Reincarnated With A Glitched System: Why Is My MP Not Running Out?

Chapter 2154: Rejected Celeste

-----

Just as Celeste was pulled away from me for getting a little too touchy out of nowhere, Ruby finally revealed the truth behind her sudden, strange, and slightly reckless behavior. She did this right in front of my girlfriend, who could easily have put her in her place if she saw her trying to get any closer to me. (Aquarina did not really hurt her in the end. She is nice at heart.)

I had no idea that Ruby had already rejected Celeste. It still felt like the two of them had some real chemistry together. I always enjoyed watching them interact and grow closer as friends. I guess Ruby never saw Celeste in the same romantic way that Celeste saw her. I just hope this rejection did not ruin their friendship completely.

More importantly, though, Ruby was only interested in boys. I suppose it would take a really special guy to conquer her heart.

”Well, Iʼm glad that… uh, youʼre more open about stuff like this?” I asked carefully. ”I thought you liked girls too…”

”I do like girls, but not… the way Celeste or you do,” Ruby sighed while fidgeting shyly. ”Iʼve always liked hot guys, hahah… I-Itʼs just that theyʼre so damn rare here. Everyone is a gruffy, bearded dwarf… Handsome men are rare… Um, like Zack and Luck.”

”Oohhh, I see what you mean,” I nodded. ”What, you like them?”

”I-I know theyʼre both with girlfriends. I DONʼT like them like, like that. Iʼm just putting… um, a nice example? Theyʼre nice to look at!” Ruby said nervously, her face growing redder than usual.

”Hahaha, itʼs fine,” I said while gently patting her shoulders. ”Once we go to the academy, I bet there will be plenty of pretty guys for you to pick from and conquer!”

”E-Eh? You think some of them would even look at me?” she muttered quietly.

”For sure. Youʼre really pretty,” Aquarina nodded. Celeste stood just behind her. ”Theyʼll be lucky if you ever even look in their direction.”

”You two are way too nice…” Ruby said, still nervous. ”T-Thanks…!”

I looked back at Celeste and felt a wave of sympathy for her after learning about the rejection and her clear starvation for affection.

”Celeste, are you okay?” I asked while walking over to her side.

”I-Iʼm fine. Sorry,” she muttered. ”Um… I shouldnʼt have jumped on you like that.”

”Yeah…” I said gently. ”I thought you were the more serious and mature girl around here…”

”I am!” she insisted. ”I guess I just got… too happy. Iʼm glad youʼre awake, Sylphy. Sorry again.”

”Itʼs fine,” I said as I pulled her into a warm hug. ”Iʼm glad to see you again, bestie! Mooch.” I placed a soft kiss on her chin. ”Love you.”

”Uwaah?!” she gasped and blushed deeply. ”S-Sylphy! You really love me? Then letʼs smooch some more…” She leaned forward and pointed her lips toward me.

”N-Not that way!” I cried out.

Aquarina quickly reached out and grabbed Celesteʼs head with one hand, stopping her from getting any closer.

”Celeste…” Aquarina sighed. ”Sylphy just woke up. She still feels kind of weak, so cut it out…”

”Okay…” Celeste rolled her eyes. ”Geez, since when did you need a bodyguard, Sylphy?”

”Since never. I think I can deal with my problems on my own, Aquarina, so please donʼt be too overprotective… okay?” I begged her gently.

”…Fine. Iʼm just being careful,” Aquarina shrugged before finally letting go of Celesteʼs head.

I caught Celeste in my arms and let her rest against my chest. She blushed and closed her eyes as she hugged me tightly. I kissed her forehead softly.

”Itʼs okay. Iʼm sure youʼll find another girl one day,” I said while caressing her hair. ”After all, youʼre really pretty and a good person, right Celica?”

”Yeah!” Celica smiled. ”If anything, I would say her biggest flaw is getting attached too fast…”

Aquarina smiled as well. ”Itʼs because she never had friends.”

”I had!” Celeste fought back immediately.

As she spoke, I quickly recalled an old anecdote she had once shared about her past relationships.

”Didnʼt you once have a boyfriend and a girlfriend too?” I asked. ”I guess you can find a boy as well, right?”

”Ahh…” Celeste sighed heavily. ”It was brief, and ugh, I donʼt want to remember that…”

”Why?” Celica asked, butting into the conversation with open curiosity.

Celeste fell silent in an awkward way and lowered her head.

”Because I was two-timing both of them and… when they found out, they broke up with me and then they got together…”

”…”

”…”

”…”

We were left completely speechless.

We looked at one another. I noticed Aquarina making a strange face as she tried hard to contain her laughter.

But I really…

I really could not hold it in.

”Pfff… Hahahahah!” I burst out laughing.

”HAHAHAHAHAHA!” Seeing me lose control, Aquarina released all of her laughter at once.

”No way! WHAT?! Hahahaha!” Even Celica ended up laughing along with us.

Wow. That was truly insane.

”How can you laugh!” Celeste felt deeply hurt. ”I didnʼt say it so you could laugh at me… damn it!” She clenched her teeth, but she was unable to stop the rest of us from laughing.

In the end, we moved on from the topic and decided to regroup with our friends.

That did not stop Aquarina from telling the rest of the girls and the boys about what Celeste had just admitted, even though I tried hard to stop her.

”Wait, what?! That was a thing?!” Zack asked in disbelief. ”Hahah… Hahahah!”

”I-Iʼm so sorry for you, Celeste, but it feels like you kind of asked for it…” Lara giggled. ”Heheh… T-That was really funny though… You shouldnʼt cheat on people! Hahah…”

”Y-You never told us why you stopped meeting them, so thatʼs what happened?!” Mist gasped. ”Pff… hahah… Itʼs kind of funny…”

”Hahahahaha!” Luck laughed loudly without restraint.

Celeste lowered her head, feeling completely defeated and humiliated. I sighed and glared at Aquarina.

”You didnʼt need to go that far!”

-----