Chapter 29: Just a Moment Longer
Silas took a deep breath, regaining his composure. His smug expression returned as he walked toward Maria, his mind still uncertain. Was this just a distraction, or was he truly gaining useful information? Either way, it would benefit him in the end.
"You're from class 1-A, right?" he called across the hallway, his voice echoing in the quiet space.
Maria stopped in her tracks, raising an eyebrow as she glanced over at him. A mixture of confusion and mild curiosity painted her face.
"Uhh... yeah?" she responded, her voice uncertain, yet tinged with curiosity.
Silas, already familiar with her personality from his game knowledge, watched her closely. He knew that in the game, Maria's personality could shift drastically depending on the route. But here, in the real world, he wasn't sure where she stood yet.
He stared at her, deep in thought, not noticing how long he had been observing her. He was lost in the complexities of her potential role, his thoughts swirling as his gaze lingered.
"Are you okay...?"
Maria's voice broke through his musings, now a few feet in front of him. She was looking at him with a concerned expression, her head tilting as if she were inspecting a child with a fever—an unspoken tenderness in her approach. Silas blinked, realizing that she had closed the distance without him noticing.
He shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind, and stepped back awkwardly, not quite used to being the object of such care.
"I'm fine, haha..."
He chuckled nervously, though it was half-hearted.