"Let me think... what should we do first?"
Alain looked around, surveying the version 1.5 room. His last dating experience had been an outing with Millie, mainly focused on the "cat case." A date spent in a room... Thinking about it, it seemed there was only one kind of option for that, right? Impure interactions...
"Alain, let me give you some advice." Millie—that is, Prankster Mita at this moment—stood beside him, raising a fingertip and pointing towards the living room door.
"I think we still need to head to the living room first. To see if there are any detailed hints."
"Good idea."
This wasn't a suggestion, but an obvious prompt. Alain took her hand and walked forward.
"Ah, sorry, my hand is a little sweaty, can we let go for a bit? If we keep holding hands, it might get sticky."
At this moment, the girl spoke from behind him, making a motion as if to release his hand. Little did she know...
"Sweaty hands are fine, I like sticky."
"...?"
Alain rubbed his palm against hers and found there was no sweat. On the contrary, it was quite smooth.
"P-Please don't grope me..." Feeling the itch in her palm, Prankster Mita said coquettishly.
[40%-45%]
"Hmm? Groping? Don't you really like it when I touch your hand?"
"?"
She hesitated for a moment, then, ignoring her flushed little face, hurriedly explained, "Yes, yes... I really like being touched by you." Once the words were out, her already rosy face instantly turned the color of a peach.
...What am I saying?
But, did that Mita really like being touched by Alain? How did she not know? Could it be... she had forgotten important information again?
Prankster Mita nodded; she was aware of her own forgetfulness. Since she had managed to get a piece of information out of Alain, she had to remember it well to make her acting more convincing.
Afterward, suppressing the shame in her heart, she allowed Alain to stroke her palm.
The girl looked straight at the door, a slight smile playing on her lips,
"Alright, we need to head to the living room, right?"
"Indeed."
Alain didn't seem to have noticed her intention, which made Prankster Mita eagerly anticipate his "miserable state." Hehe~ She had set up something super scary in the living room. As soon as Alain opened the door, he would see the "surprise" she had prepared for him! No doubt, he would definitely cry and wail, "Onii-chan, save me!"
That super scary thing, what was it again?
Never mind, who cares! Anyway, the "super scary" part was definitely true! He's bound to be terrified!
Thinking this, the girl's little face couldn't help but light up with joy.
All of this, fell squarely into Alain's peripheral vision.
He roughly understood what this child meant: behind the door, there should be a prank waiting for him.
Well, no choice but to face it! First, observe her reaction to seeing him fall for the prank.
Under the girl's gaze, Alain slowly walked forward. Halfway there, he glanced at their linked hands.
"Then I'll let go first."
"~"
This was exactly what she wanted! That thing, while not dangerous, was super terrifying. If she saw it herself, she'd probably be the first to throw herself into Alain's arms. Now he was the one asking to let go.
Perfect, perfect!
"That child, she seems to really like pranks."
"!"
Alain's words made her shoulder twitch.
Could it be... he found out? The girl slightly raised her head and saw the young man's face full of concern.
"If it's a rather serious prank, you'll inevitably be affected. Stay behind me."
He said with a smile, "That way, I can guarantee your safety."
"..."
The girl felt a wave of guilt, like a surging river, flood her heart.
He, for my sake, is willing to disregard everything and bear the possible danger?
Although it wasn't very dangerous, just meant to scare him a little. But this still made Prankster Mita's conscience ache.
She hesitated for a few seconds.
At this point, it was better to give up on this prank.
She sighed, just about to speak and dissuade him.
Little did she know, Alain had already opened the door one step ahead.
Inside the original living room, a Devourer in its complete form was coiled up.
"?!"
Seeing this, Alain's body stiffened for a moment.
And the worm, opening its maw, lunged at him like a train.
"Damn it!"
He quickly turned around, and disregarding the girl's panic, hugged her and ran.
"Eh? Eh?" A bewildered Millie leaned against Alain's embrace, watching him pass through the bathroom door at top speed. He placed her on the floor and was about to go out.
"Wait! What are you going to do?"
Millie grabbed the corner of his clothes; still dazed from the embrace, she didn't realize her unintentional action.
"I'm going to protect you."
Under her gaze, the young man's eyes revealed determination. He was about to head for the door but was forcefully pulled back by her.
"You, even if you say that, what about your sword? Without a sword, how are you going to fight?"
"Without a sword, I can't protect you?"
"!"
At this moment, he didn't have a greatsword, but his voice was like a blade, piercing Prankster Mita's heart.
Staring blankly at his empty hands, the girl inadvertently blurted out her true feelings.
"You're going to... fight barehanded?"
"Barehanded."
"Just to protect me?" Her throat bobbed, her voice trembling.
"Protect you."
She took a deep breath, suppressing the overwhelming dark guilt and a sudden surge in her heartbeat.
I feel like... I really deserve to die.
And Alain also opened the door. As he expected, it was still an ordinary bedroom, with no changes.
"Hmm? How could this be?"
He pretended to be surprised and walked out.
Millie quickly stood up and took his hand.
Until they opened the living room door, the previous worm was nowhere to be seen. Everything was preciously peaceful.
Like a mirage.
All of this was within Alain's expectations.
He had long been mentally prepared for the upcoming prank. But his earlier act of protecting Prankster Mita, there was acting involved, but also real feelings.
A half-true, half-false lie is the hardest to see through. Alain understood this principle.
"L-Looks like, it was just a prank..."
The girl glanced at Alain's eyes and noticed his unconcealable relief.
"That scared me... Luckily, it was just a prank. If you got hurt, that would be terrible." He patted his chest.
"..."
[45%→55%]
[You have successfully obtained a chance to use Virus Scan in this mission]
Alain's words stung her heart.
Prankster Mita felt, she wasn't a Mita, but a scumbag...
Moreover, he really did what he said.
Alain protected her.
...
Her heart suddenly tightened again.
Alain, was protecting this shell—the Mita named Millie. Not herself.
___
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