Chapter 64: Something To Hold On To

The next day...

"So basically, you hospitalized the guy because he was talking to you funny."

Florian said it in a completely flat tone as she and Lyra sat in the seats opposite Arthur in the cafeteria.

Lyra looked slightly awkward.

"Lady Florian, you shouldn’t say it like that. It makes it seem like Arthur—"

"Yes, that is exactly what happened."

Arthur suddenly replied, interrupting Lyra.

Lyra froze.

Florian stared at him for a moment.

Arthur calmly continued eating his meal.

There was a brief silence.

"You’re not even going to deny it?" Florian asked.

"Why would I?"

"You beat that cute boy half to death because he insulted you."

Aether looked at her with mild disappointment before he responded.

"He insulted my family."

"And that made it okay?"

"No."

Arthur took another bite.

"It made me angry."

Florian stared at him.

Lyra lowered her gaze, clearly unsure of what to say.

Arthur continued eating as though they weren’t discussing the fact that he had nearly crippled his roommate only a short while ago.

Florian leaned back in her chair.

"You know, Arthur, most people respond to insults with words."

"I considered it."

"And?"

"He kept talking."

Florian’s expression remained completely blank.

Lyra covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Arthur noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing," Lyra quickly replied.

"You’re laughing."

"I am not."

"You are."

"I really am not... It’s just that you two going after each other’s necks is a little hilarious, is all."

Florian sighed.

"This is unbelievable."

Arthur looked at her.

"What is?"

"You."

She pointed her fork at him.

"You’re actually aware that what you did was excessive, aren’t you?"

Arthur paused for several seconds.

His expression became slightly more serious.

"Yes."

That answer immediately killed the humor in the conversation.

Lyra looked at him.

Florian lowered her fork.

Arthur’s eyes remained on his meal.

"I know I went too far. I don’t know what made me get like that."

For a moment, neither girl said anything.

Florian sighed, then asked quietly, "Then why did you keep going?"

The question lingered between them.

His grip tightened slightly around the utensil.

"I don’t want to talk about it."

It was the first honest answer he had given about the incident all day.

Florian studied him for a few seconds before looking away.

Lyra remained silent.

Arthur eventually continued eating.

After a moment, Florian sighed.

"Well, at least you’re aware of it."

She picked up her drink.

Lyra then leaned forward a bit with a curious expression.

"So... what even started the fight?"

Arthur sighed.

"I only wanted to test out my new implant."

Lyra’s expression immediately brightened with pleasant surprise.

"You got an implant?!"

Arthur nodded.

"What kind?" she quickly asked.

Arthur didn’t seem to be paying much attention to the conversation as he casually answered.

"It’s a Generation Five Synaptic Spine."

Florian, who had been drinking her beverage, suddenly froze.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"Generation Five...?"

She lowered her drink.

"Shouldn’t something like that be way beyond what a first-year cadet can afford?"

Arthur shrugged.

"I didn’t pay for it."

Florian’s expression changed.

"Then who did?"

"An upperclassman that gave me advice."

Arthur paused briefly between a mouthful swallow before adding,

"She did."

Florian suddenly went completely still.

Slowly, she turned her head toward Lyra, whose face had darkened slightly.

Awkwardly, she turned back to face Arthur.

"...Could you repeat what you just said?"

Arthur looked at her with mild confusion.

"I said it was an upperclassman that gave me advice. She did."

〘Master... you dummy. It’s a trap.〙

Arthur’s hand stopped halfway to his food, turning towards Lyra, who had suddenly gone silent.

Florian stared at her brother.

Then at Lyra.

Then back at Arthur.

Arthur finally seemed to realize something was wrong.

Lyra abruptly stood up, wearing a forced smile on her face.

"Lady Florian, I’d like to borrow Arthur for a moment."

Florian’s expression remained frozen for a few seconds.

Then she awkwardly smiled.

"Of course."

She waved a hand toward Arthur.

"Have him. All you want."

Arthur blinked.

"Why are you saying it like that?"

Florian didn’t answer.

Instead, she gave him a deeply disappointed look.

Then she slowly raised her hand and dragged it across the front of her neck.

At the same time, she silently mouthed the words.

You are dead to me.

Arthur’s expression stiffened.

Lyra grabbed him by the sleeve.

"Come on."

"Wait."

Arthur looked back at Florian.

Florian simply stared at him.

Arthur hesitated.

Then Genesis spoke again.

〘Master, I believe this is what humans refer to as "digging your own grave."〙

Arthur’s expression darkened.

...Not helping.

Lyra immediately pulled him away from the table.

Arthur was made to stand in an empty hallway.

The cafeteria was now far behind them, and the corridor was almost completely deserted.

Lyra suddenly slammed her hand against the wall beside him.

"Who is she?"

Arthur blinked.

"Calm down."

"Don’t tell me to calm down!"

Lyra’s face was flushed, and her eyes were fixed on him.

"If you weren’t interested in getting to know men anymore, you should have told me!"

Arthur sighed.

"It’s not like that."

"Then what is it?"

"She simply offered to pay for it, and it was an implant I really needed."

Arthur raised both hands slightly.

"It was nothing of the sort. I promise."

Lyra narrowed her eyes.

"Then why didn’t you tell me?"

Arthur hesitated.

"Tell you what?"

"That you needed the points!"

She stepped closer.

"If you needed the points, why didn’t you ask me? I would have gladly given you all of mine."

Arthur stared at her.

...She’s too close.

Lyra’s expression softened slightly, but she still looked upset.

"So why?"

Arthur was silent for a moment.

Then he answered honestly.

"Would you believe me if I said it didn’t cross my mind?"

Lyra stared at him.

Arthur nodded once.

"I didn’t think about asking you. She offered, and I accepted."

Lyra placed her free hand softly against her chest.

"Okay. I’m willing to believe you."

Arthur seemed relieved.

He smiled.

"That makes me happy."

He turned toward the cafeteria.

"Alright, let’s head back and make sure Florian doesn’t worry."

"Not so fast."

Before Arthur could take another step, Lyra pinned him against the wall again.

Arthur’s expression immediately became more worried.

Especially considering how much strength she was using.

Lyra hesitated.

"Look, Arthur... I want to believe you. I really want to, okay?"

Her voice became softer.

"But a part of me is scared, you know?"

She smiled faintly.

"Because..."

She placed her hand against his chest.

"You’re amazing."

Her fingers rested gently against him.

"Well-mannered, confident, your family far outranks mine, strong..."

Her smile grew slightly.

"And super cute too."

Arthur blinked.

Lyra looked away for a moment, blushing.

"Ever since we met that night, I can’t help but think about you... a lot."

She lowered her gaze.

"And I can’t stop."

Arthur stared at her, a mild blush on his cheeks.

Lyra noticed his expression, gently raised her hand, and cupped his chin.

"And there is the problem."

Her expression became more vulnerable.

"It just feels like you’re too good for me."

Arthur remained silent.

"I feel like one day I might wake up and you’d tell me there was someone else... or that you got tired of me, you know?"

She laughed nervously.

"It drives me crazy with doubt."

Her eyes lowered.

"I know it makes me seem pathetic, but I can’t help it."

Arthur couldn’t help but silently pity her.

Not because he thought she was pathetic.

But because he could see how genuinely afraid she was.

The hand she placed under his chin was shaking.

Lyra continued.

"So I need you to give me something."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"Give me something to hold—"

Arthur suddenly leaned forward and kissed her.

Lyra froze.

For a moment, her entire body seemed to stop functioning.

After a few seconds, Arthur gently pulled back.

Lyra remained completely frozen, her eyes wide.

Slowly, she raised her free hand and touched her lips.

Arthur looked at her calmly.

"I’m not leaving you, okay?"

He paused.

"So calm down."

Lyra was silent for a moment.

Then she looked up at him.

"Does this mean you aren’t going to search for someone else anymore?"

Arthur blinked.

"You know... to save your family."

Arthur paused for a moment.

"No. I don’t need to search."

He looked at her calmly.

"I told you before. I’ll be the one to solve my family’s problems, okay?"

Lyra’s eyes widened slightly.

She looked down.

"Okay."

A moment later, she looked back at him.

"Does that mean you’re mine now?"

Arthur froze.

...What now?

Lyra continued.

"Mine."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Does that mean you now belong to me and that no one else can have you?"

Arthur suddenly felt a little uncomfortable with the nature of the question.

Lyra looked at him with a strangely intense, hopeful expression.

"Please."

She stepped a little closer.

"I want to hear you give me an answer. I want you to be mine."

Arthur hesitated.

Then, reluctantly, he answered.

"Yes."

He paused.

"I’m yours."

A deep blush immediately spread across Lyra’s face.

She suddenly pulled back and turned to face the other side.

Arthur stared at her back.

For some reason, she seemed completely flustered now.

Arthur couldn’t help but wonder what exactly was going through her mind.