Now what?

"Just wait for the right time," said Selene, as if she already knew what was going to happen next.

At the moment, she was twirling her long, loose hair with her fingers.

"What do you mean?" I asked, frowning.

"After this, I’ll give you two choices."

"What are they?"

"First, like I said earlier, you come with me and train for a year during the school break."

Oh, right.

That actually sounds like it could be an advantage.

"Second, you skip a whole year and jump straight into the school’s opening ceremony."

Huh? What do you mean?

The school’s opening ceremony? How?

"Why like that?"

"Well, it’s easy to explain. The point is, once the investigation ends—whether you train with me or not—that’s what’s going to happen. Why? Because that’s the problem."

"The fact that you’ll be welcomed as a heroine and asked to perform at the opening ceremony... with a piano concert."

Wait, hold on, what?!

"Selene, you’re going to give me a heart attack. I mean, me? Doing that? I can’t even guarantee I can practice properly. And honestly, I’m not even fully recovered yet, love,"

I said, softly pressing my lips to her cheek and stroking her face with my hand.

"Yes, love. I know and understand. But still, this doesn’t mean you have to rush your decision or action."

"By the way, I want to ask something—just really curious. So how was it earlier? Better than the first time?"

Without sugarcoating it, I answered truthfully like a doctor diagnosing a patient.

"Hm... maybe more intense and warmer. It didn’t feel rushed, and the pacing was just right. The movements matched the rhythm, your labia and clitoris had a soft texture—"

"Okay, stop! Enough!" she said, her cheeks flushed.

She still seemed extremely sensitive to my blunt words, with brakes completely gone.

I smiled and hugged her from behind. "What’s wrong, love? Embarrassed?"

"Ugh, enough! Honestly, I don’t get you at all, Kairi. Don’t you ever feel getting creeped out by how honest your words can be?!"

I just shook my head like an innocent girl who didn’t know any better.

"Don’t pretend clueless. My ears are tingle—ahhh~ Kairi, stop it, nghh~"

Right after she said that, I licked her ear playfully.

"What is it? I just can’t hear you clearly, love."

Serves you right. This is what happens when you mess with me.

And it’s your fault I’m this horny now, you know.

"Yes, I know. Sorry ngggh~" she said, half-moaning.

"What? Say it again, love."

"Enough, stop! Save it for later—I’m tired!" She quickly pulled my hands off.

"I’m being serious now, you know. So what do you think?"

Okay, time to be serious.

Honestly, I’ve been meaning to get to this part of the conversation, but I’m still annoyed about her interrogation earlier. As if hiding the fact that I did that is a big deal to her. Like—so what? It’s my business whether I want to hide it or not. Not hers—

"Kairi, my ears are so sensitive, you know~ It actually hurts listening to your inner rambling."

"I don’t give a f*ck. Dumb with it."

"Wait, who’s dumb now? I’m not that dumb."

Oh no, here she goes again...

Looks like I said the wrong thing again. As usual, Selenepedia short-circuits every time she hears a borrowed word from another language.

"Kairi..."

"Yes, Selene, my love."

"Hurry up and decide already. Stop mumbling in your head like someone with no manners at all."

Actually, my inner ranting is the highest form of courtesy.

"Okay, I’ve made my decision." I said, taking a slow breath to pause before I spoke again.

"Selene, please train me seriously in preparation for the Finality Exam."

Her eyebrows lifted. It was obvious, and I didn’t even need to read her mind to see that she was surprised—even though she had been waiting for this answer from the start.

"Always unpredictable, as usual, my dear sister," she said while stroking my head.

"Yes, my beloved big sister~"

This was starting to feel more like roleplay than real life.

Especially since, technically, our bodies were still connected.

Kind of cringe, if I were to think about it.

"Okay then. Let’s go back to the inn room."

Wait, that’s it? Nothing else?

"Wait, no consequences or anything? Where’s the usual scientific explanation?"

"Uh, well... just wait for the right time. I’ll explain it during your training," she said, winking with her left eye.What does she mean by "right time"?

"Like I said earlier, just wait and see. Also, you seem exhausted after everything that just happened—especially trying to control me so I wouldn’t slaughter that bastard monster with your subversion magic. That was Biochemistry, right?"

Ah, right.

Didn’t think she’d still be able to detect the magical energy from that necklace charm. Apparently, it wasn’t a waste thinking through that strategy to monitor her from afar.

"Clever as always, aren’t you?"

"You too, still sly enough to let him go. Pretty convincing acting."

I said with a sarcastic smile, which was followed by her cheeks turning red.

Honestly, that was clear sarcasm. Because in my opinion, her acting was terrible.

But somehow, everyone else fell for it like I was the only one who could tell when she was acting or being real.

Maybe because she’s in the theater club, people assume she’s good at acting? But honestly, when it comes to lying, I might be better than Selene.

Maybe.

"H-h-how d-did you know?!"

Aww, too cute. No, too precious.

Yes, stuttered Selene.

I already knew, of course, but I was curious what it would be like seeing it on my own. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Turns out it was more precious than I could ever imagine.

If I had a phone, I would’ve recorded it and made it my favorite ringtone.

"You’re terrible at acting," I said with a crooked smile.

"Maybe you meant lying," she replied with a sharp gaze—probably annoyed that I exposed one of her weaknesses.

"Okay, enough. Everything between the two of us... let’s bury it here in this room."

"Everything."

"And remember, whatever happens in the Rifter Void—"

"Stays in the Rifter Void. I got it."

That exhausting conversation finally ended.

But even so, there was one thing still bugging me.

Return-By-Memory.

Why hasn’t that power shown up lately?