Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 43 - Level 141

Chapter 43 - Level 141

The late afternoon sunlight bathed the campus in a golden glow, casting long shadows across the cobblestone pathways. I stood in front of the girls' dormitory, still in my crisp school uniform, the faint scent of freshly cut grass lingering in the air. The sky, painted with streaks of orange and pink, signaled the day's slow descent into evening. I glanced at my phone—5:30 PM. The time felt both early and late, a strange tension buzzing in the air.

My eyes flicked to Myrrh's messages again, their cheery tone contrasting with the quiet stillness around me:

Myrrh: Hey, are you free tonight? Let's have a dinner date! My treat!
Myrrh: And also, my mother wants to see you. Let's meet in front of my dormitory, at 5:30 PM!

That was two hours ago. I scrolled idly through my other messages, half-listening to the rustling of leaves in the gentle evening breeze, trying to pass the time. Yet, an uncanny sensation crept over me—like eyes boring into the back of my head.

Before I could turn, darkness swept over my vision. A soft touch—delicate and warm—covered my eyes, and something even softer pressed against my back, one pressure to my left, another to my right. My mind scrambled for context.

"Guess who!" a familiar voice teased, carrying that playful lilt I knew all too well.

I smirked, a mischievous edge creeping into my tone. "Could it be the dumb blonde bimbo everyone keeps gossiping about?"

"Ugh, fuck you, Zaft!" Myrrh huffed, shoving my head away as she let go. 

My vision cleared, and there she was—pouting like a child denied her favorite treat. Her lime-green hair, tied back with black ribbons, shimmered under the waning sunlight, and her flushed cheeks only made her more endearing.

"After everything we've been through," she grumbled, crossing her arms with mock indignation, "you really hate me that much, huh?"

"Just kidding." I scoffed, a smirk tugging at my lips as I reached out to pat Myrrh's head.

As always, she leaned into the gesture like a contented cat. But just as quickly, she swatted my hand away, her expression twisting into mock irritation. "You're ruining my hair," she grumbled, adjusting the ribbon that kept her ponytail in place.

"Alright, alright." I raised my hands in surrender, my grin widening. "So, what's the plan? This'll be our second date, huh?"

"That's right!" Myrrh's face lit up with excitement, her earlier pout disappearing in an instant. "I hope it's okay that it's just a dinner date, though. My wallet's... uh... going through some tough times right now." She gave a sheepish laugh, scratching her cheek.

"What's new? You're always in debt." I nodded, though a twinge of unease crept into my tone. "Still... I can't help but feel a little nervous. Every time we go on a 'date,' something weird always happens."

Myrrh blinked, her expression shifting to a deadpan stare. "You're not wrong," she admitted flatly. "The first date ended with the Xyraxis Blackout incident. Then there was our 'meeting' with that terrorist hacker. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if the apocalypse decides to drop by tonight."

I forced a laugh, trying to mask the growing knot in my stomach. "M-maybe we should just... stay in? You know, avoid tempting fate or whatever. I'm starting to think you might be carrying some sort of curse."

"Wow, rude!" Myrrh puffed out her cheeks, her glare more playful than angry. "For your information, I've been on plenty of dates with Ephraim before, and all of them went perfectly fine. Except when I'm with you, apparently."