The morning light seeped through the curtains—though at this point, morning wasn’t the right word anymore. It was almost afternoon.
Liliane barely stirred at first.
The exhaustion from the night before had left her body heavy.
But then—
BANG. BANG. BANG.
“Lilyyyyyy! Wake up! It’s almost noon! Get your lazy butt up, we have a mall trip!”
Liliane’s eyes shot open.
Panic immediately set in.
Mall trip—?
Then—
The loud vibration of her phone buzzing on the nightstand.
[Mei]: (LILY. OPEN UP. I know you’re in there.)
[Mei]: (Also, I met a cute little girl outside. She says she knows you. Now we’re both waiting. Open up before I break in.)
[Celia]: (Miss Lily, are you okay? Mei says you might still be sleeping!)
Liliane barely had time to process what was happening before—
A soft shuffling sound came from the couch.
She turned her head—
And froze.
Hollow was still there.
Still asleep.
Still wearing his bloodstained clothes.
Liliane’s heart dropped.
NO NO NO NO NO.
She had to hide him—NOW.
Her gaze snapped to his clothes. The clear evidence of last night.
Her stomach twisted.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
“LILY. YOU’RE NOT SLICK. OPEN UP.”
Liliane whipped toward the couch, grabbed Hollow’s arm, and shook him awake.
“Hollow—wake up—now.”
His eyes slowly cracked open. “...What.”
She yanked him up. “You need to hide.”
Hollow blinked at her. Then, groggily: “...From who?”
“Just get in the bathroom!”
Hollow, still half-asleep, let himself be shoved toward the door.
Liliane frantically grabbed the first pieces of clothing she could—her oversized bunny shirt and a pair of sweatpants—before throwing them at him.
“Put those on, and hide your clothes! Make sure they don’t see anything!”
Hollow stared at the clothes in his hands.
Then looked at her.
Then back at the clothes.
“…Right.”
She barely had time to think as she shoved Hollow into the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind him.
She turned, took a deep breath—
Then opened the front door.
Mei stood there, arms crossed, her expression unimpressed. Beside her, Celia was beaming, rocking on her heels in excitement.
“Finally!” Mei huffed. “Took you long enough.”
Liliane blinked, still half-asleep, her body stiff from exhaustion.
Mei’s eyes immediately scanned her.
“…Lily.”
Liliane groggily looked at her. “What.”
“You’re still wearing your office clothes from yesterday.”
Liliane froze.
Celia gasped. “Miss Lily, did you sleep in your work clothes?!”
Mei smirked. “More importantly… you totally forgot about our plans, didn’t you?”
Liliane’s face twitched after the realization.
Mei clicked her tongue and shook her head dramatically. “Shameful. Absolutely shameful. And here I thought we were building a proper friendship.”
Liliane groaned, rubbing her forehead. “I didn’t forget—I just… overslept.”
Mei raised an eyebrow.
“…Yeah? Then why are you still half-dead?”
Liliane had no answer.
Celia tugged at Liliane’s sleeve, completely genuine. “You should take care of yourself better, Miss Lily!”
Liliane sighed. “I know, I know—”
Then—
Mei sniffed.
Paused.
Then stared.
“…Lily.”
Liliane stiffened.
Mei tilted her head, grinning now. “At least take a shower, don’t you think?”
Liliane’s soul left her body.
Celia nodded along in agreement, her innocent voice crushing her further. “You do smell a little bit like you skipped…”
Liliane internally screamed.
“I—” she started, but Mei immediately pushed her inside.
“Nope. No excuses. I mean, even I’ve had my shut-in stink days—but bring that to a mall and we’re getting lynched by normies."”
Liliane internally cried.
But she had no choice.
With her towel and a change of clothes, she dragged herself toward the bathroom, dreading what she was about to endure.
Liliane steeled herself as she entered the bathroom.
And there—
She saw him.
Hollow stood near the sink, dressed in an oversized shirt with an obnoxiously cute bunny on the front…
…And sweatpants so tight they should be a crime.
Liliane froze.
Her entire face ignited in heat.
She had given him those clothes.
She couldn’t even blame him.
But.
Those sweatpants.
Were showing way too much.
Liliane’s brain short-circuited.
She immediately turned away, shoving down the overwhelming urge to die on the spot.
Not even realizing that the knife wound on Hollow’s arm was gone.
Hollow, meanwhile, remained completely unfazed. He glanced at her, eyes still half-lidded from tiredness.
“…What.”
Liliane swallowed hard, refusing to look at him. “…Nothing.”
Then, gathering her courage, she cleared her throat and whispered.
“I… I have to shower.”
Hollow blinked at her. “…Okay?”
Silence.
Then, he spoke again.
“So?”
Liliane tensed.
“…So you need to turn around.”
Hollow tilted his head, unimpressed. “…Why.”
Liliane wanted to explode.
“Because—because—just do it!”
Hollow sighed, clearly annoyed but not wanting to argue, and finally turned to face the door.
Liliane exhaled, her face burning hotter than ever.
Quickly, she reached for the faucet and turned it on, stepping into the bathtub behind the tragically transparent curtain.
She removed her clothes in there. Sneaking out her arm to drop them on the floor.
As the warm water rushed over her, she let out a quiet breath.
Okay. Okay. I can do this. Just get it over with. Fast.
She ignored the fact that Hollow was just standing right there.
She ignored the sheer awkwardness of this entire situation.
But.
Hollow, on the other hand—
Had a problem.
At first, he truly didn’t care about this situation.
She told him not to look? Fine. Not a big deal.
But then—
In the reflection of the bathroom mirror—
He saw her.
The blurred yet undeniably real image of Liliane’s bare body behind the curtain.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
And for the first time—
He found himself… staring.
At first, he thought it was nothing.
He had seen her fight for years. Seen her injured, covered in wounds. This was no different.
But then…
He kept looking.
And his mind—his body—his entire being—
Did not react like it was nothing.
His throat felt dry.
His heart beat once, then again, each thud slow and foreign.
His gaze lingered, drawn in by some unfamiliar force he didn’t understand.
It was like something primal, something buried deep inside him had been awakened by what he saw.
He didn’t know why.
And he didn’t realize how long he had been staring—
Until he suddenly forced himself to look away.
His jaw tightened.
What… was that?
Meanwhile—
Liliane finished quickly, dried off, and changed into her new clothes inside the bathtub, still behind the curtain.
She exhaled deeply, gathering herself.
“…Okay,” she muttered, stepping out. “Let’s get this over with.”
She pushed aside the curtain and immediately froze.
Hollow still stood there, facing the wall like before—only now, he looked… weird.
His shoulders were tense. His posture stiff.
Liliane squinted, confused.
Something about him was off.
“…Are you okay?” she asked cautiously as she was drying her hair with a towel.
Hollow twitched slightly at the sound of her voice, his reaction a fraction too delayed.
“I’m fine,” he replied without facing her, his voice oddly neutral.
Liliane frowned as she finished to dry and put the towel on the perch.
She wasn’t convinced. “It’s safe to turn now.” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
Hollow’s reply came flat and indifferent. “Okay.”
But… he didn’t move.
She blinked, confused. “I said it’s safe now.”
“I heard.”
Still, he stayed facing the door.
Liliane furrowed her brow. “The bathroom’s tiny. I can’t get out unless you move.”
A pause.
Then, after a sigh that sounded suspiciously like he was arguing with himself, Hollow finally turned.
And that’s when it happened. Her weary eyes drifted downward.
She saw it.
Something.
Something prominent.
Something that wasn't there before.
Something clearly pressing against the front of those—horrifically, painfully—tight sweatpants.
Liliane blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then, she pointed.
“…What is that?”
Hollow, still mildly disoriented from whatever mental war he had just been fighting, turned his head slightly.
“…What.”
Liliane’s brows furrowed.
“That. Right there. What is that?” She jabbed a finger toward his lower half, her expression shifting into suspicion.
Hollow followed her gaze.
And finally noticed.
His body had reacted.
Without his knowledge.
Without his permission.
“…Huh?” he muttered.
Liliane’s stare sharpened.
“Huh? Huh? What do you mean huh? What is that?”
Hollow, brain still half-frozen, responded automatically.
“…I don’t know.”
Liliane narrowed her eyes.
“…You don’t know.”
“No.”
“Why don’t you know?”
Hollow furrowed his brows, vaguely frustrated by the situation but still too caught off guard to fully process it.
“I just don’t.”
Liliane stared harder.
This was suspicious. Too suspicious.
He was acting weird, looking weird, and now he was denying knowledge of something that was very obviously real and right there.
And that could only mean—
“…You’re stealing something, aren’t you?” she accused.
Hollow snapped his head toward her, looking genuinely baffled.
“What?”
“You’re totally hiding something! That’s why you’ve been acting weird, right? You were acting strange since I stepped out of the showering, and now that—” She pointed at the bulge again. “—suddenly shows up? Super suspicious! Hand it over!”
Hollow’s face twitched.
“What—Lily, that’s not—”
But before he could finish—
She reached out and grabbed it.
And instantly froze.
Because.
It wasn’t a stolen object.
It wasn’t an extra pocket.
It was flesh.
Warm. Firm. Attached.
Liliane’s fingers snapped open like she had touched fire, her entire body going rigid with confusion.
Hollow flinched.
A visceral, jolting reaction unlike anything he had ever felt before.
He staggered back a step, his breath catching sharply, his entire system short-circuiting from the unexpected stimulus.
Liliane stared at her hand
Then at Hollow.
Then at his lower half.
Then back at Hollow.
Her lips parted. Her face flushed instinctively.
“…What the hell…?” she whispered, completely lost.
Hollow covered himself quickly, his own mind racing in ways it had never done before.
“I don’t know,” he muttered, his voice noticeably lower.
Liliane’s expression twisted into even deeper suspicion.
“You don’t know,” she repeated.
“I don’t.”
“You just said it’s nothing.”
“…It’s probably nothing.”
“It is not nothing.”
Hollow looked away, visibly uncomfortable for the first time in his existence.
“Then I don’t know. It shouldn’t matter.”
Mei and Celia who were in the living room, relaxing while waiting for Lily to come out, exchange a look as they hear too much noise behind the bathroom door.
Liliane, desperately clinging to the last shreds of her sanity, took a slow, deep breath.
“…You know what? Fine. Fine. This is fine. I’m just gonna… walk out now.”
She pivoted, moving toward the door at the most normal pace she could manage—but her face, her aura, her entire soul screamed panicked disarray.
Hollow didn’t stop her.
Didn’t say anything.
Didn’t move.
He simply stood there, still feeling the ghost of that touch lingering on his skin, his entire body more alert than it had ever been in his life.
And for the first time, he asked himself a question he never thought he would ever have to ask.
What the hell is happening to me?
Liliane walked out of the bathroom, thoroughly embarrassed but clean.
She had done it.
She had survived.
Mei and Celia, both ready to leave, were waiting near the front door.
Liliane grabbed her shoes—
She was in the clear.
They were finally stepping out of the apartment.
Then—
“Hey, before we go,” Mei stretched lazily, “I’m gonna use your bathroom real quick.”
Liliane’s body locked up.
“WAIT—”
Mei raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“You can’t.”
Mei narrowed her eyes.
“…Why?”
Celia tilted her head, suspicious now. “Miss Lily… is something wrong?”
Liliane’s brain scrambled for an excuse.
“B-Because—uh—”
Mei gave her the smuggest look imaginable.
“Lily… do you have someone in there?”
Liliane internally combusted.
Before she could stop them—
Mei flung open the door.
And froze.
Because standing there—
Was Hollow.
Wearing a cute bunny shirt.
And sweatpants that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
Mei’s entire soul left her body.
Celia gasped and covered her face while blushing but still sneaking a peak to try to comprehend the situation.
Mei, slowly and painfully, turned to Liliane.
“…Lily.”
Liliane felt her existence shatter.
Mei inhaled deeply.
Then—
“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!”
Liliane sat on the couch, arms crossed, legs stiff, her face burning with residual embarrassment.
Hollow sat next to her. Expressionless. Unbothered.
He was still in the bunny shirt.
Holding a cushion to cover himself and save everyone’s gaze from the criminal sight.
And across from them—
Mei stood like an investigator unraveling the case of the century.
Celia, meanwhile, sat beside her, happily swinging her legs, watching the exchange like it was the most interesting show ever.
Mei exhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“…Okay. Let me get this straight.”
She gestured between them.
“First, you spent the night at his place.” She pointed at Liliane. “And you showed up to work wearing his shirt.”
Liliane swallowed hard. “I—it’s not what—”
“THEN,” Mei cut her off, dramatically waving her hands, “he spends the night at YOUR place—”
Celia gasped, still in awe.
“—and now, he’s wearing your clothes?!”
Liliane internally died.
She opened her mouth—then closed it.
Hollow, meanwhile, was silent.
Completely motionless.
As if this entire conversation was not happening to him.
Mei leaned in closer, voice dangerously slow.
“…You two wanna tell me what the hell is going on?”
Liliane panicked.
“His clothes got ruined on the way back!” she blurted.
Mei’s eyes narrowed. “Ruined how?”
Liliane’s brain scrambled for a reason.
“…Uh… A—a car drove by and splashed him! With… um… mud!”
Hollow, for the first time, turned his head slightly to look at her.
Liliane could feel his silent judgment.
Mei just stared at them.
Then turned to Hollow.
“…That true?”
Hollow, without a second thought, shrugged. “I guess.”
Liliane wanted to kick him.
Mei exhaled sharply, hands on her hips.
“You two are so bad at this.”
Liliane’s soul shattered.
“Mei, I’m telling you the truth!”
Mei crossed her arms, giving her the smuggest look imaginable.
“Lily. Lily. Lily.” She sighed dramatically. “Sweetie. Honey. Baby girl.”
Liliane cringed. “Stop that—”
“Do you honestly think I’d believe that story?”
Liliane clenched her fists. “It’s true!”
Mei smirked.
Celia, still innocent and oblivious, clapped her hands together. “It’s okay, Miss Lily! You don’t have to be embarrassed! You and Mr. Hunter are really close, huh?”
Liliane’s soul ascended.
“NO—”
Mei snapped her fingers, turning to Celia. “EXACTLY, CELIA.”
Liliane internally screamed.
Mei pointed at her dramatically. “I knew it. You two are totally doing something.”
Liliane flinched. “WE ARE NOT—”
Mei nodded to herself, smug as hell. “First, he takes you home, you wear his clothes. Now, he stays at your place, and he’s wearing yours.”
She made a show of waving her hand at Hollow.
“And you even put him in that.”
They all stared at the bunny shirt.
And the way-too-tight sweatpants.
Mei placed a hand over her mouth.
“…Oh my god.” She took a deep breath.
Then—
She started laughing.
Liliane’s face burned hotter. “IT’S NOT LIKE THAT!”
Mei wiped a fake tear from her eye. “No, no, it’s fine, babe. We don’t have to talk about it in front of Celia—”
Celia blinked, confused. “Talk about what?”
Liliane wanted to cease existing.
Mei turned back to them, arms crossed.
“Alright. Fine.” She grinned. “I’ll stop grilling you guys. For now.”
Liliane sagged in relief.
But then—
Mei whipped out her phone.
“Felix!” she sang, typing fast. “We’re going shopping, get your ass over here. Bring a pair of shorts for Hunter before I cry.”
Liliane snapped her head up. “WHAT?!”
Mei ignored her.
[Mei]: (Oh, and drive us. You have a car.)
[Felix]: (??? Why do you need me?)
[Mei]: (Because you and I are fixing these two disasters.)
Felix’s response came immediately.
[Felix]: (...Oh. Yeah. Okay, that makes sense.)
Mei grinned.
Liliane felt herself spiral. “MEI, STOP—”
Mei turned to Hollow, hands on her hips.
“Hunter, young sweet little sprout—”
Hollow blinked. “…What.”
“You desperately need fashion help. And so does Lily.”
Liliane gasped. “I dress fine!”
Mei rolled her eyes. “You both look like you got your wardrobes from a lost-and-found box.”
Felix’s next text popped up. As if he predicted the exchange while not being there.
[Felix]: (Tbh, she’s not wrong.)
Liliane wanted to SCREAM.
Celia giggled. “Shopping sounds fun!”
Mei clapped her hands. “Exactly! Let’s make a day out of it!”
Liliane buried her face in her hands.
Hollow, meanwhile, just sighed and muttered. “...Fine.”
Liliane turned to him, betrayed. “HOLLOW.”
Hollow, blankly: “You said to follow along.”
Liliane’s brain exploded.
Celia took note of the way Liliane called him.
Mei grinned while staring at her phone.
“PERFECT. Felix is on his way. Get ready, lovebirds.”
Liliane died inside.
