chapter 25
Two long hours passed, each filled with the meticulous task of filling out sheets. As they completed their work, a feeling of relief washed over them, signaling the end of their arduous task.
Evangeline, relieved to be done, decided to stretch her stiff muscles. However, her intentions took an unfortunate turn. In her attempt to stretch, she accidentally knocked Mana to the floor. Her ongoing handcuff connection to Mana only exacerbated the mishap, much to Seiko's amusement.
"I'm sorry, Mana. I didn't mean to make you fall," Evangeline apologized earnestly, extending a hand to assist her. However, Mana refused the help, slapping away Evangeline's offered hand and rising to her feet independently.
"I don't need your help, Evangeline, especially when you're the one who made me fall," Mana retorted, her voice laced with anger. The calm atmosphere that had prevailed moments ago shattered with this exchange, leaving a palpable tension in its wake. Evangeline and Mana seemed poised for a confrontation, their tempers flaring.
Seiko, sensing the impending clash, interjected sternly. "You two, stop it. I certainly don't want to be caught up in another punishment for your fighting," he warned, his tone laced with authority.
Evangeline and Mana exchanged one final glance, the gravity of Seiko's warning settling upon them. Reluctantly, they both let go of their anger, the simmering tension in the room gradually subsiding.
Seiko let out a prolonged sigh of relief as the argument between Evangeline and Mana finally subsided. With a sense of unease still lingering in the room, they efficiently tidied up the office, their actions devoid of the earlier discord. The silence that had descended remained unbroken as they exited the room, their footsteps echoing in the corridor as they made their way to the dormitory.
Night had blanketed the school grounds, casting an inky darkness that hastened their retreat. Upon reaching Mana's room, Seiko wasted no time, leaping from Evangeline's head to land gracefully on Mana's bed.
"Now, can we eat? I've been waiting for this all day," Seiko declared eagerly, his hunger finally getting the better of him.
Evangeline, her voice tinged with remorse, responded apologetically, "Yes, Seiko, you can eat now. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting all day."
As they prepared to sate their appetites, an unexpected visitor arrived. The bedroom door swung open, and the headmistress entered, her countenance marked by a warm and knowing smile.
"Good evening," she greeted them. "From the looks on your faces, I can deduce that today was quite challenging, wasn't it?" Her laughter filled the room, a gentle acknowledgment of the trials they had undoubtedly faced throughout the day.
"What are you doing here? Have you come to make fun of us?" Evangeline's voice dripped with anger as she confronted the unexpected presence of the headmistress.
"That's how you greet your elders, Evangeline?" the principal retorted, her tone carrying a note of admonishment. She punctuated her words by delivering a swift, albeit not overly harsh, tap on Evangeline's head, causing an immediate bump to swell in response.
Mana, ever the diplomat, interceded in an attempt to diffuse the escalating tension. "Evangeline, stop provoking her," she urged with a hint of exasperation. "I certainly don't want to spend any more time with you. Madam Principal, what brings you here?" Mana's tone was polite and respectful.
The headmistress settled into the conversation with a reassuring smile. "Well, actually, I'm here to see how you're getting on," she explained. "And from what I can see, it's going well so far. So perhaps I'll consider reducing your punishment."
"Really?" both Mana and Evangeline chimed in simultaneously, their surprise evident.
"Of course it's true," the headmistress affirmed, her tone warm but firm. "But only if you can maintain your composure. On the contrary, if you decide to start fighting again, I'll have no choice but to extend your punishment." Her words carried a clear warning.
Evangeline and Mana nodded in understanding, silently acknowledging the terms laid out before them.
"However, I didn't come here solely for that purpose," the headmistress continued, her gaze softening. "I've also come to take Seiko with me. It seems rather unfair for Seiko to endure your fights when he's done nothing to deserve this punishment."
With deliberate steps, the headmistress approached Seiko, cradling him gently in her arms. In a swift and unexpected departure, she exited the room, leaving Mana and Evangeline alone, their bewilderment palpable in the stillness that settled in her wake.
"Well, as you've heard, if we don't argue and fight, everything should go back to the way it was, and I won't have to put up with you anymore. So, stay calm, Evangeline," Mana urged, her tone reflecting a desire for a truce.
Evangeline, in response, made her own request. "You need to do the same, Mana. Start by refraining from hitting me when you're angry."
A heavy silence hung between the two, a palpable tension still present. The moment was broken by a gentle knocking on the door, which slowly creaked open to reveal a striking figure. A tall, muscular elf man, his white hair and entrancing Sacramento green eyes adding to his charm, entered the room. He carried a meal tray laden with food.
"Mana, I've come to bring you your meal," he announced with a friendly smile.
However, as his gaze fell upon Mana and Evangeline, still handcuffed together, his expression changed. The smile vanished, replaced by a look of irritation directed at Evangeline.
"Mana, what's she doing here? You don't normally live with anyone. Why are you handcuffed?" the elf man inquired with a hint of frustration.
Setting the meal tray on the desk, he approached Mana and Evangeline, his disapproval evident.
"Don't be angry, Toshiko," Mana began, attempting to explain the situation. "It's not what you think. It's just the punishment the principal gave us. That's why we're handcuffed."
Toshiko's skepticism was apparent as he raised an accusatory finger toward Evangeline. "You've got to be kidding me, Mana. This punishment that made you handcuffed is ridiculous. Are you sure it's not that girl who wants to take advantage of you?" He pointed firmly at Evangeline, his doubt plain to see.
Toshiko's words struck a nerve with Evangeline, and her frustration was evident in her retort.
"You've got to be kidding me! I'd have handcuffed myself to her on purpose, even though I don't like her!" Her voice brimmed with defiance, making it clear that she wouldn't easily yield.
Evangeline and Toshiko locked eyes, the intensity of their gazes suggesting that a confrontation could erupt at any moment.
Mana, however, intervened, her tone soothing yet firm. "You two, stop it. Toshiko, this is truly the principal's punishment, so there's no need to worry. Besides, she can't take advantage of me; I'm quite strong, so rest assured."
Mana's words had a calming effect on the room, quelling the mounting tension. Toshiko eventually relented, his reservations set aside.
"Alright, I'll accept it. But if any issues arise, don't hesitate to let me know," he conceded, and a smile graced Mana's lips in response. Toshiko's face flushed faintly under the weight of that smile.
"Good, now Mana, eat before the food gets cold," Toshiko urged, moving toward the desk to retrieve the meal tray. He gestured for Mana to sit on the bed, which she did, and Evangeline had no choice but to follow suit, their handcuffed connection dictating their every move.
"Since you're handcuffed, Mana, I'm going to help you eat," Toshiko declared, taking up a spoon and carefully scooping a portion of food. He extended the spoon toward Mana's mouth, a blush creeping across her cheeks. Mana accepted the offering, allowing Toshiko to feed her, an intimate gesture that seemed to infuse the air with a hint of romance.
However, the fragile romantic atmosphere was swiftly shattered by Evangeline's blunt remark.
"I'm still here, so if you could please do this quickly, it's disgusting," she interjected, her impatience interrupting the fleeting moment of tenderness.
Evangeline's words earned her stern glares from both Mana and Toshiko, but they continued to eat at their own pace, paying little heed to her protests. The minutes dragged on, each one seeming longer than the last, until finally, Mana finished her meal.
Toshiko, with a sense of duty and perhaps a lingering hint of annoyance, declared, "Mana, I won't bother you any longer. You need to rest. We'll see you tomorrow." He gathered the tray and exited the room. In parting, he shot one last disapproving glance in Evangeline's direction before disappearing.
"Ew, love!" Evangeline couldn't resist a mocking comment as she watched Toshiko depart.
Mana, blushing at the remark, reacted by swatting Evangeline on the head. "Why are you hitting me? I haven't done anything this time," Evangeline protested, genuinely surprised.
"There's no love between me and Toshiko. We're just friends," Mana clarified, her cheeks still tinged with embarrassment.
"Yeah, sure, I believe you," Evangeline replied sarcastically.
Mana decided to steer the conversation in a more practical direction. "Instead of talking nonsense, Evangeline, let's take a shower and go to bed. It's already late."
"But I still haven't eaten!" Evangeline protested.
"It's too late now. You'll eat tomorrow. Maybe that'll teach you not to make fun of me," Mana retorted.
Resigned to her fate, Evangeline agreed without further argument. They quickly proceeded to take a shower and settled into bed, drifting off to sleep.
However, as the night wore on, Evangeline's eyes snapped open to an unfamiliar scene. She found herself no longer in Mana's room, and Mana was nowhere in sight. Instead, she was surrounded by a dense forest. Swiftly, Evangeline navigated through the woods until she spotted two distant silhouettes, shrouded in mystery and intrigue.