None of them spoke a word, simply enjoying the silence and the warmth of the others.

Actually, Raymond and Ellen had both noticed Erin’s plans pretty quickly. Basically noticing them the moment she had started. It was pretty obvious what she was doing and easy to determine why of course.

From trying to pull them back together, asking them for ice cream and even trying to injure herself on purpose. The last one ending up with her actually injuring herself on accident. Each of these plans was as easy to see through as glass.

She just wanted to be with the two of them at the same time again. Rather then have to pick and choose every day.

In hindsight, they should have expected this to happen when they childishly started fighting over such a thing. But they had been so preoccupied with the other that they forgot about Erin in between them.

Raymond sighed, his hand automatically petting her on the head.

Well...in the grand scheme of things. Was his and Ellen’s little squabble really that important?

Maybe they could just take a small break from trying to humiliate or embarrass the other, just for a while each night.

Besides, he had gotten used to sleeping in the same bed with them now. It felt weird to be alone all by himself at night. It was too quiet, and the lack of their presence was just disturbing.

Ellen, quietly let out a sigh as well. Taking over for Raymond as her hand moved to comfort Erin.

That night, the three of them returned to sleeping in the same bed again.

***

Raymond let out a yawn, stretching his back and arms as he did so.

"Tired?"

He nodded, barely suppressing another yawn from escaping.

Although he and Ellen had decided to pause their game/duel at night for Erin’s sake. They still continued and tried to one-up the other whenever they had the chance.

So for Raymond, this small break was a great opportunity to compose himself again.

Lily tilted her head,"What kind of...game even is this anyways? It sounds like something out of a novel or fanfiction."

"It’s a game that I need to win. Ellen’s always so composed and cool! But the day that she finally breaks that composure is soon..."

Ending the sentence with an ominous tone, Raymond tapped his fingers together all villan-like. Causing Lily to give him a worried look.

"I...see?"

So far, Raymond thought he was doing a pretty good job on the offensive. Especially with Arthur’s assistance and advice, there were several moments where he got Ellen to freeze or stutter slightly.

But it wasn’t the complete embarrassed breakdown he was looking for. He wanted to leave her entire body red and blushing, while she struggled to get a word out. Stuttering and talking over herself.

That sounded wrong like that.

Whatever the case, it was basically life or death. Since Ellen was trying to do the same to him. Even if neither of them admitted that they were playing this game out loud. The rules and regulations, as well as the offenses and defences were already clear.

Take for example, a few days ago. When Ellen had so graciously decided to cook.

He had even purposefully finished his food faster just so he could walk up behind her and whisper his offense.

It had stunned her for a bit, but she immediately retaliated and defended herself so he had to leave before she could continue.

"How did this even start?"

"It’s because of you!"

Faced with the sudden accusation, Lily leaned back slightly.

"What did I even do?"

"You didn’t tell me that there was going to be a kissing scene at the end!"

She let out a light cough, "Ahem. Isn’t it a good thing for you though?"

"How in the world is it a good thing?!"

"Well, how is being able to kiss Ellen a bad thing?"

There were numerous reasons why it was bad for Raymond,but they all took too long to explain to Lily, and he didn’t really feel like it. But it was definitely a bad thing.

Just imagining Ellen’s smug little face...

No, for the last two years at the academy and counting. It was always him on the receiving end. This time he wanted to pay back some of that history.

He had kept this mental note inside his head for so long, so it was finally time to tick it off his list.

He couldn’t actually do much back, but this was an easy way to get back at her. So he wanted to win no matter what.

Raymond had the advantage here anyways, he had years of experience keeping his face still, and this wasn’t his first kiss. Compared to Ellen, he doubted she could remain composed when it was her first time. Let alone when according to the script, it was her who initiated the kiss.

Lily, watching as Raymond suddenly started smiling and gigging to himself. Quietly scooted away slightly.

All geniuses were a bit eccentric, but some were more eccentric.

An alarm rang from his phone, causing him to let out a groan.

Who knew that a play could be so tiring?

Raymond already had the entire script memorized from start to finish, but actually executing the script from start to finish was mentally taxing. Especially when the play was a total of two hours, and Raymond was included in just about every scene.

Well that last part was expected, but the amount of things that Raymond had to do. From being beaten up, learning fight choreography, and wire work. It already felt exhausting normally, but just knowing that he had to do all of this while wearing several of Killian’s outfits in makeup just made it worse.

"I don’t wanna go..."

"Break time is over."

"Please Lily..."

Raymond was so desperate he even pulled out the puppy eyes again, an old strategy he used on Ellen which had unfortunately lost its effectiveness.

Lily let out a choked gasp, feeling her own heart pause at the sight.

But she wasn’t the one in charge of break times, she was also on her break like Raymond was after all.

With a few knocks on the door, and the footsteps that preceded it. It was enough for Raymond to recognize her.

Just like that, his break was over.

Lily could even watch in real time as Raymond transitioned from lazy sloth mode into his focused and determined mode. The hazy and tired look in his eyes completely disappearing in seconds.

And the reason why he was entering that mode in particular continued knocking on the door.

"Raymond?"

"Coming. Just give me a second."

Taking a towel and wiping some of his sweat away, he hung it around his shoulders. Ruffling his hair and pulling his shirt slightly.

This was the newest strategy developed by Arthur himself, it wasn’t named yet. But it took advantage of one thing girls loved(according to Arthur). 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

A hot exhausted guy.

Raymond didn’t know how much of it was true, but he was willing to believe in Arthur. Because Arthur only ever moved to benefit himself, and helping Raymond was benefiting himself.

"Break time is over..."

Her eyes wandered downwards, catching a brief glimpse of his chiseled body.

He smirked internally, before raising an eyebrow and acting confused.

"I know. You didn’t have to come here to tell me."

"I just wanted to see my Shadow. Is there anything wrong with that?"

The my Shadow strategy used by Ellen might have worked the first time. But Raymond was a fast learner, and he was pretty damn good at adaptation.

"Ahh really?"

Leaning in closer to her, Raymond softly exhaled into her ear.

"Thanks. My. Master."

Seeing Ellen immediately turn a full 180 degrees and retreat with her tail tucked in between her legs. Raymond knew that he had won this exchange. He regretted absolutely nothing.

The ear was quite a sensitive spot after all, and softly blowing on it would easily send tingles through anyone’s body.

So this was one of those strategies that could be used for basically an unlimited amount of times.

The only problem was getting close enough with the target to do such a thing.

But for Raymond, who was determined to win the game. Such a hurdle was not a hurdle at all.

It was merely an image of an obstacle, anyone who failed at this were weak-willed and would have been weeded out in society. Bottom of the barrel that would die after an hour or real hard work. But not Raymond.

Lily, still seated and having watched the entire interaction. As well as Raymond’s creepy laughter. Felt her own evaluation of Raymond dropping in real time. If it was at a hundred before, it would only be at a ninety now.

She put her head into her hands.

This was just too pitiful. Especially for someone his age to still be acting like this.