Rin didn't take Kaelith's hand.
Not immediately, at least.
He stared at it like it might suddenly sprout teeth and bite him. Which, considering everything else that had happened in the last… what, ten minutes? Very possible.
"Okay," Rin said slowly, pushing himself up on his elbows. "Let's review the situation. I died. I woke up in a sparkly meadow. A floating app kidnapped me into a BL plot. And now a demon general wants to hold my hand."
Kaelith didn't lower his arm. If anything, his expression shifted into something dangerously close to amusement. "When you phrase it like that, it sounds far less dignified."
"Dignity left the building when I got assigned 'romantic missions' as a survival mechanic," Rin shot back.
[Reminder: Refusal to progress relationship may result in death.]
"Yeah, yeah, emotional blackmail acknowledged," Rin muttered.
He looked at Kaelith's hand again.
Large. Calloused. Steady.
Not… actually threatening. Which was worse, somehow.
"…Fine," Rin sighed dramatically. "But if you pull me into some weird soulmate ritual, I'm filing a complaint with customer service."
"You speak as if you have options," Kaelith replied.
"Denial is my strongest coping mechanism."
Still grumbling, Rin grabbed his hand.
The moment their skin touched, something clicked.
Not painfully. Not dramatically. Just… a strange warmth, like a system notification he couldn't quite see.
[Bond Synchronization: 5%]
[Kaelith Favorability: +20]
"Oh COME ON—" Rin yanked his hand back like he'd been electrocuted. "What was that?! Did you feel that?!"
Kaelith flexed his fingers slightly, gaze sharpening. "…Interesting."
"That's not reassuring!", Rin started to panic.
"You are not what I expected," Kaelith said, almost to himself.
"Yeah, well, you're not exactly subtle either, Mr. 'I Walk Out of Smoke Like a Final Boss.'", said Rin rolling his eyes.
"…Final boss?"
"Nothing. Forget I said anything. Please don't ask questions I can't answer without sounding insane."
Kaelith studied him for a long moment, then—unexpectedly—stepped back, giving him space.
"Very well," he said. "You can explain later. For now, you're coming with me."
Rin crossed his arms. "Counterpoint: no."
The air shifted.
It wasn't dramatic this time. No fire, no thunder.
Just pressure.
Heavy, invisible, like the world itself leaned slightly in Kaelith's favor.
"You misunderstand," the demon general said calmly. "That wasn't a request."
Rin opened his mouth.
Closed it.
"…Okay," he said finally. "But just so we're clear, I'm coming voluntarily under protest."
"That means nothing."
"It means everything to me."
Kaelith turned, cloak sweeping behind him like a villain who knew exactly how cool he looked. "Keep up."
Rin scrambled to his feet. "Hey! I almost died twice in the last five minutes, give me a second—"
Too late.
Kaelith was already walking.
Rin groaned and jogged after him. "You walk fast for someone with that much dramatic flair."
"You talk too much for someone in a war zone."
"WAR ZONE?!" Rin nearly tripped. "You didn't mention that part!"
"I assumed it was obvious."
"It was NOT obvious! I thought this was like—like romantic fantasy! Maybe some light angst! Not—whatever this is!"
As if on cue, a distant explosion echoed across the horizon.
Rin froze.
"…Was that scripted?" he asked weakly.
[Immersion enhancement feature active.]
"Of course it is," Rin whispered. "Of course it is. I hate this."
Kaelith glanced back at him. "Stay close."
The words were simple.
But the tone—low, firm, almost protective—hit differently.
Rin blinked.
"…Wait," he said, narrowing his eyes. "Was that concern? Are you… worried about me?"
Kaelith stopped.
Slowly turned.
Golden eyes locked onto his.
"For someone who claims to be terrified," he said, voice quiet, "you are remarkably bold."
"That's called panic-bravado. Totally different skill set."
A pause.
Then, unexpectedly—
"You're slowing me down," Kaelith said.
Rin scowled. "Wow. Emotional whiplash. Ten out of ten."
Still, he hurried forward until he was walking beside him.
Not behind.
Beside.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The landscape shifted as they moved—lush meadow giving way to darker terrain, scorched earth threading through patches of unnatural beauty. The sky dimmed slightly, as if even the sun was cautious here.
Rin stole a glance at Kaelith.
Up close… he was worse.
Or better.
Which was the problem.
Sharp features. Calm expression. That constant, unsettling aura of control.
And those eyes—
"Stop staring," Kaelith said without looking at him.
"I'm not staring," Rin lied instantly.
"You are."
"I'm observing."
"That's worse."
"…Okay, fair."
A beat passed.
Then—
"Why me?" Rin asked.
Kaelith didn't answer immediately.
When he did, his voice was quieter.
"The summoning ritual calls for a compatible soul," he said. "Someone who can withstand…proximity."
"Proximity to what?"
"To me."
Rin blinked.
"…That's ominous."
"It is meant to be."
"Great. Love that for me."
They walked a little further.
Then Rin groaned. "Wait. Hold on. Back up. 'Compatible soul'? Does that mean—"
He stopped walking.
Kaelith took two more steps before noticing.
"…What now?"
Rin pointed at him accusingly.
"Are you telling me this whole thing is fate-based matchmaking?!"
Kaelith raised an eyebrow. "I would not phrase it so… crudely."
"YOU SUMMONED A BOYFRIEND?!"
A very long silence followed.
Then—
"…No," Kaelith said flatly.
[System note: Technically yes.]
"SHUT UP," both Rin and Kaelith snapped at the same time.
They froze.
Rin blinked.
Kaelith blinked.
"…Okay, that's new," Rin said.
"…You heard that too," Kaelith murmured.
Rin slowly smiled.
"Oh," he said. "Oh, this just got so much worse for you."
Kaelith narrowed his eyes. "Explain."
Rin clasped his hands together, suddenly energized. "So, funny story—turns out, we're both trapped in a nightmare dating simulator—"
"Stop talking."
"—and you're the main love interest—"
"Stop talking."
"—and if we don't build emotional connection, I die—"
Kaelith grabbed his shoulder.
Not rough.
But firm enough to shut him up.
"…You're serious," Kaelith said with a soft voice.
Rin nodded.
"…I hate this world," Kaelith muttered.
"Get in line."
A pause.
Then, very quietly—
"…What do we have to do?"
Rin looked at him.
Really looked at him.
At the confusion. The tension. The faint, reluctant acceptance.
And for the first time since waking up—
Rin didn't feel completely alone.
He sighed.
"…Apparently," he said, "we have to fall in love."
Silence.
Wind stirred the ash at their feet.
Kaelith released his shoulder.
"…That," he said slowly, "is not going to happen."
[Main Story Quest Updated: Achieve Mutual Love Ending.]
Rin looked up at the sky.
Then screamed.
Again.