Free Web NovelChapter 32: System Slander and Rabbit Instincts
"Yuki, I’m he—"
Grab.
"Let’s leave, Vee," Yuki said, snatching her hand the moment she stepped through the entrance.
Vee blinked, nearly losing her footing. "Are you sure? Do you not want to stay here a while longer?"
"No! Let’s go," he snapped, pulling her right back out through the entrance without a second glance.
Once they were trekking down the snowy path, Vee’s digital interface flickered. "System, what exactly happened between the two of you?"
[ It is a long story. ]
"Well, we have a long way back to camp, so start talking," Vee replied, her long rabbit ears twitching in the cold. "Because this is the most upset I’ve ever seen him. I mean, he didn’t even offer me anything to eat like he usually does."
[ I may have gone overboard with the teasing, ] the System stated clinically. [ And I may have said some things that were not so nice. However, they were factual, so the System is not in the wrong. ]
"...I thought you didn’t have a personality anyway," Vee countered, raising an eyebrow. "So why are you defending yourself?"
[ ... ]
"No answer?"
[ ... ]
[ So, Yuki and I were having a conversation about his taste in clothing, ] the System said casually, completely shifting gears.
"Just going to act like you didn’t hear me?"
[ Do you want to hear what happened or not! ] the System text-flashed sharply.
"Yeah, I do. Why is everyone mad?" Vee sighed in frustration.
A few minutes later, after a detailed data-dump of Yuki’s tragic sweater incident, the System concluded its report.
[ And that is what happened. As you can see, the System is entirely in the right. Am I not? ]
"So... he really is thicker?" Vee asked nervously, her ears twitching with sudden interest.
[ Yes. Considerably more than before. He— ]
"Cool, cool," Vee said, completely cutting the System off in real life. "I’ll be right back."
[ ...Seriously? You horny rabbit. ]
"How exactly am I horny, oh all-knowing System?" she said mockingly, a faint flush creeping onto her cheeks.
[ Did you listen to a single thing I just told you about our argument? ]
"No, all I heard was ’thick’ and ’new clothes for me,’" Vee said smugly, quickening her pace to catch up to Yuki’s swaying tail. "So stay outside. Or don’t. I really do not care."
[ What has gotten into you? Why are you acting like this? ]
"Like what?" Vee asked, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
The System ran a quick, localized diagnostic scan on its familiar avatar.
[ .... Vee, why are you currently affected by seven different aphrodisiac pheromones and four foreign toxins? ]
"Bees and flowers," Vee chuckled breathlessly, her eyes looking a little dazed. "I’m burning up inside, and I really need to release some stress."
Giggling to herself, she hurried straight into the campsite right behind Yuki.
[ .... Yeah, I am absolutely not going to listen to that, ] the System stated, its holographic interface promptly shutting down into total darkness.
Inside their tent, Yuki was still fuming at the System. Its data analysis was nothing but cyberbullying. "That asshole thinks it can just insult me, just wait until—"
Yuki froze mid-rant, suddenly realizing he had dragged Vee all the way from the caves back to camp without even checking if she was okay. On the entire trip back, she had been totally quiet, not saying a word about the nest or engaging in her usual antics.
Now that he thought about it, Vee’s hand had felt incredibly hot, and her temperature was fluctuating wildly. He had dismissed it as mere fatigue from fighting.
But what if it was something worse?!
Panicked, Yuki turned and rushed out of the tent, running headfirst right into Vee’s chest just as she was walking in.
"Vee?! Are you okay? You look unwell."
"Oh... me?" she said slowly, her voice sluggish. A blissful smile spread across her face. "I’m fine... just some bees and flowers happened. A few toxins here and there," she added in a low, purring tone.
"...What? Toxins?!"
Yuki stood on the tips of his toes and leaned in closer, resting the back of his hand against her forehead.
"You’re burning up. It’s not too extreme, so you should be okay. I have a few ointments for this situation, but I’ll still need to run a full System check on you."
"Can we just go and relax in the bath while we figure this out?" Vee asked slowly, bringing her face closer to his.
"Of course," Yuki said. "Come, come, let’s get you sorted."
Yuki drew her a hot medicinal bath and prepared a light meal alongside some herbal tea.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Vee sank down, resting her body within the warm bath, her mind racing.
"...I feel so guilty. Agh, this is so stupid. Yuki’s going to figure out that I’m overreacting. What if he... no, he wouldn’t... Why the hell am I doing this? I could just ask him directly. I’m sure he would be fine with it... or maybe not."
Vee groaned, covering her face with her hands and slouching deeper into the water.
I shouldn’t be doing this. The System said that they had a fight about his waist.
"..."
"..."
Sigh.
Vee stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought. Slowly, she raised her hands into the air, tracing a soft ’S’ shape in the empty space as a smirk played on her lips.
"I just want to hold your pretty little body while I lick and kiss you all over... wrap my arms around your waist and feel those fluffy, soft thighs... and that tail... I wonder, are you extra sensitive in your tail? Hehe." Vee chuckled nervously to herself. "Oh boy, oh boy... I really am a pervert, aren’t I?"
"Definitely," Yuki said.
He was kneeling right behind her, his hand resting on his chin and a soft, knowing smirk on his face.
Vee slowly leaned her head back, staring blankly up into his eyes. Her rabbit ears drooped in instant defeat.
"Umm... hi, Yuki... How long have you been there?"
"The entire time."
