"DXD: Transfer Student"Chapter 184: I'll Wear Stockings for You
Long Yi's words were playful, but Nodoka couldn't muster a smile.
She kept her head bowed, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
She didn't know why, but hearing encouragement—real, genuine recognition—made her feel so wronged she wanted to sob.
Turns out, all she'd ever wanted was just a little bit of acknowledgment.
For as long as she could remember, every comparison had been about Mai Sakurajima. Because of Mai, Nodoka had lost her own name in so many people's eyes—forever "Mai's little sister," never just Nodoka.
That label brought her endless pressure, and her mother even more resentment.
All she ever heard from her mother was disappointment.
"Mai can do it—why can't you?"
That phrase was her mother's refrain.
But now, finally, someone was telling her: you're not less than your sister. If you work for it, you can do anything she can.
Long Yi watched her, saw the way she trembled, and knew his job was done. He offered a gentle smile and turned to go.
"Come on. Let's catch the concert."
"Mm…" Nodoka murmured, head still down. She tried to follow, but the moment she stepped forward, her legs buckled, and she collapsed.
Long Yi's instincts kicked in—he spun around just in time for Nodoka to tumble into him, her weight knocking them both to the ground.
He lay there, feeling her body shake atop his chest.
"Ah… what's happening… my legs, I can't move…" Nodoka's voice was dazed, muffled against him.
Long Yi just arched an eyebrow. She'd been tense since the shoot began; even his magical interference hadn't erased all that anxiety. Now that it was over, her body was spent.
Nodoka tried to push herself up, but when she met Long Yi's steady gaze, the dam broke. She burst into tears.
"I hate it… Why do your eyes look so much like Mai's? Always so calm, so composed, so impossibly mature, like you can do anything… I hate it. I really do…"
She cried hard, tears soaking Long Yi's shirt.
"You should probably say that to Mai herself," Long Yi said, voice even.
Nodoka didn't answer, just kept sobbing.
"I hate being compared… I hate it…"
Long Yi shifted, trying to lighten the mood.
"If we keep this up, people are going to start staring."
"Just use magic! Let me cry—really cry!" Nodoka blurted, her voice raw.
With Long Yi's magic, no one would notice her breakdown. That thought made her feel safe—safe enough to let everything out, to cry like he wasn't even there.
Long Yi pressed his lips together, watching her sob her heart out. She actually sat up, straddling him, bawling without restraint.
Thank god for memory alteration. If anyone saw them like this—her riding him on a crowded platform—he'd have the cops called in a heartbeat.
Whatever. She deserved this catharsis.
Besides, she was still wearing Mai's face. Even crying, she looked… kind of cute?
Long Yi's mind flashed back to last night—he'd almost made Mai cry, but that had been in bed.
Yeah, emotional breakdowns were a whole different thing.
He discreetly pulled out his phone and snapped a photo.
A little blackmail material—he really was a devil.
After a good five minutes, Nodoka's sobs faded. Long Yi returned from his daydreams to find her still sitting on him, hands covering her face.
Now she was embarrassed.
Ostrich mode, huh?
"Uh, can you get up? This position is… honestly, it's testing my self-control."
Long Yi's voice was dry, teasing.
Nodoka, face buried in her palms, mumbled, "Can you just forget what happened?"
"…That's tough. Kind of burned into my memory."
"Please forget! Don't you have magic?" Her hands dropped to his shoulders, cheeks flushed red beneath tear-stained eyes.
Long Yi's lips curled.
"Why should I? Not a chance."
"…You're impossible." Nodoka stared at him, speechless.
Finally, she slumped, forehead bumping his chest in mortified defeat.
She didn't know what had come over her—she'd just wanted to cry. Now she'd completely died of embarrassment right in front of Long Yi.
"If you keep clinging to me like this and Mai finds out, you're in trouble," Long Yi warned, not unkindly.
Nodoka sprawled across his chest in a duck-sit, unmoving.
"Mai's not here anyway."
"…Dangerous words," Long Yi muttered.
After a beat, Nodoka spoke, voice quiet.
"I kind of get why Mai likes you."
"Oh? Now you've got to tell me," Long Yi chuckled, sounding genuinely interested.
"…Not unless you forget what just happened."
"What happened?" Long Yi replied instantly, feigning innocence.
"…You're shameless," Nodoka said, finally rolling off him and getting to her feet. She straightened her clothes, huffed, and said, "Let's go. Time for Mai's concert."
Long Yi sat up, eyeing the wet patch on his shirt. With a wave, he dried it with a flicker of magic.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Mai.
It rang a few times before she picked up, her voice as steady as ever.
"Hey. How'd it go?"
"All done. Took thirteen retakes," Long Yi replied lightly.
"Twelve!" Nodoka interjected.
"Is that so? Good," Mai said, unruffled.
"She doesn't sound surprised at all," Long Yi laughed.
"I knew you'd handle it," Mai replied.
"Of course. Now you owe me a reward."
"Fine, fine," Mai said, her tone breezy and teasing. "Once this is all over, I'll wear stockings for you."
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