He is my friend too

After having a pleasant meal, she found herself washing dishes in the kitchen. When she was washing the dishes, she felt a pair of familiar arms hug her from the back.

"My wife, are you alright?"

"Mmm

"Kiryu will be fine."

'He will be, won't he? I talked to my mother about Kiryu's condition before she took over the assembly. Mother told me that as long as she finds a way to break the connection, Kiryu will be okay.'

But the problem is she does not have a solution. Her thoughts broke off when she felt Haruka kiss her neckline and his hands tugging on her clothes.

Lila laughed shyly. "Uh, maybe we shouldn't."

"Right."

Hmmm, he is quick to stop these days. But, her gaze softened. She doesn't dislike it. In the past, whenever he stopped touching her, she would feel uneasy. But not anymore. Lila lightly kissed his cheek, and he sighed.

"Aren't you making this difficult? If you do such cute things, I will attack you."

"Nope, you won't. Kiryu is in the next room."

He brushed his forehead against hers. "Are you really alright? You look pale?"

"I'm okay."

Lila stopped herself from saying this was normal. Since Haruka went on training, she has been overworking herself the last two months. How many nights did she spend working on the plan to defeat Sophia rather than sleep?

If Haruka knew about it, Lila shuddered at the thought. Ever since they reunited, she hasn't seen his spartan side. But, if he finds out she has been neglecting her health to work, he will certainly get mad at her.

"Thank you for being kind to Kiryu." Lila swiftly changes the topic.

She didn't think Haruka would make a meal for Kiryu and talk to him normally.

"Of course, he is my friend too."

"Aha."

"What?"

"It's weird. You called Kiryu your friend."

"Aren't we, though?"

Lila's gaze softened. "Mm, that's true."

She felt content and very happy. After they finished washing the dishes, Haruka kissed her for a few minutes before pulling back. "Let's not leave Kiryu alone for too long."

For some reason, she isn't satisfied. He is being very careful with her. Although he touched her that time when they first returned to Japan, and the night before, he went on training, that was the only time. Since he returned from his training, he hasn't tried anything.

It is very weird; why is he being so careful with her?

Lila extended her hand out and tugged on his shirt. "Why?"

"What's wrong? Do you feel unwell after all?"

"Haruka, why aren't you touching me?"

"Sorry, are you feeling uneasy? It's not like that. I just want to be careful."

Be careful? But he was never like that before?

"Back then, Lila, I touched you a lot not because I was a pervert or anything, but because I wanted to fill the void in my heart. Even though you were right by my side, I felt uneasy and afraid. I was afraid you would return to him. I would always cut our serious conversations short. I would never let you finish your sentence."

"Ahem." Lila coughed and interjected. "Not a pervert? I don't know about that."

Haruka laughed. "Well, I won't deny that I liked touching you, and I have some very strange thoughts about you."

She stepped on his foot, but Haruka continued to laugh.

"Back then, I touched you all the time due to my insecurities and fears. Loads of people, no the people you care about misunderstood as a result. That's why I don't want to do that anymore. Each time I hold you in my arms, I want it to be special."

Is that why he only touched her that time they reconciled and the night before his departure? Indeed those would be memorable occasions, but it still makes her feel a bit weird. They spent so much time away from each other, and she missed his touches.

She thought it would be like before if they met again, but he has changed.

Is this a good change or not? Why does she feel so weird about this?

'I should be happy he isn't pouncing on me all the time now, and we can have a proper relationship. But it seems so weird.'

Haruka only did that stuff because of his anxiety, but for her, it was different. Whenever he held her, she felt wanted and loved. The own void she had in her heart vanished. But if she were to tell him this now after he resolved himself, it would surely trouble him.

Her thoughts broke off when she realized Haruka was looking directly at her.

"Wha-what?"

"So, shall we kiss?"

"Uh why so suddenly?"

"I mean, other than the obvious I love you, I thought it would set the mood. You want to do it, right?"

Lila felt her entire face heat up at his words; her cheeks felt like they were burning.

"W-we can't here, K-Kiryu is-"

"Well yeah, I know that's why I restrained myself. But I can't stand it if you misunderstand again or feel uneasy."

So Haruka already knew? Of course, he did. However, he used to act like he had nothing else but that in his mind.

"Unless you really don't want to? It doesn't have to be now; we can later."

"Y-you, your shameless."

"That's my line." Haruka cupped her cheeks. "Do you think I am saying this out of pity? You probably have no idea how much I have been restraining myself since I returned from training."

"That's not it."

"I love you, Lila, and I always want you. Do you not want me too?"

"Of course I want!" Lila exclaimed.

It took her a moment to realize what she had just said.

"If you want, you will have to wait until tonight."

Haruka lets go of her and heads back to the other room. Lila stood there frozen for a few minutes. This is no good, he truly isn't like how he was before—the Haruka who smiled brightly and called her a fairy upon their first meeting.

Their personalities really did merge. She never saw them as separate people from the very beginning. But. even she acknowledges that something is different now. After she calmed her beating heart, she returned to the room to see Haruka and Kiryu talking normally.

It is very strange, after all seeing them both like this.

"But since we are all gathered together. Do any of you two have any idea on how to break the connection?"

Haruka nodded. "There is something we could try. But Zane said it is too risky."

Haruka found something? Lila looked at him, amazed. Even her mother couldn't find a solution. Haruka caught her looking and laughed. "I worked hard for you, wife."

Mmm, he is working hard to get rid of his romantic rivals.