Kamian didn’t answer. It meant that he would come along. I sighed irritably and faced him.
“Sorry for the misunderstanding yesterday, and I also wanted to bid a proper farewell.”
Then, I realized that even though Leo’s confession method was far from perfect, as his friend, I should refuse him with proper manners. But if Kamian, who was like a thorn in my side, followed along, it would only turn into a mockery.
Kamian still remained silent.
“Kamian, you asked me for help, didn’t you?”
“…”.
“However, what use is it if I’m the only one helping? You don’t cooperate. I told you not to follow me. Well then, wait. How can you expect me to soften my heart while you continue to behave the same way?”
Kamian swept his hand slowly through his hair, then exhaled sharply. His cheeks are slightly swollen.
“Alright, fine. When will you come?”
…It’s the first time. The first time Kamian has yielded to my intentions. I widened my eyes and looked at him. He’s trying not to love me. It was a favourable response.
“An hour?”
Kamian narrowed his eyes.
“That long?”
“The conversation might go on for a while. Don’t think about shortening the time.”
“…If it goes over an hour, I’ll come get you.”
“I can handle it alone…”
“Just be considerate.”
“…”
I should clearly say that it’s not possible, but why are my lips sticking together like they’ve been coated in adhesive? Kamian isn’t pleading pitifully, and yet, I can’t help but find him so pathetic as he tightly wrinkles his forehead. I don’t even understand why.
“Don’t act so harshly from the beginning.”
“…Alright.”
I succumbed to Kamian’s impure plea helplessly. As I looked at his dark brows that were parting to reveal his forehead, I thought, yes, if I steadily climb step by step like this, I’ll soon reach the summit. Let’s not push too hard.
I waved my hand at Kamian, who escorted me at the door. Then, after walking for a while, I suddenly turned around, and Kamian was still looking at me. I knew he wouldn’t enter even if I told him to. So I let him be and continued on my way, but this time, I quickened my pace. Disappearing from Kamian’s sight was the only way to swiftly usher him into the house.
* * *
Upon hearing my arrival, there was a tumultuous clatter and thud emanating from Leo’s house. Sherry exclaimed in exasperation, “Leo!” Her voice was tinged with annoyance. It wasn’t long before Leo’s dishevelled visage appeared through the open door. His eyes were swollen with the effects of a hangover, and his hair resembled a rookery.
“Liv?”
“Hello.”
Leo, belatedly realizing how he must have looked, hastily attempted to fix his hair, as if the action could erase what had already been witnessed.
“What brings you outside in this cold? Come in.”
“No, I won’t. I’ll be leaving soon.”
“…What’s the matter?”
“Yesterday… unintentionally, I caused a misunderstanding that involved you. I wanted to explain.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Leo’s eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope, causing a cold sweat to break out on my brow.
“I had a cramp in my leg, and I was trying to get Kamian to give me a massage. But unfortunately, it was precisely at that moment you showed up. It’s not for any other reason but to relieve the cramp. Please don’t think of anything else.”
“Oh…”
An irreplaceable smile crept onto Leo’s lips. And swiftly, I added,
“Do you remember when I said I wouldn’t accompany you to the capital? I meant it sincerely.”
“Liv, can you please reconsider once more? The capital offers more convenient facilities than here, and if you wish, I can introduce you to a better academy as well.”
I firmly shook my head.
“I am happy with what I have now. I do not have such a strong affection for you, Leo, that I would give up everything. “The same holds true for you, right?”
“…”
“You should be careful. And the next time you come down, you can leave behind… all those capital belongings if you wish. It’s a bit awkward to say it now, but truthfully, your explanations were rather tedious.”
Leo’s face displayed more shock than when I had told him I wouldn’t go to the capital. …The revelation that you had not sensed my boredom until now was even more jarring.
“I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Well, um… I found the first three explanations somewhat amusing.”
As Leo lowered his head with a remorseful expression, my resolve also weakened. I extended three fingers and waved them playfully before his eyes.
Leo faintly smiled.
“Thank you for obliging me to listen to my explanations.”
“Not at all. Well… I’ve said what I needed to say, so I’ll be going now. I hope I get to see you again, Leo.”
My final words held sincerity. If I could remain in this town a little longer without succumbing to death, it would be nice to see Leo’s face, so passionate in its explanation of objects, drenched in sweat once or twice more.
I forcibly pushed Leo, who had offered to escort me, into the house. As I tightly shut the door behind him, my footsteps felt more resolute than before.
I had told Kamian it would take an hour, but it hadn’t even been thirty minutes. No, perhaps it had already surpassed thirty minutes? Surely Kamian wouldn’t continue standing at the door.
“…”
If it were Kamian, he would undoubtedly wait even if it meant standing there endlessly. The image of Kamian, enduring the chilly breeze while waiting for me, brushed through my mind, hastening my steps. And it was at that moment…
“Bang!”
A bone-chilling, thunderous noise reverberated from behind me, causing the ground to tremor.
Kamian didn’t answer. It meant that he would come along. I sighed irritably and faced him.
“Sorry for the misunderstanding yesterday, and I also wanted to bid a proper farewell.”
Then, I realized that even though Leo’s confession method was far from perfect, as his friend, I should refuse him with proper manners. But if Kamian, who was like a thorn in my side, followed along, it would only turn into a mockery.
Kamian still remained silent.
“Kamian, you asked me for help, didn’t you?”
“…”.
“However, what use is it if I’m the only one helping? You don’t cooperate. I told you not to follow me. Well then, wait. How can you expect me to soften my heart while you continue to behave the same way?”
Kamian swept his hand slowly through his hair, then exhaled sharply. His cheeks are slightly swollen.
“Alright, fine. When will you come?”
…It’s the first time. The first time Kamian has yielded to my intentions. I widened my eyes and looked at him. He’s trying not to love me. It was a favourable response.
“An hour?”
Kamian narrowed his eyes.
“That long?”
“The conversation might go on for a while. Don’t think about shortening the time.”
“…If it goes over an hour, I’ll come get you.”
“I can handle it alone…”
“Just be considerate.”
“…”
I should clearly say that it’s not possible, but why are my lips sticking together like they’ve been coated in adhesive? Kamian isn’t pleading pitifully, and yet, I can’t help but find him so pathetic as he tightly wrinkles his forehead. I don’t even understand why.
“Don’t act so harshly from the beginning.”
“…Alright.”
I succumbed to Kamian’s impure plea helplessly. As I looked at his dark brows that were parting to reveal his forehead, I thought, yes, if I steadily climb step by step like this, I’ll soon reach the summit. Let’s not push too hard.
I waved my hand at Kamian, who escorted me at the door. Then, after walking for a while, I suddenly turned around, and Kamian was still looking at me. I knew he wouldn’t enter even if I told him to. So I let him be and continued on my way, but this time, I quickened my pace. Disappearing from Kamian’s sight was the only way to swiftly usher him into the house.
* * *
Upon hearing my arrival, there was a tumultuous clatter and thud emanating from Leo’s house. Sherry exclaimed in exasperation, “Leo!” Her voice was tinged with annoyance. It wasn’t long before Leo’s dishevelled visage appeared through the open door. His eyes were swollen with the effects of a hangover, and his hair resembled a rookery.
“Liv?”
“Hello.”
Leo, belatedly realizing how he must have looked, hastily attempted to fix his hair, as if the action could erase what had already been witnessed.
“What brings you outside in this cold? Come in.”
“No, I won’t. I’ll be leaving soon.”
“…What’s the matter?”
“Yesterday… unintentionally, I caused a misunderstanding that involved you. I wanted to explain.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Leo’s eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope, causing a cold sweat to break out on my brow.
“I had a cramp in my leg, and I was trying to get Kamian to give me a massage. But unfortunately, it was precisely at that moment you showed up. It’s not for any other reason but to relieve the cramp. Please don’t think of anything else.”
“Oh…”
An irreplaceable smile crept onto Leo’s lips. And swiftly, I added,
“Do you remember when I said I wouldn’t accompany you to the capital? I meant it sincerely.”
“Liv, can you please reconsider once more? The capital offers more convenient facilities than here, and if you wish, I can introduce you to a better academy as well.”
I firmly shook my head.
“I am happy with what I have now. I do not have such a strong affection for you, Leo, that I would give up everything. “The same holds true for you, right?”
“…”
“You should be careful. And the next time you come down, you can leave behind… all those capital belongings if you wish. It’s a bit awkward to say it now, but truthfully, your explanations were rather tedious.”
Leo’s face displayed more shock than when I had told him I wouldn’t go to the capital. …The revelation that you had not sensed my boredom until now was even more jarring.
“I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Well, um… I found the first three explanations somewhat amusing.”
As Leo lowered his head with a remorseful expression, my resolve also weakened. I extended three fingers and waved them playfully before his eyes.
Leo faintly smiled.
“Thank you for obliging me to listen to my explanations.”
“Not at all. Well… I’ve said what I needed to say, so I’ll be going now. I hope I get to see you again, Leo.”
My final words held sincerity. If I could remain in this town a little longer without succumbing to death, it would be nice to see Leo’s face, so passionate in its explanation of objects, drenched in sweat once or twice more.
I forcibly pushed Leo, who had offered to escort me, into the house. As I tightly shut the door behind him, my footsteps felt more resolute than before.
I had told Kamian it would take an hour, but it hadn’t even been thirty minutes. No, perhaps it had already surpassed thirty minutes? Surely Kamian wouldn’t continue standing at the door.
“…”
If it were Kamian, he would undoubtedly wait even if it meant standing there endlessly. The image of Kamian, enduring the chilly breeze while waiting for me, brushed through my mind, hastening my steps. And it was at that moment…
“Bang!”
A bone-chilling, thunderous noise reverberated from behind me, causing the ground to tremor.
