The sensation of mana flowing out incessantly didn't stop. It had been 10 minutes already. Sihyun, trying to pull his hand away, reluctantly held Pia's head, still crying from being bitten repeatedly.
"Are they eating mana as if it's food?"
"Well, Irregulars' blood is made of mana."
"Isn't that just in fantasies?"
"It could be. But anyway..."
Isn't he eating way too much?
At Hamin's inquiry, everyone's eyes turned to Sihyun, who had estimated the amount of mana lost and finally spoke up.
"I think I've only eaten about, 20% maybe."
"..."
The kids fell silent at his indifferent tone. If Sihyun, who belonged to a considerable category in terms of mana total, had consumed 20% of his mana, it certainly wasn't a small amount.
"...Big eater. Are you okay?"
"It's just mana leaking, nothing much."
Apart from the slight sting from being bitten, there wasn't much discomfort. Of course, if he had to provide for Pia like three square meals, that would be a different story. But considering that he wasn't the only one raising Pia, there were plenty willing to lend a hand. Thinking so, he let go of the hand that Pia had been biting.
"Pya-pya!"
The little one cried out loudly, seemingly satisfied after eating. Already round in shape, the creature became even rounder after the meal.
"He ate quite a lot."
Rubbing the wings gently with his fingertips, Sihyun remarked, causing Pia to wag its head. Watching the affectionate gesture made him think that maybe it would be good for Pia to consume a bit of mana.
"Do they only need mana as food?"
"Wouldn't they also need water?"
"Someone with water."
"Me."
Gwonwoo raised his hand and pulled out a water bottle from his windbreaker pocket. As he looked at the water bottle, Sihyun murmured, "This kid...," recalling the water bottle he had refused earlier. Even though he declined, the situation seemed ambiguous in the end.
Taking the bottle, Sihyun poured water into the lid and offered it to Pia. Pia extended its tongue and drank the water. A few slurping sounds later, the water in the lid disappeared. It was a swift act.
"Seems like they need water too!"
"They might've been thirsty."
"And probably couldn't eat their meal either."
"...So is that why they're leaking?"
As they discussed Pia bit by bit, Haewoon tilted his head, looking at Pia in Sihyun's hand. He remembered the little one crying persistently during the early hours when they first brought it in. Now thinking back, it might have been hungry.
"If they don't cry tonight, it might be because of that."
If hunger had caused the crying, it was actually a welcome development. Slowly, as if understanding, he gently placed Pia on the floor, watching it walk with its tiny feet. Seeing it like this, apart from the horn, it was almost indistinguishable from a bird.
Of course, it did look a bit rounder.
Would it become an immensely large circle when it grows up?
Legs running, wings flying, a horned circular creature...
Imagining the adult version of Pia walking on two legs, Sihyun couldn't help but chuckle softly. Despite the fluffy fur, if it grew this way, it would likely remain soft and cute even after becoming an adult.
"Did you find out anything by searching? Like the period until it becomes an adult?"
"Nothing like that, just trivial things. They don't live in groups. They're rare to find. Sometimes found where auroras appear, and their food is an adult's blood or something like that."
"There's really not much..."
At this point, even information about what they eat felt surprising. Pya-pya! The creature suddenly flew up energetically, as if energized after the meal. Flying around the room, it flew longer than ever before, then promptly crash-landed.
It felt like deja vu.
Seowoo, picking up the fallen creature weakly from Sihyun's hand, glanced at Pia crying in her hands. Though she didn't seem too eager, her eyes watching Pia were filled with interest.
"It's palm-sized."
"It still seems like a baby."
"Why did you name it Pia?"
"Because it keeps crying 'Piy' and 'Pya.'"
"Who named it?"
"Haru hyung."
"..."
Yeah, I get it.
Watching Seowoo remain silent after hearing the name, Sihyun muttered inwardly. When he turned, he saw Haru gazing endlessly at Pia in Seowoo's hands. Sihyun's gaze then returned to Seowoo.
"Yoo Seowoo."
"Yeah, Sihyun?"
"Could you put Pia down?"
"On the floor?"
"Yeah."
Answering softly, Seowoo lowered her hand. Pya-pya! The creature walked towards Haru with quick, determined steps. There was a flicker in its red eyes.
"It seems like it wants to be held."
Quietly nudging Haru's back, as if encouraging, she coaxed him toward Pia. The creature with short legs climbed onto his hand. Haru's face brightened.
"Pia seems to like Haru hyung!"
"Well, who wouldn't like the one who named them."
"What, is Hamin jealous?"
"Stop fighting."
There was hardly a day when Haru and Hamin didn't bicker.
Sihyun, trying to stop the argument, looked at Pia in Haru's hands, drawing the attention of the classmates in Class A. The interest that was once intense towards Pia seemed to wane a bit when Haewoon and Hamin pulled out a guitar from the closet.
"Who'll play the guitar?"
"..."
"If nobody does, I'll sing."
"Me."
Quite competitive.
As Haewoon attempted to coerce with threats, Sihyun and Hamin, with strained expressions, reluctantly spoke up. Once coerced into sitting, the others also sat around the circular table. It was the low-seating table they used during the previous study session.
"Well, just playing is boring, how about this?"
"You said you'd do it."
Haewoon complained, frustrated, as Hamin grumbled about setting the tempo. Annoyed at where to start, Hamin touched Haewoon's chin, and something magical appeared in Haewoon's hand. "What kind of couple zenka is this?"
"Just do it."
"If it's the weird one we did last time, I don't want to."
The chatter continued as they prepared to start the zenka.
Starting with Hamin, there was a barrage of teasing. Sihyun glanced at Seowoo, who spoke with a hint that he'd experienced what Hamin was asking about. He was curious about the extent of what he'd said, considering it was something Seowoo avoided mentioning.
"You've done it before?"
"Yeah."
"What was the worst punishment?"
Smiling, Seowoo chuckled. Sihyun, who remained silent, was now curious. He figured it must have been quite severe.
After hearing several teases, Haewoon, reluctantly piling up the jokes, looked disheartened. Hamin sighed, Seowoo nodded. They seemed accustomed to being swept by Haewoon's emotions and then trying to comfort him.
Sihyun sighed, wondering why they bothered with Haewoon. It seemed more like Haewoon was clinging to them rather than them willingly accepting him.
Just like his current self.
Finally grasping the dynamics of their relationship, Sihyun reached out to the pieces that didn't fit, like unplaced puzzle parts. With several hands, completion came swiftly.
After completing the game, they debated the punishment. Sihyun looked at the top performers of the month-end evaluation, not inclined to hit Hamin even if he were in front of him. It was from then on that Sihyun took the game seriously.
Whoosh!
When Geonu demolished the first piece, everyone but Sihyun and Haru rushed toward him as if waiting for this moment. The sound of slapping hands echoed as if someone were being assaulted.
"Sorry."
Slap!
"..."
Even when Seowoo apologized while laughing and hit someone's hand, a red hand came into view as it descended. Sihyun, feeling sorry, brushed Geonu's hand gently.
"You hit too hard."
Quietly asked by Seowoo, Sihyun responded absentmindedly and returned to the game that had resumed. As turns came around, everyone cautiously removed pieces. Seowoo, who had boasted about cleanly removing pieces in the previous round, was the one who destroyed the pieces this time.
After a few more rounds, only Sihyun's hand remained unmarked. The game ended. Sihyun checked his phone. It was past 9.
"We should start heading back now."
"Ah..."
As it was nearing curfew, Geonu sighed. It was a sigh tinged with regret, both from Haru and Geonu. Their sighs were pitiful enough that it was hard to ignore. Trying to ignore Geonu, Seowoo spoke up.
"We had a curfew at 10, right?"
"Yeah."
"How about sneaking down after the curfew?"
"What?"
Sihyun was taken aback. The guy in front of him was the class president of Class A. Asking to break the rules like that was quite absurd.
With no response from Sihyun, Seowoo grinned and pulled Geonu toward him. A strikingly handsome guy was now snugly beside another unrealistically handsome one.
"Geonu seems really disappointed."
"..."
"Pia didn't seem to like it either."
"To avoid getting caught. Right?"
The persuasive tone implied that if Sihyun kept listening absentmindedly, he might end up responding with an "okay." Sihyun, back to his senses, looked at Geonu.
"We have tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"So, tomorrow..."
"Is it uncomfortable having me around?"
"It's not about that."
It was because of the rule violation. Sihyun couldn't bring himself to say it outright. Geonu's blue eyes staring intensely made it hard to voice that thought.
Hesitant, unable to speak with those ocean-like eyes fixed on him, Sihyun couldn't find his voice as if drowning in water. Feeling like he might succumb to the waves if he kept looking, Sihyun tore his gaze away.
"It's not just me feeling this way. Why don't you guys say something? I'm not the only one sleeping here."
"If you won't get caught, just go sleep."
"I prefer us all being together!"
"...I, just... um..."
"..."
His attempt at seeking help met with responses that didn't assist him. It seemed that if they took a vote, the majority favored what Geonu suggested. Sighing at how he was being overridden, Sihyun messed up his hair.
"Is it okay for the class president to do this?"
"Sometimes, we can have a little adventure, can't we? It seems like everyone's in favor, so why not?"
Seowoo repeatedly tried to convince Sihyun. With everyone consenting except himself, there wasn't much he could do. Sihyun ruffled his hair.
"If caught, deal with it yourselves."
"Thanks."
Reluctantly granting permission, Seowoo, with a gracious smile, took care of Geonu and left the room.
About ten minutes after curfew had passed, two people cautiously knocked on Sihyun's door. Haewoon greeted them, and the temporary count in Room 207 became six.
"You really came."
"What if we were fake?"
"Where will we sleep?"
"With a bed this big, why worry? Why, Sihyun?"
Are you trying to put me to bed?
Sihyun gestured to Hamin's bed, but it wasn't a suggestion; it was more like he dragged them there. While Hamin freaked out, Geonu found a spot near Haewoon on the second floor.
Click! The light went off in the room where Pia cried. The chatter of the six in the room continued until deep into the night.
In a pillow fight that ensued when someone raised the issue,
Sihyun gave up on sleeping early.
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