翁公和媛媛在厨房里猛烈进出

Accustomed to the crowd of students in my way, I maneuvered my way through, occasionally hearing an "OW" or "WHO WAS THAT!?" as I passed by.

Running up the stairs of my dorm building, I looked downward and took my keycard out of my pocket, not paying any attention to my surroundings.

At this point, I had already memorized the path to my dorm room, so it wasn\'t anything new.

However, as I approached my dorm room and looked up, a familiar figure was resting with her back against my dorm door.\\\\

With her long white hair resting against my doorknob, she simply stared downwards at her smartwatch as if she were pressed for time.

Seeing her, I slowed my pace and quietly walked over to my dorm room.

But, before I could even catch my breath and say anything, I spotted another familiar figure with blonde hair resting on the wall, facing my dorm door and Alya.

Astrid was here, too?

Didn\'t I just see her in the student council room with my crow?

Had she finished signing whatever documents and was now trying to recruit me again?

Also, how did they both get here faster than me...?

I thought I had created the optimal route!

Catching both of their attentions, I asked as I approached.

"...is there something I can do for you, student council president?"

As for Alya, I already knew the reason so there was no need for me to inquire.

Glancing between Alya and me momentarily with a confused expression, Astrid hesitated before replying.

"By any chance, am I interrupting something?"

Hm?

Looking at her expression of confusion shift into a sly smile, I stopped in my tracks and stared at her once again.

Where was the serious Astrid?

Staring at her body for a moment, I confirmed that her movements and posture were aligned with the Astrid in my mind before sighing.

"Don\'t you have better things to do?"

Shaking her head, Astrid replied.

"I do... but that can wait."

From the other side of Astrid, Alya stared curiously at Astrid and me but remained silent.

After taking a moment to look around and examine her surroundings, Astrid leaned in before whispering to the two of us.

"I think it\'d be better if we discussed this somewhere... more private."

Nodding my head, I gestured for Alya to move away from the door before grabbing my keycard.

Opening my door for the two girls behind me, I watched as Alya hesitantly stepped foot in before regaining her composure.

On the other hand, Astrid simply strode into the room as if it were already hers.

Letting the door slam shut, I walked in and immediately went to the pantry.

Letting the two girls get comfortable, I quietly took out a piece of steak before placing it on a pan.

Holding the pan in the air, I manifested a single corrupted dagger before infusing it with the blood-red aura in my body.

Placing the blood-red tip of the dagger to the bottom of the pan, I watched carefully as the steak began to cook.

Cutting open part of the steak, I confirmed it was a perfect medium rare before de-manifesting my dagger and putting down the pain.

Grabbing a pair of tongs, I picked up the cooked steak before placing it into the bowl on the floor.

Ignoring the two girls in my room, the black cat, perhaps smelling the steak, jumped off the bed and slowly walked toward the bowl.

Licking the steak for a moment, the black cat closed its eyes and silently stood still for a moment.

Giving its approval, the cat reopened its eyes and began to chew on the steak that I had already cut into smaller pieces.

Putting away the pan, I turned to the two girls lounging on a nearby couch and asked.

"Again, Astrid what is it you need? Haven\'t I already given you my answer?"

Closing her light-red eyes for a moment, Astrid hesitated before replying.

"Can\'t I try again?"

Recalling how she had swiftly left after hearing my answer earlier on, instead of trying to persuade me, I asked.

"Why try now? Have you already run into an obstacle?"

Alya, somewhat interested in the conversation, leaned back on the couch cushion before inquiring.

"Why would the student council president need your help, Ren?"

Before I could respond, Astrid looked at Alya and asked.

"Are you by any chance interested in helping? You are a part of the student council, so think of it as part of your duties."

Was she ordering or asking Alya to help?

Staring at Astrid on the couch, I once again re-examined her sitting posture and hand movements, allowing them to overlap with the imaginary figure of Alya I had created using the details my eyes remembered.

They were in sync.

But then, why was she acting so odd?

Maybe desperation leads to changes in behavior.

Looking at Alya, I shrugged my shoulders and replied.

"It\'s your choice. Just a reminder, though... we have a limited amount of time."

Turning around and looking at my happy cat, I glanced at the calendar.

By the end of this week, Zach\'s situation should be resolved as Kevin and Alya would be almost a necessity to the incident that would take place next week.

Although I had no idea how to resolve Zach\'s current scenario right now, that didn\'t mean I didn\'t have any leads or clues.

One of those leads was actually sitting right in front of me.

As I turned back around to face the two girls, Alya thought for a moment before replying.

"I can help... later on. I can\'t give you an exact time for now."

Getting off the couch, Astrid clapped her hands before nodding her head and turning to me.

"About what we talked about earlier... I think I have an idea, but it would require your help."