* * *
Because I was so focused on just running, I surprisingly didn’t get caught right away.
But since I had no destination in mind, my feet naturally carried me back to the inn where I was staying.
I guess people just instinctively run to familiar places.
Since I was already inside, I had nowhere else to go.
I couldn’t think straight from the panic, so I just dashed into my room and locked the door.
Not that it was going to help.
But that’s just how it turned out.
Life doesn’t go the way you want it to.
I heard footsteps—slow, deliberate ones.
Then a presence stopped just outside the door.
A knock followed, so loud it sounded like he was trying to break it down.
W-Well, at least he’s knocking… or maybe that’s just a warning that he will break it down if I don’t open up?
“Open the door.”
Aaagh.
“Look, um, it’s like… uh…”
Just say sorry! Start with an apology!
But my tongue was frozen, and nothing came out.
The only thing that escaped my mouth was a useless jumble of sounds.
God, I really am an idiot.
“I said open it.”
Hhhhrrgh.
His commanding voice was terrifying… and hot.
With trembling hands, I finally unlocked the door.
Honestly, it wouldn’t have mattered even if I didn’t.
Knowing Batista, he’d just snap the doorknob off like he did at the temple.
Still, I couldn’t help but be scared.
“…You, you’re really mad, right? But I swear I wasn’t, like, creepily spying on you or anything.”
Even though I’d steeled myself to open the door, Batista barely listened to a word I said.
His attention was clearly somewhere else.
It took me a second to figure out why.
And when I did, a cold sweat broke out down my neck.
Batista was looking at Gaspar.
His teacher.
The one I knocked out, tied up, and left in my room.
I—this wasn’t how I planned to show him!
I was going to throw Gaspar in front of him and say it was a peace offering or something!
But everything I planned had gone so wrong, I wasn’t even sure this could work anymore.
All I could do was open and close my mouth like a fish.
“Did you… sleep with him?”
AAAAAAAGH!
“What the hell kind of question is that?!”
My mouth moved before I could stop it.
How could he jump to that kind of ridiculous misunderstanding?!
Who leaves someone they slept with tied up and gagged on the floor?!
“Your friends ask you that all the time.”
And suddenly, I wanted to die.
Maybe death isn’t such a bad apology.
It’s the most extreme one a person can offer, right?
Maybe even the gods would accept that.
Let’s stop saying ridiculous things.
“It’s not! It’s absolutely not like that!”
It was a bit rude, but I couldn’t help raising my voice at the Hero.
“You were mad at me because of that… so I brought it as a peace offering.”
“A peace… offering?”
“If he were free to run his mouth, I wouldn’t even want to look at him… but since he’s all tied up like that, wouldn’t you at least want to throw a few punches?”
Batista fell silent.
The fact that he didn’t react negatively outright was a relief, but that didn’t mean I could relax.
He wasn’t saying anything, his expression frozen—so I had no way of knowing what Batista was thinking.
For all I knew, he might’ve been planning how to rip me apart in his head.
That—more than anything—is what’s terrifying! I can’t even prepare!
“Was… I wrong?”
My mouth was completely dry.
I glanced up nervously.
Was Arthur right?
No matter the reason, meeting someone you dislike must always feel awful.
“I looked into it, and just like you said, this guy’s complete trash… Not worth killing, but definitely worth punching a few times…”
There was a soft chuckle.
Startled, I looked up.
Was that a laugh?
That was a laugh, right?
I didn’t laugh, so it must’ve been Batista?
No way Gaspar suddenly woke up from being knocked out and started laughing, right?
Batista’s shoulders shook.
I went blank.
‘He’s laughing.’
Batista was smiling.
His face, usually so blank and cold, now full of emotion.
Seeing that smile for the first time… words like “handsome” or “cool” didn’t even come to mind.
It was divine.
Sounds cheesy, but that’s how it felt to me.
Like a perfect, noble being had, just for a moment, shown something profoundly human.
It even felt a little sacrilegious, like I was sneaking a peek at an angel’s private side.
Batista’s bright smile was… beautiful.
It felt unreal, like I couldn’t believe I was seeing it with my own eyes.
I was entranced.
It felt like a dream.
Then he laughed—a real, hearty laugh that filled the entire room, snapping me out of my daze.
It was the first time I’d ever seen him laugh like that—no, not just laugh, really laugh out loud.
It was overwhelming.
I couldn’t believe this was something I had made happen.
My cheeks burned. I could tell my whole face was red, but I couldn’t even cover it.
I didn’t want to miss even a second of that smile.
Ah, I’m so glad.
So glad he’s no longer upset.
None of my plans worked out, everything went totally off the rails… but still, if Batista’s no longer mad, then that’s enough.
That’s a massive win.
I smiled too.
Our eyes met. This time, I wasn’t scared at all.
Looking back, all that running around in fear earlier feels like a lie.
Coming to this inn on a whim was the right move.
I should give myself credit for bringing Gaspar as a peace offering.
I smiled even wider.
Then Batista pulled me into his arms.
Huh?
Wait.
Is this… a happy hug?
But I’m not exactly feeling “pure” here—this is making my heart race!
Kinda problematic!
Now it’s not just my face, even my neck feels like it’s on fire.
Even without a mirror, I can tell.
His purple hair brushes against my cheek and neck.
I can feel his breath.
I didn’t even have time to breathe.
The firm hold around my waist felt so good it made me want to scream.
“I missed you.”
He whispered in my ear.
I almost passed out.
He missed me?
‘Me?’
He said he missed me?
Well, yeah, he came looking for me in the market, right?
That must mean he was really looking for me.
Because he missed me.
He walked all around town looking for me.
Batista was… waiting for me.
Even though he’d said there was no reason for us to stick together, even though he’d taken off his ring and pushed me away.
…Did he regret it?
My heart fluttered.
The bitterness I felt just melted away, like it had never been there.
I fumbled my hand along his arm, up to his fingers.
I hadn’t noticed it before, but I could feel the shape of the ring on his left ring finger.
For some reason, that made me so happy.
‘It probably doesn’t mean anything… right?’
Still, he wore the ring he bought because of me on his left ring finger—how could I not be thrilled?
Maybe people who might’ve been real candidates for true love would back off now, but… who cares?
Whatever.
Destiny’s supposed to overcome things like this anyway!
* * *
