"You say you don't want this.
But you came here on your own.
So who's lying—
your mouth… or your eyes?"
The day passed without incident.
No drama.
No spark.
No touch.
But Yuriko's mind…
was never still.
She tried to keep everything ordinary—
classes, meals, the same stairs.
But every time her mind wandered…
she caught herself staring.
At one spot.
The spot where Acxell was always supposed to be.
Night. Boys' Dormitory. Silent.
9:48 PM.
Again—
she stood outside his door.
Her hand lifted to knock.
But froze mid-air.
One second.
Two…
Then—
"Come in."
Yuriko's breath hitched.
"How did you—"
Acxell opened the door.
Loose black t-shirt.
Thin cotton pants.
Expression unreadable.
"Your footsteps don't sound like anyone else's."
She stepped in.
And that…
was the real trap.
She told herself she just wanted to talk.
But when Acxell asked,
"So? What did you want to say?"
She said nothing.
Just lowered her gaze.
Sat on the edge of the same bed she'd slept in before.
And finally whispered:
"If I told you I don't know… would you send me away?"
Acxell stayed seated in his chair.
He didn't move toward her.
But his voice was clean—
sharp, like a scalpel under skin.
"If you don't know why you came…
then you didn't come to talk.
You came to be tested."
Yuriko looked up.
"You think I want to be tested?"
A small smirk tugged at his lips.
This one… faintly cruel.
"No.
I think… you want to lose.
Not to my hands—
but to your own feelings."
[SYSTEM ALERT: EMOTIONAL REVERSAL POINT REACHED]
SUBJECT IS NOW ACKNOWLEDGING INTERNAL CONTRADICTION.
SHAME LEVEL: HIGH
SEDUCTION THRESHOLD: 63.4%
Yuriko rose slowly.
Walked toward him.
Each step deliberate—
but hesitant.
And this time…
she was the one who stood close.
"If I say… I don't want to be touched," she asked softly,
"would you believe me?"
Acxell looked her dead in the eyes.
"No."
She didn't speak.
He stood.
Now they were one breath apart.
"You've come here twice.
You slept in this room.
You let me hold your hand.
You let me see you soaked, shirt clinging to your skin—
and you didn't run."
He leaned in—
not touching,
but close enough to shatter her pulse.
"So when you say you don't want to be touched…
who exactly are you lying to?"
Yuriko clutched the fabric of her skirt.
Her shoulders rose and fell.
And finally—
she spoke.
Quiet.
Raw.
"…I'm lying to myself."
[SYSTEM TRIGGER – SUBMISSION THRESHOLD REACHED]
EMOTIONAL CONTROL: BROKEN.
SUBJECT HAS ENTERED DEPENDENT PHASE: EMOTIONAL CLING BEHAVIOR INITIATED
And for the first time—
Yuriko leaned forward.
Not trembling.
Not resisting.
She didn't hug him.
Didn't grab him.
She simply…
rested her forehead against his chest.
And stood there.
Still.
Acxell didn't pull her in.
But he placed a single hand on the back of her head.
He didn't hold her.
He just let her stay.
He just… received her.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: YURIKO – SEDUCTION LEVEL 68.9%]
STATUS: SEEKING CONTACT
VOLUNTARY EMOTIONAL SURRENDER: IN PROGRESS
NEW PASSIVE SKILL: "PULSE SINK" – SUBJECT SYNCHRONIZES HEARTBEAT WITH YOURS WHEN CALM
And in the hush of that midnight room—
Acxell understood:
Her lips could still say "no."
But her eyes…
had already given themselves away.