Chapter 114: Memories

Яｅ​αｄ​ өṅ ΚаｔȒｅаⅾｉɴ​ģĊа​ғε

The four of them returned to Leon’s house and had an early dinner.

The menu was barbecue. One of the perks of the countryside, they set up a grill in the backyard and lit it with magic.

Lamb, sausages, mushrooms, and various vegetables. The sizzling sound and the smoke rising into the blue sky made the scene perfect.

Sugar scrunched up her face.

“Oh, sh—!”

It was the kind of face you make when something is too good. The smoky aroma, the smell of meat—it was so stimulating that she started eating cheese before the food was even fully cooked.

“Ah… This is truly the grace of the gods…”

“Do you even attend worship properly?”

While Sugar was wriggling in delight, Ian scolded her. But Sugar didn’t care and kept stuffing her face.

“Riley, look at this—”

She proudly showed Riley the long stretch of melted cheese. Riley immediately grabbed a pair of scissors and chased after her.

“Why! Why!”

“Just because.”

It wasn’t like Riley was particularly busy grilling meat, but seeing Sugar messing around alone made him feel annoyed.

“Next up, marshmallows…”

After swallowing all the cheese, Sugar returned to the grill. She skewered the soft, white candies and placed them over the fire. Pssst— As they started to char and release a sweet aroma, she quickly pulled them out.

Huff, huff— She blew on them lightly before popping them into her mouth.

Mmm. Sweet. The feeling of her blood sugar rising. Sugar happily chewed on the marshmallows while skewering more.

“This one’s for Riley… This one’s for Ian…”

Then, one fell out of the bag and onto the ground. Sugar quietly picked it up.

“This one’s for Leon…”

“Excuse me. I’m right here, you know?”

Sugar clicked her tongue and brushed off her hands, ignoring Leon’s comment about whether she had something against him.

By then, the meat was fully cooked, and the real meal began.

The lamb, dripping with juices mixed with fat, released a unique aroma with every bite.

Sugar’s expression was hard to read—whether she was smiling or grimacing—as she devoured the meat.

“It’s so good… so good…”

“Don’t you usually eat meat?”

The restaurants in Steele served good food. There were plenty of tasty places around the shopping district too.

“Riley… You’re supposed to eat with gratitude and full effort, remembering our childhood.”

“Like when you stole my soup?”

“Yeah… Those were tough times… That’s why I’m so short…”

“Then what about me?”

“It’s so good… so good…”

Riley looked down at Sugar, who was incomparably smaller.

“You two… Did you often go hungry when you were young?”

Leon cautiously asked.

“We didn’t starve. We had meals… most of the time…”

Sugar stammered, and Ian piled more meat onto their plates.

“So you both came from the same orphanage.”

“Yeah.”

How did they end up getting involved with heretics? How did they end up in the Holy City? Leon was curious, but it wasn’t the kind of topic to bring up during a meal.

“So, what are we doing after dinner?”

“What’s there to do in the countryside? Just take a walk, read a book.”

“I brought a deck of cards, just in case.”

After dinner, they played games with the cards Sugar had brought. It started off innocently, but soon they were betting money.

Surprisingly, Ian didn’t stop them. In fact, she ended up winning it all.

“No way, Ian. You look so innocent, but what’s this? Some secret technique passed down in the Holy City? Is the Saint’s spirit whispering the opponents’ cards to you?”

“No way. It’s just luck.”

“Should we check your sleeves…?”

“Alright, let’s clean up and get ready for bed. It’s getting late. Sugar, take your blanket and sleep outside.”

“You’re still holding onto the marshmallow?!”

They decided to sleep side by side in the living room, laying out blankets.

Originally, they planned to have Sugar sleep in Leon’s mother’s room, Ian in Leon’s room and the other two on the living room floor. But Sugar made a disappointed face, going “Eh?”

“Nodding off while playing 31… Three-six-nine…”

“What? What game?”

“I’ll teach you how to play… Let’s all play together and then sleep…”

There wasn’t any alcohol, but there was a good punishment: dish duty. Since they had three meals a day, someone had to do the dishes three times.

So, they ended up lying down in this order: Riley, Sugar, Ian, and Leon. It was a bit cramped, but they managed to make some space.

“This is a first for me… It’s so fun…”

“Hehe… Isn’t it fun, Ian?”

“Yeah, yeah. So much fun.”

The two men sighed as they watched the excited girl and the cross-dressing girl. As long as they were happy, it was fine.

Sugar was determined to target only Leon, Riley didn’t go easy on Sugar and once again, Ian dominated the game.

The day passed in a lively, noisy manner.

.

.

.

‘The holiday was fun…’

‘I had a great time with my friends.’

We ate delicious food, played games, and had fun.

And we even slept together.

Sugar turned her head and looked to the side. She saw Ian with her hair down, eyes closed. It was a shame her chest was still bandaged.

Then she looked to the other side. Riley was there. Riley was sleeping right next to her. Gasp, gasp, gasp—

Sugar rolled over and snuggled up to Riley.

It’s not like she was sneaking into someone else’s bed. They were all sleeping in the same place. It’s not a bad thing at all.

‘Riley… Riley’s scent…’

She hugged his arm and buried her nose in it.

It’s lonely sleeping alone in the girls’ dorm every night. So, she’s making the most of it now.

“Hey… you pervert… what are you doing?”

“Eek.”

He was awake. Sugar pretended like nothing happened and tried to sneak her arm back and return to her spot.

Of course, she was caught before she could.

“Eek… let me go…”

She was pulled into his embrace.

Trapped.

The scent of Riley filling her lungs.

‘Mmm. Actually, this is nice.’

She took a deep breath, inhaling his scent.

“This isn’t good…”

“Why? Can’t I smell you?”

“…”

When she asked so directly, it was hard to respond. What can you say when the girl you care about says she likes your scent and wants to smell you?

Riley also secretly enjoyed Sugar’s sweet scent whenever he hugged her. Though Sugar’s blatant admiration sometimes scared him, he decided to let it slide for now.

When he loosened his grip slightly, Sugar immediately clung to him.

Then, she suddenly stiffened and pulled away slightly. Her cheeks turned red.

The memory of that time must have resurfaced because of the clothes she was wearing and the situation. The flimsy pajamas. The sleepover. The day she was marked all over while clinging to Riley.

So, when she tried to create some distance, Riley pulled her back in. Then, he touched her cheek.

“What were you thinking just now?”

“N-nothing…”

“It’s dark, but your face is all red.”

“No… it’s just my body temperature rising because it’s night…”

Sugar stammered out an excuse.

Riley clenched and unclenched his hand, trying to calm himself down.

There were other people around, so he didn’t want to do anything. Besides, it’s easier to cross the line at night. But when she acts like this, it’s hard to resist.

‘Hold it together…’

Indomitable spirit. Riley was once again demonstrating his strong willpower.

Unaware of this, Sugar squirmed and looked up at Riley.

“Hey, Riley…”

“What…”

“Did you have fun today?”

“It wasn’t bad.”

“Did you have fun… with me?”

“…”

What kind of question is that?

Instead of answering, Riley interlaced his fingers with Sugar’s. Sugar gasped in surprise but gladly accepted it.

Their palms pressed tightly together. The heat from their bodies made their hands sweaty and damp.

“So, you had fun, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Hehe… Ehehe… I had fun too. I’m glad we both had fun…”

If only one person is having fun, it’s meaningless.

“We need to make lots of happy memories with our friends and with you, Riley. Someday, when we look back, they’ll give us strength…”

Sugar whispered softly, as if talking to herself. Her voice was small, but it carried a lonely tone.

Like the wind of a fading season.

“Memories… we can always make more later.”

Riley spoke, not wanting to see Sugar like that.

“We’ll always be together from now on.”

He held her hand tightly and looked into her face, comforting her.

Then, Sugar opened her eyes wide and smiled faintly.

“…Thank you.”

Riley is really kind.

Kind enough to drive someone crazy.

‘If you say such pretty things, I’ll grow attached.’

‘Someday, I’ll have to set you free. I’ve resolved myself to do that. But when you say things like that, my heart softens again.’

‘I’ll have to sneak out later. I need to finish my business quickly and come back, so I should sleep now.’

Sugar closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of their intertwined hands.

Riley felt reassured seeing her like that. Sugar, lying in the same bed, holding his hand as she slept. He wanted to see her like this every day.

That sense of relief must have lulled him into a deep sleep.

It was like that on the train too. When he realized Sugar was lying next to him, he felt at ease and fell asleep quickly.

Since they were kids, sleeping next to Sugar always made him feel warm and soft, like his body was melting. Unchanging affection.

Warmth.

Comfort.

That’s why he didn’t want to know this kind of emptiness.

Early in the morning. When he woke up slightly and reached out to the side, there was nothing. Just the cold, empty space where Sugar had been. Magical energy? Of course, there was none.

He opened his eyes abruptly and looked around. In the place where Sugar had disappeared, there was a note left behind.

He quickly picked it up and read it.

‘I’ll be back soon♥

Don’t worry about me and keep having fun ( ˘ ³˘)♥’

“…”

At that moment, Ian and Leon stirred awake.

“Ah, it’s hot…!”

“What’s going on…?”

They reacted to the sharp surge of magical energy emanating from Riley’s emotions.

Still half-asleep and confused, they quickly fell silent upon seeing Riley’s face and the look in his eyes.