episode_0027

“Sorry, I spoke too much this time.”

“… … .”

“There was no need to get so angry… … . I got angry for no reason and said something out of the blue.”

I didn’t say anything trivial, but first and foremost apologized.

He spat out unnecessarily sharp words. If Lethe was offended by them, the context and the appropriateness of the words were of little consequence.

What good would it do to force rationalism into interpersonal relationships? Even if it was an unusual reaction, there was no reason to hold back and not apologize.

Moreover, if you can guess the reason why Lete is showing signs of being hurt differently than before─.

‘It’s true that I was wrong.’

I bit my lip in silence and looked at Lete’s expression. She was sitting on the bench, and I couldn’t see her expression because she didn’t let me get next to her…

At least, judging by the fact that he’s holding my hand behind the bench, I think there’s still quite a bit of room for conversation.

It’s just a good thing I wasn’t pushed away right away. I didn’t think he’d let me go.

I swallowed dry saliva, feeling incredibly nervous.

There was nothing wrong with Elijah’s words. It was clear from the circumstances that Lethe had feelings for me, no matter how heavy the feelings were.

In the first place, haven’t I also been shaken by her irritating behavior several times recently?

I confirmed that it was not one-sided but two-sided. In comparison, comparing the depth of the mind was bound to be pushed down a few levels in priority.

‘… … If I say this and it turns out to be wrong, I’ll be embarrassed.’

It was better to look a little embarrassed than to stay in the dark and regret it later.

Still, Lethe just sat there without answering.

But if I tried to move, he would grab my hand tightly so that I couldn’t go anywhere.

Since I couldn’t see his face, it was hard to figure out what he was thinking.

If there had been at least some kind of reaction, it would have been different. If he just sat there blankly, saying, “I’m a stone and a tree,” there was no way the conversation would progress.

Since it seemed obvious that if things continued this way, neither an apology nor a dialogue would be achieved, I decided to take a strong stance.

Anyway, one hand is already caught by Lethe, so he can’t do anything.

I thought it would be more effective to just boldly go for it rather than maintaining such an ambiguous stance.

Wow!

“Ugh, huh… …?!”

Only when I suddenly threw a back hug without warning did a plausible reaction come out.

Lete looked back at me urgently, still tied to my arms. Her flushed face looked like a ripe apple.

While I was trying to pull my arm away, I made up my mind not to let go of my arm.

I repeat, unless you use divine power, it is impossible for a girl to tear off my hug with her physical strength.

“Lee, let go of this.”

Eventually, she gave up on pushing me away and adopted the verbal method of expressing herself.

Whenever I tried to have a conversation like that, he would just slouch and avoid me as if he didn’t want to talk to me.

“You don’t like it?”

“Yes, yes?”

Now you look back at me and say, ‘Let go of this’?

How could anyone possibly listen to me?

I openly laughed and hugged her as if I was trying to show off. And that wasn’t all? I buried my head in the nape of her neck and sniffed her scent.

‘Hmm.’

It was a completely different type of body odor from Israfil’s lavender scent. Maybe it was the influence of the fragrance, but it felt like a strangely refreshing citrus scent… … .

It wasn’t a bad scent either way, but it was time to dig deeper into Lethe’s hair.

“Dude, are you crazy… …!? What the heck, what the heck are you doing? Are you a pervert!?”

“Ugh.”

Lethe slapped my temple with her palm in shock. It seemed like a signal for me to get off her neck right away.

“… … I think I’m really crazy.”

I pressed her even harder, because I had a feeling that if I let her go now, it would probably be difficult for her to even hold on for a while.

Well, even if I make up my mind and use my divine power, there’s no reason why Lethe wouldn’t be able to push me away─.

“… … Why are you doing this now… … .”

She just seemed to be trembling and making complicated noises, but she showed a gentle side, not even thinking of trying to overcome me with her own strength.

And from that sight I was able to gain confidence once again.

I am confident that my mind and hers are probably not that different in the grand scheme of things.

“… … Lete Heresia.”

This was the turning point. I spoke my first words even though I felt my lips going dry.

“I clearly said I was sorry.”

“… … ugh.”

Then Lete stopped struggling and flinched, and I continued speaking quietly.

“You won’t accept it? Then I’ll keep following you around until you forgive me.”

“… … .”

“What… … . If you’re still mad at me, let me ask you one more question.”

This time, don’t avoid it and answer me, I whispered, hugging Lete and tickling her cheek.

Then, Lete’s body trembled slightly as if she was having a convulsion. But… … it wasn’t a feeling of discomfort.

Quite the opposite. I muttered as I listened to her heartbeat becoming more and more vivid.

“… … What is the relationship between you and me?”

It was a single word that captured the essence of this situation.

Lethe’s body became stiff.

I continued speaking slowly, stretching her soft cheeks like rice cakes.

“Just a regular bad guy? Occasionally a sex partner who sleeps with you because of divine powers? Is that all?”

“… … .”

“Or what else is left?”

In some ways, it may be cowardly, just avoiding direct mention and speaking indirectly.

But I think the meaning was conveyed well. Lethe also understood what I was trying to say.

She finally gave up on pushing my arm away. She just placed her hand on the back of mine without saying a word.

I wrapped my arms around his neck as if embracing him, and placed my hands on his collarbone.

Thump, thump.

It was no longer meaningful to distinguish heart sounds. It was difficult for me to tell whether the pounding heartbeat was mine or Lethe’s.

I felt myself gradually losing consciousness as the heat gradually engulfed my whole body.

I felt like if this awkward silence continued any longer, it would be really hard to endure.

Whether it was me or that Lethe guy.

I added with a deep sigh.

“Please do me a favor, Lete.”

“… … .”

“… … Answer me.”

Perhaps, even after saying this, Lethe Heresia might still remain silent.

Or, you could avoid answering… … or use some trick to avoid the immediate situation.

Either way, it wasn’t the outcome I wanted.

What can I do? My authority ends at the stage of asking for an answer. I also do not want an answer that is forced or coerced.

Even if this place is left to fizzle out, there is nothing we can do. For now, let’s give up and resolve to end this four-day cold war first.

“… … The answer is.”

Lete opened her mouth. The voice that came out softly was plain and lacked any particular emotion, making it difficult to guess what was inside.

“What kind of relationship do we have? I never thought you’d be the first to ask that, but here we are… … . You want to hear my answer?”

But it was okay. I swallowed dry saliva, feeling a little relieved.

Could this, the unexpected but highly anticipated dialogue, finally be opening up?

“I’m sorry.”

The hope that I had glimpsed for a moment was quickly dashed by Lethe’s subsequent mutterings.

A rejection answer that doesn’t require much thought.

I looked at Lete with a stiff expression. She pushed my arm away and turned her head away─.

“It hasn’t been that long since I became aware of my feelings.”

“… … What?”

Lethe’s answer was from now on.

I flinched and looked at her again, and her sapphire blue eyes, characteristic of the Heresia family, were so distinctive.

“I don’t have the confidence to put this feeling into words, I’m not very good at explaining it… … .”

“… … .”

“So, I will replace my ‘answer’ with action.”

“Are you okay?” asked Lete with a faint smile, before I could fully understand what he meant.

Thud!

This time, Lete grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me towards her. In an instant, the beautiful wall-eye that had become so close disappeared behind my eyelids.

Our breaths were intertwined. We could no longer see eye to eye, but I dare say that our thoughts were probably the same.

I couldn’t avoid Lete’s clumsy kiss that lightly pressed against my lips.

Even if I had the ability to avoid it─. I wasn’t a man so foolish and stupid as to reflexively avoid a kiss with such important meaning.

As such, I had no intention of shaking it off.

Just in case I tried to avoid her, just in case I tried to push her away, Lete grabbed me by the nape of my neck and held down one of my arms.

It was a fragile hand that seemed like it would crumble if touched lightly. Could this also be called bondage?

I had no intention of avoiding it in the first place.

In order to relieve some of the anxiety she was feeling, I decided to wait quietly without lifting a finger this time.

Like that… … . The girl’s soft lips left a deep seal on the corner of my mouth.