“Then tell me, what made you realize that you liked me?”
Kamian, having finished replacing the plumbing pipes, straightened his back and stood up. His head throbbed with pain, strained from the sudden increase in height.
“If you’re going to keep making strange remarks, just go inside.”
“What’s so strange about this? I’m just trying to help you.”
“Stop whining and grumbling. You’re getting in the way of my work.”
“Goodness gracious. I really want to silence your tone for good.”
Who was this person asking for help? After enduring the chilly breeze and coming out here for them, they were now acting as if it were a bother. Irritated, I clenched my fist and struck the person’s thigh right in front of me. However, Kamian showed no reaction, as if I had merely brushed against their thigh with a feather. Only I, left with the agony akin to pounding my fist on a rock, let out a groan.
Kamian knelt down, holding my hand, and exhaled a breath. Although they possessed divine power, which did not heal the wounded, I couldn’t fathom why they engaged in such behaviour. But what I couldn’t comprehend even more was the sense of relief as the searing pain that had been throbbing seemed to truly subside. No… an unbearable restlessness seized me, swallowing the pain and causing my fingertips to twitch.
Suddenly, Kamian looked up and met my gaze. I involuntarily faltered and fell silent as their red eyes met mine. They raised an eyebrow in a nonchalant gesture.
“Don’t you understand?”
“…”
“Why do you always hurt yourself, suffer for your own sake?”
My heart, which had momentarily fluttered with anticipation, grew cold. I roughly pulled my hand free, then took cautious steps toward Kamian, getting close enough to graze their leg with my knee. As I moved, Kamian’s head gradually lowered, while mine tilted upward.
“Well?”
I reached out and grasped Kamian’s cheeks, firmly immobilizing them to force them to look into my face. Suppressing the urge to burst into laughter, I tugged down the corners of my mouth, furrowed my eyebrows, and contorted my eyebrows to simulate a tearful expression. Kamian’s eyelids twitched.
“…Please don’t.”
Kamian, sensing unease, tried to stop me, but it was already too late. You ignored my sincerity, and my heart was deeply wounded.
“I don’t know… [sob]”
“…”
“How can I stay by your side… sob… I really don’t know anymore.”
I recreated Kamian’s tearful confession in the same manner as before. Extending the tail of my words in a feeble attempt to add a touch of absurdity, I watched as Kamian’s face flushed a deep crimson, as if it were on the verge of bursting.
“Cease,” I said.
“Liv [sniffs] I like you… far more, a hundredfold, a thousandfold more than you can fathom.”
Exposing my dark past so openly, Kamian writhed in agony. It seemed as though she yearned to push me away and flee into the house. Yet, she could only muster enough strength to lightly brush my two hands, which held onto her cheeks.
Oh, what a predicament. I should continue teasing him, but witnessing Kamian’s flustered state, I couldn’t help but emit a subtle chuckle that slipped through my lips. Kamian clasped onto my wrist and let out a stifled sigh of distress.
“Why did I ever say such things?”
“Do I have to deny it? But what should I do? I remember every single word you said, without a single mistake.”
“When did I ever say anything about being a hundredfold or a thousandfold…?”
Kamian’s voice rose sharply, as if something choked her, but she forcibly swallowed her words, closing her mouth. To appear even more contemptible, I raised my head and retorted.
“Why do you suddenly stop? Are you ashamed?”
“Let go of my hand. My leg itches.”
“You complain about sitting for too long.”
“Not me, you.”
“My excuses are…?”
I intended to show that both of my legs were perfectly fine, but oddly enough… my knees wouldn’t straighten. Even a slight exertion of force caused a tingling sensation to spread throughout my lower body. The tingling in my legs rendered them incapable of speaking, to the point where it became embarrassing that I had complained to Kamian about a young one’s condition.
“Ah…”
“There you have it.”
As I released my hand from Kamian’s grip and prepared to touch the ground, I felt the firm, large touch of another hand beneath my palm.
“Embrace my neck.”
Kamian positioned herself on her knees on the earthen ground, stooping her upper body so that it would be easier for me to hold her. Overwhelmed by a sensation akin to a thousand ants racing on my body, I involuntarily rolled my face and quickly wrapped my arms around her neck.
Once Kamian safely supported my waist with her arms, she gently rose to her feet. As my legs extended, an even greater swarm of ants gathered.
“Ugh, it feels like these legs don’t belong to me.”
“Let’s go to the room and lie down. I’ll massage your legs.”
Any method would suffice as long as these ants were chased away quickly. I nodded without hesitation.
“Then tell me, what made you realize that you liked me?”
Kamian, having finished replacing the plumbing pipes, straightened his back and stood up. His head throbbed with pain, strained from the sudden increase in height.
“If you’re going to keep making strange remarks, just go inside.”
“What’s so strange about this? I’m just trying to help you.”
“Stop whining and grumbling. You’re getting in the way of my work.”
“Goodness gracious. I really want to silence your tone for good.”
Who was this person asking for help? After enduring the chilly breeze and coming out here for them, they were now acting as if it were a bother. Irritated, I clenched my fist and struck the person’s thigh right in front of me. However, Kamian showed no reaction, as if I had merely brushed against their thigh with a feather. Only I, left with the agony akin to pounding my fist on a rock, let out a groan.
Kamian knelt down, holding my hand, and exhaled a breath. Although they possessed divine power, which did not heal the wounded, I couldn’t fathom why they engaged in such behaviour. But what I couldn’t comprehend even more was the sense of relief as the searing pain that had been throbbing seemed to truly subside. No… an unbearable restlessness seized me, swallowing the pain and causing my fingertips to twitch.
Suddenly, Kamian looked up and met my gaze. I involuntarily faltered and fell silent as their red eyes met mine. They raised an eyebrow in a nonchalant gesture.
“Don’t you understand?”
“…”
“Why do you always hurt yourself, suffer for your own sake?”
My heart, which had momentarily fluttered with anticipation, grew cold. I roughly pulled my hand free, then took cautious steps toward Kamian, getting close enough to graze their leg with my knee. As I moved, Kamian’s head gradually lowered, while mine tilted upward.
“Well?”
I reached out and grasped Kamian’s cheeks, firmly immobilizing them to force them to look into my face. Suppressing the urge to burst into laughter, I tugged down the corners of my mouth, furrowed my eyebrows, and contorted my eyebrows to simulate a tearful expression. Kamian’s eyelids twitched.
“…Please don’t.”
Kamian, sensing unease, tried to stop me, but it was already too late. You ignored my sincerity, and my heart was deeply wounded.
“I don’t know… [sob]”
“…”
“How can I stay by your side… sob… I really don’t know anymore.”
I recreated Kamian’s tearful confession in the same manner as before. Extending the tail of my words in a feeble attempt to add a touch of absurdity, I watched as Kamian’s face flushed a deep crimson, as if it were on the verge of bursting.
“Cease,” I said.
“Liv [sniffs] I like you… far more, a hundredfold, a thousandfold more than you can fathom.”
Exposing my dark past so openly, Kamian writhed in agony. It seemed as though she yearned to push me away and flee into the house. Yet, she could only muster enough strength to lightly brush my two hands, which held onto her cheeks.
Oh, what a predicament. I should continue teasing him, but witnessing Kamian’s flustered state, I couldn’t help but emit a subtle chuckle that slipped through my lips. Kamian clasped onto my wrist and let out a stifled sigh of distress.
“Why did I ever say such things?”
“Do I have to deny it? But what should I do? I remember every single word you said, without a single mistake.”
“When did I ever say anything about being a hundredfold or a thousandfold…?”
Kamian’s voice rose sharply, as if something choked her, but she forcibly swallowed her words, closing her mouth. To appear even more contemptible, I raised my head and retorted.
“Why do you suddenly stop? Are you ashamed?”
“Let go of my hand. My leg itches.”
“You complain about sitting for too long.”
“Not me, you.”
“My excuses are…?”
I intended to show that both of my legs were perfectly fine, but oddly enough… my knees wouldn’t straighten. Even a slight exertion of force caused a tingling sensation to spread throughout my lower body. The tingling in my legs rendered them incapable of speaking, to the point where it became embarrassing that I had complained to Kamian about a young one’s condition.
“Ah…”
“There you have it.”
As I released my hand from Kamian’s grip and prepared to touch the ground, I felt the firm, large touch of another hand beneath my palm.
“Embrace my neck.”
Kamian positioned herself on her knees on the earthen ground, stooping her upper body so that it would be easier for me to hold her. Overwhelmed by a sensation akin to a thousand ants racing on my body, I involuntarily rolled my face and quickly wrapped my arms around her neck.
Once Kamian safely supported my waist with her arms, she gently rose to her feet. As my legs extended, an even greater swarm of ants gathered.
“Ugh, it feels like these legs don’t belong to me.”
“Let’s go to the room and lie down. I’ll massage your legs.”
Any method would suffice as long as these ants were chased away quickly. I nodded without hesitation.
