Mystic blue

Riven had fallen halfway out of his chair laughing. Elira had completely given up pretending to stay serious. Even students from nearby tables were looking over.

And Califfer?

Califfer looked like he wanted the ground to open and swallow him whole. Nyvera blinked innocently.

"...What?"

"What do you mean what?!"

Califfer whispered harshly.

"You embarrassed me!"

Nyvera looked genuinely confused.

"...By asking about your chewing?"

"...YES!"

"...Humans are sensitive."

"I AM NOT SENSITIVE."

Riven immediately pointed.

"Sensitive."

"I AM NOT!"

"Sensitive."

"RIVEN."

"Sensiti—"

Califfer threw a tissue at him.

(⁠＾⁠∇⁠＾⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♪

A few days later...

Something strange began happening.

Very strange.

Suspiciously strange.

Califfer sat in class quietly while writing notes. The teacher was discussing something at the front.

"...and that will be included in your quiz tomorrow."

Instant suffering filled the room. Groans everywhere. Meanwhile— Nyvera was staring at Califfer. Again.

Califfer slowly looked sideways.

"...Why."

"Hm?"

"...Why are you staring at me."

"I'm not."

"...You are."

"...I'm observing."

"...No."

"...Professional observation."

"...NO."

Elira whispered:

"Does she ever stop?"

Califfer stared into emptiness.

"...No."

Absolutely not.

But the strange thing wasn't Nyvera.

Well...

Not only Nyvera. It was because weird little things started happening around Califfer lately. Things he couldn't explain. For example— Yesterday, his papers had almost flown into a puddle. Suddenly a gust of wind pushed them back. Today, he accidentally dropped his pen— And somehow it landed perfectly upright on his desk.

And just this morning— A falling flowerpot nearly hit him.

Nearly.

Because somehow— A bird crashed into it first. Califfer stared at Nyvera suspiciously.

Very suspiciously.

Nyvera smiled.

Too quickly.

"...Nyvera."

"Yes?"

"...Do you know something?"

"No."

"...You answered too fast."

"I naturally answer fast."

"...Suspicious."

Unknown to Califfer— Nyvera was sweating internally.

Very heavily.

Because yes. She absolutely was helping him secretly. Tiny things only. Very tiny things. Nothing timeline-breaking. Nothing huge.

Just...

Keeping bad things away. A little wind here. A tiny push there. Maybe making a bird suddenly decide:

"Today feels like a wonderful day to attack flowerpots."

Small things.

Very responsible things.

Totally responsible.

Later that afternoon...

The four of them sat under a large tree outside campus.

Riven stretched dramatically.

"I don't want classes anymore."

Elira sighed.

"We literally just started today."

"I already miss vacation."

Nyvera looked up from her drink.

"Vacation?"

Riven stared.

"...You don't know what vacation is?"

"...No."

Silence. Everyone looked at her.

"...What?"

Nyvera asked.

Elira blinked.

"Nyvera..."

"...Where exactly did you grow up?"

Danger.

Danger.

Danger.

Nyvera's brain immediately started panicking. Very aggressively.

"Uh..."

Think.

Think.

THINK.

"...Mountains."

Califfer blinked.

"Mountains?"

"yeah."

"What mountains?"

"...Big mountains."

Riven narrowed his eyes.

"That explains nothing."

Nyvera pointed at him dramatically.

"Stop asking difficult questions."

Five minutes later— Disaster happened. Absolute disaster.

Riven suddenly smirked.

"Oh."

Everyone looked at him.

"Oh no,"

Elira said immediately. Riven pointed toward the courtyard.

"Look."

Nyvera followed his finger. Students were gathered around a booth.

A large sign read:

STUDENT PAIR EVENT!

Partners chosen randomly!

Winning pair gets free café vouchers!

Nyvera blinked.

"...What's that?"

Riven smiled slowly.

Very slowly.

Very dangerously.

"...Nothing."

Califfer narrowed his eyes.

"...Riven."

Riven suddenly stood up.

"NYVERA COME WITH ME."

"Huh—"

Before anyone could react— Riven grabbed Nyvera's wrist and dragged her away.

"WAIT—"

"RIVEN!"

Califfer stood up.

"What are you doing?!"

Riven turned dramatically.

"FOR SCIENCE!"

Two minutes later…

Califfer arrived breathing heavily. And immediately froze. Because standing there— holding small number papers— was Nyvera, who looked confused, who looked innocent, who smiled brightly and waved. And beside her— Riven looked like pure evil.

Califfer slowly looked down. Then at his own hand. Then back up. Same number.

Silence.

"...No."

Riven exploded laughing.

"YES!"

Elira covered her face.

"Oh my gosh..."

Nyvera blinked.

"...What happened?"

Riven was crying.

Actual tears.

"YOU TWO GOT PAIRED!"

Silence.

Nyvera looked at Califfer. Califfer looked at Nyvera. Nyvera tilted her head.

"...Why is your face red?"

Califfer immediately covered his face.

"IT'S HOT."

"...We're outside."

"...EXACTLY."

Nyvera stared.

Very intensely.

"...Califfer."

"...What."

"...Are you dying?"

"...NO."

Far away— Unknown to everyone— Three students watched from another building.

One of them narrowed his eyes.

"...Califfer seems different lately."

Another crossed his arms.

"He's smiling more."

"Tch."

The first one frowned.

"...Annoying."

Meanwhile— Nyvera looked toward Califfer. Then smiled softly. Because she noticed it too. He was smiling more.

Little by little.

Without realizing it. And for some strange reason— Seeing that made her chest feel warm. Warm enough that— For the first time in a long time— She forgot she was here for redemption.

Because right now...

She was simply enjoying being beside him. And somehow— That scared her a little

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