Scumbag Fate System-Chapter 77: Nighttime With Sirin (2)

Sirin led him to a side entrance that seemed less monitored.

The door was supposed to be locked but Sirin produced a key with practiced ease. They slipped inside as Reinhard ducking his head to avoid being spotted by anyone passing outside.

Thankfully, the hallway inside was empty. Soft carpet muffled their footsteps as Sirin guided him up two flights of stairs then down a corridor lined with numbered doors. Muffled conversations and laughter leaked from various rooms but no one emerged to catch them.

"Here," Sirin whispered while stopping at door 317. She unlocked it then practically pulled Reinhard inside before closing and locking it behind them.

Her room was larger than his. A proper desk sat by the window covered in books and research notes. The bed was neatly made with several pillows arranged precisely. A bookshelf dominated one wall with volumes organized by some system only Sirin understood. The space smelled faintly of jasmine tea.

"Make yourself comfortable," Sirin said while gesturing to the small sofa near her desk. "Want tea? I have jasmine and mint."

"Jasmine sounds good," Reinhard replied as he settled onto the bed.

Sirin began preparing tea with practiced motions. "You know, I never asked before. But did you really join because you find the distorting interesting? Or was it because of Rika?"

"It was both. But... I mainly did it because I accidently ran into Yor once and felt like there was something wrong with her."

Sirin nodded. "And I’m glad you notice. It allowed you to join us."

Reinhard nodded with a smile as Sirin brought over the tea and gave it to him. He began sipping his tea while she sat her tea down then shifted closer until their shoulders touched. "I’m glad you’re here, Reinhard."

The sincerity in her voice made his chest tighten. "I’m glad I’m here too."

They both enjoyed the taste of their tea while sitting in comfortable silence. The night outside grew darker while lamplight created shadows that danced across the walls. Reinhard found himself studying Sirin’s profile, how she seemed completely relaxed in a way he rarely saw during club meetings.

"Can I ask you something personal?"

Sirin turned to face him with a smile and said. "Of course."

"Why did you create the Resonance Club in the first place?"

She was quiet for a moment as her fingers tracing the rim of her teacup. "I wanted to understand anomalies. Things that don’t fit into normal categories. Yor was the first person I approached because her void power was the biggest anomaly I’d ever encountered."

"But it became more than research," Reinhard observed.

"It did," Sirin admitted with a small smile. "I thought I was just collecting interesting subjects to study. But somewhere along the way... They all became actual friends. People I care about rather than just research material."

"Oh? I thought you recruited them because they were weird." Reinhard said with a faint smile.

"In a way... I suppose I did?" She laughed softly at herself. "Truth be told... I wasn’t very focused on trying to be their friend at the start. I simply saw that they could be helpful and had them join."

"But that changed."

"It did. You could say it was with the help of Alice and Louis with their antics-"

"But?" Reinhard interjects with a faint smile.

"You could say I also wanted to enjoy my academy life... So I took a break from my research and simply had fun with them."

"And I can already say it’s worth it." Reinhard said with a chuckle.

"It’s..." Sirin’s expression softens. "Do you know how the Resonance Club got started?"

Reinhard shook his head.

"It was created by a person who loved anomalies." She said simply.

"Like the Void Distortions?"

"And Fiends. The founder had a Sigil that allowed her to see patterns and connections that others miss. But it also meant that she processes the world differently than most people."

"So it was a different perspective." Reimhard tilted his head while gently rubbing Sirin’s hands.

"Yes. What she saw was streams of information and inconsistencies that no one else cared about." Her expression softens. "She believed that anomalies were simply mistakes that could be fixed. If the right people could come together and create a solution."

Reinhard slowly nodded and said. "And you took up her cause after becoming a member?"

Sirin giggled. "She had inspired me back when I was a child... And I feel like doing this is a way to repay her."

"I’m sure she would feel happy and proud of you." Reinhard leaned in and whispered softly. "Not only have you recruited members that can interact with the Void Distortion. But you have done an amazing job leading us in creating miracles."

Sirin trembled before saying. "I didn’t-"

"But you did. Sure you weren’t there but you laid the groundwork in creating an environment where we could all come together." Reinhard then paused before smiling. "And is the one who always tried to create a situation where we can connect more with each other. That isn’t a easy thing to do, it’s something I’m sure others love as well." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Sirin’s breath caught slightly as color rose to her cheeks. "You’re dangerous, you know that?"

"How so?"

"You say things that make people feel seen." She explained with a slight tremor in her voice. "Really seen and not just looked at."

The space between them felt charged with something unspoken. Reinhard found himself leaning slightly closer without consciously deciding to. Sirin’s eyes dropped to his lips for just a fraction of a second before meeting his gaze again.

"Reinhard," she whispered. "I should probably tell you that I—"

A soft chime interrupted her as a communication crystal on her desk glowed blue. Both of them jumped slightly at the sudden intrusion.

Sirin pulled away with clear reluctance then moved to check the crystal. Her expression shifted from frustrated to relieved as she read the message.

"It’s from Victoria." She said with a sigh of relief. "They encountered some trouble on the road but handled it. Everyone’s safe. They’re staying overnight at an inn and will continue to the first family’s home tomorrow morning."

Reinhard nodded. "That’s good. I was worried something might happen."

"Victoria’s an Ascendant and Professor Chen is close to being one last I heard." Sirin reminded him as she returned to the bed. "It would take an entire country to pose a real threat to them."

But she didn’t sit as close this time. The intimate moment had been broken and some invisible barrier had gone back up.

"What were you going to say?" Reinhard asked. "Before the crystal interrupted?"

Sirin’s cheeks flushed again. "I... it can wait. It’s getting late anyway. You should probably head back before the night patrol notices you’re in the female dorm."

"Oh?" Reinhard smiled before leaning closer. "Is that really it?"