[Book of Eros] Chapters 118 & 119. (Patreon)

Chapter 118: Seina and Lucia.

Seina couldn’t sleep well that night. She tossed and turned in her bed, anxious and worried despite knowing Angela was spending the night at Leonardo’s side. If something were to happen, she’d go and tell Wisler-san immediately. But the old lady had said it herself. There was nothing they could do but wait.

That morning she got up early, enough to be the first one to the shower. After getting dressed, her feet carried her to the other side of the house, where she found Angela still in her pajamas and coming out of Leonardo’s room. Despite her messy bed hair, her eyes looked awake.

“How is he doing?” Seina asked without hesitation.

“Not any worse, which I suppose is a relief…” Angela groaned. “But he was grunting all night. I’ve seen him stop and brush off an iron rod to the arm. Seeing him in pain is just…” She shuddered, leaving the sentence unfinished. The American blonde turned her eyes to Seina, firmly and confidently. “Exams start today, and though I’d prefer to stay here, I should get this over with soon. Can I ask you to watch over him today?”

Seina nodded immediately. “I was planning on asking you if you wouldn’t mind.”

Angela groaned again. “…I get why you’d think it would bother me, but… Look, I have nothing against you, it’s just… I… It’s complicated.”

Seina’s lips curled into a small, relieved smile. “Don’t worry. I understand. I think,” she chuckled.

Angela returned the smile. “I’m gonna take a shower.”

Seina watched her go into the bathroom, and after she did, she started at the door in front of her. In her mind, she saw herself reaching for the knob, opening the door and walking in like it was nothing, and yet in reality her body didn’t move. She stood there, looking at the door for a long, long moment.

“Either go in or don’t, but don’t just stand there blocking the entrance.”

Lucia’s voice woke her up. Startled, Seina turned to her. The older woman was already dressed as well, hair still damp from getting out of the shower. She stood there with arms crossed below her chest, waiting and observing her. Having Lucia there made Seina find her courage, and she opened the door to Leonardo’s room. Lucia went in with her.

He was in his futon, covered to the neck. Like Angela had said, he was grunting and shifting in bed. It was difficult to know if he was awake or not.

“Do you think he’s even conscious?” Lucia asked.

“Now that you mention it…” Would Leonardo be sleeping for the whole duration of his condition? “…Maybe it’s better if he’s asleep?”

“Maybe.”

Just standing there felt awkward, so Seina stepped forward and sat next to Leonardo’s futon, watching over him. Lucia soon did the same, sitting next to her, and an annoying thought passed through the voice actress’ head. “Please tell me you’re not seeing this as going a week without sex.”

“Give me a little credit. That’s only half of how I’m seeing it.” Lucia shrugged.

“I swear…” Seina sighed. “And the other half?”

“That it’s terrible timing. I was hoping to take him out shopping one of these days.”

“…” Lucia’s mouth hung half-opened, eyes going wide.

“Don’t give me that look. Yeah, I wanted to take him out on a date, so what?”

“…Angela is his girlfriend, you know? So is that other girl, Maeda-san.”

“Oh, so first I can’t just think of sex and now I can’t think of something more?” Lucia frowned. “You’re wasting your time trying to lecture me, girl. You know you want it as much as I do. It’s painted all over your face. At first I thought you way too naïve and inexperienced for falling so hard for a guy after your first time, but…” She clicked her tongue. “Now I can’t blame you.”

Seina’s heart skipped a beat, and after letting the light dizziness from the revelation fade, she smiled in resignation and asked, “You too, then?”

“I’d give half my fortune for another night like that with him, and that’s only so I could have enough for another one. But I don’t just mean the sex, as heavenly as that was. No, he gave me a second chance, I got my head out of my own ass and we just… clicked. I’ve never felt like such a damned fool in my life. Leonardo is a great man, and I want him.” Lucia then sighed in frustration. “You won’t hear me saying that to his conscious face, however. Not yet.”

Seina’s heart was now beating faster. Her face grew hotter and her lip quivered with the desire to ask oh so many questions. “W-When, then?”

“When the year has passed and the curse has been lifted. When I see he continues to be the man I think he is, despite it all. But most of all, when I prove that I’m a better pick than anyone in or out of this house.” A chill ran down Seina’s back, a fear that Lucia would go back to her initial schemes. But to her surprise, the older woman shot her a good-natured smirk. “That means you have until then to prove yourself a better pick than me and the others.”

“H-Haaah!?”

“Oh, come on, woman! You like the guy! Stop being afraid of it! It doesn’t matter if you think he’s sexy, or a sex machine, or kind, or funny, or hardworking or whatever. The reason doesn’t matter so long as you’re willing to act on what you want! I’ll use everything I have to make Leonardo fall madly in love with me, because if I don’t, the others are going to take him away from me, and if you don’t do the same, I’M going to take him away from YOU. Use it all, Seina. Your voice, your looks, your body, your actions, everything. Forget I exist, forget the others exist. Care only about the moments you share with him and strive to make them special. I don’t have as powerful abilities as my mother does, but I still see things well enough. Leonardo likes me, and he likes you too. He likes Angela and that Reiko girl, and even Kaede and Valerie. Who will he choose by the end of all this? I won’t leave it to chance, no sir. It’s going to be me, Seina. Are you going to do something about it?”

Seina could scarcely believe what she was hearing. It was so outlandish she would laugh if Lucia hadn’t hit the nail in the head so hard. It didn’t matter how or why she had fallen for Leonardo. People can’t control their feelings. But if she kept hesitating, then everyone else would walk over her. But there was one more thing that worried her.

“You don’t think it’ll make things worse?” she asked.

“I don’t. Not after last night, at least,” Lucia answered with a sigh and did not elaborate further. Even so, Seina had a feeling she understood to some extent.

“Alright then,” she smiled. “I’m in this game as well. I’m not gonna lag behind.”

“Good,” Lucia grinned. “And if you’re willing, I have an idea for when Leonardo wakes up. A small show that we’re serious about this… truce.”

Seina blinked, curious. “I’m listening.

***

Chapter 119: Reiko and Angela.

“…I see.”

Reiko felt her chest tighten with every word Angela said. The bell cut their conversation short, but at least she now knew why Leonardo hadn’t shown up with the others at school.

“He’ll be fine, so try not to worry too much. You know how tough he is.” Angela told her. “Focus on your exams first. You can come visit him after school.”

“Yeah…” Reiko nodded. But it was one thing to say it and a very different one to do it.

“We talk again during recess?”

“Yes, please. I want to know more.”

“Okay, though it’s not like I understand it all. But… There’s something I want to tell you. It’s important. Very important.”

“…I’ll be there.”

So Leonardo was asleep and would be for a few days because of some Book of Eros magic. He’d recover, but they just didn’t know exactly when. Mrs. Wisler had already called the school, saying Leo was sick and wouldn’t be at school for a week. He’d have to retake exams on a different day, but that was the least of their worries. Reiko had been excited to ask how his date with White-san had gone and to show him her newest art piece, but now it mattered little.

“Reiko-san,” Kaede called to her from the seat in front of Leo’s. “He… he’ll be fine, okay?”

Hearing Kaede trying to cheer her up shook Reiko out of her trance. Of course Leo would be fine. He was Leo, after all! He’d surely tell to focus on exams as well. And hey, if she took the exams before him, she’d be able to give him a couple of hints, too.

***

Up on the rooftop, it was only her and Angela. The sound of students chatting and playing down in the yard reached even up there. The two girls looked down at them in silence before Reiko finally found words to answer Angela.

“Are you sure you really want that?”

“I’m not,” Angela shook her head in frustration. “It sounds like a good idea to me, but when I think of going through with it, I just… get scared, you know?”

“Of course I know,” Reiko nodded. “I… I don’t think I can do that.”

“And I’m not asking you to,” Angela assured. “No, this is just me being… I don’t even know what to call it. Stubborn and stupid, I guess.”

“I’d rather you didn’t do it, but… I think I understand how you feel. I’m a little worried, but not that much. I trust you and Leo to figure this out. Are you gonna do this as soon as he wakes up?”

“Maybe. I might just see how everyone else starts acting. The old lady said some things last night that… changed things a bit.”

“Changed what?”

“Don’t ask me. I only have this feeling like the other girls are taking this more seriously now. Lucia and Seina especially.” Angela groaned and rubbed the back of her neck. “I haven’t been very nice to them, either. Lucia earned it, but Seina hasn’t done anything to get me to be so cold to her. I’m trying to fix that, but I’m not the best with people.”

“You’re not so bad,” Reiko giggled. “Once they understand your directness is just part of your charm, you’ll all get along great. Leo likes that about you, too.”

“Does he? I thought he found it annoying…”

“Of course he doesn’t. This’ll sound weird coming from me, but have more confidence in your own personality.”

“It was just a short lapse of doubt, okay? I’ve been questioning myself more than I ever have before…” Angela sighed. “Being in love kind of sucks, huh?”

“A little,” Reiko giggled again. “But it can be pretty great, too.”

“Yeah…” Angela smiled. “I guess I can’t blame Seina for falling for him. She might be older than me, but we all have about the same amount of experience when it comes to romance, and that’s near zero.”

“…Wait a minute, why does that name ring a bell? Which one was Lucia-san and which one was Seina-san?”

“Lucia Wisler is the blonde, bitchy one who made Kaede cry. Mrs. Wisler’s daughter. Seina Mi… Mirror… Miyako… What was her last name? Ah! Seina Miryoku! That’s the bombshell with the black hair.”

Miryoku… Seina? Miryoku Seina… Why did that name sound familiar? Where had Reiko heard that name before? Oh well, it would come to her later. For now, Reiko wanted to think of some way to help out Leo with his burden, especially since she was sure he wasn't gonna like what Angela had planned.

***

Author's Note: I edited that last part marked in bold. It used to be Reiko remembering where she knew Seina's name from, but now it's this. Nothing major.