Naomi stayed quiet, but I felt her tension in the silence.
"Look," I said carefully. "Yeah, I spent the weekend with Aurora. And yeah, it was good. But that doesn’t change anything with you two."
"Doesn’t it?" Belle stopped walking, forcing us to stop too. "Because from where I’m standing, Aurora just got a full weekend while Naomi and I get scheduled appointnts between training sessions."
"That’s not fair."
"Isn’t it?" Belle crossed her arms. "Aurora gets dates. Shopping trips. Hotel rooms. We get thirty-minute sanctum sessions where you rush through extraction because Misato’s texting about formation drills."
Naomi finally spoke. "Belle."
"What? I’m just pointing out the obvious disparity in—"
"Belle." Naomi’s voice was firr. "Stop."
Belle looked at her, surprised.
Naomi took a breath. "I knew what this was when I agreed to it. So did you. He needs essence to survive. We provide it. The rest is... complicated. But it’s our choice. All of us."
"Naomi—"
"I’m not done." Naomi stepped closer to Belle. "Yes, Aurora got a weekend. And yes, that probably felt special and exclusive and romantic. But she also knows about us. She’s not trying to replace us. And honestly? I’m glad Jace has her. Because he deserves soone who can give him nice things without expecting him to grovel for it."
Belle’s expression softened. "You’re too nice."
"I’m practical." Naomi glanced at . "And I trust him."
The words hit harder than they should have. Trust. The thing I’d been carefully building and manipulating and leveraging for three weeks.
Naomi trusted .
Fuck.
"Besides," Naomi continued. "Aurora told she’s planning to take him to so fancy restaurant next Saturday. And she invited both of us to co along."
Belle blinked. "What?"
"Group date. Her words. She said it would be fun to watch Jace try to manage all three of us at the sa table."
I stared at Naomi. "Aurora said that?"
"She texted this morning." Naomi showed her phone. "See? ’You and Belle should co. It’ll be hilarious watching him squirm.’"
Belle read the ssage and started laughing. Actually laughing, the genuine kind that made her whole face light up.
"Oh my god. She’s evil. I love her."
"Right?" Naomi grinned. "I told her we’re in."
"Wait." I held up my hands. "Nobody asked if I’m okay with this plan."
"Tough." Belle patted my cheek. "You’re outvoted."
"Three against one," Naomi agreed.
"Democracy at work," Belle added cheerfully.
They linked arms and started walking again, leaving standing there processing the fact that my three girlfriends were actively conspiring to torture for entertainnt.
Jordan appeared beside . "You good?"
"I have no idea."
"Yeah, that tracks." He clapped my shoulder. "Co on. Let’s get food before they plan your entire life without you."
We caught up to the girls at the dining hall entrance. Belle was already describing her vision for Saturday’s chaos while Naomi laughed and contributed suggestions.
I was so fucked.
But as I watched them plot together, their faces animated with genuine enjoynt, I realized sothing important.
This wasn’t just extraction anymore. Wasn’t just survival.
Sowhere along the line, these three had beco people I actually cared about. Not because they extended my life or provided buffs or gave abilities.
But because they made the apocalyptic death ga feel almost bearable.
Belle caught staring. "What?"
"Nothing."
"Liar." But she smiled. "Co on, milk vampire. Buy lunch."
"With what money?"
"With the money Aurora gave you, obviously." Belle pulled open the door. "She told she gave you two thousand credits for incidentals."
"She what?"
"Check your account."
I pulled up my phone. Sure enough, two thousand credits sat in my balance with a note: "For ergencies and chocolate cake. —A"
"She’s trying to buy you," Belle observed.
"Working so far," I admitted.
Naomi laughed. "At least you’re honest."
The four of us grabbed food and claid our usual table by the windows. Jordan imdiately face-planted into his pasta, too exhausted to eat properly. Belle stole half my sandwich while explaining her theory about the Platinum crystal. Naomi listened with interest, occasionally glancing at with eyes that held sothing softer than before.
My phone buzzed. Aurora, sending a picture of herself at the Summit gym with the caption: "Miss you already 💋"
Belle leaned over to see. "Ugh. She’s so extra."
"You’re just jealous," Naomi teased.
"Of course I’m jealous! Look at her! She’s gorgeous and rich and confident and—" Belle stopped. "Wait. Did you just try to make admit I think Aurora’s hot?"
"Maybe."
"Sneaky." Belle pointed at her. "You’ve been spending too much ti with ."
"Is that bad?"
"Terrible. I’m a horrible influence."
They grinned at each other, and I felt sothing shift in my chest again.
This. This was what made the whole insane situation worth it.
Not the powers. Not the stats. Not even the life extension.
Just this. Sitting with people who knew exactly what I was and chose to stick around anyway.
My phone buzzed again. This ti from Misato.
"Training tomorrow 0600. No excuses. We have another gate Friday and I want flawless formation work before then. Also, good job today. Don’t let it go to your head."
I showed Jordan the ssage. He made a sound like a dying animal.
"Six in the morning?"
"Every day this week, apparently."
"I’m transferring to Amber."
"No you’re not," Belle and Naomi said in unison.
Jordan slumped lower in his seat. "A man can dream."
I looked around the table at my squad. My team. My...
Friends? Girlfriends? Extraction sources?
All of the above, probably.
Three weeks ago, I’d woken up in a fat kid’s body with seventy-two hours to live and a system that demanded I seduce won or die.
Now I had eleven days of life banked, three stolen abilities, upgraded stats that put in the top half of first-years, and a group chat titled "Managing the Milk Vampire" where my girlfriends actively coordinated my schedule.
My life had beco a hentai protagonist’s fever dream.
And sohow, against all logic, it was working.
I raised my water bottle. "To surviving another week."
Belle raised hers. "To finding that Platinum crystal."
Jordan raised his weakly. "To naps."
Naomi raised hers last. "To the Midnight Foxes. May we not die horribly on Friday."
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