Antagonist Protection Service-Chapter 96: Awakened Pals

Upon receiving a sudden message from Ella, I paused the overly sentimental music assaulting my ears. Opening that message, all that was sent was a single picture―a typical selfie taken in front of a mirror.

Nothing was out of place in the photo, aside from one glaring detail.

"..."

Why was it white?

As if all colour had been sapped, just Ella's hair had lost its pigmentation entirely, including even the eyebrows for some reason.

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Her long, dark hair, which had in fact never not been a shade of chestnut brown... Scratching my head, I casually replied to the picture.

[You: When did you age so much?]

Five seconds hadn't passed before that message was struck with a thumbs down reply, and the indicator of her typing something out started.

[Ella: Is that all you have to say?]

Scanning the message received just a few seconds later, I immediately replied.

[You: Do you want me to look for a home?]

Again, a thumbs down emoticon struck my message. It was so instantaneous that I doubted whether it was even possible for her to have read what I said before she did it.

[You: I can if you want me to]

[You: It might be a bit hard for you to do it so it's alright]

[You: I'll make sure to find one with friendly nurses]

After I sent those, roughly a minute passed with no response―not even a single thumbs down.

Feeling a little awkward, I went to scratch my cheek, and as I did, she finally replied.

[Ella: I hope you die soon.]

"Oh, that's better."

Patting my chest lightly, I exhaled a small sigh of relief at the powerful response.

It might seem strange, but I felt more at ease when she cursed me ominously like this than if she were to say nothing at all―that's what she tends to do when she's really upset, so as long as that's not the case, I can consider myself safe.

Anyway, I guess she wanted me to ask, and admittedly, I was intensely curious about what happened, so...

[You: You didn't just randomly bleach it, right?]

From what little I knew about the subject of salons and makeup, it was exceptionally difficult to dye your hair from dark to light in such a short period of time, and although it could still undoubtedly be done despite the trouble, I had a few reasons to suspect that this wasn't such a case.

Aside from the fact it was so abrupt that it didn't seem real, the picture was also such that I knew it wasn't taken with some kind of visual filter. Nevertheless, her hair had turned to such a pure, snowy whiteness that I didn't even know it was possible to get it looking like such pristine colour all the way down to the roots.

'But, if she didn't dye it, then how...?'

I was sure there must be ways to accomplish it with the level of cosmetic advancement that exists in the modern age, but at the same time, being someone with practically zero knowledge on the subject, a part of me still held doubts.

At the very least, even though I hadn't really seen her around much recently, nothing about her seemed out of the ordinary before...

Scratching my head lightly, I gazed at the photo for a short while longer, when I received her answer.

[Ella: I didn't bleach it]

[Ella: Is my hair the only thing you notice that's different?]

"Huh...?"

Just to make sure, I carefully examined the picture again.

'What the hell are you talking about?'―Just before I stopped myself from responding with this, I let out a small groan.

"Ahh, is it about her skin? Sure, it looks smoother than usual, but isn't that just moisturiser or something...? Besides, it's already been like that since a while ago..."

Muttering to myself, I then recalled something.

From some time ago now―that's right, did it start during that gap that was my absence from Earth? At least, some days following my return, I noticed it; her usage of some sort of skin product.

Was she trying to copy me after I obtained Charismatic?

The first time I saw her after my return, Ella had just come out of the shower, so it couldn't have been makeup―that was my thought. A skin product like moisturiser was different, though.

I didn't have enough time to correct myself by the time I realised this truth; as I was thinking, it looked like she had already said something and moved on without me.

Turning my attention to the new message, I immediately froze.

Because, what she said―

[Ella: I awakened]

―It was far too sudden. Outrageously so.

"..."

Staring blankly at the screen that displayed that revelation, with not the slightest hint of a thought occupying my mind, I don't know how long it took to mentally recover. At some point, at least, I was lucid enough to recognise that there were yet unread messages I had received, and so I shifted my gaze down.

[Ella: It changed my hair and skin]

[Ella: I know your hair is the same as it was before, just a bit longer, but your skin and face-]

[Ella: It's not just a product for you either, is it?]

[Ella: You've also been acting weirdly since then too]

[Ella: I thought you just found a fun hobby or something but now I think it's not that]

[Ella: Enki]

[Ella: You're awakened too, aren't you?]

"...Hh."

Reading that long string of texts, I released a small sigh.

There wasn't much to say, really.

I could deny it, and knowing Ella, she would accept any answer without argument, even if it was an egregious and blatant lie.

But, I wouldn't do that.

There was no need to.

I had already disclosed such information to my family, so it's not like I would lose anything from telling my friends too... besides, if there was one person I was closest to outside of my direct family, it would undoubtedly be Ella, so I knew it'd be okay to let her know at the very least.

In the first place, it's not like I had any massive intention of concealing it, really.

If it was just that, it was fine no matter how many people knew.

No, that's right.

Because, after all.

What needed to be buried at all costs――was a completely different truth.

[You: Yes]

So, I didn't really have any qualms admitting it.

[You: I am]

Compared to what other skeletons lay silent within the closet, this much was nothing. Maybe that's why, but I honestly didn't feel like saying it was a big deal at all.

At least, not now that it was already out in the open.

The best way to lie involves mixing in some truths, after all.

[You: Sorry for not saying anything]

[Ella: Dw]

[Ella: I understand]

[Ella: Are you coming back tomorrow?]

[You: Yea]

[Ella: Let's talk about it then]

After a brief back-and-forth, our conversation swiftly reached its conclusion.

I was returning to university tomorrow―even though the original plan was to take on that Beast Tamer Contract right away, it seems that'll have to be postponed for another few hours.

As soon as I return, we'll be 'having a talk'.

...Even though I knew it wasn't the same, whenever a girl says that, it's always fucking scary.