[Music Recommendation: "A Sweet Smile" by Yu-Peng Chen (Genshin Impact OST) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

[Please note: We're back to Senara's POV]

As I grinned stupidly to myself, and rolled around my bed, a sudden memory came to mind—the moment that Kaiden slapped Callan's hand away from my face. I would admit that my heart skipped a beat at that moment and I absolutely love it, even making me think that I was somehow special to him but… he slapped Callan's hand without his gloves or any protection on his hand.

"He can touch Callan?" I murmured to myself. "But I thought he couldn't do that. Hmm… Was he okay because Callan has been a long time childhood friend?"

Right. Come to think of it, the same happened with Raven. He was absolutely fine with touching his bird. Weird. Was he really mysophobic? Or was it just an excuse so he could get away from his pursuers? Hmm… But Callan was very protective of him. So it's impossible that there was nothing wrong.

"Maybe, he is mysophobic, but a different kind? Or was it only applicable to people or things he doesn't know or close with? Is there even something like that?" I talked to myself like a lunatic. It seemed that I picked up a habit of thinking out loud.

Since I couldn't really answer all those questions by myself, I just shrugged it off and continued my writing. There wasn't much homework to do so I decided to do them later or tomorrow.

An hour passed and there I was still sitting on my thinking chair… just sitting.

"Arghhh! I can't think of anything! What is this madness?" I yelled at myself, frustrated. "I was so on fire a moment ago but now I don't know what to write. Oh noooo."

I scratched my head and rotated my chair left and right, but still nothing.

"Is this what they call a writer's block? A slump?"

My eyes widened in the sudden realization.

"No, this can't be! I barely even managed to write a few chapters. I still need to write more! Waaaa… but this story is so difficult to write even if the plot is really good and I personally love it. I'm getting a dead end on the romance part, too! What do I do?"

Feeling lost, I decided to visit Hora in her room and ask help.

"Horaaaaaa," I wailed as I barged in her room without even knocking. "Help meeeee."

I went straight to Hora who was lying at her bed at that moment, with her eyes fixed intently on a book she was reading. Slumping myself beside her, I tugged her arms, disturbing her from reading.

Hora turned to me, blinking her eyes, with a bemused expression.

"Why are you wailing like a kid?"

"Help meeee. Hu-hu-hu. I'm having troubles writing," I pouted cutely at her so she may shed her mercy with me. Hora liked cute things. Thankfully, I'm cute enough for her. "I can't concentrate and think of anything so I can't write."

"Huuuuh?" Her bemused expression just leveled up. "Why?"

"I don't know," I replied, shaking my head. "I was on fire a moment ago, then 'Poof!'—all my ideas went down the drain. Well, there's an idea but I can't figure out how to write it."

Hora put down the book she was reading and got up, facing me.

"Hmmm… I'd love to help but I don't know what to advise you. I'm not a writer."

Right. Why did I go to her anyway? I guess I was just used to turning to Hora every single time. Well, except the accident with dad but yeah, she really wouldn't be able to give me advice. I should have searched online instead.

Thinking that, I sighed heavily. "You're right. I shouldn't have bothered you. I'm sorry."

"Maybe there's just a lot of things going on your mind?"

"Like what?"

Hora grinned mischievously. Oh no. I should have known that this was a bad idea.

"Like a certain mysophobic, raven-owning, purple-haired and purple-eyed boy also known as Grim Reaper?"

"Ugh," I shook my head in embarrassment, "Hora, please. Let's not go there. I'm trying to get motivated here to write, you know."

"You like her, boss?" she started acting like Callan.

"I'm not good with romance, or dealing with any girl in particular," she said, copying Kaiden.

OMG. She's trying to re-enact "that" scene at the cafeteria!

"But if I'll ever be in a romantic relationship someday," Hora continued, "I don't mind… if it's someone like Senara."

"Stop that, Hora!"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

Oh no. She's screaming like a fangirl again.

"That happened days ago. Stop it."

"What? I'm giving you motivation. Try writing about that. Your next book is fantasy romance, right? I'm helping you on the romance part," she smiled so smugly and waggled her eyebrows again. I'm beginning to hate that waggling—always meant trouble.

"Helping me in the romance part, huh? Then why don't I add you and Verrill in it, huh?" I got up and tickled her sides.

"No! Aaaah! Ha-ha-ha-ha! Please, stop!"

"No. I'm not stopping. I'm asking seriously here and you make fun of me. Taste my revenge!"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! STAAAAPPPPHH! I surrender!" she laughed so hard and hit her hands on the bed in her attempt to escape my tickle attack.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

A sudden phone call distracted me from avenging myself.

"Hm? Someone's calling you, Hora."

Breathing heavily, she wiped the tears in the corner of her eyes. Oh my goodness. It seemed that I tickled her too much. Ha-ha-ha! Her face was so red.

"Hah… hah… Bad Sena. Who is it?"

I got up from the bed and went over her study table where her cellphone was. Checking the name of the caller, my eyes lit up and my lips automatically grinned like the devil.

Slowly turning to Hora, I showed her the screen of her phone.

"So… you're calling buddies with Verrill now, huh?"