Part 3The World Didn't Know He Was Just a Stand-In

Whether I agreed or not.

Nathaniel forcefully moved into my house.

During that time, I called the police, but Nathaniel actually produced a legally binding guardianship document, signed by my parents, completely shutting me up.

I gave up and started treating him like he was invisible.

We had a two-bedroom apartment. I had one room, and Grandma had the other.

Now he moved into Grandma's room, and he really started acting the part, preparing three meals a day and taking care of the daily cleaning.

A free maid? Why not.

Once I figured that out, I accepted it with peace of mind.

Except one thing was really annoying.

He nagged me to come home every day after school. No matter which shady internet cafe I hid in, he would always catch me red-handed.

As soon as I got home, he checked my homework. If I said I didn't understand, he would actually sit by my side and explain it to me.

Whatever I didn't understand, he could teach.

[Nathaniel Hale, tell me the truth...]

Caught and dragged home yet again, I couldn't help but ask:

[Did you get bound to some mission system? If I get into college, do you get points or wealth? Or get cured of a terminal illness?]

Nathaniel flicked my forehead.

[Going to college is for yourself.]

[Why go to college?]

I rubbed my forehead, complaining: [I don't even want them to come back...]

[Do you really not want them to come back?]

Nathaniel interrupted me, looking at me with a very serious tone:

[Don't you want to prove to them that even if you're all alone, you can become excellent?!]

My fingertips curled, and my heart surged slightly.

He had a tiny teardrop mole at the corner of his eye.

I looked into his eyes; they seemed to hold a galaxy, shining so brightly...