[Zachary Conner’s favorability–1.ament favorability. -87.)
A guy had kissed him. He thought that it was such a disgrace. He couldn’t let Aether get away with it. Once she woke up tomow, he was kicking her out
The next morning, Aether woke up to the alarm and forced herself upright. She was about to getest of bed when she noticed Zachary sitting there, staring at her like she’d murdered someone in her sleep. Her scalp tingled under his pare.
Then, the system’s mechanical voice sounded again.
[Zachary Comer’s favorability – Oiment faverability: -88]
Arther frowned. “Didn’t it –B4 last night? How’d drop while I was sleeping?” she wondered inwardly.
She tried to recall the last night’s events, but her head was killing her. She shook her head and looked up at him again. “What happened last night, Zachary?”
“You don’t remember?
(Zachary Conner’s favorability–1. Current favorability: -80.1
Aether didn’t understand how she had upset him, even though she didn’t remember a thing. She thought that men were so complicated. Now, she didn’t even dare to say a single won!.
Zachary demanded, “Do you really not remember anything?”
Arther fidgeted with the hem of her pants, “Should I remember anything?”
1Zachary Conner’s favorability–1. Current favorability: -90.1
“what’s going on? What on earth did I do?” she wonderd.
Aether stood up and slipped on her slippers before cautiously asking, “Zachary, if I did something wrong last night or offended you, I’m really sorry. Please don’t be mad at me. I didn’t mean to upset you. –
Zachary was at a loss for words. Was he supposed to just forget about it?
[Zachary Conner’s favorability–1 Current favorability: -90.
Wetherbroke out in a cold sweat when she heard his favorability drop once again.
Just then, her alarm went off again Aether remembered that she still had to go to the cafeteria for her shift, without saying another word, she dated into the bathroom to wash up.
Zachary couldn’t believe that Aether had dared to Ignore him. He felt even more pissed off now.
Zachary Comer’s favorability–1. Cument favorability: -92]
Aethertelt hopeless. She decided that it wasbest to avoid Zachary until this storm blew over. At this point, it telt like Zachary’s favorability was bugged. No matter wharshedidor didn’t do, it just kept declining –
After washing up, she stepped out of the bathroom, only to find Zachary still staring at her. His gaze made her squirm. “Zachary do you have something to say to
Aether nodded. “Yes, you are ”
*Eat some people just don’t know how to behave around me,
“Who are you talking about?”
“I’ve decided.. I’m going to be started, but the words “lock you out” stalled on his tongue.
However, she could tell from ids expression. So, she gave him a small,derstanding smile. “I get it I’ll move out. It’s true. I’m your roommate, and I like guys. I’ve embarrassed you more than once. I’m sorry for being abunden, Zachary,”
[Zachary Commer’s favorability -1, Current favorability, -90.)
I need to work at the cafeteria right now. I’ll move out as soon as I get back.”
“Tlut wasn’t –
To avoid making things award for Zachary, Arther cut him off. “Thanks for letting me stay with you, Zachary, I mally appreciate it.” With that, she grabbed her heys and lett.
Zachary didn’t feel good as he watched her walk away. He went after her but stopped when he saw Vivian outside their dayı.
Vivian stopped Aether. “I heard that you’re Zachary’s roommate. I need you to do something for me. I’ll make sure you’re rewarded. Since I’m in Class A, Teat help you get into dau D, at least 1 can also make those people who used to bully you from Class E pay.“”
“What do you want me to do?”
Vivian pulled out a small packet of pills from her pocket and lunded in to Aether. “When you get back to the dorm, slip these in Zachary’s drink. When the drug kicks in, let me in. ‘ make sure that I get pregnant. He won’t be able to abandon mesece I have his baby.”
“What you’re asking for is wrong,” they said firmly. “I won’t help you.”
(Zachary Conker’s lavorability +1. Current favorability; -90.1
Misscaled. “De you think that I’m not good enough because I’m only from Class A and he’s from Class 71 that 11? No wonder you looked down on me. My rank Is lower than his, after all”
Chapter 14 Aether Sucked on His Lipt
“I’m not even going to be his meetmate anymore.
“Did he kick you out?
Whether he did or didn’t, what you’re doing isn’t good for either him or you.”
“He licked you out, yet you’re still lealing out for him? Vivian was furious, “You should just team up to trap him! Even if he still refuses to be with me, his mother will take care of me. I can use the baby to get close to him. Maybe I’ll even be able to rise to Class 8! Then, I can help you move up, too. Hell, If he’s dragged, you could even get back at him.”
“I’m going to work,” Arther responded flatly. “No matter what, the baby is not a tool. You shouldn’t use him. Besides, your happiness shouldn’t come at the cost of someone else’s pain.”
With that, she left.
[Zachary Conner’s favorability. Current favorshilay -80.
Zachary couldn’t help but think, “What an idiot… He’s so stupid. It’s almost painful to watch.”
Chapter 15 Arty
Zachary chased after Aether and blocked her path, but the wounds got
Arther gently minded him when she saw him, “You should be more careful lately. 1
Watchi what you eat and drink.”
She did not intend to betray Zachary, but that didn’t mean she would throw Vivian under the busest to please em or gain something in esim. Hence, all she could do was subtly wam him to be cautious.
After hearing that, Zachary’s heart felt like a mess of tangled wires
[Zachary Conner’s Favorability +1 Ciment favorability: 251
He thought about what she had said last night at the bar. “Td never betray you, Zach.”
And she hadn’t. Even after he’d tried to throw her out, she didn’t bum on bimor lash out to get even. She didn’t try to use him for leverage.
Zachary thought that Aether was different from his childhood friend who’d stabbed him in the back. Through his actions, Aether had shown him that muŋybe–jour maybe there were people in this world he could trist
That meant a lot to Zachary Nevertheless, he couldn’t bring himself to ask Aether to stay. He didn’t want her to get the wrong idea. The truth was that he really was a hopelessly dense guy. So, the only thing he could come up with was, “How am I supposed to pursue Gloria if you move out and she finds out about it?
“Don’t worry, Zachary Aether raised her hand and promised. “I swear, when I move out, Tilrell Gloria that it was my idea and that it had nothing to do with you.”
“I don’t trust you!” The words slipped out before he could stop them, and Zachary Instantly regretted it. That wasn’t what he meant.
Arther lowered her head. “I get it. We’ve only known each other for a short while. It makes sense that you don’t —
Before she could finish, Zachary out hereft because he didn’t want Aether to overthink it. “I meant to say that you don’t have to move out. Didn’t you say you were headed to the cafeteria? Goon. And don’t wear that costume! It’s going to get hot, and Gloria will accuse me of bullying you again.”
“I’m sorry for bothering you again, Zachary,” she apologized.
Zachary flicked her forehead to snap her out of it. “What are you sorry for now? Enough with the apologies. Seriously. Stop apologizing
“I will, Zachary Aether rubbed her sore forehead before saying, “I’ll get going then. Bye!”
After finishing her shift at the cafeteria, showering, and changing into her regular clothes, Aether spotted Zachary chatting and laughing with a pretty young lady.
Usually, she wouldn’t have cared because it was none of her business. But then the womanbeld up her phone to show Zachary her contact number. “Add me! We can keep in touch then And if you ever invite me out, I’ll be there.”
Aether couldn’t help herself. “Where are you going?” she inquired.
1m going to a hotel. Zachary pulled out his phone to add the woman’s contact
But Arther pulled out her phone and added the woman before he could. “Great. I’ll go in his place.”
Willow Brooks was annoyed. “Um, excuse me? I meant to add your roommate, not you.”
“He’s been in many relationships, and none of them lasted more than a month. He’s upt into you. Even if he agrees to be with you, it’s just to sleep with you.”
“I know,” Willow responded, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “So, can you stop getting in my way?”
Aether stepped aside, and Willow finally added Zachary’s number on her phone before leaving with a smile. As Aether watched Willow go, she couldn’t understand it She didn’t know why Willer would still want to keep in touch with Zachary if she knew that he was a jerk.
Meanwinie, Zachary had a completely different takraway. He thought that Aether’s feelings for him were becoming too hard to hide. She seemed to now have the nerve to openly stop him from flinting with other women
Zachary Conner’s faveability–1. Current favorability: -16.1
The thought that this manipulative runt might be into him made Zachary, the straight–lacedman, want to run for the hills. His good impression of Aethertook
Motherhit.
After hearing that, Aether realized that she had made a mistake.
a mistake. “I know it w chance to do it all over again probably do the same thing.”
it wasn’t right to trash–talk you into someone else,” she admitted, “But if I had the
“Are you really..” Zachary started to say but eventually trailed off. He couldn’t bring himself to finish the thought, saying, “that into me?”
(Zachary Conner’s favorability–1. Current favorability:-771
“You know that this won’t change anything, right? I can still fit with hundreds of women when you’re not around. I never have a day spell. That’s just who I am. Why are you stopping me? Do you think that you can change my armality? Well, deram onTM
With that, Zachary walked a
Aether watched him go, feeling helpless. She just couldn’t stand seeing women get hurt over lave, so she’d stepped in, even though it wasn’t her place
That altemoon, Arther had class while Zachary was meeting Gloria for date. Whenberclass ended and she headed back to the dorm, she was abruptly dragged into the men’s restroom when she walked past ||.
The door slanted shut behind her. She recognized the familiar faces right away. It was those people who had once insulted her parents, knocked her to the ground, kicked her, and even picked a light with her in the cafeteria.
Aether Instantly knew that she was in danger. She edged toward the comer of the restroom and gripped the map. Although she was on her own, she refused to go
22
down without a fight. She had to try to escape.
However, their leader noticed what she had done and kicked her hard in the stomach, knocking the air out of her. Aether hit the floor, and the mop clattered beside
her
The man sneered. “Weren’t you going to fight back? Why are you playing dead now!
Another stepped up and kicked Aether again. “Where’s your backup, Gloria, now? Huh? Is she not going to be here this time?”
Then, another guy took off his pants and started urinating on Aether. “Hey, if you drink it, we’ll let you go, okay?”
Aether curled up into a ball, shielding her head. She could feel her head ringing from the lacks and punches, and she almost passed out.
Just then, she heard something even worse. “Look at this prissy little thing. Let’s cut off his dick and turn him into a real woman!”
The leader pulled out a knife, unsheathed the blade, and aimed it between Aether’s legs. The others pinned her down, trying to yank her pants off.
“No! Stop!” Aether screamed, thrashing wildly. She was terrified of having her identity exposed and didn’t want her privacy violated by these men. She felt humiliated and furious, on the verge of breaking down.
“Help!” she screamed. “Somebody help me!
Ten minutes earlier, Zachary was heading out to meet Gloria when he overheard someone talking.
“Wait, what? They really dragged Aether into the restroom?
“Yeah. They were talking about it earlier in class. They said that they were going to force him to drink piss, use toys on him, and even cut his dick ott Zachar Zachary stopped dead in his tracks. “Where is he?”
The group was caught off guard and didn’t respond right away.
Zachary panicked and yelled, “I asked, where is he?”
“He’s in the men’s restroom near Class F7.”
Zachary bolted toward the classroom building, completely forgetting about his date with Gloria. He ran straight to the restroom and kicked the door open. Aether’s pants were already halfway down, and the others froze when they heard the door crash open.
Zachary’s anger flared as he locked one man in the head, knocking him to the ground. He then stomped on the man’s face, almost as if he wanted to crush it. When the others tried to run, Zachary snatched the knife from the leader and slashed at the runner’s knee, sending him crashing to the ground.
Zachary litted his foot and brought it down with brutal force, causing blood to splatter everywhere. The man’s face was mangled beyond recognition, while the other, who was pinned to the ground, had a knife driven straight into his eyes.
The rest were either slashed in the throat or had their
ir genitals crushed. By the time it was over, none of them were left breathing.
Just moments earlier, Aether had been in too much pain and fear to even register what was happening. Now, as she regained her senses, she saw Zachary standing over the dead bodies. She hadn’t even had a chance to stop him.
Aether didn’t want anyone to die. She huddled in the comer, trembling from the pain and the overwhelming shock. Her face was soaked with tears, and her body was covered in grime. She had no idea what to do
Zachary’s heart ached just by looking at her. He walked toward Aether and scooped her into his arms. Her small body was still trembling uncontrollably.
“Everything’s clay now,” he comfortingly told Aether. “No one will hurt you again. If anyone tries, I’ll kill them.
“You have me now, Atty. I won’t let anything like this happen ever again. The tenderness in his eyes was overwhelming.
6 Zachary Was Swept Away by Auther
