episode_0044

“…”

“…”

First, heading towards the bustling streets with a suggestion to grab a meal.

While I thought we would exchange some small talk on our way to the restaurant, that sharp-tongued guy showed no sign of opening his mouth.

His lips twitched slightly, but that was all. Even as we neared the busy area, he avoided my gaze, keeping his mouth tightly shut.

…Where did the mischievous troublemaker who always initiated conversations go, and why is this grumpy loner by my side?

Feeling it couldn’t continue like this, I forcefully jabbed his side with my finger, prompting him to complain in surprise.

“You call this a date? Isn’t it too quiet? Anyone would think we’re just going out to eat.”

“…”

“At least say something! Compliment me like you did earlier, huh? It’s creepy how quiet you are now when you’re usually so noisy!”

I strangely felt irritated.

If he ruins the date, it would undoubtedly be good for me, so why do I feel so uneasy?

For a moment, a dangerous question arose, but thankfully, I quickly found the answer.

Yes, it’s because it falls short of expectations.

The date seems too mundane compared to the worry I had for a month.

I fretted over something like this for 15 days…

As frustration mounted, I put on a sullen expression, and only then did the sharp-tongued guy slowly open his mouth.

“I’m afraid I might say something wrong if I speak.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Whenever I look at you, mischievous thoughts come to mind, and I fear I might say something inappropriate.”

“Oh.”

My face quickly flushed at his unexpected words.

Damn it, what if he says that to my face?

This, this is harassment!

Thinking mischievously after seeing someone’s body, isn’t that harassment?

“Pervert.”

With a disdainful glare, I retorted as he looked back at me with a sticky gaze.

“My mother said so. All men are wolves and perverts. So, wouldn’t it be natural for me to be one too?”

“…That’s not something to be proud of, idiot.”

“Hmm, don’t like a straightforward man? Let me jot it down first…”

Watching him take out a notebook to make a note, my head started spinning.

However, oddly enough, his usual self made me feel much more comfortable.

The suffocating silence when he kept his mouth shut and the awkwardness it brought were incredibly uncomfortable.

I felt the atmosphere had improved slightly, but I also realized that the awkwardness still lingered around us.

Wondering if changing the location would lessen the discomfort, I asked him how long until we reached the restaurant.

“We’re almost there. See that crowded place ahead? That’s our destination.”

“Oh, the food looks better than I expected?”

“It’s decent. The portion size and taste are just right.”

Listening to Cal’s explanation, we moved forward a bit more, and a shabby restaurant gradually came into view.

Confirming the bustling crowd, I grimaced slightly and muttered under my breath.

“You picked quite a lively place.”

“Don’t like the noise? We can go somewhere quieter if you prefer.”

“No, it’s fine. Considering the path we took, the noise seems better. Come on, let’s go in! If we block the way, others won’t be able to enter, right?”

Even going out to eat was a chore, and now I had to have a private conversation with this guy in a quiet place…

I shook my head hesitantly.

It’s too much.

Rather than continuing this awkward atmosphere, eavesdropping on other people’s conversations in a bustling place seemed much better.

After making my decision, instead of waiting for the hesitant Cal, I entered the shop first and found a seat, starting to look at the menu.

“…There are so many.”

“What?”

“The menu. It becomes difficult to decide with so many options.”

Looking around for something to eat, the variety of foods people were consuming was diverse.

Most had an expression that seemed to say, ‘It’s edible,’ which only made my decision-making paralysis worse.

What should I eat?

Will I receive praise for making an excellent choice?

After much deliberation, my choices narrowed down to just two options, unfortunately both being dishes I wanted to try at least once.

Resigned to this fate, I attempted to order both, but my companion quickly came up with a simple solution.

“Why not mix them together? Each of us can pour half of our dish into the other’s plate.”

“Oh, that sounds fine. But are you sure? It might not be a dish you particularly enjoy, right?”

“Well, I’ve always wanted to try something like that at least once. This is the perfect opportunity.”

Raising his hand high, my companion called over the waiter and, handing her the menu, placed our order.

“Here, one spicy stew and one sweet chicken stew. Is that possible?”

“It is possible, but… please be cautious with the spicy stew. Nonetheless, if you’re sure…”

“I’m fine. It can’t be spicier than a giant hornet’s sting, right?”

“That’s spicy in a different sense… Anyway, understood. One spicy stew and one sweet chicken stew, correct?”

“Yes, please.”

“Order received.”

As the waitress walked away with our order, she seemed somewhat uneasy.

Concerned, I asked him, “Are you really okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Despite his attempts to hide it desperately, I noticed a single bead of sweat trickling down his neck.

And his pupils trembled like leaves on a sycamore tree.

…I understand that the date is important to you, but did it have to be this extreme?

How will you handle the emotional wounds if you force yourself to eat something you can’t stand?

Although my companion looked pitiful, and for a moment, my heart softened,

I pinched my thigh to regain my composure.

This must be part of his plan.

He’s trying to evoke sympathy to sway my emotions.

I’m sorry, but I won’t fall for it so easily.

The only thing I can offer you is this glass, not love!

Anticipating his potential outburst, I had already filled the glass to the brim with water.

—–

“Cough… Ahh… Cough… Ahh…”

“Are you okay? You don’t look too good.”

“I’m f-fine… Cough… Ahh…”

My expectation that he would be knocked out after one bite of the spicy stew proved incorrect.

As soon as he tasted the stew, my companion let out strange groans, and I sighed while continuously refilling his glass with water.

…Why pretend to be tough and then show such a pathetic sight? Being arrogant isn’t cool; it’s just pitiful.

Refilling the glass once more, I scooped up another spoonful of the spicy stew.

Then, teasingly, I offered the spoon to him, still struggling.

“Want another bite?”

Considering how difficult it was for him to even take one bite, I doubted he would accept, but he was always unpredictable.

Pausing with a serious expression for a moment, he seemed to make a decision.

And then, without warning, he took the spoon into his mouth.

“Huh?”

Damn, I didn’t expect you to actually eat it!

You idiot… Did you really have to go this far even if it meant risking your life?

Perhaps his stupidity was truly remarkable, prompting me to applaud sarcastically.

With a strained smile, he began to clarify the misunderstanding.

“You thought I was pretending to be tough… right?”

“If not that, then what, you fool? Do you really need to go to such lengths to act tough?”

“Hmm, sorry, but what I did wasn’t acting tough. I don’t invest my precious self in such useless antics.”

Pointing at my cleaned spoon with a finger, I continued slowly.

“Instead of having Hellfire take root inside me, wouldn’t a single indirect kiss be enough profit?”

“…You crazy bastard.”

“What? You’re the one who offered it first, right? If there’s any fault, isn’t it more on you? Asking if it’s okay for someone struggling and then feeding them again, this is totally witch-like… Oh, right.”

The solidly packed words of the dude, now turned into an attack aimed at me.

It stung.

But more than that, it was embarrassing and shameful.

Did I… really have an indirect kiss with that guy?

And so smoothly, like water flowing?

Sure, it was forced by that damn guy.

But from a different perspective, wasn’t it also what I intended?

Under the guise of a joke, I extended my spoon to him.

“Ah, geez…”

I hadn’t even tasted the spicy stew a few times, so why was my body suddenly feeling so hot?

Why was my head, of all days, not cooperating!

I hastily gulped down the cold water in the glass, but my heated body seemed unaffected by the cooling liquid.

This won’t do.

After eating something sweet, I should calm my mind first…!

Thinking it was a big problem, I hurriedly devoured the sweet chicken stew, unaware at that moment.

That my actions would come back to haunt me.

“Phew, hoo…”

Struggling to calm down was only temporary.

The dude with the knife smirked, delivering another heavy blow to my heart.

Swoosh –

He gently wiped off the traces of stew splattered all over my face from my rushed eating.

As I stood there dazed, he whispered softly where his breath could reach.

“Our witch, why are you so cute today?”

Hearing this, without looking back, I immediately fled from the restaurant.

“Cough… cough…”

Trying to steady my shaking mind with deep breaths, cooling the heat in my head without cold water was no easy task.

Seems like grasping my sanity right away would be difficult, so for now, I cleanly gave up and placed my hand on my chest.

Thump, thump.

My heart was racing.

Very vigorously indeed.