“I'm thinking...”
“Huh? But Loviki... your strategy seems to be yielding worse results than before,” Velyan said with a subtle expression as she watched Loviki's hand operating the joystick.
“...” Loviki was silent for a moment, her right hand quickly tapping the buttons. “Die, you greedy pig!”
“I'm a dragon!” Velyan retorted, unconvinced.
She then knocked out Loviki's character with a flurry of random punches.
“Loviki, I think you have something on your mind,” Velyan said, suddenly stopping her movements.
“Huh?” Loviki turned her head and asked softly, “Is it that obvious?”
“Yes, very obvious.” Velyan tilted her head, her golden eyes filled with earnestness as she said, “Although I don't like observing humans, Loviki is my friend.”
“And what did your observations yield?” Loviki pouted, refocusing her gaze on the screen as if she wasn't particularly interested in the topic.
“Well, you keep glancing toward the stairs out of the corner of your eye, and your expression looks very conflicted,” Velyan said, turning back to play the game as she spoke.
“...I do not,” Loviki said, her movements pausing.
“With my many years of experience, I couldn't possibly be wrong.”
“Many years? How old are you, Velyan?” Loviki asked, turning her face to change the subject.
“Hmm... by human calculations, I should be three hundred years old,” Velyan said, counting on her fingers with a serious look.
“Three hundred years old?! Then why does it feel like you don't act like someone that age at all...?” Loviki's eyes widened, her voice filled with disbelief.
“Because three hundred is still very young among the dragon race. And to keep my mind from being worn down by the long years, I spend most of my time sleeping, just like Irena.” Velyan swished her golden tail, let go of the joystick, and leaned back against her chair with a relaxed expression.
“I can't tell at all.”
“Because now I have friends. Everyone in the apartment and Irena are my friends, and the time spent with friends is very precious.” The corners of Velyan's mouth curved upward, her golden eyes shining with light. “This is the first time I've had so many friends, so I don't want to spend it sleeping.”
Hearing this, Loviki's expression softened. After a moment, she said with some helplessness, “Velyan... how are you able to just say things like that so directly?”
“Huh? What's so hard about that? I'm just speaking the truth,” Velyan said, turning her head in confusion.
“But don't you ever have moments where... you clearly have a lot you want to say, but when it gets to your lips, you feel like it would be weird to say it out loud?” Loviki imitated her, leaning back on the sofa and staring casually at the ceiling.
“I do... but I think if it's important, it's still better to say it,” Velyan said without hesitation, blinking her eyes.
“Why?”
“Because if you don't say it, others won't know. Just like if I don't drag Irena out to play, she'll just stay home and sleep.” Velyan shrugged, then added, “Besides, keeping things bottled up while playing games is distracting.”
Loviki was stunned for a moment, then said with some amusement, “...What kind of reason is that?”
Even so, she still asked in a low voice, “But... won't it be weird after saying it?”
“No. I feel like once you say it, it doesn't seem like a big deal anymore.” Velyan shook her head, then added, “Boldly say what you want to say. That is my survival guide.”
“When did you add that?”
“Just now!”
Loviki turned her head back to look at the game console screen. After a moment, she said softly, “...I understand.”
Velyan glanced at her, reached out to turn off the game console, unplugged it, and moved it to a proper spot. “No more games today. I'm going to sleep.”
Having said that, Velyan walked up the stairs, then looked back at Loviki. “Loviki, if you have something you want to say to Chen Mian, I think you should just go find him. There's no need to wait until tomorrow.”
“I-I do not want to talk to him!”
“Oh, I'm a bit sleepy, so I'm going to bed first~” Velyan withdrew her gaze, smiling as she continued up the stairs. “We'll keep playing tomorrow night~”
After a while, Loviki looked at the empty living room, stood up to turn off the lights, and took a deep breath before turning to walk upstairs.
The hallway was very quiet. Most of the lights were already off, with only a warm yellow light filtering through the crack beneath Chen Mian's door.
Loviki's steps paused, and then she unconsciously quickened her pace, walking to her own door and reaching out to grasp the doorknob.
But just as she was about to open the door, she stopped. Taking a deep breath, she turned back around, walked toward Chen Mian's door, and raised her hand to knock gently.
After a short moment, the door opened. Chen Mian stood at the doorway, looking at her in surprise. “What's wrong?”
“I... I have something I want to say to you,” Loviki said, her head lowered and her manner somewhat fidgety.
“Go ahead.” Chen Mian stepped aside slightly to make room for her.
Loviki hesitated for a moment but still slowly walked into his room.
“What is it?” Chen Mian closed the door behind her and asked softly.
Loviki's gaze flickered away, looking to the side before returning, finally resting on the tips of her shoes. She stammered, “Um, I... I didn't mean to run away tonight...”
“Hmm?” Chen Mian was stunned, looking at her in confusion.
“It's just... it's just... I didn't dislike it when you patted my head. I left because I really was going to take a shower.” Loviki spoke faster and faster, as if afraid she would regret her words. “I was afraid you'd think I ran away because I didn't like you touching me!”
Chen Mian stood in place, his expression shifting from confusion to amusement, his eyes shining with clear laughter. “Loviki, you ran into my room in the middle of the night just to tell me you went to take a shower earlier?”
“...I-Is that not allowed?”
Chen Mian looked at her flushed face, and after a few seconds, he suddenly chuckled.
“...What are you laughing at?” Loviki asked, her expression turning wary.
“I was just wondering if what you said is true.”
“I-I really was going to take a shower! Believe it or not!” Loviki glared at him huffily.
With that, she turned to leave the room.
Chen Mian took a step forward and gently pressed his hand against the door.
Loviki stopped and turned back awkwardly. “What are you doing...?”
“This is the landlord's room. You think you can just come and go as you please?” Chen Mian said with a straight face, though the smile on his lips was extremely obvious.
Loviki stood in place, feeling a bit lost.
In the next instant, Chen Mian gently reached out and naturally pulled her into his arms.
Rate on N.U.
