* * *

Suddenly, beyond the hero standing in my doorway, I noticed the bright summer sky.

The open door made it all the more vivid.

The sky was a deep, vibrant blue, free of clouds, and strikingly clear.

‘Wait, it’s way past dawn!’

This wasn’t early morning anymore—it was straight-up late.

Oh no, I was actually late.

“Did… Did you wait for me?”

How long did I even sleep?

My head spun.

After struggling to fall asleep last night, I’d somehow slept through the entire morning.

If I’d known this would happen, I’d have forced myself to stay awake to get ready, no matter how tired I was.

How much time did I waste?

The thought was infuriating.

Since Aimone mentioned traveling today, I’d assumed it was still early.

But now that I think about it, he never said he was leaving at dawn.

This was entirely my own misunderstanding.

That’s when it hit me—today was the last day I’d be traveling with the hero.

I hadn’t shown up at the guild, so he must’ve thought something was wrong and asked around to find my place.

‘Oh, no. What do I do?’

The hero didn’t owe me anything.

I was the one who begged to travel with him.

If I wasted a day, it was his gain—he’d have one less nuisance tagging along.

But instead of leaving me behind, he kept his word and came all the way here.

How could anyone call someone like him a monster?

Whoever gave him that nickname deserves a beating.

It was touching.

At the same time, I felt terrible.

I’d made him waste almost an entire morning waiting for me.

Did he even get breakfast?

Probably, given how he can’t function on an empty stomach.

But still, I was worried.

“I’m not usually like this. I don’t know how I overslept today. I swear it won’t happen again! That is, if… if you’d still let me travel with you after today…”

I trailed off, realizing I might’ve overstepped.

I’d spent the past week trying to get closer to him, but I wasn’t sure if I’d succeeded.

The fact that he came to find me meant he didn’t outright dislike me after last time.

But now that the week was over, I wasn’t sure if he’d tell me to scram.

“Anyway, thanks for coming! I guess I was still tired from that last-minute trip to Cheps. I woke up in the middle of the night but fell back asleep. I should’ve left to meet you then…”

“…”

No response.

He didn’t seem interested in my excuses.

Yet, for some reason, his gaze stayed fixed on my face.

What? Is there something on my face?

Nothing, right?

He’s not staring because I’m good-looking, is he?

If the hero wanted to see a handsome face, he could just look at his reflection in the river.

I was getting anxious, unable to figure out why he was staring.

Was he picking his words to tell me off?

To say we should never meet again?

That can’t happen!

“…I’m hungry.”

But the words that finally came out were completely unexpected.

If the hero’s hungry, then of course we need to get food.

Without further excuses, I asked what he wanted to eat.

This led us to the same brick oven place we visited last time.

Eating greasy meat first thing after waking up wasn’t ideal, but I was relieved he liked the place.

If his tastes matched mine, I had plenty more spots to introduce him to.

Maybe that could win me some points with him?

First, though, I’d have to get permission to travel with him beyond the agreed week.

“Not eating?” the hero asked.

He had already finished two plates of venison by the time I’d barely touched my first.

I couldn’t eat much.

The heat in the restaurant was making me drowsy again, and heavy, greasy food wasn’t helping.

Still, I couldn’t exactly tell the hero that…

He even came all the way to my house to keep a promise he didn’t need to keep.

How could I not be grateful to such a remarkable hero?

If I said I couldn’t eat right now, I’d be an ungrateful jerk.

“Just… I like watching you eat.”

I mumbled a weak excuse.

It wasn’t a lie.

Seeing the hero enjoy a meal at a place I recommended filled me with pride and satisfaction.

It made me happy, too.

Before the regression, leisurely meals like this were impossible.

I was constantly on edge, never knowing when an attack might come, and couldn’t even cook properly.

For someone who loves food as much as the hero, those days must have been unbearable.

I used to think about how, when the war was over, I’d love to see him eat delicious food to his heart’s content.

While the war isn’t over, technically, and I’ve only gone back to before it began, it still feels like I’ve partially achieved that wish.

Lost in thought, I suddenly noticed the hero’s eyes on me, his gaze unusually piercing.

“Why? Should I order more?”

No response.

Then what?

Oh, maybe he was asking if I wasn’t eating because I didn’t feel like it?

Was he worried about me?

Did he want to leave already?

If so, my earlier response probably made no sense at all.

Awkward.

Should I ask if he’s done?

But what about the food still left on my plate?

Not eating at all might make it obvious that I’m not feeling well.

Ah, I should’ve just said I wasn’t that hungry and skipped ordering altogether.

My sleepy brain wasn’t working properly.

Maybe I should just nibble at it and claim I’m full?

“…Eat.”

The hero’s voice sounded a bit weaker than usual.

Did he notice I was struggling with the rich food?

Was he feeling bad about it?

His concern got to me, so I took a bite.

My stomach churned slightly, but the food was delicious enough that I managed.

I picked at it lightly, eating just enough to seem fine.

As I started eating, the hero raised his hand to call over the server and ordered two more dishes.

Was he worried he’d eaten too much alone?

That thought made him seem unexpectedly endearing.

“Don’t hold back—just eat. What’s with the sudden consideration for someone else?”

The more he eats, the happier I feel watching him.

Still, saying something like this while we’re paying separately feels a bit off.

Maybe I should show my gratitude by covering the bill?

After demons took over the continent, I survived mainly thanks to the hero—at least half of it was his doing.

Even though, technically, those events haven’t happened yet, I still feel deeply indebted to him.

“This time, it’s on me.”

“…”

“What? It’s a thank-you for spending the week with me. Everyone’s jealous of me, you know?”

No response.

Still, the hero’s an adventurer. Surely he wouldn’t refuse someone else footing the bill.

“It’s hard to believe it’s already been a week. Did the trip to Cheps make it feel shorter? It’s kind of sad, honestly.”

Silence usually means agreement, so I continued speaking as if it were a done deal.

The hero isn’t the type to hesitate—if he didn’t want me to pay, he’d say so outright.

So this means I can pay!

Well, I don’t expect any polite response like “I’ll cover it next time.”

I just hope this means we’ll meet again.

“So starting tomorrow, are you going to tell me to buzz off if I try talking to you?”

I asked with a playful tone, masking my nervousness.

The hero stopped cutting his meat and looked at me.

His gaze was, as always, serious.

Suddenly, I felt incredibly tense.

If he said yes, I’d be devastated.

Maybe I should’ve phrased it more gently.

I shouldn’t have brought up the idea of him telling me to leave, should’ve asked if he’d stop acknowledging me instead.

“No.”

…

Wait.

Did I hear that right? He just said no, didn’t he?

Clear, firm, and without hesitation—he said no!

The hero said “no” to me!

Am I misremembering my own question?

Did I ask, “You won’t tell me to buzz off, right?” instead of “Are you going to tell me to buzz off?”

So, he’s saying he won’t ignore me if I talk to him?

Even though I’m not officially part of his party?

Is this really happening?

* * *