Succubi Chapter 139. Breakfast Over Basic Hygiene
"Oh my gods," she whispered. "Is that why…?"
"I hate you both," I muttered, sliding down the wall a little to escape.
Leon shrugged, totally unbothered. "You could've just said something. I mean, you still look great. Just… smell like morning-after dungeon crawl."
Evelyn tilted her head, her tone suddenly soft. "Evan," she said gently. "You didn't have to avoid me. I wouldn't care. You're still…"
She hesitated.
"Cute."
My heart exploded. Imploded. Did some weird swirly dance that made the air feel ten degrees warmer.
And yeah, my face? Red. Hot. Ruined.
The pride demon inside me was crying in the corner, dramatically clutching a robe like some theater kid who missed the spotlight.
Behind us, Leon made a loud, exaggerated gagging noise. "Gross. I'm out."
I waved weakly at him. "Don't talk to me for the rest of the day."
He saluted like an idiot. "You will talk to me. We are inseparable, bro. It's a curse now. Like fate, but louder."
He walked off toward the auditorium doors with that annoying little swagger he always had when he thought he was funny. Which was always.
I exhaled slowly, then looked back at Evelyn.
She was still there.
Still standing in front of me.
Still looking at me with those eyes that made it hard to pretend I was just some normal Arcana student and not a massive walking contradiction.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You really should've just told me."
I deadpanned. "What, you want me to confess that I woke up late, panicked, and chose breakfast over basic hygiene?"
She blinked. "Yes?"
I threw up my hands. "Just flush my pride down the toilet for that! Send it to the sewer with my dignity!"
She laughed. "Evan, come on…"
I was already walking toward the auditorium doors, trying to act like I still had scraps of honor left.
"Just forget everything Leon said," I muttered under my breath. "Please, let everyone forget Leon exists."
But of course… Evelyn wasn't done.
She jogged a bit to catch up.
I heard the click of something small in her hand. Then…
"Here."
I looked down.
A small pink-capped bottle was being held out to me like a sacred gift.
My eyebrows lifted. "What's this?"
"My travel-size cologne," she said with the kind of straight face that made it even worse. "I bring it just in case."
I stared at the cute little floral bottle like it was a ticking mana bomb.
"This'll make me worse," I said seriously. "If I'm sweating, it'll just fuse with the man-stench and turn into a cursed aura. People will pass out."
She rolled her eyes. "It's for gym people. Combat-approved. Citrus and cedar."
"I don't smell like citrus and cedar."
She stepped forward, took the cap off, and sprayed my collarbone gently before I could react.
A soft mist hit my shirt. A light fresh scent immediately replaced my panic fog.
…Okay.
I inhaled.
"…Damn. That's actually pretty good."
"Told you."
It smelled clean. Kind of sporty. Still light. But yeah, a little sweet. Like if confidence was mixed with fresh laundry and had a girlfriend.
I gave her a suspicious side-eye. "Why do you even carry cologne to class?"
She paused.
Then blushed.
Just a little.
Her voice dropped into a defensive murmur. "I bring it just in case… I mean, we have combat training, and I'm Valor. So I move a lot. I don't want to be… you know. Smelly. Around you."
Silence.
Awkward. Heavy. The kind that made you suddenly very aware of how loud the birds were chirping.
I blinked slowly.
"…So we're kind of the same?"
She lifted her chin. "No. I always shower in the morning."
"Wow."
"Just stating facts."
I covered my face with one hand and groaned. "That hurt."
She grinned and grabbed my wrist. "Come on. We need to get in."
And just like that, she dragged me again. Her fingers were warm. Her pace steady. She wasn't flustered anymore.
Meanwhile me? I was still recovering from the combo attack of compliments, cologne, and calling me cute.
We reached the auditorium doors just as the last few students were filtering in. I scanned the crowd, hoping for a quiet, discreet spot to just exist in peace.
And there.
At our usual seats.
The one curse I couldn't avoid.
Leon.
Already lounging in his chair like a smug idiot.
I sighed.
"Of course he's already here," I muttered.
"We can't escape him," Evelyn said solemnly.
"Nope."
We walked down the rows. Leon looked up the moment he sensed movement. His ears twitched, and that grin stretched wider than should be legal.
I took my seat next to him, already bracing myself.
He leaned over.
Sniffed.
Then gave me the most obnoxious, self-satisfied smile I've ever seen.
"Oh…" he said. "You smell better."
I turned toward him slowly. "Shut—"
I didn't finish.
Because something shifted.
Something in the air.
I froze.
My gaze swept across the room, until it landed on him.
Ares.
Already sitting four rows across, completely still. His eyes were on me.
No, through me.
Like I was a puzzle he couldn't solve and also didn't like very much.
I blinked.
Patted the sides of my head.
No horns.
Okay. Good. My infernal lineage wasn't leaking out this time.
But Ares didn't look away.
He just stared.
Cold.
Suspicious.
I was 99% sure he didn't even blink.
Leon followed my gaze, and the moment he saw who I was looking at, his entire mood soured like spoiled milk.
His jaw clenched.
Yeah.
He remembered.
He definitely remembered how Ares kicked his ass yesterday during Valor sparring matches.
It had been brutal. Like watching someone get slowly deleted by sword.
I whispered out the side of my mouth. "He's looking at me."
Leon muttered, "He's targeting you."
"Why?! I didn't do anything."
"You exist."
"Fair."
Before either of us could throw more whisper-insults across the air like drama pigeons…
The doors shut.
The professor walked in.
A tall, gaunt man with dark robes and glowing red mana bands across his wrists.
He cleared his throat.
"Welcome, first years. Today we begin our class. Eyes forward."
I sat back.
Still tense.
But at least?
I didn't smell like depression anymore.
Mostly.
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