Chapter 18: Reasons For Trina’s Behavior
Trina and Klaus sat in the chairs placed by the wall while holding each other’s hands.
Although he was surprised by her sudden request and change in behavior, hand holding wasn’t something he couldn’t do with a friend.
They were, after all, just holding hands.
’She probably asked this because she still can’t stop thinking about what Dustin might do.’
That was the reason he had come up, but it didn’t explain her flushed face, foggy eyes, and dreamy smile.
’...maybe it’s not that.’
He leaned back in the chair and asked Trina, "Why did you request something like this from me?"
Trina raised her head and looked into his eyes, then she spoke in a low yet clearly audible voice. It had a tone that made all their emotions known to the listener.
"I don’t want to just be friends..."
"Huh?" His jaw opened wide, and he pressed, "What do you mean by that?"
She looked away and added shyly, "You are the only person I’ve met who has better combat talent than me... I want you to stay as my rival forever, that way I would never get complacent."
’That’s all?’ He furrowed his brows.
Her actions and method were way too out of proportion to what her motivation was. Klaus didn’t mind, though.
He had started all this to become the unforgettable rival of a future renowned hero in the first place.
A smile creased his lips, and he muttered, "You could have just told me that you can no longer live without me? Haha."
A dark smile appeared on Trina’s face, and she nodded her head. "You are right... I was thinking too much; I should’ve gone for something bolder instead of childish hand holding."
’She isn’t acting right,’ Klaus frowned. "Let’s not do that... Also, your grip is something, huh. It’s like my hand is in a vise."
"Haha," she chuckled and slightly tightened her interlocking fingers.
Feeling that she had finally made terms with her inner thoughts, Klaus looked at the space before him and asked the system, ’Are you ready to explain what is going on?’
The system didn’t answer for a long while, prompting him to add, ’You had warned me to stay careful, so I am completely sure that you know what’s going on.’
[Yes. Host, I know what is happening. But, at the same time, I do not.]
He knit his brows together. ’Elaborate.’
[Does Host know of the seven auric layers or bodies?]
’I do remember seeing them on the internet, but I never gave them much thought.’
[Makes sense.]
Klaus frowned; he could feel the sarcasm in its words. ’Do you think I am a monk? Why would I care about spiritual presences? Tch.’
[Anyways. When a human transits from one layer to another, they break the limits of their existence.]
’Ah... similar to what I did after reaching level 10,’ he guessed in his head.
[Correct. I am proud that Host can deduce that.]
He smirked and rubbed the underside of his nose. ’Well, it was easy to connect the dots.’
[Currently, Host’s body has transferred from the etheric layer to the emotional layer. Thus, anyone who stays in contact with you for a long time will feel their emotions and desires get temporarily stronger.]
What?
Worry filled his face before his expression turned thoughtful.
’Is that why Trina is acting this way?’
[That I am not sure of.]
He frowned. ’Why?’
[The effect of ascension to the emotional layer is not as strong as her symptoms. Usually, the victim’s emotions are enhanced two or threefold, but with her it seems to be somewhere between five and tenfold.]
He felt Trina’s grip loosen and then tighten.
Hmm?
He looked at her from the corner of his eye and saw that her face was burning red in embarrassment, her eyes weren’t foggy either.
’It seems she has already come to her mind.’
He focused on the system and remarked inwardly, ’Her mental state was already bad, so that possibly caused the effect to be even stronger.’
[That is a possible hypothesis.]
’Do I have to stay away from her?’
[Not really. You simply have to be careful of what you say and do.]
He frowned deeply. ’Won’t my presence cause her emotions to unconsciously gravitate toward me?’
[Negative. It cannot create emotions that do not already exist. It merely strips away restraint and temporarily amplifies what is already in their heart.]
A sigh of relief escaped his lips, and he mumbled inwardly, ’That’s good. I don’t want her to treat me this way or any other way, only because her emotions were being tampered with.’
[Host does not have to worry about that.]
’That’s good then... I have no problem dealing with such minor outbursts either.’
He looked at Trina with a smile and asked, "Have you calmed down?"
Her head instantly dropped down, and she stammered, her ears glowing red, "Y-Yeah."
A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Why are you acting all embarrassed now?"
"Umm..." she fidgeted in her chair, and he continued his whispers, "Just a few minutes ago, you had me backed up against the wall like a hungry wolf who doesn’t let the lamb escape for her claws."
Trina tightened her grip on his hand as much as she could, but he showed no reaction; instead, he let out a chuckle and sprawled in his chair.
"You had me worried for no reason," he said while staring at the ceiling.
Her grip loosened, and she looked at him with a faint blush.
"I thought you were going to tell me how deeply in love you are with me, maybe that’s what you wanted to do, but you chickened out."
Imaginary smoke leaked out of her head, and she shot up. "I don’t like you or anything... I-Idiot!"
She turned away from him.
"Haha," he chuckled, and his eyes shifted to her, still holding his hand.
’What a tsundere.’