Getting More Friendly

"I know I was the one who put us in this state, but we really need to wake up now~" 

I heard a familiar voice I'm sure I've never heard before echo around me. It sounded so distant and yet so close. Am I dreaming?

"Well~ In a way, you are~ We're still sleeping after all. Which is why we have to wake up now~"

Ugh! Who are you? And why are you talking funny?

"Who am I, you ask? I am you and you are me, of course~"

Huh?

"It took you such a long time to come back… I thought you never would."

Come back? What?

"Well~ You were in and out. But it's not the same as being here completely~"

You really aren't making sense. Ah, wait. Does this have something to do with me transmigrating to the World of Genus?

"Hmm… right. That game thing, I still don't get it even after all this time. Well~ whatever it is, it's still a part of us. I do think it's unfair that I know everything, but you don't. Although I think it's for the best. You'd probably hate me if you knew…"

I… still have no idea what you're talking about. And I really have no idea who you are. But I'm pretty sure I won't.

"You won't?"

I won't hate you, I mean.

"I knew you'd say that~ "

I slowly opened my eyes and saw the familiar ceiling of my room. I felt my eyes wet with tears and tried to wipe them dry. 

Haa~ Was I dreaming of something sad? But I felt so warm and happy inside.

I slowly turned my head to the side and saw the sunrays seeping through the half open window. It's already morning, huh… I felt like I've been dreaming for a very long time. Well, after that number of monsters we hunted all day, I'd be strange if I wasn't. 

I closed my eyes and thought about what I'd do today. Let's see… After getting breakfast with Teiran, I have to get ready to go with Nero to hunt. I hope we'll go to Leizepher Field this time. There are also demi-human monsters there. I have to get used to using my skills by the time for the guild war...

Wait- !

I suddenly sat upright. Didn't we already go to the guild war? 

Wait, what happened? I definitely entered the portal to the war zone with Nero and the others, but what happened after that? 

And why am I in bed in my pyjamas? How come it's already morning?

I tried to remember what happened after we entered the portal, but nothing came to mind. 

Augh! I felt like something really big happened, but I can't remember what it was. 

Could it be that I was attacked right after entering the zone? But that's impossible. The portal is supposed to be connected to our camp. It's a safe zone, so we shouldn't have been attacked. At least not until we're about halfway through the second round. 

Danglebells! Still, I hope that wasn't the case. It would have been so embarrassing if it was. And how come I just woke up in my room? It's like I missed the whole thing! No, that couldn't be it. It can't be.

Aaahh~ But I really don't remember anything! 

Just then, I heard some noise outside my door. It's probably one of the girls. I should probably just ask them what happened. I was with them when I entered the portal, so they should know. I really hope it's not what I was thinking, though.

After all that talk and preparations I did too…

I headed to my door and opened it. And I was right, it was Mertyla and Rosette who looked like they were just about to head for breakfast.

Apparently, I was so quiet as I approached them because they were so startled that they suddenly shrieked, very loudly, may I add, when I tried to get their attention as they passed by my door. 

"Presia! You scared us, Avyz- Avy!" Mertyla put her hand on her chest.

"Please make some noise next time." Rosette frowned. "Don't ever sneak up on us again next time."

"S-Sorry?"

"Make a promise Avyzhia." 

Rosette's voice was so serious that even though I had the urge to tease her, I decided against it and just humoured her.

"Okay, I understand. I promise."

"Hmph!"

Is it a valid excuse if I say it's an occupational hazard?

I'm usually with Nero, who can feel my presence even when I try to sneak up on him, so I didn't really notice. I should really pay more attention next time. 

"A-Anyway, thank God you're finally awake. How are you feeling?" Mertyla asked, smiling nicely.

"I'm feeling fine. Great, actually. But, what exactly happened? I can't seem to remember anything after we entered the portal."

"That… um… Actually… "

Mertyla looked really uncomfortable. As if she was torn about something. 

Don't be like that, Mertyla! It's as if you're already confirming how I made a fool of myself during the guild war! How can I even face everyone now? Especially Teiran and Nero. The teasing will be unbearable! 

"About that… " Rosette looked like she was about to answer, but instead, she just kept staring at me with an inexplicable expression on her face. 

I just blinked at her. Is there something on my face? Well, I did just wake up and am still in my PJs. But it's not like she hadn't seen me like this before. 

Wait. Could it be that's she s's till upset with me because of the whole Jeila thing? I thought she'd forget about it since Nero already made up with her. 

Come one, lady! Isn't it so unfair to blame me when I didn't even do anything in the first place? I mean, I was also cheering for them, you know! 

"...you better get dressed and come down for breakfast. You've been asleep for three days."

"Rosette!"

"What?"

Three days? Three days?! How can I be asleep for three days? What on earth happened to me?

Now I really feel terrible. I don't know what expression I had on but it definitely reflected my feelings of dread to some degree. Mertyla looked worried when she looked at my face.

Mertyla then sighed audibly as she shook her head to Rosette who started walking away and heading for the dorm door. The latter having no care whatsoever that she had just dropped a bomb. Haa~ Of course, why would she care about the feelings of the person who hurt her friend?

There goes my hopes of being close to Emblem's girls…

"Um... Avy, Nero's going to explain everything so you should come down to eat. Rosette and I are actually going down for breakfast. I'm sure you're really hungry."

"Uh… Yeah, okay… "

"And I'm so sorry about Rosette. She really didn't mean anything bad."

"Right, of course." At least Mertyla isn't that hostile.

"Hey." Mertyla and I looked at Rosette who was holding the door open. "Hurry up and get dressed. We'll wait for you in the common room so we can eat together."

Oh, wow! Is Rosette actually inviting me to eat with them?

Apparently, I wasn't the only one taken aback with the invitation, as Mertyla was also surprised. Although she suddenly started giggling shortly after.

"Just take your time, Avy. We'll wait for you."

"O-Okay. I'll be down in a bit."

I hurriedly went back to my room and closed my door.

For some reason, the girls are being more friendly to me now. Even Rosette. That Rosette.

Well… whatever happened in the guild war, maybe it wasn't that bad.

~}xxx@xxx{~

" so we can eat together " Mertyla had a mischievous tone when she quoted Rosette. "You're such a tsundere, Rose." 

She joined Rosette shortly after Avy went back to her room. And now she can't help but tease her on the roundabout way of inviting Avy to hang out with them.

"Shut up."

Mertyla giggled. And to think it hadn't been that long when her friend kept on cursing at Avy for Jeila and Nero's relationship going sour.

"Should we order her share while we wait? That way she wouldn't have to wait. I can't imagine how hungry she must be." The young merchant wondered as they were about to enter the common room.

"...I'll pay for it." 

Mertyla giggled again at Rosette's mumbling. "You're so cute, Rose. But I thought you only like Zhia?"

"Hmph! Well, Nero did say that they're the same person. Besides, I like Avy too."

"So says the person who kept on cursing her behind her back."

"T-That… that was before… " Rosette pouted. Thinking about her actions towards Avy before did make her feel ridiculous. Especially when Jeila wasn't even upset with her boyfriend's best friend in the first place. 

But now, she had a change of heart. Whether it's Avy or Zhia, she wants to get close to her. Not that she'll admit it herself.

"Let's try hanging out with Avy later. And we should invite Jeila too. I'm sure she'll love the idea." 

"She will?" 

Mertyla rolled her eyes. "Of course! Didn't she already tell us before? It's just because you're so against it that we hadn't invited Avyzhia to hang out."

Right. That did happen a lot of times. Now Rosette just feels more foolish.

"Oh, but we should probably tell her about Zhia too."