"Why are you stuck there? Come on in and make yourself at home." Hehe." The girl teased him.
— ... Without saying another word, Elion approached her and pointed sharply at the door.
"I told you we're neighbors, and you silently agreed. Am I wrong?" she asked innocently, tilting her head.
He stood there with his hand frozen, completely unsure of what to do and with no clear options forming in his head.
"Or do you want to tell me something?" The girl moved closer to him and stared into his eyes.
"... Frowning deeply, the guy looked into her sly green eyes, which hid her amusement. He couldn't bring himself to say anything to this unbearable girl, though.
... Noel didn't say anything either; he just looked into his dissatisfied yellow eyes.
— ...
— ...
They stood in silence for several minutes until the girl smiled brightly and said, "
"That's great."
... Elion looked at the most insolent person in his life and thought,
"This is the most insolent person in the world."
Relax, many guys dream of a girl like me coming into their room," she said, patting him on the shoulder. She lowered her hand and pointed to the door.
— ... The guy never reacted to her stories, and he didn't change his expression now either. Suppressing another sigh, he realized that sunset was approaching and went about his business, forgetting about the problem.
Silently hanging up his coat, he took off his shirt and went to the bathroom to put on the clothes he had washed before leaving. After changing from his formal attire into a T-shirt and shorts, he went to the kitchen to make some herbal tea before bed. He was completely uninterested in where the cheeky girl was wreaking havoc next. She seemed to be saying something from the bedroom, but he paid no attention to her. After brewing the tea, he went to the bedroom to enjoy it while watching the setting sun.
"... Elion's mug almost fell out of his hands in shock.
"Hehe, she's so cute. I didn't know you had such hobbies..." Noel said mischievously while touching the Anabel doll in all the right places.
Slamming the mug down on the nearest surface, causing a few drops to spill out, Elion firmly strode towards the girl because there are boundaries that should not be crossed.
He snatched the doll away and glared angrily at the girl, who looked at him with puppy dog eyes.
"Why not?" I'm not going to tear it up. Did you make it yourself? A past love?" she asked innocently.
Something clicked in Elion's head. Realizing this was his chance, he decided to use a familiar technique. In an icy tone, he said,
"It's the last gift from my sister, who was burned alive while saving my life. Any more questions?" He stared at her with a cruel look. When Elion said such things, he did not perceive the listener as a conversation partner. For him, it was just a way to solve a problem, and it worked frighteningly well when he used it.
The girl's eyes widened, and she stared silently at the young man.
He also looked at her viciously.
After a few seconds of silence, Noel got up from the bed and walked over to Elion.
—...
— ...
They stared at each other silently from close range, and then...
Grab!
Noel silently wrapped her arms around Elion's head and pulled him to her chest.
— The boy's mind went blank again, and he was in shock.
— ... Noel pulled him closer, stroking his head with one hand and his back with the other.
The young man had no idea what was going on and tried to make sense of the situation. The young man had no idea what was going on and tried to make sense of the situation.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know," she whispered softly in his ear.
— ...
Meanwhile, the sun was approaching sunset, and the view from the window was ablaze with bright reds and oranges. Their figures, pressed close together, were enveloped in the colorful view from the wide panoramic windows.
Noel continued to quietly hug and caress him, whispering in his ear.
Elion remained silent.