Chapter 13 If You Believe Hard Enough

She placed her palm over her torn blouse and focused. The fabric threads wiggled and wove back like living things, stitching themselves. Within seconds, her uniform looked brand new, not a single rip or wrinkle remained.

"Good as new! Restoration magic for the win!"

"Okay, done!" she called out cheerfully. "You can turn around now~"

"Are you… certain, Molly?"

"Leon. I'm dressed. Promise. No more surprise views tonight."

He turned cautiously, like a man expecting an ambush. "Right. Well. It's… it's quite late. The library will close soon. We should… we should go to our rooms. Call it a night."

Molly tilted her head, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Awww, leaving so soon? Gonna run away from the scary demon girl? Will you be able to sleep tonight, Leon? After everything you saw?"

"Please don't tease me. Anyway… I will need time to think about what you said. About… everything. See you soon."

And then he turned and walked out of the library, leaving Molly standing alone.

"…He's so handsome when he's flustered. He's also so handsome when he's serious. He's just so handsome, okay?"

She hugged herself, a dreamy sigh escaping her.

"Kyaaa! He said he'd think about it. That's not a no. That's a 'maybe.' And 'maybe' is basically 'yes' if you believe hard enough!"

She floated out of the library on a cloud of giddy hope, navigating the academy corridors by pure instinct. Her dorm room door appeared before her just as the clock tower struck curfew.

She slipped inside, closed the door, and stare at the ceiling with a massive, goofy grin.

Standing near the window, fresh from the bathroom in cozy sleepwear with a towel draped over her braids, was Ellie Vance. The studious girl from her class. Second place who got score 95.

And on the bed to the left, sitting upright with a book in his hands was Cedric. Her favorite teasing target. Her desk buddy.

"…Wait. WAIT! This is my room. They are IN my room. In SLEEP clothes. In BEDS! That means! WE ARE ROOMIES! Yay!"

Ellie smiled politely, oblivious to Molly's internal explosion. "Oh, good, you're back! We were wondering when you'd show up. I'm Ellie, by the way, we're in the same class. I sit two rows in front of you."

Molly finally found her voice. It came out slightly strangled.

"Ahhh… top three of the class… in the same room… Haha! What are the odds!"

Cedric closed his book with a sharp snap.

"It's probably Hemsley's doing. I called him out on the entrance evaluation doubts. Publicly. In front of everyone. So, he puts me in a dorm with two girls when it's normally two males and two females. This is punishment. Pure, petty, administrative punishment."

Ellie, who had been quietly braiding her hair by the window, looked up with a gentle smile.

"Oh, I don't mind it, actually." She glanced at Cedric, then at Molly. "This is kind of… better for me? I'm not great around men I don't know. At least here I can get used to one at a time."

Molly, meanwhile, had been standing frozen in the doorway. But slowly, very slowly, a different kind of sparkle entered her eyes. Her lips curled into a grin that was equal parts demonic mischief and gyaru delight.

"Wait. Wait, wait, wait. I'm rooming with them. Like, every day. Every night. Morning. Evening. Study time. BEDTIME! Cedric is literally sleeping in the same room as me. And Ellie seems super sweet and innocent and totally ripe for… friendship. And maybe a LITTLE bit of something spicier. This isn't a disaster. This is a PLAYGROUND!"

She clasped her hands together, her earlier elation melting into pure, unhinged glee.

"Oh my gosh, you guys! This is gonna be SO much fun! I'm like, TOTALLY looking forward to living with you both!"

Cedric narrowed his eyes, immediately suspicious. "Why do you sound like a predator who just found a flock of sheep?"

Molly gasped in mock offense. "Me? A predator? Cedric, I'm hurt! I'm just a simple, cute, friendly gyaru who wants to get along with her new roomies!"

She bounced over to her bunk, the bottom near the window and flopped onto it dramatically, staring up at the underside of Ellie's bed.

"Ooh, we can have study parties! And snack parties! And late-night gossip sessions! And I can do your makeup, Ellie, you'd look SO cute with a little shimmer—"

"I'm sorry... I don't wear makeup." 

"Yet! You don't wear makeup YET!"

Cedric pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's been five minutes past curfew; we should go sleep."

Molly just grinned up at the ceiling, already mentally cataloging all the ways she was going to make dorm life absolutely delightful for her new roommates.

"Cedric's reactions are gonna be GOLD! Ellie's so sweet! I bet I can get her to smile more. And Leon is out there somewhere thinking about dating me. Life is GOOD!"

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Later that night.

One moment, the room was quiet, the next moment, a massive CRACK of thunder shook the windows, and the sky opened up in a roaring deluge.

Molly sat up from her sleep, startled. "Whoa! That came out of nowhere! You just look at that rain."

"Eep!"

The tiny sound came from across the room. Molly looked over to see Ellie frozen mid-step, her notebook clutched to her chest. Her face had gone pale; eyes wide with panic.

Another thunderclap boomed overhead.

Ellie flinched so hard she dropped her notebook.

Cedric woke up next, "What? Don't tell me she is afraid of thunder. Of course. One of top student, terrified of weather. Ignore it. Not your problem."

Ellie's breathing was getting faster. She looked around desperately, at Cedric's stiff, unapproachable back, at Molly's warm, inviting bunk.

"M-Molly? Can I… would it be okay if I…"

Molly scooted over, patting the space beside her with a warm smile.

"Come here, girl. I got you. Get in."

Ellie didn't need to be told twice. She scrambled across the room and practically dove into Molly's bed, pulling the covers up to her chin as another thunderclap rattled the windows.

"I'm sorry. I know it's stupid. I just... ever since I was little—"

"Not stupid at all," Molly said softly, wrapping an arm around Elara's shoulders and pulling her close. "Thunder is scary. It's loud and mean and comes out of nowhere."

Ellie tensed at the touch for a moment, then melted into it, pressing her face against Molly's chest. She was warm. Soft. And she smelled like vanilla and something sweet.

"Awwww. Poor thing. She's trembling. She's also really soft. Like, crazy soft. And she smells nice. Wait, is this a yuri moment? Am I in a yuri moment right now? I mean, I'm strictly team Leon, but like… a girl can appreciate, right? I'm a demon, a bad girl! I can do whatever I want!"

Another thunderclap. Ellie whimpered, burrowing deeper into Molly's chest. Her arm wrapped around Molly's waist, holding on tight.

Molly found herself stroking Ellie's hair without thinking. It was silky and still slightly damp from her shower. Very pleasant.

"Shhh, it's okay. I've got you. The thunder can't get you in here."

 "Thank you for having me. This helps a lot. You're really warm."

 "I mean, yeah! You can use me as your personal hug pillow. I'm a very cozy thing."

Ellie smiled, then snuggled closer, her head now resting on Molly's chest. Molly could feel her heartbeat, fast from fear but slowly calming.

"Okay, this is nice. This is really nice. Girl snuggles are nice. Her head is on my boobs though. The same boobs Leon saw earlier today. Ahhh... this is nice, but I wish it was Leon's face rubbing glitter of my chest."

From across the room come a quiet voice.

"…Are you two done?"

Cedric was on his bed, still facing away, ears bright red. He had definitely not looked away fast enough when Ellie climbed into Molly's bed.

Molly grinned, her mischievous side surfacing even in this tender moment.

"Jealous, Cedric? You could join us~ Plenty of room in the cuddle pile~"

"I AM NOT JEALOUS." "Well, maybe a little."

"You're totally blushing."

"I AM NOT."

Elara giggled softly against Molly's chest, a tiny, relieved sound that meant the fear was fading. She tilted her head just enough to look toward Cedric's stiff back.

"He's definitely blushing, Molly." 

"HEY, HEY! I CAN HEAR YOU BOTH!"

Molly and Ellie exchanged glances, then burst into quiet, stifled laughter, pressing their faces into pillows to muffle the sound.

Another thunderclap rumbled outside, softer now, the storm beginning to pass. Ellie didn't flinch this time. She just snuggled deeper into Molly's warmth.

"Hey, this is nice. Really nice. I came here to seduce a hero, and instead I got a scared kitten roommate who cuddles. I'm not mad about it. Not mad at all."

She glanced toward Cedric's bed. 

"And a tsundere class president who definitely would watch us have some girly fun than he'll admit."