CHAPTER 25: 25: LOLO

"That’s good then, don’t cry. Your head will only hurt if you cry too much. I’m also not very good at comforting people, you see." Aria said, sounding a bit awkward.

She tried not to look the mute boy in the eye, admitting shyly that her social skills weren’t very good.

"But I can teach you, like I said earlier. Not now though, since I’m trying to settle down here. Soon, okay? And... what’s your name?" Aria explained, making sure not to forget to ask the boy’s name.

She didn’t want to just call him ’mute boy.’

Everyone deserved a name, and if he didn’t have one, she would give him one herself.

The sign language he used spelled out only two letters, repeated twice.

It seemed they were the only letters he knew from the English alphabet.

"L-O-L-O? Your name is Lolo?" Aria said slowly, making sure she got it right.

It was an unexpected name for a boy and very confusing to her.

In her original world, the word Lolo meant grandfather.

"Very well then. I’m Aria. I’m a Train Stationmaster, but you can just call me Aria. Nice to meet you, Lolo."

Aria gave a very formal greeting, smiling and offering her hand for a handshake.

Lolo saw her slender, fair hand and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

His right hand was infected, and his left hand was broken.

Noticing his hesitation, Aria gently took his wounded hand, the one that no longer hurt, and shook it gently.

After that, Aria began explaining everything to Lolo.

She told him about their next plan to go back to City C.

She also explained who she was as a Stationmaster without revealing she wasn’t from this world, what she was doing, and who the man they were with was.

Lolo listened quietly and attentively.

He prepared his own questions through gestures.

The fluff ball helped Aria understand.

It had been reduced to acting as a sign language translator.

Their conversation lasted only until the Male Lead returned.

By then, Aria had already fallen asleep, leaning against the wall next to Lolo, who was no longer covered or tied.

To someone who didn’t know that Lolo was no longer infected, Aria might have seemed like a foolish girl.

She appeared unafraid of becoming a zombie.

The sight made the Male Lead frown.

Caelan’s sudden appearance made

Lolo flinch and go on high alert, even though he already knew who the man was.

He was the one who had dared to pick him up and carry him.

Lolo knew it wasn’t out of concern, nor a desire to help a stranger.

It was purely for the sake of his master, Aria.

This person had acted only because of her request.

Lolo was mute, not deaf, and he had heard how much Aria had pleaded for his saving.

At that moment, when he saw them return, he told himself that in his next life he would protect this kind soul.

Even if he never had the chance to meet her.

Having been mistreated by men since he was young, Lolo was not very fond of males.

That was why, when Caelan moved to pick up Aria, Lolo blocked him with his hands and gave him a fierce look.

Caelan didn’t stop.

He only gave a cold look.

Lolo slowly withdrew his hand and silently stared back, refusing to back down.

It was as if he were saying that if Caelan dared to do anything, he would fight him.

Caelan ignored the mute boy, while knowing that something had changed in this person.

This made his frown deepen even more.

His differently colored eyes darkened as they landed on the careless, sleeping woman.

Who are you really... he wondered.

The next day, Aria woke up to the sounds of excessive movement.

She found herself on the bed, with only a vague memory of leaning against the wall.

Her eyes had grown so heavy last night that she hadn’t even noticed falling asleep.

Looking around, she realized the noise was being caused by Lolo and Caelan.

Lolo was already sitting in a wheelchair that the Male Lead had found while searching the whole villa.

It seemed the owner of this large mansion had an elder who usually used the wheelchair.

Lolo’s legs were much cleaner than the day before.

He was also dressed now, no longer naked, wearing a cute cartoon shirt and black pants.

"Oh... good morning, guys." Aria greeted, covering her mouth.

She really wasn’t used to speaking in the morning without brushing her teeth.

The thought worried her for a moment, but then she remembered the Male Lead had a bottle of water.

Aria would ask him for it later.

Turning her head toward the window as daylight tried to penetrate the room, she asked the male lead.

"Caelan, are we going now?"

Aria got out of bed, fixing her hair and straightening her sundress before walking over to Lolo for a closer look.

She found him looking much better and more comfortable now, despite the dark veins still visible on his pale hands and neck.

As long as the A-Virus stopped spreading, Lolo would not turn into one of the infected.

She also realized that Lolo had a small good-looking face.

"You’re so pretty." Aria mumbled softly.

The young one’s eyes moved slowly, and then he smiled.

"Let’s go." Caelan interrupted.

"Ah, yes! Let me push Lolo." Aria volunteered, genuinely wanting to do it.

She didn’t want to ask for the Male Lead’s help when he had already granted her so many requests.

Caelan let her be, giving only a silent look at Lolo before moving out first.

Aria thought she could handle it.

But after pushing for a while and reaching the grand stairs of the villa, she was already breathing heavily.

It made her question herself, wondering why she hadn’t realized just how weak her body really was.

It seemed she needed more exercise.

Caelan carried Lolo down the stairs with ease, and he also picked up the wheelchair without breaking a sweat.

Watching this series of actions, Aria once again admired how strong the Male Lead was.

She followed after him like a little tail, and together they all went back to the car.

Outside, Aria noticed many corpses of disfigured mutant monsters scattered around.

It seemed the Male Lead had worked last night, and he had done a good job.

Aria was just about to ask him about the mutant monsters when the Fluff Ball system suddenly made an announcement.

[System Notification: Congratulations, Host, for completing five passengers! Please see your reward...]