When Sebi got back to the dorm, he quickly changed into a fresh set of clothing before going out to look for Necomir. They still had thirty minutes before dinner, so since he was free, he thought of just going off to pick him up.
After a quick exchange of texts, Sebi went off to make his way to Necomir’s mech lab, where he was finishing up on a project that was due tomorrow. It would be his first time seeing him within a learning environment related to his major, so he was looking forward to it a bit.
A Necomir busy with work was one of Sebi’s favorite sights back in his past life.
As a loyal best friend, Sebi would always increase his efforts when Necomir was busy with a project. He was always heavily invested and self-destructive during times like this, not allowing himself to break concentration to the point that he’d deprive himself of sustenance.
That’s where Sebi comes in. After his classes, he would go with Necomir and accompany him, making sure he ate properly and took care of himself. Anyone else would annoy him, but Necomir couldn’t get angry at Sebi no matter how annoying he thought he’d be.
The Necomir of this universe seemed responsible enough, so Sebi probably didn’t have to worry.
The mech lab was quite far and probably took more than five minutes to walk, but taking the chute reduced the travel time by a lot.
Using his ID card, Sebi entered the mech lab and found Necomir crouched over a rectangular machine in the middle of the room, surrounded by all sorts of mechatronics and robot aids. He wore a white lab coat, with mecha gloves and an eye protector.
“Oh, Sebi,” Necomir spoke without looking up once he heard him enter. “Sorry, let me just finish this up before we go.”
“Don’t worry, take your time,” Sebi said as he walked over with a few fast strides, curiously looking over what he was busy with as he pushed himself up to sit on top of a table.
After staring for a while, he asked, “Hey Neco, what are you doing?”
Necomir made a little groaning sound as he straightened up and stretched his back. There were even little cracking sounds of bones. “It’s a quick 3D weaver for space protective gear complete with functionality features. It’s a project for one of my major subjects. It’s already done, I’m just dealing with the superficial parts and a bit of calibration.”
Sebi nodded, showing that he understood him. “You really suit this, Neco.”
Necomir chuckled as finally looked over to Sebi. He suddenly made a face and said, “Is that your old wireless earphones?”
Sebi had been wearing his earphones to listen to the playlists Light had sent him on his way here, and he’d only muted them when he came so they were still lodged in his ears.
“I saw them in my drawer, they seem fine,” Sebi said.
“Just because they are fine doesn’t mean you don’t deserve an upgraded version,” Necomir grinned as he finished up what he was doing before taking off his eye protector and headed to a smaller machine on another table just across where Sebi was seated.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“What are you doing?” Sebi wondered, leaning over to perch his chin on Necomir’s shoulder to see what he was doing.
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“Ktlr bcf kbc’a ufa ibra fjrlis, atfs jaajmt ab sbeg fjgr yfmjerf bo atf wjucfa ogbw fjmt fjgqtbcf atja jaagjmar atfw abufatfg,” Rfmbwlg qlcmtfv atf tbibugjw ab hbbw lc. “Ktfs jgf jirb tjcvs jujlcra afifqjatr yfmjerf atfs gjvljaf jc jcal-wlcv mbcagbi obgmf olfiv. Cirb kjafgqgbbo, rtbmxqgbbo, jcv mjc jirb vb abaji cblrf mjcmfiijalbc.”
“Thank you, Neco,” Sebi sweetly said, his heart completely mush from the thought of Necomir actually taking the time to make him something like this.
“It’s nothing…” Necomir mumbled, his heart feeling a bit itchy from the sickeningly affectionate tone that Sebi used right next to his ear. “Don’t want Misharu Tsai to have too much fun with you.”
He didn’t intend it, but some feelings of dissatisfaction could be felt in his tone, displaying Necomir’s real feelings about Misharu and Sebi’s little feud.
“Are you jealous?” Sebi wondered, poking Necomir’s side.
“Why would I?” he mumbled in an apathetic tone so he wouldn’t let any more emotion show, simply busying himself with the new earphones.
“Don’t be jealous, Misharu is just my appetizer,” Sebi coaxed him. “I’m just going to have fun with him before I go to meet you in the Hexagon. Don’t you think clashing with others first will help me match with your level faster?”
Necomir shrugged, still pretending that it didn’t mean anything to him. “I really don’t care…”
“You’re still the best,” Sebi continued.
“Mn…”
“No one’s better than you,” Sebi added, wanting to circle his arms around Necomir’s waist, but he knew that would be too much. “You’re amazing. You’re–”
“Alright,” Necomir suddenly turned around to face Sebi.
Both of them went rigid for a moment.
They were so close that Sebi could feel Necomir’s hot breath, and he could see his reflection in his beautiful golden eyes. His features were magnified like this, and Sebi could get a clear view of his sharp features on his handsome face.
The way Necomir was staring at him… really made Sebi’s knees feel weak.
Suddenly, Necomir moved to place the new earphones into his ears.
“How is it? Does it fit nicely?” he said, still not leaning away as he rested his hands on the table, on the spots next to Sebi’s thighs. Necomir initially felt that this proximity was suffocating, but he subconsciously wanted to be close to the other man.
Like a moth to a flame.
Without even realizing it, Necomir’s aversion from skin contact and affection suddenly shattered, solely for the person right in front of him.
Sebi liked how warm Necomir’s hands were against his cheeks as he moved to put the earphones on. When he took them away, he almost felt a bit disappointed. But the earphones were warm as well, both from being manufactured just a while ago and from the thought that this was something Necomir made for him.
“They’re good,” Sebi nodded in appreciation.
“You’ll use that from now on,” Necomir said, eyes a bit hooded as he stared at him with intensity.
Sebi looked away, suddenly feeling a bit weak and unable to look at him.
“I’ll take good care of it,” he said.
“Great, so I’ll take this one,” Necomir smiled as he suddenly took the old earphones.
“Why?!” Sebi whined as he reached over, but Necomir raised his arm, making the earphones out of his reach.
“Isn’t it fitting?” Necomir teased as he placed a hand on Sebi’s waist to keep him from moving around. “Give this to me as payment for my service.”
“You don’t cherish me at all, I thought it was a sentimental gift,” Sebi pouted glumly.
“There’s no such thing as free lunch,” Necomir declared teasingly.
Sebi wasn’t willing to give up though, since he was greedy and wanted to keep both earphones.
But his efforts just dug him a pit.
He suddenly reached forward again when he saw Necomir slip the pair into his jean pocket. But of course, don’t even mention his ability, Necomir was already quite agile on his own. He pulled his hand away from Sebi’s reach again as he leaned forward to block him, causing the smaller man to almost get a heart attack from nearly slamming into him and accidentally do unspeakable skin contact.
“Don’t be naughty,” Necomir chided him.
“You’re the one bullying me,” Sebi grumbled, feeling very wronged.
“Come on, let’s think of it as an exchange gift,” Necomir continued to convince him. “You’ll treasure the earphones I made for you, and I’ll treasure the ones you gave to me. We’re equal.”
Sebi narrowed his eyes at him as he thought about it deeply.
“Seems fair,” he finally decided.
Necomir smiled triumphantly.
“I suddenly do not have the appetite to eat dinner anymore.”
Like both of them had been electrocuted back to their senses, Sebi and Necomir quickly placed a distance between them upon hearing a third voice. When they looked at the source, they found Chunmi smirking at them smugly, like she had found a little dirty secret of theirs.
“Chunmi!” Sebi called out to her with a little crack of his voice as he walked over to Chunmi, feeling incredibly embarrassed but wanted to hide it by acting as if nothing had happened. “You came! Let’s go eat dinner?”
“I think I’d rather–”
“Neco, I’m hungry!” Sebi cut her off in an attempt not to hear anything embarrassing from her.
“Mn, let’s go.”
Sebi got out of the door first, breathing in and out to settle his emotions while waiting for Necomir and Chunmi.
Meanwhile, when Necomir went up to follow Chunmi out of the door, they both exchanged stony expressions.
“You’re pathetic,” Chunmi blurted out.
“None of your business,” Necomir offhandedly said, his ears still a bit red as they joined Sebi and headed for dinner.
Author’s Notes:
Finally making progress with the romance… I’m so excited for the future of this couple 
Thank you for feeding us! This chapter was a nice surprise, so much skinship☺
Thanks!☺️
so cute! They are the absolute cutest!
Thanks for the chapter! <3
That was adorable. Im glad there is some progress with their relationship.
Thanks for the chapter!
hmmmmm i wonder when he thought to add that feature. surely not while sebi was recovering from that attack huh? ;Dchunmi doesnt want to be a third wheel lmaothanks for the chapter!
idk why it made keyboard smash i was trying to quote text for commentary purposes which is fair use QAQ
that was supposed to say “they also radiate an anti-mind control field which is good protection against telepaths” or something like that
this is so freakin’ sweeeeeeeeeeeet!!! and i’m so glad they are progressing ah :> hahahaha thank u for the chapter~
I thought Sebi said he liked being bullied by Neco 😏🤣