NOVEL WEB Chapter 18: DSMW [18]
"Aisha, can we do that tonight?"
"Ren-chan wants to sleep over? Umm..."
Hesitation. There was definitely something off!
Even though it only lasted a few seconds, Irene still caught that instant change in Aisha's expression—and the way her ahoge trembled with guilt.
Normally, when Aisha heard Irene was coming to sleep over, she'd instantly beam, nod enthusiastically, and wag her ahoge.
Clearly, the problem lay in the dorm.
"Yeah, come over, Ren-chan. We haven't done it in a while, I'm really looking forward to it."
Although Aisha eventually agreed to Irene, that meant something completely different now.
The truth hiding in the shadows—Detective Rin was about to uncover it!
—Or so Irene thought.
At the very least, she expected to sniff out some clue in Aisha's room, some trace of what had caused her transformation.
But reality turned out to be the opposite.
Even after scouring every inch of Aisha's dorm like a forensic investigator, Irene couldn't find a single thing out of place.
"Ren-chan, it's your turn to roll the dice~ Stop crawling around already."
Outwardly, Irene and Aisha were playing a magical board game called Royal Monopoly.
In reality, Irene had half her body stuck under the bed, clearly not paying attention to the game.
"Don't worry about me, Aisha. This posture boosts my luck."
While giving that vague excuse, Irene tossed a die from beneath the bed. A perfect 6.
Miles said, "How many sixes is that now?"
Even Miles had to admit—the redhead's luck was terrifying. Maybe she was better suited for gambling than Dueling.
But no matter how long she stalled through gameplay, Irene's mission ended in failure.
No inconsistencies. Not even the dorm had any anomalies.
She began to doubt herself. Maybe she was overthinking everything.
…Until the moment she was about to give up and go take a shower.
"W-What?! Ren-chan, you—you said... bathe together?! That's, um, kind of..."
"Why not? We always used to."
'Because things are different now!'
Aisha wanted to say that, but couldn't find the words.
It might look like a room for two, however, now there was someone else.
Even though she was gradually getting used to Miles seeing her in the bath, she couldn't possibly let her childhood friend see her too.
(Miles muttered, "This really isn't something I want to see...")
"You're being weird. We're both girls—what's there to be shy about?"
As Irene spoke, she was already stripping off her top. Her pale, smooth stomach was fully exposed to the air.
"No means no, Ren-chan!"
To avoid syncing her vision with the Millennium Puzzle, Aisha clamped her hands over her eyes like a bashful maiden.
"Oof, what a blow! Is my body really that horrifying?!"
Irene tackled her in protest, trying to pry Aisha's hands away.
"Look me in the eye, you shut-in!"
"Please don't, Ren-chan—it's really not okay..."
In the end, Aisha never opened her eyes. With firm resolve, she flatly refused Irene's offer.
And honestly, that was the strangest thing she'd done all evening.
Regardless, no matter how long she soaked in the bath, Irene couldn't think of a reason why Aisha was acting so weird.
From childhood to now, bathing together had always been normal for them.
The only conclusion Irene could reach was:
"Could it be... Aisha's in love with me?!"
Absolutely incorrect.
Still, Irene only grew more convinced.
"Maybe Aisha doesn't see me as just a friend—but as a romantic interest! That's why she's so shy! What do I do?!"
Looking at her childhood friend—Aisha Yuna Carlos, with her porcelain doll-like beauty—Irene would be lying if she said she didn't feel anything.
Despite that, her affection was more sisterly.
She loved hugging Aisha, squeezing those soft cheeks, holding those cool, delicate hands.
"If that's really it, how should I respond to Aisha's feelings..."
Overthinking, her brain fried, Irene sank deeper into the bath.
She didn't emerge until she was dizzy and stumbled out of the bathroom.
"Kyaa! Ren-chan, why are you walking out naked?!"
Aisha snapped her eyes shut—but not before Miles got a brief glimpse of the wintry scene.
Miles thought, 'If I say it was an accident, no one would question it this time, right?'
Irene flopped onto Aisha's bed, still woozy, and gave a shaky thumbs-up.
"I'm fine. Just need to rest a bit. Go ahead and take your bath, Aisha."
"Okay—but remember to put on clothes later, got it? Pajamas are in my closet. Help yourself. Just promise me you'll wear them. No streaking!"
'Yep, she's definitely in love with me.'
Even after nearly fainting, Irene still hadn't realized how wrong she was.
Lying on the bed, slowly recovering from her dizziness, she tilted her head and noticed Aisha's Deck by the pillow.
Irene had Duelled against Aisha's weakling monsters countless times since childhood. She knew the Deck like the back of her hand.
At least... before the battle with Kevin.
Driven by curiosity, she picked up the Deck—naked—and started flipping through it.
"I see now... So that's what happened."
As she examined the cards, clarity began to return to Irene's dazed expression.
"Aisha really has gotten stronger... So strong it surprised even me... So why have I been agonizing over all this like a fool?"
Everyone grows. Everyone changes. Even her dearest friend, Aisha Carlos, was no exception.
"If I keep moping around, she might surpass me before I even notice. I can't let that happen. After all, we made a promise when we were kids—I was supposed to be her hero."
If Aisha had dropped out, Irene had planned to follow her—the Austin family had three older brothers. Losing one Duelist wouldn't matter.
But now that Aisha had stayed, Irene knew she couldn't slack off anymore.
She put down the Deck, still without a definitive answer, though feeling like she'd found something close enough.
And as if fate itself had heard her… This week's Friday practical Duel test was scheduled:
Aisha Yuna Carlos VS Irene Austin.
...
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