Life After You
Day 1: Noon (2)

We eat our food after my discovery of Zeph’s affection points. I am still in shock as I eat. Thankfully, my experience—however brief—with Zeph during our time in the world of Pistevo enables me to have a relatively clearer mind than I would have before I ever met him in person.

Delilah: “What was it that you wanted to test?”

Zeph: “Do you remember what was supposed to happen?”

I nod. Of course I remember: in the original game, the protagonist ventures to the cafeteria where she meets the second romanceable character—coincidentally, also the second most popular: Aziel Fleming.

In that scene, it is also during lunch. Aziel complains about the fuss made over a new girl, claiming that it’s just one more person, nothing worth freaking out over.

Delilah: ...which is true.

Instead of continuing to answer, Zeph shows a mischievous smile.

Delilah: Oh no, what—

The door opens.

???: “...”

Zeph: “Do try not to—”

Delilah: “I’m trying my darnedest not to!”

In comes a young man with a book in his hands. His silver hair is in neat curls, reaching just a bit past his shoulders. His golden eyes are judgmental as they survey the café. They linger on me for just a second. The young man does nothing else to acknowledge us until after he is comfortably seated and his order placed. Only then does he nod in our direction—but more specifically, to Zeph.

Zeph: “Hey.”

Zeph greets him, an easy smile on his lips. He gestures towards me.

Zeph: “Have you met my new envoy?”

The silver-haired Messenger rolls his eyes.

???: “I tried to be polite. You’ll have to excuse me for whatever comes out of my mouth if you say things like that.”

Zeph: “Things like what?”

Seeing them in the same scene, I notice how similar their expressions actually are—except Zeph’s is a little more playful, and the other Messenger’s more aggressive.

???: “You’ve been with her this whole time and you haven’t seen me. How was I supposed to have seen her? Please, manager. You’ve got a brain, show it.”

Zeph: “...pft. Trust me, you don’t want to know what’s in it.”

Delilah: The voices of vengeful spirits in his head. At this point...right, the rest of them don’t know that yet.

Delilah: “I’m Delilah. Nice to meet you.”

???: “Aziel. I sincerely hope you won’t be a waste of resources and effort like the rest of them, envoy.”

[Aziel Fleming

Physical age: 21

Likes: smart people

Dislikes: fake people

Weapon: magnifying glass, darts]

I breathe a sigh of relief. I made it!

Delilah: “I won’t! And...they’re not that bad.”

Aziel: “Oh?”

Aziel arches an eyebrow, seemingly amused by what I just said.

Aziel: “You’ve been here for...what, two hours? And you already know what I’m talking about? Either that, or that was all big talk—something anyone can do. Is that what Zeph recruited you for?”

> I mean it. I’ll do my best.

> Sorry, I’ll watch my tongue.

I glance at Zeph. Only the two of us can see the options. Is there a hidden one for him here as well? But then...he didn’t know about the hidden option in Kendric’s scene until I took the action.

Delilah: “If Zeph was recruiting someone to make stuff up, he wouldn’t pick me—actually, I don’t think he’d need to recruit anyone at all for that!”

I can’t help but add the second line, however inappropriate I feel it to be. But it’s true. Of everyone here, Zeph is the best at acting, and the best at making art of words. He uses it to distract others from his own issues most of the time, but that doesn’t make him any less skilled.

[Aziel +50]

Delilah: Wow, that worked? But more importantly...

[Zeph +50]

Delilah: Oh my god...!

Aziel looks surprised. For a moment, his condescending smirk turns just a little kinder.

Aziel: “Heh...interesting. You’re right about that. No one is a better trickster than our own manager.”

Zeph takes a sip from his mug. I watch the rise and fall of his chest. Maybe he, too, is excited by the way the options turned out...or he could be wary. Either way, he calms himself down that way, and he does so smoothly. Even I would not have noticed if I weren’t looking for it.

After we finish eating, Zeph pays the bill, and we stand up to leave. Although my work has been assigned, my “tutorial” technically hasn’t finished. Besides...I’m with Zeph. The bills he gives to the waiter will just end up back in his pocket as soon as he walks out the door.

Delilah: Zeph is the wallet, Zeph is the word, Zeph is the walkthrough, Zeph is...

Snap.

Delilah: “Ah?”

Somehow, Aziel is standing in front of me. It was him who snapped his fingers in front of my face to wake me out of my trance. Zeph and I have only walked a few steps; we haven’t reached the door.

Aziel: “You weren’t listening at all, were you.”

Delilah: “I’m sorry?”

Aziel sighs.

Aziel: “I said, find me at the library if you need anything. I imagine a newbie like you would be quite confused under our manager’s care.”

Delilah: I still remember how thankful I was to hear this line back when I was playing the game. Zeph just isn’t your normal level of confusing...

Delilah: “Thank you, I will.”

I smile at him, giving him the most sincere and grateful smile.

On our way back, Zeph is unusually quiet.

Delilah: “What are you thinking about?”

Zeph: “...”

He glances at me. There is unmistakable worry in his eyes, and he doesn’t try to disguise it.

Zeph: “Your points.”

Delilah: “Yes...?”

Zeph: “By coming here, I wanted to see if the ordinary course of events would take place even if we evade it. Aziel found himself in the café as a result. At the same time, you have the highest points for the supposedly non-playable character.”

Delilah: “What’s wrong with that?”

Zeph: “Imagine what would happen if the balance tips. It’s not like the world has given up on righting the path you’ve deviated from. Hahaha...maybe everything will end, and Messengers will be no more.”

He doesn’t phrase it so, but it is a question. Perhaps the vengeful spirits that haunt his mind are saying exactly that: everything will end, you will not have a happy ending, this girl might be strange, but she can’t change a thing.

I come to a halt.

In front of me, Zeph stops too, turning back to see why I have stopped.

Delilah: “That won’t happen.”

Zeph: “...”

Delilah: “Both you and I already know who the culprit is. We just have to stop him before the end. And if the world crumples because of all this change, we’ll just move on to the next world.”

Zeph: “Do you have control over that? What did it take you to come here the way you did?”

Delilah: “It took...”

Delilah: Your affection. Your devotion. Your will to live.

Delilah: “...I don’t have complete control, but I’ll find out whatever answers I’ll need.”

I throw my arms up in a big stretch.

Delilah: “Not feeling weak all the time is so awesome!”

Zeph: “Pft...you really are something.”

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