System Mission: Seduce the Final Boss [BL]-Chapter 18: What a throughout research

’I can’t believe it... I’m so close. So damn close to zero, to a neutral number!’

Blake barely registered how filthy he was, or the way Myles watched him at him openly.

They climbed the stairs in silence. By the time they reached the apartment door, Blake was already fishing his keys from his pocket.

"I’ll find you something dry to wear," he said, a hint of guilt slipping into his voice. "Sorry about... all that."

"Mmh."

The door clicked open. Blake stepped inside first, his eyes sweeping the room with quiet urgency. ’Did I leave anything out? Anything he shouldn’t see...?’

For a moment, nothing seemed out of place. He exhaled.

"Make yourself at home. Want something to drink?"

"No. I’m going to choose the games."

’Of course.’

Myles moved past him, heading straight for the cabinet, already scanning through the collection like he owned the place.

"Myles, I’m going to wash up and change. Just pick whatever you want."

"Okay."

Blake slipped away, closing the bathroom door behind him as a long breath finally left his chest.

Warm water rushed from the tap.

’What was I thinking... touching his face like that?’

A pause.

’And more importantly... am I actually stronger now?’

He tested it, one quick punch against the wall. The dull impact told him everything.

Same as before.

’Yeah. Thought so.’

He didn’t linger. A quick wash, clean clothes, and he was out again.

Myles stood in the middle of the living room, still and silent.

’This bastard is definitely snooping around for evidence to kill me...’

Without a word, Blake turned into his bedroom instead.

He rummaged through his closet. ’Nothing’s going to fit him... whatever. He’ll survive.’

He grabbed the largest shirt he owned and headed back out.

"Myles, I found something decent. Pants won’t work, they’re all too short."

"Thanks."

Myles took the shirt as he passed, already moving away.

"Huh? The bathroom’s—"

The door shut in Blake’s face.

’...Rude bastard.’

The second Myles disappeared, Blake sprang into action, scanning the apartment for anything out of place. A shifted object, an open drawer, anything.

Nothing.

Everything was exactly as he’d left it.

Well... almost. A small pile of games now sat by the cabinet.

’Mmh, maybe he didn’t touch anything after all?’

The bedroom door opened.

"I’m ready."

Blake looked up, and immediately burst out laughing.

"Pff, sorry, but that shirt is way too small on you."

"I don’t mind."

Myles was already putting his coat back on, unfazed.

"Let’s go."

***

The apartment was the same as last time.

’What a smell...’

It felt weird, kinda like medicine.

Myles didn’t say anything as he walked in.

Blake lingered near the doorway for a second, watching him. The place felt controlled, as always. Every surface clean, every object aligned just enough to look natural but not accidental.

"Sit," Myles said, already moving toward the kitchen.

Blake raised a brow. "Thanks..."

’Is he welcoming me or something? Suspicious, he didn’t do that properly last time I came.’

Blake dropped onto the couch anyway, stretching his arms. His eyes tracked Myles’ movements, precise, quiet, efficient.

Cupboards opened. Closed. Something clinked softly.

"You don’t need to feed me, don’t worry..." Blake called out.

"I made too much of it, you’re welcome."

"Ah, thanks."

Blake smiled faintly, but his gaze sharpened.

’He’s being too caring.’

Actually, that was the bare minimum, but his standards dropped significantly.

A plate was set down in front of him. It looked like chocolate cake.

’Not bad.’

He actually ate this kind of cake often.

"Eat," Myles said.

Blake didn’t hesitate. He was hungry enough not to care. He took a bite, then another, barely tasting it at first.

"...It tastes good," he muttered.

Myles sat across from him, watching.

Blake swallowed.

’Weirdo. Who stares at people like that while they’re eating?’

Then, a pause.

"...Huh."

The room didn’t move.

Not exactly.

It just... shifted.

Like something behind his eyes had slipped out of place.

Blake blinked hard.

’What...?’ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

His hand slowed mid-motion.

The edges of the room softened. Lines lost their sharpness. The air felt thicker, heavier, like breathing through something unseen.

"Myles, um..."

His voice came out quieter than he expected.

Myles didn’t answer, he was still watching.

"Let’s go my room."

[ Stabilizing Host... ]

That woke him up in a second.

"Yeah, sure. What games did you pick?"

"The one we played last time wasn’t interesting enough. I got one called Liar’s law."

"Oh...okay, I don’t remember the plot of that one, quite honestly."

Myles turned towards him, gently guiding Blake to his bed. "Sleep first, you look tired."

His thoughts started slipping between his fingers all over again.

[ !Warning! ]

[ !Host is losing consciousness! ]

’No. No, stay—’

The surface felt distant, like his hand wasn’t fully his anymore.

Just like before.

His heartbeat thudded in his ears. Slow. Loud.

Everything dimmed at the edges.

"...You..."

Myles pushed him onto the bed.

Or maybe he had already been lying down.

Blake couldn’t tell anymore.

The room narrowed.

Darkness crept in, it was not sudden nor violent. Just slow.

Like closing his eyes without meaning to.

’Stay awake. Stay awake, Dae-hyun...’

Everything slipped.

***

A sharp inhale.

Blake jolted upright.

Air rushed into his lungs like he’d been underwater.

"What the—?!"

His vision snapped into focus too quickly this time, sending a spike of dizziness through his skull. He grabbed at the sheets beneath him, grounding himself.

A bed.

It was not his, of course.

His heart slammed against his ribs.

He turned and, unexpectedly, Myles was sitting right beside him.

Calm.

Relaxed.

Scrolling through his phone like nothing had happened.

"You are awake. You didn’t sleep for long."

Blake stared at him.

Breathing uneven.

"...What."

His voice came out rough.

Myles didn’t look up immediately.

He became suddenly, sharply aware of Blake’s body, his skin, sticky, his clothes, wrinkled, the faint smell clinging to him.

He felt dirty.

But it barely registered.

Because Myles was looking at him now.

Openly.

Not hiding it. Not pretending.

Just... watching.

Blake’s pulse spiked.

"What happened to me?"

Myles tilted his head, keeping that same ordinary expression. "You just slept for around thirty minutes, nothing much happened."

Blake gulped, reaching for his phone.

Lo and behold, it was the truth.

But he knew.

’This crazy son of a bitch.’

He tightned his fist, biting the inside of his mouth.

’He definetly put something in that cake. Just, what did he do while I was asleep?’

"What is it?"

Blake turned his head. It was almost as if Myles discovered something new. And as if nothing wrong just happened.

[ Favorability: -1 → 0 ]

"Myles, next time, keep me awake."