Why is this idiot so sharp right now?
Evan met Kiana's probing gaze, clicked his tongue silently, and then spoke.
"So are you trying to tell me that you don't have a home, but you still have a place to stay? Also, you have enough money to buy food, and you were starving earlier just because you forgot to eat? And, you specifically sought out an abandoned building and even invaded my dormitory just for fun?"
Kiana was left speechless by his questions. Realizing her current situation was indeed quite dire, she took a deep breath and shook her small fist at him.
"Let me be clear, don't underestimate me! It's dangerous to mess with me, you know?"
This very familiar line made Evan's eyes glaze over for a moment. Looking at the girl before him, trying her best to look fierce and intimidating, he couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Loud and clear."
"Then—is it really okay for me to just live in your dormitory building?"
Kiana didn't want to refuse his offer. She really was homeless right now. And Evan's series of actions, or rather, everything besides his scary bluff earlier, was the kind of friendly behavior that easily earned goodwill, or at least trust. Just the fact that he was willing to treat her to a meal—if he wasn't a boy, Kiana might have been eager to marry him herself.
"No problem. Tachikawa Academy won't be sending anyone to manage a male dormitory with only one resident anytime soon. As long as I don't say anything and you don't say anything, no one will find out."
Although it felt like they were doing something bad, Kiana was never the type to follow the rules. She was even a little excited. Evan's clever wording made her feel like he was a partner on her side.
"And even if a dorm manager does show up later, I can just apply for another dorm slot."
Recalling the various preferential treatments he received at Tachikawa Academy, Evan felt that this wouldn't be too difficult for him to achieve. Hearing his guarantee, Kiana felt greatly relieved.
"Then let's hurry back, shall we?"
Neither of them mentioned whether they would be sharing a room, because it wasn't necessary to bring it up. How could a boy and a girl who had just met possibly live together? If they were the same gender, maybe.
Kiana, who hadn't had a proper rest recently, just wanted to be a lazy bum and charge her phone. Even though the bedframe was hard, as long as she could lie down and sleep, it was completely fine.
Her father had told her that she had hit her head when she was eight, causing her to lose all her memories from before then. In her memories after the age of eight, it was mostly her father taking her to fight the Honkai, so her life could hardly be called luxurious. When wandering in the wilderness, money wasn't of much use.
So, Kiana didn't care too much about the condition of the vacant dorm rooms.
But Evan couldn't just let her sleep in a place like that.
It wasn't that Tachikawa Academy's male dormitory was shabby; the main issue was that the unoccupied rooms had no daily necessities. The beds were just frames, with no pillows, sheets, or blankets, and there were no toiletries like towels. These things naturally had to be purchased.
Unlike other girls, Kiana did not enjoy the pleasure of shopping. Or rather, she didn't enjoy shopping for daily necessities that weren't immediately edible and whose importance she couldn't appreciate right away.
She urged Evan more than once to hurry back. It seemed all she wanted to do now was lie down and rest.
She seemed a bit willful, but in the end, it was just urging. Kiana, who knew the way back to the dorm, had no intention of leaving Evan behind and going back alone. And after Evan sped up and bought all the necessary items, Kiana even took the initiative to carry the shopping bags, leaving neither of her hands empty. Of course, Evan was also carrying things in both hands; the bedsheets and blankets were quite bulky.
"Can we go back now?"
Holding two large bags and feeling their weight, Kiana looked at Evan with an eager expression. However, Evan's tone suddenly became whimsical.
"Do you need—me to go with you to buy underwear?"
"...Huh?!!"
If Kiana's hands weren't full right now, would she have punched Evan in the face for suddenly encroaching on a girl's private territory?
Judging by her expression, the possibility was high.
Evan tried his best to make his expression look righteous.
"You were lying on the floor of an uncleaned, vacant dorm room earlier. Your clothes must have gotten dirty. Aren't you going to wash up and change? Ahem, let me be clear, I have absolutely no intention of peeking while you bathe."
Now, even if Kiana hadn't been thinking along those lines before, she had to be on guard.
"I don't need it!"
"Alright then. I'll give you some cash later. You can go and buy some when you want to. I'm a student at Tachikawa Academy and have to attend classes during the day, so you won't have to worry about me being around."
Evan's words made Kiana pause, her gaze flickering. As she followed him towards the dormitory building, she said hesitantly.
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
To this, Evan responded with a look of utter amazement.
"Eh? You can actually sense my goodwill?"
"I'm not sure if it's goodwill or if you're plotting something, but are you treating me like an idiot?"
I'm sorry, but yes, I am.
Although he thought this to himself, Evan knew there was a limit to joking. He wiped the casual look off his face and became a little more serious.
"Because I've always enjoyed helping others. I don't hesitate to lend a hand to a girl in distress."
Kiana was not moved by his words. Instead, she tilted her head up. If her hands weren't full, she would probably have struck a cool pose.
"You think I'd be so easily fooled? You underestimate me. But, either way, thanks."