CHAPTER 330: BAKA! DENSEZUKI! ( 330 )

Inside Ellyn’s mind, her thoughts stormed like a raging fire.

Baka! Stupid Hazuki! Her eyes narrowed as she stabbed her fork into the roasted meat.

How many times do I have to say it?! I’m an adult! A-D-U-L-T! Not some little brat running around with ribbons in her hair!

Her ears twitched furiously, tail lashing behind her in sharp, irritated sways.

Why won’t he believe me? I showed him. I stood in front of him in my true form. I even sat right next to him, wearing that dress. And still... still he calls it a transformation trick?

Her cheeks puffed, and she side-glared at Hazuki as he calmly ate, completely unfazed by her silent fury.

Stupid, thick-headed, dense, clueless, impossible man!

Doesn’t he realize what it means? Doesn’t he see how hard it is for me?

If it was anyone else, they would have grab me and bring me to...ugh!!!

Hazuki, you idiot. You’re supposed to be the one chasing me... not the other way around!

Ellyn froze mid-bite when she caught Hazuki’s eyes flick toward her.

Ugh! I know that look! That’s the "you’re just a kid" face! He’s looking at me like I’m some helpless little girl swinging her legs at the table!

She bit down on the meat.

Doesn’t matter how much I show him, no matter how much I prove it, he still looks at me that way. Like I’m small. Like I’ll never catch up.

After a moment.

Ridan drifted lazily through the wall, Syaria clinging to his cloudy form as they both floated in together.

"Oho~! Ellyn adult~!" Ridan’s voice echoed with glee, his cloudy body wiggling as he pointed a smoky finger toward the girl sitting beside Hazuki.

"Look, Hazuki! She’s showing her adult body! Now, come on, give me that drooling face like before!"

Hazuki didn’t even flinch. He chewed his roasted meat calmly, eyes barely shifting toward Ellyn. "Hmm? Yeah... good looking."

Ridan froze mid-spin. "...Eh?"

Ellyn’s ears perked, her heart jumping for a second, only to fall flat when she realized how plain and casual his tone was. She puffed her cheeks and slammed her fork into the plate.

"Huh!? What’s wrong, Dumbzuki? Can you even see her!?" Ridan zipped right in front of Hazuki’s face.

Hazuki leaned back, scratching his cheek.

"Hmm? I saw. She’s in front of me. So?"

"So!? What do you mean, ’so’!?" He zipped in circles, throwing his misty arms into the air.

"She’s right there in her full glory! You’re supposed to be choking on your food, blushing like an idiot, trying to keep your hands to yourself! Where’s that reaction!? Where’s the ’Hazuki Classic!?’"

Hazuki calmly tore another bite from his meat, completely unfazed. "I told you already, didn’t I? She’s still a kid."

Ellyn’s face burned bright red, her tail whipping behind her as she slammed her palms on the table. "I’m not a kid!!"

Ridan turned toward her dramatically, "See!? Even she’s begging you to notice her! Hazuki, what are you waiting for!? Jump and dive straight into the main course!"

Hazuki exhaled, giving Ridan a tired side-eye. "...Are you out of your mind, Ridan?" He set his food down, his voice steady, almost stern.

"She’s still a kid. That’s the end of it."

"Can you three not look at me like that?" Hazuki said flatly, his calm gaze shifting between Ellyn, Ridan, and Syaria.

Ridan threw his cloudy arms into the air, spinning dramatically.

"Unbelievable! Hazuki, the guy who always strains his neck trying to sneak a look at women, who fails every single time, and when a golden chance is right here in front of him, the main course laid out nice and hot... he just lets it slide!?"

He spun circles around Hazuki, his smoky voice dripping with mockery. "Are you sure your brain’s still attached!?"

Hazuki set his fork down, exhaling a deep sigh. "Can you stop with that? I’m not about to commit a crime here." His words were calm, but firm, a steady wall against Ridan’s incessant teasing.

Ellyn sat frozen in her chair.

Hazuki pushed his chair back and stood, picking up his plate with a calm smile.

"Ellyn... just eat and rest. If you want to go somewhere, let me know." His tone was gentle.

He turned, walking toward the kitchen, the sound of his footsteps and the clink of the plate echoing in the quiet room.

Ellyn’s lips pressed into a thin line, her tail twitching restlessly. Her eyes followed his back as he walked away, heat rising to her cheeks.

Inside her mind.

Fine.

Don’t worry, Hazuki.

Her pout slowly curved into a small, knowing smile as her eyes softened. She lowered her fork, resting her chin on her palm, the frustration from before simmering into quiet resolve.

I’m sure... you’ll see the adult me soon.

Her tail swayed lazily behind her chair, brushing against the wood in steady rhythm.

Ridan, who had been circling, stopped mid-air and turned, narrowing his eyes toward her. "Oho? That smile... dangerous. She’s plotting something, I can tell."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ridan~" Ellyn replied with a sing-song hum, nibbling on the meat left on her plate. Her tail flicked smugly behind her as she chewed.

"Really?" Ridan floated closer, his cloudy grin sharp.

"Yes," Ellyn huffed, lifting her chin. "Now go away, you purple cloud. Go with Syaria to the lake or something."

Ridan suddenly shifted, his mist swirling into the crisp outline of a butler’s outfit, coat, gloves, even a bowtie. He bowed low with exaggerated grace, voice dripping with mocked nobility.

"As you command, Ojou-sama," he intoned, the perfect picture of polite obedience.

Ellyn’s ears twitched, her cheeks puffing as she stabbed her fork into the roasted meat on her plate.

"Mou! Don’t mock me with that tone!" she snapped, glaring at him while chewing angrily.

Syaria, who had been quietly floating nearby, covered her mouth to hide a small laugh. "Ridan... you really do enjoy teasing her too much."

Ridan straightened, flicking his cloudy coattails with dramatic flair.

"What can I say? When the little lady gives me such a dangerous smile and then pretends innocence, it’s my sworn duty to mock her accordingly."

Ellyn tail flicking sharply.

"Enough! Shoo! Both of you, out! Go haunt the lake or the garden or whatever!"

Ridan gave a slow, elegant bow once more.

"Very well, My lady. Your wish is my command. After all, I am but a humble servant!

Ellyn puffed her cheeks, waving her fork at him.

"Mou! Stop mocking me, you idiot cloud! Go!"

Ridan straightened, coughed dramatically, then floated toward the window as if gliding on air, Syaria drifting quietly after him. Just before slipping through the wall, he glanced back with a sly grin.

"Try not to drain Hazuki’s stamina too fast, Ojou-sama. He’s only human, after all."

( End Of Chapter )