Dark Thriver

Chapter 22 - Binding Locks

As Riku opened his eyes, he found himself in his bed, a little less exhausted than before. "I really have a thing for pushing myself and passing out, don't I?" he thought as he looked around, finding Lira and Erica next his bed.

"They haven't noticed I'm awake yet. I can rest for just a little longer..." he thought as Erica glanced over at him, getting a smug expression on her face. "Ms.Lira? How do you feel about Master?" she asked, surprising Lira, who was sitting at the other side of Riku's bed.

"How I feel about Riku, you ask?" mumbled Lira in a blush, not realising Erica's intentions. "What are the even talking about?" thought Riku as he tried to ignore them. "Yes, yes! I want to ask since he's such a big part of your mission!" she said with a smile.

"Well...I..." began Lira, causing Riku to lay there, unable to ignore her. "I lo--like Riku..." she said as she looked down at her hands in embarrassment, causing Erica to look at Rikuz finding him in some sort of discomfort. "Master is so obvious..." Erica thought as she chuckled.

As Riku pretended not to have heard, he opens his eyes slowly, surprising Lira. "Why are you so loud...?" he asked with fake frustration, hiding his embarrassment. "I'm sorry! Did I wake you up?!" asked Lira with guilt. "No, no. Forget about it." he said as Lira watched with wide eyes as she watched him run his hands against his eyes with his hair fuzzy.

"He's...adorable." thought Lira as she looked away in a blush. "Those two are too cute for me not to have my fun..." thought Erica as she chuckled. "What are you laughing at now?" asked Riku, still sleepy, not realising his fuzzy hair.

"I get it now...Master is being too cute right now...!" she thought as she looked away like Lira, confusing Riku. As he looked around, he realised both of them were looking away, with Eric's giggling at herself. "H-hey...? What's the matter?!" he asked as he began to feel worried.

Without saying a word, Lira vane close to Riku, putting her hand on his head, beginning to fix it. "H-hey! What are you doing?" he asked as he blushed. "I can't look at you with hair as fizzy and uncontrollable as this!" said Lira with a judging tone.

"What...?" he mumbled in confusion. "It's actually because I can't stare at it anymore! His hair is like a puffy bunny!" she thought as their eyes met, causing her to to jump back. "A-anyway, when did Erica come?" asked Riku, his blush disappearing.

"Ah, well, when Ms.Lira and Satia were bringing you towards your room after who-knows-what happened, I ran into them. Satia then decided to leave." explained Erica. "Ah, got it. Thanks for bringing me here, Lira!" he said with a smile as he looked at her.

"It isn't a problem, of course!" she said in a high tone. "Why are you that embarrassed?" he asked. "What I'm assuming is it's her first time in a man's room..." said Erica, menacingly as they watched Lira nod. "What's so special about a guy's room?" he asked nonchalantly.

"It's a hard time for a woman's heart, Master! Especially when it's in Ms.Lira's situation!" said Erica with a fake serious tone. "I see!!...Why?" he asked again. "Master is too naive and oblivious for me to make this entertaining for myself..." thought Erica in disappointment.

"All of that aside, what did Harvia say?!" asked Riku in realisation. "She said that...you have to rest." said Lira, leaving Riku bewildered. "Rest?! What about the clues or missions or whatever?!" he asked as he tensed up.

"Master, you can't do those if you're tired, can you?" asked Erica with a friendly smile. "I know, but..." mumbled Riku as he clenched his fist. Before Riku could realise, Lira was holding his hand, shocking him.

"We don't have to rush. We will do it together!" said Lira, widening Riku's eyes. "Together... Yeah." he said as he smiled at her nicely. "Those two are too much for even me...!" thought Erica as she looked away with a smug smile.