Chapter 21

I said I would write the survival chapter. That was a lie.

It’s a lie. I’m writing it. It might have slipped in between the previous and the one before that.

My goal has changed.

It’s to receive praise from Sigh and to make Sigh laugh.

There’s also a sub-goal to sneak into Sigh’s bed before the training ends.

I’m not joking.

The main point is to become stronger during this process.

In other words, I’m setting a higher goal than my original purpose.

After that, I was given a full day off, and I resumed my training.

Even though I was given a day off, I wasn’t allowed into the cabin and spent the night in a sleeping bag, but Sigh deployed a “gravity barrier” so I could get a proper sleep for the first time in a while.

However, I still feel very tired, and my body feels incredibly heavy.

I also took a bath.

Sigh heated the water for me.

The bath was a hell of pain as the water stung my wounds, but it felt refreshing to clean my body.

My tattered tuxedo was thrown away, and I found a replacement of the same size in the cabin, so I’m wearing that now.

Now, my training has moved on to the next step.

The second step started with Sigh’s questions about my abilities.

How far can I hear sounds? How loud can I make sounds? What can I do after ten days?

For the questions about how far I can hear and how loud I can make sounds, I gave vague answers because I wasn’t sure myself.

I can hear almost anything.

I’m not sure how loud I can make sounds. The only answer I could give was that I can make sounds so loud that shockwaves are created.

And what can I do after ten days?

I couldn’t help but answer this question with a smug look.

Indeed, somehow, I can now feel sounds through my skin.

Given that my hearing is currently sealed, I wouldn’t have survived without this ability.

Sigh praised me for being able to feel sounds through my skin.

It makes it much easier to detect presence.

After answering a few more questions, Sigh’s goal for the second step of training was to “be able to turn my ability on and off.”

Abilities that are always active, like mine, are called resident abilities.

Apparently, resident abilities put a strain on the body, and if you can’t turn them on and off, they can shorten your lifespan.

However, with training, you can generally learn to turn them on and off.

When you can turn them off, you can be in a state where you don’t have the ability.

Being able to turn them on and off improves cost-effectiveness and the quality of the ability.

“So, how do I specifically learn to turn it on and off?”

“It’s about getting used to it. Over time, you’ll gradually be able to switch your ability on and off.

But in your case, I’ll have you master it with a slightly different method. Within three days.”

A different method.

Given Sigh’s nature, I’m sure they’ll make an unreasonable request.

The fact that they want me to master it in three days is proof of that.

As I was on guard, Sigh took out a mat from inside the cabin, laid it on the ground, and sat down in seiza.

“Take off your shoes and come over here.”

What are they planning to do?

What are they going to do?

Even though I was on guard, I followed Sigh’s absolute command.

“Lie down here.”

When I moved onto the mat, Sigh pointed to their knee.

I was shocked.

“Knee pillow!?”

“Shut up. Hurry up.”

“Yes.”

Huh? Huh?

Why? Why a knee pillow?

Confused, I placed my head on their thigh and lay down on the mat.

My heart was pounding.

What’s going to happen?

As I stared at Sigh’s stomach, something soft was poured into my ear.

Then the foreign object in my ear was removed.

Sigh had taken out my earplugs.

“Wow!”

My hearing suddenly returned, and I couldn’t help but exclaim.

It’s amazing.

The sounds are incredibly clear.

“While I’m at it, I’ll clean your ears.”

“Eh!? Really!?”

“Shut up.”

What’s going on? What’s Sigh’s purpose?

The sudden ear cleaning raised my spirits.

And it feels good.

...

Huh? Oh no...

I’m getting sleepy...

“Wake up.”

I was slapped on the cheek quite hard, and my consciousness returned.

I wiped the drool from my mouth.

That’s when I noticed that some of my drool had fallen onto Sigh’s pants.

“S-Sorry. The drool...”

“Hmph...

Just turn over.”

I did as told and rolled over.

After removing the earplug from my other ear and cleaning it, the moment of bliss ended.

Reluctantly saying goodbye to Sigh’s thigh, I stood up.

Wow. I can hear everything.

Sigh’s heartbeat. The rustling of the trees. The flapping of birds’ wings high in the sky.

The cries of monsters.

The pulse of the earth.

“I was planning to have you wear them for a month, but it’s not necessary anymore.”

“What do I do with them now?”

Honestly, I didn’t need to take them out if they weren’t necessary.

There must be a reason for taking them out.

“First, I want you to use your ability to its limit.”

“I see.

You want to force me to turn it off, right?

It’s impossible.”

I turned to run away, but Sigh caught me instantly.

“Don’t run.”

“I really might die.

Role taught me that using my ability to its limit could be fatal, so I need to be careful.”

“It doesn’t matter. Do it.”

“What if I die?

That would be counterproductive, right?

Let’s take our time with the second step.”

“I don’t want you to die. So don’t.”

This person is making unreasonable demands!

“I believe you can do it.”

...

Damn... When you look at me like that, it’s hard.

I can’t let you down.

“Alright... I’ll do it.”

“Good boy. That’s fine.”

Sigh smiled slightly and patted my head.

I get flustered when they suddenly do things like this, so I wish they wouldn’t.

I’ve only seen Sigh smile twice.

I’ve gotten used to their stern face and know they’re quite kind, but I still want to see them smile more.

Praising their smile makes them smile more.

My handsome best friend once said something like that.

It might be his special ability...

Alright, I’ll give it a try.

Being praised shouldn’t feel bad.

“Sigh, you look incredibly cute when you smile. Even though you don’t smile much.”

“...Really?”

...Huh? Are they blushing a little?

I didn’t miss the moment when Sigh’s eyes, for just an instant, definitely wavered.

“I think you should smile more because you’re beautiful.

It’s a waste to be so beautiful and not smile...

By the way, I’ve always thought your hair is incredibly smooth.”

Thinking I was making progress, I pushed further.

Listening to Sigh’s heartbeat, I noticed it had sped up a bit.

Looking at their face, their ears were slightly red.

This is definitely... blushing!

And... this person seems to be weak to compliments!

But then again.

It doesn’t seem like many people in Anonymous know that Sigh is quite kind, and they don’t seem to talk to many people.

Even Role mentioned that they keep a bit of distance.

“Don’t... tease me...”

Sigh looked away from me, as if they couldn’t take it.

An unexpected side.

I thought they would brush off compliments with a cool demeanor, but they have such a cute side.

Finding Sigh’s unexpected weakness has boosted my motivation for training.

I’ll try my best.