Finally Reaching (1)

Yona’s guest room was no different from Alec’s.

Rather, because it had the same size, same structure, and same furniture arrangement, there wasn’t much difference even though it was Yona’s room.

‘It smells nice…’

Alec sniffed slightly, trying not to be noticeable. The fragrance tickling his nose was indeed similar to the one from the garden. Although the concentration might be lower, Yona’s room was certainly full of that garden’s flower scent.

“…What are you doing? Sit down.”

Yona, who had entered the room first and was opening the window, turned and spoke to Alec.

As a result, the noble moonlight shining through the window illuminated Yona from behind, and at that moment, Alec was left speechless.

It was night.

This quiet night when all things should be asleep.

The sight of Yona standing under the bright moonlight alone.

Alec couldn’t say anything to Yona, who was standing with her back to the moonlight, looking at him.

Shadows stretched long into the room.

Yona in her Saintess attire seemed so natural, as if melting into that moonlight.

The moonlight scattered over the Saintess attire that flowed like black silk.

On this night when even Yona’s white skin matched like a picture over the Saintess attire where the pale silver moonlight played freely.

Alec couldn’t say anything as he looked at Yona like this.

His poor speaking skills couldn’t express the emotions he was feeling now no matter what he said.

Knowing this all too well, Alec chose not to say anything at all.

“I said sit down.”

“Oh, oh… yeah…”

Even so, Alec’s gaze remained fixed on Yona without moving.

With his gaze still on Yona, Alec slowly, very slowly went to the chair Yona was pointing at and sat down carefully.

And Yona sat on the bed opposite that chair.

Yona, who always sat with her legs spread, seemed to be conscious of Alec’s gaze and unconsciously curled her legs together as she sat.

The two didn’t say anything to each other.

Alec’s gaze, fixed on Yona, showed no sign of moving, and Yona, unable to meet Alec’s gaze, slightly lowered her head and fidgeted, clutching the hem of her Saintess dress.

Such an awkward silence is usually hard to endure.

It was the first time Alec had felt this awkward with Yona, and it was also the first time Yona had found it so difficult to speak while with Alec, making it hard for both of them to start a conversation.

“We—”

In the end, it was Alec. Just as Alec opened his mouth to forcibly bring up some topic to somehow break this awkward silence and atmosphere, Yona cut him off as if she had been waiting.

“Ah, that’s right!”

Yona stood up abruptly, waving her hand with an exaggeratedly large gesture. Because of this, Alec, who was about to say something, just stared blankly at Yona. Leaving Alec like that, Yona approached the wooden coat rack near the door, snatched something hanging there, and came back to Alec, holding it out.

“What’s this?”

“A-a handkerchief.”

Only then did he remember. It was the handkerchief Alec had given to Yona in the garden not long ago. Yona, who had blown her nose into the handkerchief, had scolded him to wash it and carry it around, and now that handkerchief was returned to Alec by Yona’s hand.

“…I washed it clean. I-I washed it myself, didn’t have the maids do it. Keep it with you. Handkerchiefs need to be washed often. It’s unsightly if it smells.”

“Oh… yeah, o-okay, I got it.”

Alec received the handkerchief, folded it neatly, and pushed it into his pocket. Then he suddenly thought that the handkerchief smelled of flowers.

“W-well, first, Yona.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Yona, who had been watching Alec push the handkerchief into his pocket, answered as if suddenly waking up.

From earlier, her face was red and she seemed distracted and flustered, feeling quite unlike Yona.

“Well, first, calm down. Let’s calm down. Okay?”

In fact, that might have been what Alec wanted to say to himself.

The heart full of demon energy flowing in his chest like Yona’s was beating incessantly,

Thinking that perhaps Yona might be the same as Alec, that it might be so, Alec himself couldn’t calm down.

“Calm down, Yona. So, we. We need to calm down. Right?”

“Uh, yeah. Right… calm, calm down.”

Yona took small deep breaths, regulating her breathing.

Alec slowly stood up and faced Yona.

No sound could be heard.

Although the window was open, and there should have been some noise drifting in from somewhere, it was a night where it was unclear whether such noises actually didn’t exist or if their ears had no room to hear such noises.

On that night, Alec was looking at Yona, firmly gripping her shoulders.

“Yona.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Well.”

How should he start speaking?

Alec didn’t know.

Alec, who felt he should say something but didn’t know what to say.

And Yona also looked at such an Alec and moved her lips several times without speaking.

There was a feeling of sweetness melting in her chest.

She didn’t know what to say, but just looking at Alec like this felt good.

The uniqueness of Yona that had been thoroughly suppressed until now—probably unmatched in this world.

The emotion she had firmly suppressed due to her own identity was now erupting like an active volcano, melting her entire body as soon as that pressure stone was removed.

It felt like she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Perhaps Alec could hear her heartbeat like this. It would be embarrassing if so, but what expression am I making now? Do I smell or anything? I shouldn’t be making a strange expression. Each of these thoughts wandered through her mind unfiltered.

That’s how a girl in love is. She had lived suppressing it without acknowledging it, turning her eyes away saying she had other things to do. Perhaps she herself hadn’t noticed and had just let time pass until now. But none of that mattered anymore.

Alec was right in front of her now, and there was Yona looking at such an Alec. There was no one else around, only the two of them were here.

It seemed to smell of flowers.

The scent of flowers carried by the wind flying in from somewhere was tickling her nose.

A strange feeling, sweet yet fresh, tickled her heart. It was ticklish, and trying to deceive her emotions by clenching and unclenching her hands became meaningless.

Yona struggled to move her lips. That’s right. There was something to say. There were words that needed to be said. So, now Yona really wanted to say those words to Alec. A feeling of breathlessness. With each breath, Alec’s scent that overwhelmed her instantly scattered her thoughts.

“Alec.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

“…I, I wanted to say… th-thank you.”

“Thank you? For what?”

Usually, she would have just scolded him to take it as it is. In fact, Yona almost said that. That’s how frightening habits can be. But the current Yona was different, and had to be different.

At least the current Yona was a girl.

“You, you’ve been, so… by my side, pro-protecting me. For… protecting me, supporting me, cherishing me… th-thank you…”

Even as she said thank you, that gratitude welled up in her chest. Thank you, thank you. Thank you for cherishing me. Yona wondered why she hadn’t said these simple words until now.

“Thank you… No, don’t say such things. Yona, I… I didn’t do it to hear you say thank you.”

“But still.”

But, I really wanted to say those words— Yona was about to say.

During their adventurer days, she thought it was natural.

Because that’s what companions do, or so she thought.

Because they were partners.

Because they were companions going through things together.

Because they were companions crossing the line between life and death together.

That’s what she thought it was.

But looking back on the path they had walked until now, wasn’t Alec always by Yona’s side?

They had crossed the boundary of death many times, and Alec had actually nearly died twice, hadn’t he?

Nevertheless, Alec threw himself in for Yona without hesitation, and that’s how Yona was able to stand up again.

That was the Alec from the adventurer days that had been fading away.

And Alec who was becoming ambiguous again.

When she opened the door and entered, that bald Alec gave Yona a feeling of returning to the adventurer days once more.

A feeling of returning to those days when she called him “Baldy” and enjoyed each day, those somewhat fun times.

Thanks to that, Yona realized.

Even in those days, Alec had been protecting her side like this.

“I, Yona.”

Alec’s hand gently caressed Yona’s shoulder.

That gesture of stroking her shoulder was full of affection, and Yona flinched each time Alec’s touch reached her.

“—I love you, Yona. Because I loved you, I was able to do that. Even if we went back to that time, I would do exactly the same.”

Yona’s body was trembling slightly.

Alec blocked Yona’s lips with his finger as she was about to say something.

“You are special to me. Everything you have—material things, I don’t need any of that. I liked your smiling face, your smile was beautiful. I came alive at your touch, I was at peace with your warmth. That was enough for me. Whoever you are, Yona, whatever you become, I will be by your side.”

Yona moved her lips several times.

All kinds of flowery words flashed through her mind, but all of them became meaningless.

“I love you, Yona. With all of me, I love you.”

Yona met Alec’s eyes.

She directly met that gaze that had always looked straight at her.

She took a breath.

The fluttering emotions in her chest were gradually subsiding.

Embarrassment or whatever didn’t matter anymore. She didn’t want to step back any further. She didn’t want to avoid it anymore. Now, to Alec who was coming at her throwing his all—Yona had to answer.

“I’m sorry for realizing it so late. I’m sorry for understanding it so late. It’s too—yes, it’s too late an answer, but…”

A smile appeared on Yona’s lips.

Over her reddened face, and her eyes curved into crescents.

“…I love you, Alec. I—love you too.”

Alec’s hands wrapped around Yona’s waist.

Yona also stretched out her arms and embraced Alec’s neck.

It was night.

The window was still open, and the moonlight was quietly beautiful.

The shadows cast by the moonlight gradually drew closer and finally overlapped, and didn’t separate for a long time.