Chapter 17 No Time to Breathe
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Wh—what the hell do you mean, you don’t know!?”
The boy in front of me shouts. I suppose anyone would, after being told something as stupid as “I don’t know” in answer to a serious question.
A small horn curls above his left brow, and his right eye—its sclera black, the iris a serpent-red glow—marks him as someone with demon blood. Haruka. Anyone could see it at a glance.
Judging by that look, he’s probably been hounded and mistreated for it all his life. No wonder he lashes out first.
”You’re mocking me too, huh? Just because I’m half-demon!”
‘Well, well—little boys are the best when they’re all bark and bite. Makes them so fun to bully, doesn’t it?’
”…”
How am I supposed to handle this? I’ve avoided people for so long, I can barely hold a conversation, much less understand what someone like him must feel.
Should I just… treat him normally? No, that’s laughable. I barely know how to talk to normal people at all.
And I still don’t even understand what the Voice wanted when it pushed me toward him. If I say something wrong, it might trigger a “correction,” and someone else could get hurt.
”Say something, damn it!”
”…”
What should I—really—do?
‘He’s agitated, poor thing. Can’t blame him after all he’s been through, now can we?’
A glance around tells me enough. Other boys his age lie sprawled unconscious across the ground.
No wonder he’s on edge.
‘That’s why it’s so easy, you know? Just act kind and he’ll fall right into your hands—a total trust-junkie with the emotional defenses of wet paper.’
…Okay, I didn’t understand half of that, but apparently being gentle with him will earn his trust.
But how am I supposed to even start—?
‘Oh please, you melt the moment anyone’s nice to you, too. You’re just as easy, Homo-chan.’
”Hhk—”
A surge of irritation slams into my gut. Not mine, but his—the Voice’s.
Its frustration, its contempt, its disgust, its wrath—all of it floods me until I can hardly breathe.
Something far above me, an entity I can’t resist, is peering straight into my soul, and it hates what it sees.
My chest tightens with terror. If it wished, it could erase me with a single thought.
”Ghh—hah… hah…”
”H-hey! What’s wrong with you?!”
My knees hit the ground. My eyes fix on nothing.
I can’t even wipe away the sweat pouring down my face. All I can do is press both hands against my racing heart.
I’m scared. Gods, I’m so scared. Why does a creature like that have to notice me?
Why can’t I even breathe when it’s angry?
”Hey—calm down!”
”—!?”
My mind snaps back to reality.
”Wh-what…?”
”What happened to you, all of a sudden…?”
‘Yeah, trauma kids sure love their panic fits. Not that I didn’t cause it, hehe.’
Looks like Haruka saved me somehow.
His hand rests on my back, pulsing faintly with magic. He must’ve jolted me back to awareness.
”…Sorry. And… thanks.”
”It’s fine, but what was that?”
I steady my breathing, stalling for an excuse.
”…A—ah, m-maybe an old condition acting up.”
”…”
Yeah. He totally doesn’t buy it.
‘Classic Homo-chan moment.’
Hey, it’s not my fault! I can’t improvise to save my life.
‘Anyway, event complete. Time to call it a day.’
”For what it’s worth,” Haruka says, scratching his cheek, “helping you was just a whim. But… if you’re in trouble again, you can tell me.”
”That makes no sense,” I mutter. “If it was just a whim, why offer to help again?”
He shrugs. “Dunno. Guess I kinda feel like we got along, maybe?”
”…Huh?”
Yeah, I don’t get it either, kid.
‘Be nice, Homo-chan. Make friends~’
Right. I can’t just shrug this off. If I don’t want the Voice sulking again, I’ll have to actually try to get along with him.
I’ve never been good at talking to people, but… I’ll manage somehow.
”I’m not feeling great, so I’ll head home for today.”
”…”
”…See you tomorrow, maybe.”
”…”
No good. He’s still wary.
After that awkward first meeting, I can’t really blame him.
Pretending not to notice his suspicious glare stabbing at my back, I start planning to hole up in the library tonight—maybe find something to talk about next time.
‘Oh, by the way,’ the Voice hums, ‘tonight we’re going knight-hunting. Gotta grind some levels.’
…So much for having the time.
Notes:
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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