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The next morning, after they woke up, Leyla felt a sense of peace in Naru's presence, but at the same time, something new—something deeper. A tenderness toward him that she could no longer ignore. She wasn't sure what it all meant, but she knew she couldn't keep acting the way she had before. Naru had already shown her so many sides of himself, including the ones that weren't ideal, but those flaws only made his soul more complete and complex. Even though she tried to remain indifferent, her heart was softer than she wanted to admit.

She lay there, still resting her head on the pillow, eyes fixed on the ceiling in thought. Naru was beside her, propped up on his elbows, watching her with a smile she couldn't ignore.

"Lost in thought, princess?" he asked, his tone deliberately teasing.

"I'm trying to figure out what's happening to me," she replied with a half-smile, turning to face him. "And what's happening to us."

"Well, what do you think?" Naru raised an eyebrow, clearly aware of her feelings but enjoying watching her come to terms with them herself.

Leyla took a deep breath, fully aware of how complicated this situation was, but something inside her urged her to speak. "You know, all of this is messy. I'm here because of you, and you always drag me into the strangest situations. What's happening... all of this... I mean, I'm supposed to go back to where I came from. How... how do we even continue?"

Naru sat at the edge of the bed, silent for a moment, before standing up and moving to her side. His hand hovered near her face as he gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead.

"Don't worry, Leyla. When you let go, when you stop being afraid, you'll be above it all. Together, we can overcome anything. And if I have to guide you to every answer, I will. For you, and for us."

Leyla held his gaze, trying to understand how she could trust him, even without having all the answers. There were still barriers between them—him as a yokai prince, and her as a human. All those subconscious prejudices and insecurities suddenly felt very real and close. And yet, she refused to let them take control.

His understanding wasn't something she had asked for, but it was certainly comforting.

"I will never force you, Leyla," he said softly, as if making a vow. "We will make our decisions together. Let time work for us."

Gratitude—and, at the same time, sadness—washed over Leyla. She didn't know if believing in all of this was the right thing to do, but she no longer wanted to ignore the feelings that were beginning to surface. Thoughtfully, she looked at him, while he read every hidden thought in her eyes.

"Why do you care?" she whispered, as if the question was meant only for herself.

"Because you are special," he answered, looking at her calmly. "And because... you're not like the others. Your spirit, your heart..." He paused, simply gazing at her in silence. "My world is not simple. It's filled with danger and darkness, but you... you are light, Leyla."

Leyla had no words. It had been a long time since anyone had said something like that to her—people had always seen her as cold and rational. But Naru saw beyond that. His words passed through her, allowing her to open up. It was clear that, despite the differences in their worlds, one thing was certain: the two of them were becoming inseparable.

"Maybe I am falling for you, Naru," she admitted quietly. "Even though it's terrifying."

Naru simply tilted his head, smiling. "You'll fall for me even more than you think," he replied, as their hands gently found each other.