Ch.332Chapter 332 – Episode: Reunion (2)

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After finishing the inner refinement of my solemnity and my own resolution.

I revealed everything that had happened to me to him.

I can’t remember how I said it or what expression I wore while speaking. Even though it just ended, my mind was in such disarray that I couldn’t recall it when—

Cal’s hands carefully rested on each of my cheeks.

It was the touch of someone who made it his daily routine to train by swinging a sword just as diligently as I did, if not more so.

Somewhat stiff and rough, and hands that exuded a ruggedness far greater than mine.

But because of that, the moment those hands—with a touch I loved more than anything else in the world—made contact with my cheeks.

A heat I couldn’t control rose from my face.

The moment his deep gaze, looking at me without saying a word, filled his eyes, that heat showed an unstoppable momentum.

Whether he knew or not about my desperate effort to suppress the embarrassment that was trying to cast its presence within me, no less intense than that heat.

Cal proceeded to his next action, as if to fan the flames of my embarrassment.

Swoosh—

The warm touch that had been on my cheeks moved slightly away from my face.

It was fortunate that the heat rising from my face subsided accordingly.

But just as I was about to raise my head in disappointment that his warm touch had left my face.

His hands, rough yet filled with warmth, had already moved behind my back and embraced me.

“Wai—!!”

I was so surprised that even the sound trying to escape my lips couldn’t fully emerge.

Squeeze—!!

My face was drawn right into Cal’s broad embrace.

I was too shocked by the sudden event to open my mouth before.

The countless indescribable sensations from his embrace reached me and silenced me.

The smell of sweat, clearly revealing his exhaustion from battling demons here for a long time, imprinted on me the closeness of our distance, which was already near.

Despite pulling me in somewhat abruptly, the firmness and comfort I felt from his sturdy arms, which showed clear signs of not wanting to startle me, calmed my momentarily surprised heart…

Thump-thump—!! Thump-thump—!!

…or rather, it made not just my face but my chest burn hot too.

I felt like I could tell without touching.

That if I touched my face now, I might get burned.

And besides the heat in my face that had reached its peak, there was something else I could tell.

I had been on edge about how he would react after I revealed everything.

And that was what he was thinking now, having heard it all and silently holding me in his embrace.

It was strange. It’s a self-evident truth and common sense that we need to speak to understand each other’s intentions and feelings.

But even without words, without seeing his face as he held me, I could clearly understand, almost tangibly, why he was holding me like this.

No matter how you change, I won’t waver and will keep you in my embrace, so rest assured.

He was conveying this to me through his body.

A faint, hollow laugh was about to escape my lips at the thought that I had worried for nothing.

But before that, something flowed from my body before words could…

Drip— Drip—

It was tears.

As the sense of relief I felt seeing his unwavering affection pushed away the anxiety that had nested in my heart.

That anxiety transformed into tears of relief and fell from my eyes.

It’s regrettable that tears flow so foolishly at a time when I’m so happy and filled with relief.

I should be showing him a smiling face right away, thanking him, conveying my feelings.

But crying so unsightly like this, I can’t properly convey my words to him…

When my thoughts reached that point, my sadness intensified, and the amount of tears seemed to increase.

I somehow managed to control the sobbing voice trying to escape my lips.

But it seems I can’t help that my body, which occasionally heaves, doesn’t follow my control.

The thought that I look unsightly crosses my mind.

With the sole determination to save you, I ran mindlessly through this place filled only with deep darkness.

I encountered another me who cherished you just as much.

Thanks to that, I gained immense power to end the demon and saved the world.

But when I face you, who worries about me so tenderly, no thoughts come to mind and I just…

Want to act spoiled with you or just say thank you.

It’s frustrating that these uncontrollable tears block even those words…

…I think I need to drain all these tears from my eyes before a proper conversation can continue.

Withdrawing the hollow laugh that was about to emerge, I brought my face, which had gently touched his embrace, closer.

The hard sensation welcomed my face, cooling my tear-stained face that still hadn’t lost its heat.

Tenderly.

I thought he might laugh playfully and tease me if he saw me like this, so I pressed my face even more firmly against his chest.

If he wants to see, I don’t mind showing him.

But I can’t show such an unsightly appearance when he’s not trying to see it…

Well, even if he were to tease me playfully after seeing my face like this, it would be okay.

I might cry, laugh, but not get angry…

Anyway, everything I have is now Cal’s.

So, Cal, I’ll be like this for a moment, so please indulge me.

Wait just a little. I’ll tell you I love you soon.

#

Your body, slightly trembling in my embrace, tells me what state you’re in.

You’re probably trying hard not to make a sound as tears flow from your overflowing emotions.

You’re probably worried that if you cry out loud, I might worry about you.

Seeing you act with such consideration for me even when shedding just a tear, my lips were about to curve gently when—

Drip— Drip—

The sound of moisture gradually seeping into my chest where I held you calmed my heart.

Just as rain falls when a hole opens in the sky.

The anxiety that filled your heart was being replaced with relief, and the anxiety dissolved like an impurity, turning into tears and flowing down.

No matter what form you take, I wouldn’t dislike you, wouldn’t abandon you, wouldn’t refuse to look at you.

I feel sorrow seeing you worry about being hated by me just because the you from another time who miraculously reached here has become one with the current you.

Self-reproach for not having instilled that level of trust in you yet.

And a sense of guilt that makes my heart ache just thinking about how much you must have worried while I was asleep, waiting for me to wake up.

I’d like to immediately say I’m sorry and comfort you as you cry.

But rather than abruptly changing the mood and confusing you, I’ll wait until you calm down.

We now have more than enough time, after all.

…However, contrary to my expectation that you’d stop after shedding a moderate amount of tears.

Sizu’s silent tears had already left a considerable mark on my chest where her face was buried, but she showed no sign of lifting her face from my embrace, making me hesitant.

I was prepared to silently accept even if you got angry at me, recalling memories from before the regression that I couldn’t even pretend were good.

But instead, this situation where you’re apologizing to me and shedding tears is a bit bewildering.

And the feeling of your tears leaving a mark on my body and gradually seeping in is a bit peculiar.

But I don’t dislike this current situation marked by unfamiliarity and strangeness.

No, it’s not that I don’t dislike it; how could I dislike it?

It’s natural, isn’t it? Who would avoid and dislike tears flowing from someone they love because they can’t control their emotions?

If it helps alleviate the anxiety in your heart, I’ll stay here for you as long as needed.

I’d like to wipe away the tears flowing from your eyes with my own hands, but seeing that your tear-stained face shows no intention of leaving my embrace, that seems difficult.

But… I don’t intend to hold that as regret.

Though you’re not crying out loud, I won’t try to see your face as you cry with your head down.

If I were to see you crying now, you’d surely dislike it.

“…!!”

Squeeze—!!

See, like this.

As you respond sensitively to my slight movement and completely bury your head, the strength of your arms embracing me gradually increases.

How could I dare to lower my head and look at you?

I’ll just quietly wait until your crying stops.

Releasing one of my arms that was holding you tightly.

Pat, pat.

Patting your shoulder is just a bonus.

Enjoying the flow of time that passes very slowly, how much time has passed like that?

As the speed at which my embrace gets wet from Sizu’s tears gradually decreases.

And the frequency of your trembling in my embrace also gradually decreases.

Sniff— Sniff—

I can feel your breathing, which had become somewhat irregular from crying, gradually stabilizing.

Not only that.

“It’s warm…”

Seeing you express your impression of my embrace in a slightly dazed yet gentle voice and nestle deeper into it.

My choice to wait patiently for you to get better seemed not to be wrong.

I can clearly see you trying not to lift your face from my embrace even for a moment, with your gaze lowered.

A flushed face, a face somewhat disheveled from tears of relief, a face that might show bewilderment, not knowing whether to speak to me.

Your face, which you’re trying to hide from me, would undoubtedly reveal all these aspects of you without concealment.

No matter what face you’re making, I wouldn’t dislike you for it.

Normally, I might playfully reach out and gently lift my head to observe you.

But I didn’t want to trouble you with such mischief now.

I’ll wait for you to eventually raise your head and face me.

And when you gather the courage to meet my eyes, I’ll tell you then.

I’m truly grateful that you don’t hate me.

I’m incomparably grateful that you like someone like me.

And…

That I truly love you.

“I love you…”

“…!!”

…Wait.

I think what I was just reciting in my mind accidentally came out of my mouth…

“…Really?”

…Oh my goodness.

It seems I’m not the only one who can’t control my emotions; I’m the same.

Sizu’s face, which she had been determined not to lift from my embrace until she had shed all her tears, was raised to meet my eyes.

I was about to sigh at the depth of my sin for inadvertently letting slip words that I could have delivered slowly after waiting a bit, causing you to lift your head when you had just stopped crying, but I held it back and looked at you.

The blue light in your eyes, reminiscent of the sea and sky, was still clear and pure.

But around those eyes were slightly reddened marks, revealing that you had been crying profusely until just a moment ago.

And your face, with traces of tears that hadn’t been completely wiped away, showed signs of disarray.

But even amidst such a disheveled appearance, the loveliness you displayed as you perked up your ears and sparkled your eyes, having well caught the words that had flowed from my mouth as if entranced, hadn’t faded at all.

Smooch—!

I arranged for Sizu’s face, specifically her forehead, to touch not my chest but my lips.

The soft sensation, the scent of golden osmanthus traveling through my nose, and…

“…Ca…Cal?!”

Your voice, stammering and showing great surprise.

And the sensation of lips that felt not just warm but hot enough to make me think they were burning.

Each one was a reaction and sensation that well conveyed your gentleness toward me.