Chapter 47

"…Pakura."

She blinked, turning back to him. "What?"

Souta rested his elbow on the table, leaning forward slightly. "Do you have something to say to me?"

Pakura's brows furrowed. "What?"

"This is your only chance," he said, his tone calm. "If there's something you want to tell me, say it now. I won't accept it in the future."

Pakura's eyes widened slightly. Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first. Then, as the words fully registered, her face flushed—a deep, unmistakable red that spread all the way to the tips of her ears.

Her breath hitched slightly, and for the first time in a long time, she looked… panicked.

"I…" She swallowed hard, her hands clenching into fists against her lap. "I—"

She sucked in a sharp breath, her heart pounding against her ribs. Her mind raced, a whirlwind of emotions she had tried to push down for so long suddenly surging to the surface.

Then, before she could stop herself—

"I like you."

The words slipped out, rushed and unfiltered. The moment they left her lips, her eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe she had actually said them out loud.

Souta didn't react immediately. He simply watched her, his expression unreadable.

Pakura's hands trembled slightly. "I…" She clenched her teeth, forcing herself to keep speaking. "I don't have anyone else. Ever since you saved me… I started feeling something. And I didn't know what it was at first, but now—"

She exhaled sharply, her fingers tightening against the fabric of her clothes. "Now I know. I like you, Souta. And I—" She hesitated. "I don't want to lose this."

Souta leaned back slightly, considering her words.

"Is that so?" he mused.

Pakura bit her lip, her body still tense from the confession. "…Yeah."

"…I… if you have someone else you like… some other woman, then it's totally fine. I won't interfere. I just…" She swallowed hard, shaking her head. "I don't know what I'm saying."

Souta's gaze lingered on her, his sharp eyes catching every flicker of emotion on her face. She was trying to convince herself more than him.

"You don't sound fine," he said, his voice even.

Pakura clenched her fists, frustration bubbling inside her. "What do you want me to say?" she snapped. "That I hate the thought of it? That it makes my chest feel tight and my head spin? That I wish I was the only one?"

Her breathing was unsteady, her emotions spilling out before she could stop them. "I've never felt this way before. I don't know how I'm supposed to act, what I'm supposed to say—what I'm even supposed to feel."

Souta remained quiet, letting her speak.

"My village betrayed me. The people I trusted, the ones I thought would always have my back, they threw me away like I was nothing. But you…" She sucked in a sharp breath. "You saved me. You're the only one who's ever made me feel safe."

Her voice trembled slightly, but she pressed on. "I don't care if there's someone else. I don't care if I'm not first. I just—" Her throat tightened. "I just don't want to be left behind again."

Tilting his head slightly. "That's a dangerous way to think."

Pakura let out a bitter chuckle. "Maybe. But it's the truth."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. She had just exposed everything—her fears, her insecurities, the raw desperation she barely understood herself.

Then, slowly, Souta reached out. His fingers brushed against hers, just barely, but it was enough to make her heart skip a beat.

"…I won't push you away," he murmured.

Pakura swallowed, feeling a strange mix of relief and apprehension. "Then… what do you mean?"

Souta didn't answer. Instead, in one swift motion, he leaned in, gripping her wrist and pushing her back against the bed. A startled gasp left her lips as he hovered over her, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

"S-Souta—"

He silenced her with a kiss, firm and unrelenting. Pakura's body tensed beneath him, her mind reeling. She had imagined what it would feel like—had wondered if he'd ever look at her as something more than just a woman clinging to the remnants of a broken past. But this… this was more than she expected.

Her hands hesitated before grasping the fabric of his shirt, as if grounding herself. Souta didn't stop her. He deepened the kiss, his weight pressing against her just enough to remind her that this was real—that she wasn't dreaming.

Her heart pounded against her ribs, heat creeping up her neck. She felt vulnerable, exposed, but at the same time… she didn't want him to stop.

"Now... Pakura, you are mine from now on. Don't worry, I will treat you the best way possible."

She gazed up at him, her breath shaky. "You say that as if I have a choice," she whispered, half-teasing, half-uncertain.

Souta smirked but said nothing, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. He wasn't forcing her—.

Souta wasn't the type to leave things half-done, especially when it came to a woman like Pakura. She was beautiful, strong, and undeniably devoted to him.

He could see it in the way she looked at him—the quiet longing, the unspoken emotions she tried to mask behind her usual confidence.

He never liked the idea of a woman loving him while he stood back, pretending not to notice. That wasn't his way. If she was willing to give herself to him, then he would give her the same in return. Not out of pity, not out of obligation, but because he wanted her just as much.

Souta didn't say anything for a while, just watching her, letting her process what had just happened. Then, with a small smirk, he finally spoke.

"I don't do things halfway, Pakura. If you're going to love me, then I'll make sure you know I love you back."