"Cut!"

"Twenty-seventh NG!"

Miseria felt a splitting headache.

"How about just simply hugging? Every time you two are five centimeters apart, your eyes start wandering.

I think if you keep acting, you'll develop a kissing phobia."

Fratiss was applying an ice pack to her flushed cheeks.

Chloe was staring absentmindedly at a certain spot on the floor.

Seeing their awkward expressions, Miseria suddenly revealed a devilish smile:

"How about I give you a demonstration?"

Chloe hadn't reacted yet, and was already pulled by the tie towards the stage.

Miseria waved to Fratiss, the next moment, a gentle scent of pomegranate invaded Chloe's nostrils.

Her fingertips brushed over Chloe's tie knot.

The spotlight on the stage refracted diamond-shaped light on her glasses, shattering the mint-colored pupils into pieces.

"Watch carefully, at this moment, you should use the back of your hand to gently brush the other's jawline..." Her voice, like a knife dipped in honey, trembled yet played it cool, "then count the frequency of eyelashes fluttering for three seconds..."

Chloe suddenly grabbed her hand that was about to caress his cheek.

Miseria's wrist bone trembled lightly in his palm, like a butterfly with broken wings.

"Senior," he lowered his voice, "this is too much for Fratiss."

"It's because you two are dragging this out!"

Miseria snapped back to reality instantly, with her cheeks turning red.

What just happened?

She didn't intend for it to turn out like this.

Chloe watched the brief fade of red in her eyes and then glanced at Fratiss thoughtfully.

The powers of the little glutton seemed to be out of control today.

Miseria stepped back slightly, tidying her hair, revealing her true feelings with flushed earlobes:

"See... it's simple, isn't it?"

"Senior, I need to think this through first." The girl grabbed her wallet and dashed out the door, "I'll get you guys lunch while I'm at it."

Miseria took off her glasses to wipe away the fog, a bit embarrassedly:

"Do you want iced coffee or..."

"Why are you wearing your glasses again today, Senior?" Chloe brushed aside her hair and took off the glasses, saying, "There are actually many ways to avoid vision problems, have you considered them?"

"Like what?"

"The Extreme Association offers advanced Demon Eye modification surgery, if you need it, I can arrange it for you."

"Haha, junior, just because I acted a bit, don't think I've fallen for you, okay?" Miseria chuckled softly, "I didn't change my glasses not because I didn't have options, but because these glasses were a gift from my dad."

"But he would want you to be healthy too."

"You know nothing, my family has Siren ancestry, singing can be very enchanting, although my family doesn't acknowledge it now, since the Siren's voice is beautiful, but ultimately a demon's."

"No wonder your voice is so beautiful, Senior."

Chloe pondered.

Sirens are demons, after all.

It can only be said that Miseria's ancestors had some charm of Xu Xian.

"Haha, junior, you are sweet talker."

"If Senior's singing could be recorded into albums, it might make all the vending machines on campus dispense roses."

"This kind of cliché compliment might work on Fratiss, not on me."

But nonetheless, Chloe noticed the pleasure in Miseria's eyes.

However, Miseria didn't notice Chloe's gaze resting long on her glasses.

[Interesting, how come I didn't notice before, these glasses are actually suppressing Senior's powers.]

It seems Senior's family also has secrets.

"Moreover, the Siren's Song is not a good thing, it makes upright people irrational and the wicked even crazier."

Chloe glanced at Miseria.

Maybe it was due to too much work recently, but Senior looked very tired today.

...

Today's rehearsal was particularly strenuous.

Fratiss paused again and again.

She said somewhat frustratedly:

"Sorry, I was the one who requested it, and it turned out like this."

"It's okay, you'll get used to it."

"Sigh, I still can't do it like Senior, kissing gracefully, Senior is really amazing."

In the audience.

Miseria's cheeks were flushed red.

In hindsight, she regretted demonstrating earlier.

No way!

Initially, she didn't intend to demonstrate so much.

The most was seeing Chloe and instinctively recalling the day she lost her first kiss.

And somehow, it became this chaotic blur.

"Senior, how can I be as skilled as you?"

With flushed cheeks, Miseria gritted her teeth and said:

"How would I know, practice makes perfect."

Practice makes perfect: indicating only experienced it twice, with only one person.

However, the innocent and naive Fratiss actually believed Miseria's bluff.

"Ah, this will mess things up if it continues."

Chloe was referring to Lilith's plan.

Previously, the little glutton had clearly shown potential to start obtaining part of the Red Moon's power.

But now, with the acting stuck, it was abruptly halted.

Time was running out for her.

After this rare break, both Chloe and Lilith had to devote all their efforts to resource gathering.

Seemingly assuming Chloe was worried about the Fantasy Show performance, Miseria patted him on the shoulder and said:

"Don't overthink it."

Surprised by Senior's sudden action, Chloe looked at Miseria.

"Don't worry, with all the practice, there will surely be a good performance when the time comes, I've seen your effort."

"Okay."

"Don't underestimate your seniors, they're quite skilled and serious when handling things despite being slackers.

If there's any issue at the scene, they'll figure a way to cover for you, so don't worry, and don't be scared."

"Senior!"

"Hmm?"

"You truly seem like an angel."

"Haha, then hurry and say, 'Angel, please save me!'"

Suddenly, the door of the hall was pushed open, and Fratiss, full of ambition, returned with food:

"Come, I suddenly feel like I can perform now!"

...Afterwards...

"I'm sorry, it's my fault for not letting you have a good time, senior."

By this time, the day was gradually turning into dusk.

The three, ready to leave, were about to part ways at the entrance of the hall.

But Fratiss was staring blankly at the sky.

She didn't know why, but she had a feeling.

If she couldn't complete the Fantasy Show this time, it would certainly cause a lot of trouble for herself and others.

She turned back to Chloe and said:

"Senior, could you accompany me to practice a little longer? I want to try again as much as possible."

"I don't mind, I've got plenty of time these days."

Recently, he had kept his schedule open to leave enough time for Fratiss.

But he looked over at Miseria.

Compared to yesterday,

she seemed even more exhausted now.

So he said:

"Senior, let's figure out the remaining scenes ourselves, get some rest, and help us again tomorrow."

Miseria was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said:

"Alright, I just need to check on the Fantasy Ball and the Fantasy Power Amplification Array."

"Well then, see you, senior."

"Mm, you guys keep it up."

Watching the two turn and walk into the hall, Miseria stood there for a while before turning to leave.

"What's this... Why do I feel so strange?"

Suddenly, there was a feeling of being abandoned.

For some reason, that feeling became particularly intense recently.

It seemed like everyone was preoccupied.

Everyone was doing their own thing.

Lilith too.

Fufu too.

Rephya and Fratiss too.

Was it just her imagination?

Or was it just her being too naive, thinking they wouldn't accompany her anymore, hence feeling this way?

Miseria sighed:

"Fine, I tend to overthink things anyway."

It's just...

She turned back to look at Chloe's now disappearing back view.

"No, is it really just because they weren't with me?"

...

Meanwhile.

Inside the hall.

Chloe and Fratiss were still discussing how to handle the final scene.

"At this moment, the Crane Race girl is about to die. On the verge of death, she thinks how wonderful it would be to walk with the male protagonist to the end."

"Fratiss, you need to capture this essence."

"Mm, but I've never had such an experience, it just feels unimaginable."

Chloe was silent for a moment.

Finally, he said, "Why don't you try this: imagine you have a mother who raised you, and she's about to embark on a long journey, and you're also about to grow up and leave home.

At such a moment, due to an accident, you're about to be eternally separated from your mother.

You're sad about leaving soon, yet happy that the accident happened to you, rather than to her.

Try standing from this perspective and see if you feel anything."

"I'll give it a try."

Fratiss felt that this perspective might indeed allow her to immerse herself.

But she didn't notice that as the two began to perform again, her eyes gradually turned red.

Only Chloe quietly watched her eyes, sighing inwardly.

A meaningful, brief kiss concluded.

Suddenly, the surrounding Fantasy Balls were activated on their own without Miseria's control.

The little foodie looked shocked at the suddenly lit Fantasy Balls.

Only when the Fantasy Power dissipated greatly would a Fantasy Ball respond without anyone's manipulation.

In other words,

their performance just now was very successful.

"Eh!!!"

"Yay, we did it!"

"Ah, we can go back to the dorm now!"

Laughing, Fratiss pulled Chloe and left the hall.

"Then senior, see you tomorrow."

"Mm, you have a good rest."

Just as she turned away,

the girl's usual silly expression became awkward and confused.

As she walked on,

she suddenly crouched down in an empty corner, burying her head in her knees, gently touching her lips with her fingers:

"Really kissed."

But.

Why.

Wasn't it just acting?

So why was her heart racing so fast now?

Only Fratiss didn't know.

In the distance, above a building,

a figure silently watched her.

"What a youthful little apple!"

The witch licked her lips.

Such overwhelming Fantasy Power, truly intoxicating.

It made her always want to...

claim her as her own.

"Little apple, grow up soon so I can pick you."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.