Eggi yawned for the seventh time on this cold Saturday morning. This morning's journey to school felt so heavy for him. Hitchhiking on the SUV of Mana’s family didn’t alleviate the burden at all. Eggi just spent the whole time watching stuff outside the window.

Yesterday, their levelling experience was yet again ruined by the likes of Lyra’s gang. The problematic part was that Eggi felt they could’ve taken down Arkengrad, but the other two protested and decided to turn tail.

However, the worst thing was he realised he wasn’t that useful against someone like Arkengrad. The paladin even mentioned that bear, and even cat, form are not worthy. He was not sure if he would enjoy playing as a lycanthrope or svannire.

“You seemed sleepy, Eggi.”

The comment came from aunt Diana who was driving the SUV. She looked very much like Mana, though a bit older. The difference was Diana was sane, Mana was not.

“Hahah, well…”

“Let me guess, you played a game till late night, Just like Manda. since your parents were both not at home. Are you two playing the same game?”

The question was rather spot on. Not to mention Eggi was playing rather late yesterday because they had to run to Gudar Outpost after using Nubram’s portal just to avoid being tracked by Arkengrad. Best part was Nubram and Macepaw just logged off casually after they reached the place, leaving Rushvatte to level alone.

Mana, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, shrugged as she answered lightly, “Of course, Dia-nee.”

“What of course?” Eggi retorted. “I just found out you played that game two days ago. Now, confess, how long have you played?”

Mana turned her head to the backseat. With such a flat expression he asked, “Why did you ask such a question? Who told you to question it? Tell me. Or was it that you just wanted to know?”

“What’s wrong with you?” Eggi barked,” I’m just reminding you that you need to take care of your condition. Don’t get yourself too tired. Even badminton is already risky for you.”

Mana didn’t answer. She turned away, leaned on the door, and gazed outside.

Eggi shook his head, chuckling, “Tch, avoiding the topic again, with this kind of attitude, no guys would be able to bear with it.”

“Ara~ aren’t you one that is able to bear with her?” Diana absentmindedly commented.

“Not really, auntie.”

“You’re such a tsundere you know,” Diana giggled. Her left hand patted Mana’s head though her eyes were still focusing on the road. “Things were always the same about you two since you both were kids.”

“I am not the one baiting for a fight, Dia-nee,” Mana answered lightly. “I am also not the one who is in dire need to change my attitude.”

“Of course,” Eggi snickered. “Now you have a certain someone who would gladly accept your misbehaviour.”

“Who?”

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Both Mana and Diana asked. Mana was clearly confused but Diana was more curious.

“Your deskmate.”

“Do not bring my rival into this.”

“Ara~ Who?”

Ignoring Mana’s death stare, Eggi spilled out everything to Diana. “Auntie, remember when you told me there was this one tall boy that Mana greeted on her first day in highschool?”

“Of course!” Diana exclaimed happily. “It was such a cute moment to see. Are you dating him, Manda? He’s your first love then? At first sight? No wonder you greeted him that time.”

Mana sighed, “Dia-nee, can we just throw Eggi off the car, now?”

Feeling the advantage he had, Eggi ignored the threat and pressed on, “Oh, I never knew you were interested with him from the start.”

Mana sighed again, “He seemed lost, I thought it was just a nice gesture to greet him.”

Eggi knew that might be an honest answer, but it won't be enough to satisfy Mana’s aunt.

Diana asked, “When will you introduce him to me? Your sis needs to know the prospect of your future husband, you know.”

“Dia-nee, we are not dating.”

“So, when? You should make the first move and better be more assertive before someone steals him.”

Eggi could only hold his giggle and let the whole comedy unfold before him. For the rest of the journey, Diana kept pestering Mana about her deskmate and Eggi could find peace in thinking about his own character.

However, his mind was distracted by Mana and Diana’s interaction. He began to question again as to why Mana called someone who is supposedly her aunt as big sis.

Eggi had a crazy idea in his mind that Mana is probably a clone of Diana. An imperfect one considering Mana’s attitude was far from that of the girlish and graceful attitude of Diana.

Since Mana was busy answering Diana and also with her cellphone, she only started to talk with Eggi once they had arrived at school and walked towards language classes.

“Do you know about Pras’ social media?”

Eggi shook his head. “He doesn’t have one.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, he never talked about it and always avoided the question. I think I once kept pestering him about it and he… exploded. He also kinda said that social media is a useless place where people prey upon those they think are unworthy. After that, usually Ega and Pitoy stopped me whenever I’m about to talk about it with Pras.”

“My…” Mana’s eyes squinted at Eggi. “So you kept pressuring him even though he definitely avoided the question? How classic of you.”

Eggi shrugged. “I forgot. Anyway, why did you suddenly get so curious?”

“Oh, is it wrong to add my deskmate to my friend or connection list?”

“You of all people definitely have an ulterior motive, You don’t need to stalk him if you want to get close, we can help, alright.”

“Not that.” Mana shook her head. Resting her chin on her fist, she clarified, “Something is weird about him.”

“You don’t need to stalk him to confirm if he’s weird.”

Mana seemed to keep thinking about her ‘dear deskmate’ when they continued climbing the stairs to the 2nd floor of the western main building. Just when they reached the 2nd floor’s corridor - which corridors function as a pseudo balcony for all classes, unlike the northern building’s corridor which was located between two rows of rooms - the proof of Eggi’s words was presented by the commotion right at the corner of the corridor which connects to the southern main building.

“Hu ha! People’s elbow!”

“One, two, three!!! Fathan won!”

“Boo-yah! If you smell that ultra nice cooking.”

“This is collusion. A structured, systematical, and massive kind of cheating. when I pinned Fathan, the count was much slower.”

Fathan just had beaten Alvin by pinning him down using his elbow while Pras was the referee for the wrestling match. Ega was happy beyond measure seeing his nemesis had been beaten. Some boys from other classes were cheering to make the whole commotion worse.

Saturday was not for formal studies and students were usually more free, but not this free. Eggi wasn’t sure which was crazier, the existence of the mattress at this location or because they didn’t wait for Eggi to join them.

“My, my, if that is the kind of weird you were referring to, that is normal for him,” Manna said abruptly as she walked away towards her class. Of course, complete with the gesture of shaking her head with a smart-ass manner.