Chapter 12

Roya Greyrat perched on the edge of the bed, letting out a quiet sigh as he shifted his focus to his Sword Art Online self.

At that moment, Kazuto Kirigaya was lounging in front of a computer, fingers darting across the keyboard with dazzling speed, leaving faint trails in their wake.

On the screen, his character mirrored his skill, pulling off one precise, jaw-dropping move after another.

When he vanquished the boss without a scratch and wrapped up the game, he switched to another title: I Wanna. Roya recalled playing it in his past life—a brutal, original series crafted to push a player's reflexes and patience to the limit.

Every level bristled with cunning traps, each more fiendish than the last, demanding razor-sharp focus and unshakable resolve.

In that previous life, he'd died over ten times just to stumble through the first level. The second? More than a hundred deaths. The third? He'd rage-quit and uninstalled it in a huff.

So why, he wondered, was he diving back into it now?

'Seriously, what have you been doing while I left you in charge?'

Roya groaned inwardly, staring at the game's familiar, punishing art style. Curiosity tugged at him, and despite his better judgment, he took over for a few rounds. To his astonishment, he sailed through it with ease. Satisfied, he relinquished control of that world's self and flopped back onto the bed for a nap.

But just as his eyes drifted shut, a wandering hand inched toward him again.

Roya frowned. Cracking his eyes open, his delicate, boyish face flickered with a hint of irritation. Sure, cuddling with Roxy was pleasant enough, but right now, all he wanted was sleep. Thankfully, she didn't push further, and with a relieved sigh, he sank into a deep slumber.

The next morning, Roxy stirred awake, her cheeks tinged pink as she gazed at Roya, whom she'd clung to tightly in her sleep. Roya remained fast asleep, though his brow twitched now and then. Her face hovered so close to his that she could feel the softness of his pale, tender cheeks. His slight, graceful frame sparked something in her—a strange, elusive charm she couldn't pin down.

Muttering a quiet scolding to herself, she carefully eased her leg off him and retracted the hand that had strayed to his chest. Sitting up, Roxy realized she felt oddly refreshed. She'd slept better than expected last night.

'This boy might just be the perfect hug pillow', she thought, the notion sneaking into her mind uninvited.

Clearing her throat with a touch of awkwardness, she glanced at the still-sleeping Roya. After washing up and getting ready, she padded softly back to his side.

There was no denying it—Roya was downright adorable in his sleep. His usual cool, distant demeanor melted into something tender, his refined features glowing softly in the morning light. His delicate collarbone and cheeks were almost too inviting, and even Roxy caught herself tempted to lean in and kiss his smooth, fair face.

'He's cute. Too cute—it's ridiculous!'

It's a universal truth that lolis and shotas share the same irresistible allure. If Rudeus saw this, he'd probably lose it, yelling something like, "Lolis are power!"

This shota's charm was undeniable—especially a deadpan one like Roya, whose appeal hit threefold. He was the type to make grown men squeal in delight, only to crush their hopes with a blunt, "Sorry, I'm actually a guy."

'Someone this cute has to be a boy!'

In the end, Roxy, feeling a twinge of guilt, gently nudged him awake.

Roya rubbed his eyes, still groggy. He glanced around, catching sight of Roxy's faintly flushed face, which left him mildly perplexed.

"Morning, Master Roxy," he said through a yawn.

"Good morning, Roya," she replied.

He tilted his head, studying her. Why did she look oddly sheepish today? Shrugging it off, he slid out of bed, his vision still bleary as he reached for the clothes he'd left nearby the night before.

His hand grasped nothing. Puzzled, he scratched his head—he could've sworn they were right there. Then, out of the blue, Roxy held up his jacket. With a calm expression, she stepped forward and slipped it over his shoulders, her movements a little fumbling.

Roya blinked, caught off guard, a faint smile softening his composed features. "Thanks, Master Roxy."

Roxy's heart skipped, struck by an invisible dart. Internally, she shrieked, Roya's so cute today too! Something unfamiliar was definitely stirring inside her.

Helping him to his feet, she hesitated before asking, "Um, would you like me to brush your hair?"

Roya ran a hand through his tousled golden locks, realizing they were a tangled mess. With a gentle smile, he nodded. "If it's not too much trouble, I'd appreciate it. I'll brush yours too, Master."

As Roxy combed through his silky hair, she couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. She'd trade anything for hair this perfect. Untangling the knots and catching the faint, pleasant scent that lingered on him, she felt a little lightheaded.

'Why do I suddenly want to hug him?'

Roya turned, his striking golden eyes glinting in the light. "Let me do yours, Master Roxy," he offered.

She turned away, her long, flowing hair spilling down her back. Roya stepped closer, his fingertips sliding through her soft, azure strands. Then, unexpectedly, he leaned in, his expressionless yet handsome face hovering near hers. "Your hair's really pretty, Master Roxy," he said plainly, as if stating a fact.

Her face flared red in an instant. Swiveling aside to dodge his gaze, she stammered, "I-Is it? Thanks."

Roya took his time brushing her hair, his gentle fingers working through each strand with care. For some reason, it brought back memories of her mother—how she'd once combed her hair with the same quiet affection.

"Master Roxy," Roya's soft voice cut through her thoughts.

"Hm? What is it?" she asked, blinking in confusion.

"You smell like me," he said matter-of-factly, though a teasing lilt danced in his tone.

"W-What?!" Roxy's face turned crimson. She gave him a light tap on the head, flustered. "Don't say strange things like that!"