Chapter 03: One, Two, Three... Where will I find you?

The fire in the small campfire had burned itself out completely, leaving behind only a trail of dying embers. Still, I was staring into space, trapped in a sea of thoughts from which I could not escape. I knew well what my mistake had been… but I had no idea how to fix it.

—Novara… I ruined everything… —I muttered as quietly as I could, as if admitting it out loud made it more real.

Silence stretched between us, broken only by the whisper of the wind and the slow breathing of the person next to me.

His body shrank slightly as the heat from the campfire disappeared completely, an instinctive reflex to the cold that dominated the environment.

That small movement was enough to clear my mind of the guilt that was eating away at me.

—"The immortal's soul was fragmented," huh? —I whispered to myself.

I took off my jacket, or what was left of it, and carefully placed it over her shivering body. At least this way I could offer her some warmth.

—And now… —I muttered, dropping to the ground next to her—. How am I supposed to repair your soul…?

I looked up at the night sky. The moon seemed to be watching me silently, indifferent to my problems. Slowly, my eyelids began to close.

** *** **

I'd like to say I had nightmares about that crazy day... but I didn't. I should thank God for that, right?

When I finally began to open my eyes, the first thing I saw was a small, delicate back, framed by beautiful black hair that swayed gently with her calm breathing.

How pretty, don't you think?

Needless to say, I closed my eyes again.

—D... Dyr… —a soft voice called me with some shyness.

I felt a slight movement beside me, a clumsy but careful attempt to get up.

I slowly opened my eyes, unconsciously hoping to see that beautiful figure again. And I was right.

This time, her face was in front of mine, looking directly at me as my arm gently wrapped around her.

—Oh… Good morning… —I murmured in a sleepy voice— Are you cold?

Only then did I notice that I was still wearing my jacket.

—Not much… —she whispered softly.

He paused before adding, with the same shyness as before:

—Can you let me up…?

"Sure…" I carefully slid my arm out of her grasp before turning my gaze to the blue sky. The clouds drifted lazily by, oblivious to everything that had happened. I sighed lightly. "How are you feeling?"

He sat next to me, without moving too far away.

—Sad… I guess. I don't know how I should feel…

His voice sounded flat, as if he didn't even have the energy to decide on a specific emotion.

"Does it hurt in your chest?" I asked calmly. "Do you feel like remembering it makes breathing hard? As if your tears weren't enough to say goodbye…"

I spoke more to myself than to her, but deep down, I expected her to say yes. Maybe I wanted to see a shred of humanity in her expression… or maybe I just didn't want to cry alone.

—It's like a part of me has disappeared... —he murmured after a brief silence—. I never thought about that day, I always said: "My father is like a weed."

I turned my face slightly to look at her.

-Because you said so?

He let out a small, mocking sigh.

—The bastard never dies… —his lips curved into a light smile as he looked down at his feet.

A sound escaped my mouth, a warning of the laughter to come. And then, unable to help myself, I let out a loud laugh.

—What a coincidence! I was thinking the same thing! Damn Novara… so predictable.

She let out a soft, almost suppressed laugh.

—I guess that's true…

The wind blew softly, carrying our voices through the air, taking away some of the weight of that conversation.

---

Once the laughter faded, still with a smile on my face, I turned my head towards her.

—Hey, I didn't know how to tell you this, but… I like you. —I paused briefly before adding matter-of-factly— Although that's not what I meant, let's just say it's an addendum.

She looked at me with slight confusion, tilting her head.

—Well… thank you? —he replied with some doubt.

—Oh, right, what was I up to? —I snapped my fingers at the memory—. Your father gave me the responsibility of taking care of you.

—I hope I don't give you any trouble… —he murmured, still without looking away.

I frowned in mock indignation before clearing my throat.

—Hey... You shouldn't say something like... —I raised my voice in an attempt to imitate her—: "WHAT?! WHY DID MY DADDY LEAVE ME IN CHARGE OF A HORRIBLE TRAMP?!".

I struck a dramatic pose, bringing a hand to my chest.

—Then you would hit me and scream: "Die! Don't follow me, you pervert!" and I would refuse, following you from the shadows… Or something like that.

She blinked a few times before letting out a sigh.

"I don't think so," she replied calmly. "My 'daddy' had already mentioned something like that to me. At the time, I refused, but after what happened yesterday... I would like to ask for your help."

I gave a confident thumbs up.

—Take it for granted!

Then I lowered my voice to almost a whisper.

—I will give my life for you… until you can rest in peace.

Silence fell between us for a moment, until his voice broke it with a lighter tone.

—And for the other thing… you're not horrible.

I smiled with satisfaction.

—Thank you, I'm beautiful, I know it.

—But you smell bad…

-…Sorry?

I looked away from the sky to look at her.

—A bath wouldn't hurt you. Seriously, nothing... NOTHING... NOTHING WRONG.

The emphasis on each word made him let out a slight growl.

—Oh, great… Now I'm a smelly bum.

She just looked at me with an innocent smile, as if I had told the most obvious truth in the world.

I frowned, looking confused and somewhat displeased.

—I'll pretend I didn't hear you... Rude!

"Oh!" she let out a gasp of surprise before her eyes went wide. "HOW THE HELL COULD YOU BEAT THAT LYE GUY?!"

His scream echoed through the air, completely outraged.

I sat up abruptly, glaring at her.

—AND NOW YOU ASK?! —I retorted in the same volume—. You just told me I suck! I have a better one… WHAT DID THAT BASTARD WANT FROM YOU?!

—AND WHAT DO I KNOW?! —Raising his hands, he shook his head in frustration. —He said he wanted something from a certain "Immortal."

I let out a long sigh, running a hand over my face.

—Wait… Are you telling me that Novara commissioned you to me, but didn't tell you anything about the Immortal?

She crossed her arms, visibly upset.

"I'm not interested in my father's made-up stories!" she shouted, her cheeks slightly flushed.

I stood up abruptly and leaned over to her, claiming her properly.

—But I told you that story too!

Her face went from slightly flushed to completely red, like a tomato.

—SHUT UP! —She covered her ears like a little girl—. It's your fault for not summarizing it in two sentences or less! I don't understand what that Immortal guy has to do with it!

I let out a small cry of disbelief before pointing at myself dramatically.

—Listen carefully! Dyr + Immortal's flesh = Super-strong and handsome Dyr. Bastard ÷ Super-strong Dyr = fight. The end!

—Don't treat me like a fool!

—In my opinion, you are right now!

Her cheeks puffed out with rage, and her eyes began to fill with small tears.

—I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR STUPID FIGHT! —he suddenly blurted out—. I ONLY REMEMBER SEEING YOU ARRIVE AND YOU CRYING NEXT TO ME!

My anger evaporated instantly, replaced by an uncomfortable feeling of guilt.

_…That's true. I've been tormenting myself so much that now I'm scolding her for something she doesn't even know about._

I approached carefully and, without saying anything, began to gently wipe away her tears.

—I'm sorry… I got carried away. —I kept my voice low, as if the words were more for me than for her—. How to put it…? The stories of Novara are the most important thing to me. That's why I reacted like that…

Once I finished wiping away her tears, I stared at her in silence for a moment.

—Can I tell you something nice…?

Her eyes still shone with traces of sadness, but her expression showed more confusion than anything else.

—You are too beautiful to cry.

He immediately pushed me hard, puffing out his cheeks again.

—I KNOW THAT! —he growled before crossing his arms—. SORRY FOR NOT BEING THAT CLOSE TO MY FATHER!

The atmosphere remained tensely balanced between anger, frustration and something else that was harder to describe. But at least she wasn't crying anymore.

-I did not mean that…

I tried to apologize, but before I could react, something grabbed me roughly by the back of the neck. An instant later, my face was slammed into the ground with overwhelming force.

The pain was immediate.

Heavy breathing echoed beside me.

—Ask for forgiveness on your knees, you bastard!

The voice, full of fury and contempt, echoed in my ears.

My head was abruptly lifted off the ground, and then, my face covered in dust and blood was shown in front of her. Her eyes, wide open, reflected pure horror.

—Repeat after me.

Before I could even process the command, my face was slammed into the ground again. The impact left me dazed, and the world seemed to shake around me.

-Sorry…!

Again my head was lifted, only to be smashed back down violently.

-By…!

Again.

-Be…!

The ground was stained red.

-So…!

The force with which I was hit made my vision blur.

-Damned…!

Each word was accompanied by a heart-breaking impact.

-IDIOT!

The last blow was stronger than the previous ones, and for a moment, everything seemed to stop. Blood dripped from my face, and the dull sound of my breathing mixed with the echo of the attack.

My head was lifted once again, but this time it wasn't against the ground.

—DID YOU LIKE MY APOLOGIES, MISS?!

The voice echoed with a mixture of sadism and mockery. A few steps away, her expression said it all. She wanted to scream, she wanted to run… but fear had her completely paralyzed.

—A building falls on you and you carry on as if nothing happened… —The tone suddenly became lower, almost intrigued—. So, miss… what happened here?

Fear gripped her in place, but my strength had not yet run out.

I barely lifted my face, straining my vocal cords until they hurt.

—GET OUT OF HERE!

The scream rent the air, but it didn't seem to affect the person above me. Instead, a rough sole landed on my head, pressing down with threatening force.

—Listen to the brat. —A low, amused laugh—. Go~away.

She shook her head in every direction, unable to move naturally. Terror held her rigid, her breathing erratic, and though her legs seemed to respond, they stumbled with every step.

—Run~ run~ I'm coming… for… YOU!

The pressure in my skull increased for an instant before the weight disappeared. A second later, my body was used as momentum for him to launch himself in her direction.

The thunder of their footsteps intensified with each second, drawing closer to their prey.

She desperately searched for somewhere to hide. Or at least, she would have liked to. Her mind clouded by fear did not allow her to think clearly. With the sound of the chase ringing in her ears, the only thing she could do was hide behind the remains of a destroyed wall.

—One… two… three… Where will I find you?

The crooning voice filled the air, playful and mocking.

—One… two… three… Where will I find you?

The sound of footsteps came dangerously close. The shadow of that monster peeked out from the side of its hiding place… but passed by.

I wanted to play a little more.

—Here… you… are… not…

The silence was more terrifying than any words.

The sobs were impossible to contain. She covered her mouth with both hands, closing her eyes tightly, wishing it was all just a nightmare.

-Three…

The tears fell uncontrollably, and the crying, although muffled, was evident.

—I found you.

The wall was suddenly lifted, revealing her hiding place. In front of her, a grin from ear to ear watched her with disturbing satisfaction.

As if reliving a memory from the past, my body reacted before I could think about it.

I ran straight to his side, with the sole intention of getting him away from her.

But just as my fist was about to reach him…

—Keep trying…

A whisper of superiority floated through the air before a shadow loomed over me.

I didn't have time to react.

The wall that separated us moments ago fell on me with overwhelming force. The rubble hit me mercilessly, throwing me to the ground.

—Do you want to keep playing, Miss…?

The voice filled with sick amusement echoed in my ears.

Not…

I couldn't leave it like that.

From beneath the rubble, a rush of pain ran through my body, but still, my fingers held tightly onto his leg.

—LEAVE HER ALONE!

The scream came from the depths of my being, heartbreaking, primitive, full of rage.

But the moment his eyes fell on me, his response was immediate.

There was no hesitation.

A sharp blow hit my back with such force that it knocked the wind out of me. It wasn't just the impact... something inside me shook violently. As if his fists had broken through my skin and hit my organs directly.

The world went blurry for an instant.

—Now is when you run again, young lady~

The mockery hung in the air, tinged with unbearable sadism.

No...

Terrified eyes locked with mine.

Tears streamed down her face as she watched my blood spread across the floor. My breathing became heavy, ragged, strained.

-Not…

She tried to move, but her body didn't respond. Her legs refused to support her. And when fear took over completely, her arms rose to cover her head in a futile attempt to protect herself.

—PLEASE STOP!

A burst of despair filled the air.

But he had no intention of stopping.

—THAT! SCREAM MORE FOR ME!

The knuckles tensed before crashing into the ground, right next to his legs.

The concrete cracked.

The sound of the impact reverberated in his ears like a death sentence.

—Oops! What a fool, I failed! The next one might give~

Another hit.

This time, closer.

—I'M AN IDIOT!

Fear took hold of her completely.

—STOP!

Desperation consumed her. Her mind clouded and her body gave way to pure terror.

An unwanted heat dampened the ground beneath her.

—P… please…

His voice, broken, barely left his lips.

He paused for a moment, gazing at the scene with delight.

—WHY THE FEAR?! WE'RE JUST PLAYING!

The voice echoed like a demented laugh.

It didn't matter what he was looking for anymore. He wasn't interested in anything else anymore.

I just wanted to hurt him.

The muscles tensed.

The next blow would hit her without fail.

But as the fist came down with the intent of breaking his bones… something stopped him.

His arm went completely off course.

Not by my own will.

Something had forced him to do it.

And in that instant, he felt it.

Instinct screamed at him that something was wrong.

In disbelief, he looked up… and there it was.

Standing.

In front of him.

Covered in blood, his breathing labored, but motionless as an unbreakable shadow.

A dark energy enveloped him, vibrant, menacing, whispering a single command in the air.

*"Die."*

Without saying a word, my fist slammed into his face with all the fury built up inside me.

The impact sent him flying to the ground, but I didn't let him fall completely. I took advantage of the air current generated by the force of the blow and used it to lift him up again. I wanted him

to look me in the eyes.

Eyes that only repeated one word.

*"Die."*

I took a run at him and this time landed a direct blow to his stomach. The bastard flew off like a projectile. I wanted to get him away from her… but not from me.

Without giving him any respite, I launched myself after him with even greater speed than my attack. Just before he crashed into the remains of the still standing building, I caught up with him and struck him again.

This time, my fist came down in a wide arc, bringing it from the highest height I could reach until it was smashed into the ground.

The concrete creaked under the force of the impact.

But at that moment, when I made him fall, his counterattack came immediately.

It was just a brush.

However, his skill was enough to do brutal damage to me.

An indescribable pain exploded in my right arm, feeling it break in an instant.

My body rose violently.

Déjà vu.

But this time, with nothing to stop me in my path, I had a clear view of the sky… and the crimson droplets staining it.

Blood.

My blood.

It was pouring out in desperation, as if my own body was trying to expel the agony.

When my eyes managed to distinguish a ray of sunlight through the scarlet haze, I saw it.

The bastard was right in front of me.

He leapt in my direction, determined to greet me with the same fury with which I had attacked him moments before.

The impact shattered me.

But I didn't fall straight to the ground.

My body bounced, destroying the concrete, trees and everything else in my path until I stopped in the farthest part of the city.

With an iron will, I did a half somersault and immediately got back up.

Although my vision was covered in blood, only one thing occupied my mind.

Kill him.

As if a war gong resounded in the air, we both ran towards each other.

It was the final blow.

I threw a high punch, but he ducked like it was nothing.

He took advantage of the opening and attacked my abdomen with his skill.

I closed one eye immediately.

The impact was critical.

I gritted my teeth and threw my head back, ready to strike back with all my strength.

I saw him try to cover himself, but I still made him kneel.

I didn't let go.

I took the opportunity and grabbed his arms before slamming my knee into his face.

One.

Two.

Three.

Again and again.

At the last blow, something invisible came between my knee and his face, pushing me back with brutal force.

My balance was broken and he took advantage of this to sweep my legs, knocking me down and climbing on top of me.

I wasn't going to leave him.

Every fiber of my being strained to understand what I was seeing.

The air trails around me showed me the paths of their attacks.

I took the ones where I failed 100%.

Barely avoiding his blows, I watched as he raised a cloud of dust around us.

The idiot had just dug his own grave.

By generating a strong enough air current, it gave me the perfect opportunity.

I forced him to his feet and received two direct blows to the stomach.

He hunched over in reflex.

And at that moment, I finished him off with an upward blow to the chin.

But he didn't fall.

He stood, landing calculated blows at my weakest points.

When he couldn't find a way to reach me, he would create an opening with his damn ability.

It tore me apart.

So, I had an idea.

I redirected his attacks towards my fists.

The crash was brutal.

My knuckles completely popped.

But my plan worked.

I became his executioner.

I looked at him in silence.

There was no hatred.

Just… nothing. The air current generated was enough to turn the fight around.

His response was a high kick aimed at my face.

But at that moment…

I wasn't thinking anymore.

I just wanted to hurt him.

I caught his leg with both arms.

Holding her tightly, I landed a devastating blow to her knee.

I was hoping to break it.

I ripped it out.

The cry of pain was overwhelming.

I felt no pity.

Not after what he did to her.

I grabbed the rest of his leg and pulled him towards me.

I hit him in the face with brutal force, throwing him to the ground.

Without giving him a break, I grabbed him by the hair and forced him to look at me.

I could have finished him off right there.

But I didn't.

I wanted him to suffer.

I wanted to hear him scream.

Wanted to…

Maybe experience the satisfaction of being a bastard to someone who couldn't defend themselves.

I took advantage of a gust of wind and lifted him up.

I took his left arm and put it in front of his eyes.

A simple movement of my left hand was enough to split it in two.

I watched it carefully.

There was no doubt.

Then…

I became a sadist.

I changed hands.

This time, I ripped his right arm off up to the shoulder.

He was about to faint.

I didn't leave him.

I forced him to open his eyes.

I made him witness his end.

My fingers closed around his neck.

I suffocated him.

He couldn't defend himself.

I destroyed it.

He tried to use his ability repeatedly…

But it was no longer of any use.

I had learned to avoid her.

The air trails deflected their attacks until they were reduced to nothing.

There was no escape now.

Aware of my actions…

I turned around and walked towards her.

I was still in shock.

Gently, I took her hand.

She immediately tensed up, covering her head as her tears fell unceasingly.

—Nanatori…

My voice came out exhausted.

I bent down to look into her eyes.

I watched as his expression softened into almost broken relief.

—Dyr… Dyr… DYR?!

She threw herself into my arms.

My body couldn't take it anymore.

I collapsed without saying a single word.

His hug stopped when he saw the state she was in.

-GET UP!

His cry of helplessness echoed in the air.

But I just stayed on the ground.

I didn't know what to do.

And neither do I.

Warm blood was running down my throat, slowly choking me. My body felt heavy, as if an invisible force was trying to pull me into a bottomless abyss. Every breath was a titanic effort, every heartbeat an irregular drumbeat in my ears.

—No... I won't leave you... —The words escaped from my lips with difficulty, barely a broken murmur.

The air burned inside me, my limbs went numb, and yet I clung to life stubbornly. Something deep inside me told me not to fear. This was temporary. Just one more obstacle on this path of no return.

—Just… just let me rest a little…

I blinked heavily, and in that instant, I felt his hand holding mine tightly. A tremor ran through his fingers, cold and fragile, as if he feared that if he let go, I would disappear forever.

—Don't leave me alone…

Her voice broke. A whisper drowned in an ocean of tears that fell one after another, soaking my skin. I didn't know how many times she repeated those words, but each time they sounded more desperate, more empty, as if she feared that her plea would not be heard.

Time moved forward in fits and starts. Seconds, minutes, hours… an eternity made of pain and anguish. But then, something changed.

A slight shudder ran through my body and, somehow, my fingers gripped his hand tighter. It was impossible. I could barely breathe, much less move.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw what was happening. My knuckles, once torn and bruised, were intact. The wounds on my legs, which hours ago seemed irreparable, were gone. The bloody face that reflected her desperation… was now clean.

A miracle.

Without hesitation, she gently held my body and lifted my head, resting it on her lap. Her trembling hands gently slid through my hair, trying to reassure me. But deep down, I knew she wasn't sure if it would make any difference.

Then, with an almost superhuman effort, I opened my eyes.

—Na… Nanatori… —My voice came out raspy, barely a thread of broken air.

She looked at me with bated breath, as if she feared my life would slip away at any moment.

—I told you… —My lips curved into a slight smile, though the pain still pierced my chest—. I told you I would protect you…

The lump in my throat grew heavier. Each word was difficult, but I didn't care.

—I will protect you, even if it costs me my life…

There was no hesitation in my voice. Not a hint of a lie. It was a promise burned into my soul.

Nanatori wrapped his arms around me, hunching over me as if his own body could shield me from the world. The warmth of his embrace washed over me, familiar, comforting… as if he had always been there, as if he had always protected me in this way.

My breathing became calmer, the weight on my chest slowly faded, and finally, sleep swept me into its silent embrace.

As if nothing had happened.

Waking up was slow, as if reality was trying to gently drag me back into consciousness. I had been awake for a while, but the comforting warmth that enveloped me was too tempting to let go so soon.

At first, I pretended to still be asleep. I didn't want to move, not yet. But tiredness soon outweighed my desires and, without realizing it, I ended up letting myself drift into real rest.

It was… a nice experience.

With a soft sigh, I opened my eyes and looked around. The first thing I did was make sure that Lye hadn't moved. Only after confirming his condition did I allow my gaze to drift to another point.

The lifeless body in front of me immediately caught my attention. But what really made me frown was what was emerging from it.

Something was rising slowly, almost ethereal. Its green hue glowed with a soft, hypnotic light, as if it were alive. It was strange… alluring in a way I couldn't explain.

I watched in silence as that luminescence vibrated for a few more seconds, until, suddenly, it began to fade. Like a flame consumed by the wind, its glow slowly faded until it disappeared completely.

I wondered what that was.

A slight chill ran down my spine. I didn't know why, but I had the feeling that understanding this would change a lot of things.

The moment was nice, so nice that for a moment I wanted to hold on to him. But I couldn't keep lying to him.

"You see…" I let out a sigh before giving a slight smile. "I can be useful sometimes."

The face in front of me lit up with a radiant smile as he moved away just a little.

—Only sometimes!

I frowned in mock indignation.

—Well… —I took a second before continuing—. Now I'll give you a compliment.

I gave him a thumbs up, adopting a serious expression, as if I were about to make a statement of utmost importance.

—Beautiful and comfortable legs.

There was a brief silence before he delivered the final sentence with absolute confidence.

—Dyr approves.

The laughter burst out without restraint.

—Thank you very much, leg master.

The sound of his laughter was contagious. Before I knew it, his fingers were sliding through my hair in slow, almost instinctive movements.

—And… where are we going now?

I put a hand to my chin, pretending to be deep in thought.

"Good question…" My thoughts tangled for a moment before something made me frown. "Now that I think about it, no one said we had to stay here."

It was strange. In fact, quite strange.

—Why are we staying here?

The look I received in response was cold and emotionless, as if I had just said the stupidest thing in the world.

—Well… I don't know… —His voice was slow, almost incredulous— Why didn't you say so before?

The silence that followed did not help at all.

The atmosphere was still comfortable, so much so that I barely felt the need to move.

"You looked very comfortable," I murmured quietly, "but not as comfortable as I am right now."

—Ah, I see…

I was expecting some kind of reaction… maybe a snide comment or a look of contempt. But the answer was so simple that it left me wanting more.

—Hey… —I pursed my lips in mock disappointment—. I was expecting some scorn. Don't take my fantasies away from me, beautiful.

The eyes that fell on me reflected pure indifference.

"You're very lonely, aren't you?" The tone of voice was so cruelly contemptuous that I even shuddered a little.

But instead of feeling offended, I smiled with absolute innocence.

—That's what I'm talking about! Thank you, goddess of beautiful legs!

The slight blush on her face was almost instantaneous.

—Answer the damn question!

—Yes! YES! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

There was no warning. In a single movement, the warm body holding me disappeared, and in less than a second, I felt the impact with the ground.

—SORRY! —The apology sounded rushed, but the urgency in his tone was clear—. But answer the damn question!

—Ow, ow, ow… —I complained as I sat up, rubbing my head—. I have an idea…

—Say it already, damn it!

—Oh, what a character… —I pointed at myself with a nonchalant air before blurting out the answer— Well, to my house.

There was silence. Then, an incredulous look fell on me.

"You have a house?" Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "It won't be in a park, will it?"

I couldn't help but laugh.

—It depends… does a park bench count?

The sigh I received in response was so deep I almost felt sorry. Almost.

—Hey! You're rude!

Without wasting any time, I extended an arm and pointed towards the city with determination.

-Look!

—Huh?! —The eyes in front of me widened—. You live in the city!?

—My finger.

The sudden turn of his head, the expression of surprise followed by utter confusion… I couldn't contain the laughter that burst from my throat.

—Pfft…! HAHAHA!

Now I understood Novara when he made fun of me. It was too funny.

—Sorry, sorry… —I put a hand to my chest, trying to calm myself—. But you let your guard down.

The blush on her face suddenly grew, and her voice exploded with fury.

—ARE YOU AN ANIMAL OR WHAT?!

—Oh, you and your temper… —I shrugged with a mocking smile—. I have my own house, you know?

—I don't want to sleep with the apes!

—Rude brat…

Without thinking, I rolled up my invisible shirt with all the determination in the world.

—I'm going to teach you respect!

Before she could react, I scooped her up in my arms in one movement.

—P-PUT ME ON THE FLOOR, YOU IDIOT!

—Well, let's take advantage of it now while there's strength.

Without giving him time to protest any further, I ran towards home. Going in the Novara worker's car would have been a waste when I had energy to spare.

The cool air hit my face as I felt her writhe in my arms. In her desperation to adjust, her hair whipped around in the wind, and more than once I ended up with a lock of hair hitting my face.

It smelled delicious.

The softness of her skin, the warmth of her body…

I don't know when I thought of it, but the idea stayed in my mind longer than I expected.

I think I'm falling in love...

And that's how our days together began. Even though our beginning was shrouded in shadows, I wouldn't mind continuing to have these happy moments.