Scumbag Fate System-Chapter 4: Just Talking

Rika’s eyes flashed purple mid-sentence.

Reinhard noted this and realized it was her using her Sigil activating without warning. Her hand shot out to grab his wrist with surprising strength as her gaze went distant for three seconds.

"We need to move," she said urgently as her eyes returned to their normal crimson. "The night guards are making rounds early. They will be here in ninety seconds, and already suspect students are meeting boys after hours."

The cafeteria had nearly emptied as the sun set outside. Only a few stragglers remained at distant tables, but there were still too many potential witnesses.

"Where to?" Reinhard asked as he stood immediately.

"Walk with me," Rika said as she gathered her books with practiced speed. "And act casual. If anyone asks, you’re just walking me back to the dorms."

They exited through the side door. Rika then led them along a less-traveled path that moved between buildings lit by magical lamps that flickered to life as darkness approached.

Reinhard glanced behind to see, just as Rika said, the guards making their way towards the cafeteria.

"So, about your club?" He asked as they continued walking.

Rika blushed as her nervousness returned now that immediate danger had passed. "A-Are you sure? It isn’t really that interesting-"

Reinhard gently flicked her forehead, making her blink. "If it’s important to you, then I am interested."

"You... You really mean that, don’t you?" Rika asked as she quickly adjusted her glasses. But her eyes were staring at him in surprise and bits of disbelief.

"It’s something you seem to enjoy, of course." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Rika trembled slightly before smiling. "Our club doesn’t just research anomalies. We... handle situations. Dangerous ones that the academy doesn’t want students knowing about."

"What kind of situations?" Reinhard asked carefully.

"The club focuses on studying Void Distortions," Rika said as her voice lowered despite the empty path around them.

"Those are?"

Her smile grew as genuine excitement replaced nervousness. "You know about Resonance Anomalies, right? Echo Monsters and Fiends?"

"When negative emotions overload the Soulstream," Reinhard confirmed. "They erupt out as shadow entities or beast shapes."

The Fate system’s brief recap had covered the basics. Negative emotions seeping into the Soulstream will lead to it destabilizing before erupting out. The result was something between a creature, such as shadow entities, beast shapes, or things that wore the form of the emotion that had made them.

"Exactly!" Rika’s eyes lit up as she leaned closer. "But Void Distortions are different. They don’t form creatures, but instead they create fields that change the environment."

Reinhard watched how animated she became discussing her research. The way she gestured with her free hand. How her usual nervousness disappeared when talking about something she loved.

Such a sight made him want to listen more.

"Does the Void Distortion form a new entity or is it just changing the area?" Reinhard asked with a raised brow.

Rika groaned before slumping on the table. "I wished it would make things easier. But the Void Distortions only create a field. The Fiends inside were usually already there."

"And you guys research those fields?

"We try our best to figure it out. Such as why they appear, and how to prevent them from appearing." Rika moves up with a sigh. "But it has been difficult. The only patterns we’ve found are animals fleeing the area beforehand, and a distortion in space around it."

Reinhard held his chin thoughtfully. "Is there no other pattern you’ve noticed?"

Rika hesitated as her steps faltered slightly. "Well..."

He gently caught her hand to stop her walking, then held it between both of his. "I know that look. Where else do they appear? Maybe I can help explain why."

Rika bit her lip before sighing. "You have to promise not to spread this information. If the wrong people found out..."

"I promise," Reinhard said as he squeezed her hands. "I don’t want you getting in trouble."

Her expression softened as trust replaced fear. She took a deep breath. "They appear at battlefields and ruins like Resonance Anomalies. But they also... they kind of appear on academy grounds."

Reinhard’s eyes widened genuinely. "How has no one else noticed?"

"W-Wait, you believe me instantly?" Rika blinked in shock.

"Of course I do."

Rika’s smile broke through as she squeezed his hands back. "We deal with them before they get out of control. Sometimes we have to give affected students excuses, but... it works most of the time."

The implications crashed over Reinhard. If the general student body discovered void distortions were forming on campus regularly, panic would be inevitable. Parents would pull their children out.

The academy might just close entirely as it isn’t something that can be hidden.

"The fact that you all handle this in secret shows how amazing you are," he said.

"I-It isn’t that amazing!" Rika protested as pink colored her cheeks. "Yor does all the actual work!"

Reinhard released one hand to lift her chin gently. "And what exactly do you do?"

"All I do is predict where they’ll appear and show the way," Rika said as her gaze tried to drop. "It isn’t much compared to Yor, who actually deals with—"

"You’re essential," Reinhard interrupted firmly. "Without your sensing, the club would always be too late, I’m sure you can guess the consequences?"

Rika’s eyes widened as realization struck. "We wouldn’t be able to hide it. Many people would get hurt."

He paused for a moment as he registered something else. Rika told him all of this willingly. The club’s operations, the distortions on academy grounds, Yor’s role in containing them. All of it was offered freely because he’d asked with the right expression at the right moment.

She trusts easily when she feels heard, he noted.

"The Resonance Club looks to you as their guide," Reinhard said as he released her chin with a smile. "That role is far more important than you think."

Rika said nothing, but he saw the grin breaking out before she quickly looked down. After a couple of seconds, she muttered. "Thank you..."

"I’m just pointing out the obvious. It seems you need someone to occasionally point it out for you."

Rika giggles. "I guess I do..."

"But I’m curious, how does Yor deal with the distortions? Don’t tell me she devours it?"

Rika blinks in surprise before muttering. "H-How did you guess?"

Reinhard’s lips twitch before saying. "I was just guessing..."

"That was a good one. When the Void Distortions appear, Yor will go into the field and then find the source of it to absorb it into her."

"And that isn’t dangerous to her?’

Rika shakes her head. "She is always fine after the absorption. It even helps increase her magic reserves."

"How lucky." Reinhard said, leading Rika’s lips to twitch and her chuckling.

They had circled back toward the dormitories through their winding path. The female dorms courtyard loomed ahead with warm lights glowing from windows.

Other students were entering through the main entrance in small groups.

"It’s almost time to part ways." Rika said reluctantly as she glanced at the buildings.

Reinhard smiles before saying softly. "It doesn’t have to end so soon."

"Huh?" Rika perks up quickly, not realizing the joy in her expression.

"We could continue this conversation in a place where we won’t get kicked out or be disturbed." He gazed into her crimson eyes. "How about we go to your room or mine?"

Rika blinked before quickly looking down and gripping her shirt. She lightly bit her lip before glancing back up and then instantly down. "B-But it’s against the rules for a boy to come over."

Reinhard smirks. "I don’t mind breaking the rule when it’s worth it. And well, a beautiful girl with crimson eyes is definitely a priority for me."

"I’m?" Rika asked as she slowly looked up.

"More than you will know." Reinhard said softly as he caressed her cheek. "So, are you interested? Or will we have to cut this wonderful event-"

"No! I... I don’t want to stop talking to you." Rika interrupted. "I just... We have to be careful and quiet. Besides, it just continues our talk."

"Right." Reinhard said softly, but his gaze on her made her squirm a bit. "Let’s continue our time together and end it on a way better note. And I promise, I will be on my best behavior."

For just a little while.