The first thing Yuuto felt when he woke up was pain.

  A dull, throbbing headache pounded against his skull, his mouth felt like dry sandpaper, and his stomach churned with discomfort.

  "Ugh…" He groaned, burying his face into the pillow. "Never… drinking… again…"

  A mocking ugh rang through the air.

  "Oh? The great Yuuto can’t handle a little alcohol?"

  Yuuto winced, his head pounding harder at the sound of Celia’s voice. He blindly reached out, waving his hand as if to swat her away.

  "Not now… Celia… my head…"

  She didn’t let up. If anything, she floated closer, her voice taking on a sing-song tone.

  "Awww, is my dear Host in pain? Maybe next time you won’t get drunk like an idiot and bbber nonsense before passing out."

  Yuuto stiffened slightly at that.

  His mind was still foggy, but snippets of st night slowly pieced themselves together.

  Era… carrying him to his room… Celia teasing him as usual…

  And then—

  "Why do you have to be a system?"

  His fingers curled slightly against the bedsheet.

  Yuuto sat up slowly, blinking away the dizziness. He turned his head toward Celia, who was floating near his bedside with her usual smug expression.

  "Did I… say anything weird st night?" He asked cautiously.

  Celia smirked, tilting her head. "Oh, you said plenty of things."

  Yuuto felt a sense of dread. "Like what?"

  Celia’s smirk widened. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

  Yuuto rubbed his temples, already regretting asking. "Celia…"

  She ughed, twirling mid-air. "Rex, you just got all emotional and started thanking me."

  Yuuto froze.

  "I… thanked you?"

  "Yep. Said you were happy I was here for you, bh bh, super touching."

  Yuuto’s face heated up in embarrassment. "Tch. I was drunk."

  Celia grinned. "Drunk words are sober thoughts, you know."

  Yuuto clicked his tongue, looking away. He suddenly felt too self-conscious under her gaze.

  But then, another memory surfaced.

  Something fainter, softer.

  "Celia… how did you die?"

  His breath hitched slightly. His fingers curled into fists as he gnced back at her.

  She looked the same as always—smirking, teasing, acting like nothing ever bothered her.

  But he knew better now.

  "Celia." His voice was quieter this time.

  She raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"

  Yuuto stared at her, as if searching for something beyond her spectral form.

  "Last night, when I asked you how you died… you answered, didn’t you?"

  For the first time, her smirk faltered.

  It was quick—barely noticeable—but Yuuto caught it.

  Celia turned away, crossing her arms. "You were too drunk to hear it, weren’t you?"

  Yuuto’s eyes narrowed slightly. "I was. But you still said something, didn’t you?"

  Silence.

  Celia didn’t immediately reply, and that alone made Yuuto more certain.

  His fingers tightened against the bnket.

  "Celia. What did you say?"

  Still, she didn’t look at him. Her form flickered slightly, her ethereal glow dimming just a bit.

  Then—

  "Forget it, Yuuto." Her voice was softer than usual.

  Yuuto felt a pang in his chest. "Why?"

  Celia let out a mocking chuckle, but it sounded forced.

  "Because it doesn’t matter. You’re here now. I’m your system. That’s all there is to it."

  Yuuto’s heart twisted at that answer.

  She was avoiding it.

  Hiding something.

  And that alone made him more determined to find out.

  But for now, he knew pushing her wouldn’t work.

  With a small sigh, Yuuto let his body fall back onto the bed.

  "Fine. I won’t ask… for now."

  Celia gave him a side gnce, her expression unreadable. "Good."

  Yuuto let out a tired chuckle. "Still… thanks for the bnket."

  Celia rolled her eyes. "Again, don’t get the wrong idea."

  But this time, Yuuto swore he saw the faintest hint of something else in her gaze.

  Something almost like… guilt.

  ---

  [End of Chapter 8]