Chapter 328
From the heavy breaths and faint sighs that could be heard, an unusual sense of anxiety was palpable, as if Erietta was hiding something far more than an ordinary stomachache.
'What should I be paying attention to?'
Aldraya remained silent behind the stall door, her mind working calmly even as the situation demanded heightened vigilance.
Theo's instructions echoed clearly in her thoughts.
She had to eavesdrop and observe Erietta's movements.
For now, however, only silence filled the restroom, broken solely by the irregular sound of breathing from the neighboring stall.
With no dialogue or audible activity to latch onto, her focus shifted elsewhere.
She concentrated on every minor sound that might carry meaning, such as the rustle of clothing, the sudden turn of a faucet, or even subtle changes in Erietta's breathing pattern.
Every detail could serve as a clue.
"It feels like it's going to burst."
Erietta's voice tore through the stifling silence of the restroom, emerging as a hoarse whisper laden with weight yet still clear enough to be caught by Aldraya's extraordinarily sharp hearing.
The words were spoken to herself, a confession slipping out from deep mental exhaustion.
She lamented her inability to keep up the pretense any longer, as though the burden of pretending had reached the very limits of her endurance.
Those words lingered in the humid air, heavy with weariness and a veiled admission that something had been hidden all along.
'Your judgment always pierces straight to the mark, samurai Theo Vkytor.
Who would have thought that beneath the jokes they showed, Erietta was hiding something false. Even I failed to notice the signs.'
Fhhhh!
'Once again, your order was correct.'
Within the quiet confines of the narrow toilet stall, a flash of thought crossed Aldraya's mind.
She blinked once, her usually flat eyes reflecting a deep acknowledgment.
While most people, including herself until now, might have seen Erietta as nothing more than a teenager overly enthusiastic about spicy food,
Theo Vkytor had seen beyond that.
A quiet sense of admiration rose within her for Theo's sharp way of thinking, his ability to suspect what lay hidden beneath an ordinary surface.
Theo's keen intuition and deductive logic had uncovered the possibility of an act, something that had never once crossed Aldraya's mind.
Her thoughts reflected on how easily well-maintained small lies could slip past ordinary observation.
Erietta had played her role convincingly, laughing and enjoying her food as if unburdened.
Yet Theo had not been deceived by the performance.
He had caught the gaps, the subtle inconsistencies, and predicted the likelihood that something was being concealed.
Now, that prediction—or rather, Theo's brilliant analysis—had proven itself through Erietta's unintended confession behind the toilet door.
"Aldraya, I need to write for a bit. Could you move your head slightly?
I can't write if you keep staying here like this."
"Mmm… Theo… warm… don't go…"
After an entire day spent monitoring Erietta and Ilux's date, Theo finally laid his exhausted body down on the bed in his dormitory room.
He lay on his back, staring at the empty ceiling as he released all the pent-up fatigue.
Although the day's surveillance mission had gone smoothly and yielded many interesting findings, both his physical and mental energy had been heavily drained.
Without getting up, Theo reached into the pocket on his chest.
His fingers searched until they found a small yellow notebook, no larger than the palm of his hand, along with a pen he always carried.
The urge to immediately record his analyses and preliminary conclusions from the day's observations overcame his exhaustion.
However, an unexpected physical obstacle arose.
Aldraya, who had followed him earlier and eventually lain down as well, was now sleeping soundly atop his body, her head resting squarely on his chest.
Theo tried to ask softly for permission, requesting that Aldraya shift her soft yet heavy head.
That position made it extremely difficult for him to write, as the movement of his right hand was obstructed and the notebook in his left hand was hard to stabilize.
Gently yet firmly, he attempted to move Aldraya's chin and sleeping head, seeking a bit of space to breathe and move more freely.
His efforts were futile.
Aldraya, deep in her sleep, seemed steadfast and unmoved.
Each time her head was shifted, she reflexively and affectionately returned it to the same spot on Theo's chest.
A soft, steady snore even escaped her lips, like a pure and soothing hymn, as if affirming just how comfortable and safe she felt in that position.
'Resisting her stubbornness while she sleeps like this is pointless. I'll write from this somewhat awkward position.'
Oooohh!
'At the very least, the important notes about today's mission must be recorded before the details fade.'
Theo finally let out a short breath, surrendering to the reality that Aldraya's sleeping head would not be moved from his chest.
Rather than continuing to struggle against the girl's deep comfort, he chose to adapt.
With careful movements so as not to wake her, Theo rearranged the small yellow notebook and his pen.
He placed both items just behind Aldraya's head, on the slightly raised pillow.
The position was far from ideal, but it allowed his right hand to move freely across the paper, while his left hand could still gently support or lightly touch the white hair spread across his chest.
With full concentration, Theo began to write.
His sharp analytical gaze was now poured into neat strokes across the paper.
'First, Ilux and Erietta's date in arc one, episode ten middle, has concluded according to the timeline.'
Theo completed his analysis by recording three key points in his yellow notebook.
The first point confirmed that the date between Erietta and Ilux, which was supposed to occur according to the storyline in the game Flo Viva Mythology, had ended.
He compared it with the previous date between Ilux and Aldraya.
In the game scenario, there were supposed to be seven locations visited, yet the Ilux–Aldraya date only managed to complete three places before Aldraya withdrew.
This time, however, things were different.
The Ilux–Erietta date successfully visited four locations that were already written into the scenario, without a single deviation.
This meant that the main storyline of this episode had proceeded perfectly and predictably, at least on the surface.
The next matter he underlined concerned the dynamics of the relationship.
Theo carefully noted that the closeness and chemistry between Ilux and Erietta appeared far more natural and harmonious than the date Ilux had once shared with Aldraya.
Their interactions were filled with spontaneous laughter, natural touches, and affection that did not feel forced.
This stood in stark contrast to Aldraya's consistently flat, reserved demeanor and her habit of maintaining distance, which ultimately made the previous date feel stiff and prevented it from reaching the depth expected of a couple.
'Second, Aldraya's presence in this surveillance mission did not cause any problems.
On the contrary, I actually felt glad to have a companion to discuss things with during the observation.
Even if her responses are often sarcastic and delivered in a flat, emotionless tone.'
The second point that Theo carefully inscribed concerned Aldraya's role in today's surveillance mission.
He noted that the participation of the white-haired girl caused no significant issues or complications at all.
On the contrary, her presence added an unexpected new dimension.
To be continued…