Chapter 217 This Is Perfect!
Discussions about the stampede in Kirke and how to deal with the revived [Evil God] were held among the 4 houses, the explorer guild, and the ≪Wooden Sword Way≫ clan.
Although the explanations took a while, the discussions about what to do next went on for a long time, and by the time Aaron and the others headed home, the sun had already set.
Under the starry night sky, Aaron Gale and Fiona Ackerman walked together towards Aaron's house, taking their time.
""......""
There was no conversation.
After parting ways with their friends and being left alone, an awkward silence hung between the two.
They didn't even exchange glances, and the distance between them felt wider than usual.
The usual comfortable silence now felt uneasy, and an awkward atmosphere lingered. But this silence wasn't due to hostility; instead, it was filled with a sense of embarrassment.
Aaron thought...
(Huh? What's with this atmosphere? Did I say something? No, I didn't say anything, right? I didn't say anything... Ah, yeah, that's right, I didn't say anything. That's how it's supposed to be... But, what's with this atmosphere?!)
――――Aaron was confused!!
Ever since the meeting at the 4 houses ended and they dispersed, the atmosphere between him and Fiona had been weird. It was somehow sweet, humid, and if one had to describe it in color, it would be a pink-like...――――such an atmosphere had developed!
Normally, he'd ask "What's for dinner tonight?" and Fiona would respond with "I'll make it, no question!" Then Aaron would chime in with "No, really, please spare me!" followed by "What do you mean? (with a deadpan look)" and they'd have a casual conversation like that.
But today, he couldn't bring himself to say anything ordinary.
Why?
He know the reason.
(Uggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!)
He's dying of embarrassment.
Aaron was mortified in his mind.
It was because of his attitude and words after he blew up at Isaac Kirke.
It's not like it was a big deal that he blew up and destroyed the barrier, or that he sent 4 magicians flying, or that he threatened the people from the 4 houses with an aura sword, or that he stabbed Isaac with an aura sword.
The problem was what happened after that.
He ended up showing a pathetic face, on the verge of tears, and Fiona comforted him like a child. And to make matters worse, it was in public, with a bunch of people watching, and he's almost 30 years old!
(Ah, this is bad. I think I want to die right now...)
Just thinking about it makes him feel like his face is on fire with embarrassment.
And what's even more problematic is that, because of his over-the-top outburst and his reaction afterward, not just Fiona but everyone else who was there (except for one person) seemed to have figured out his true feelings.
He hadn't confessed, but it was as if he had.
After finishing the meeting with the 4 houses and starting on their way back, as he calmed down, he realized he'd done something incredibly embarrassing...
――――Confession.
On the one hand, Fiona, who was walking beside Aaron with a slight distance between them, had her face and even her ears flushed bright red, and was walking with her head hung low.
It wasn't because of Aaron's attitude towards the 4 families, or because of Aaron's feelings towards herself, that she had gained some sort of confidence...
Fiona was...
(Huh? Did I just confess?! Huh? Did I really confess?! Is that what it means to confess?! Huh?! What's going on?! Did I confess?!)
――Fiona was in a state of confusion!
(Aaron thinks I confessed, doesn't he?! He thinks I confessed?! Is that what it means?!)
She remembered her own words and actions at the 4 families' gathering.
She recalled the face of Aaron, who looked frustrated, and the words she had spoken to him at close range. It was almost as if she had made a declaration of love!
(Or rather, "No matter what happens, I'll follow you, and I won't regret it"... What's that supposed to mean?! It's like I'm saying I totally love him! If that's not the case, then I'm just a weird, heavy-hearted girl! And I think I said some other pretty bad things too... And in front of everyone, at that! Wait, what's going on?! Did I make a weird face?! Did I look like a cat in heat?!)
Fiona was mortified as she reflected on her own words and actions!
――And so, the two of them, each with their own reasons, were inwardly mortified by their own embarrassment, creating an atmosphere like that of lovers who didn't know how to interact with each other.
Just then, a decisive trigger came rolling in!
"――Ah..."
As she walked with her head down, Fiona almost tripped on the slight unevenness of the stone pavement!
"Fiona!"
Just in time, Aaron reached out and grabbed her hand.
Thanks to that, she managed to avoid falling, and she thanked Aaron with a sheepish expression.
"T-thank you..."
"Ah... yeah."
""......""
And the two of them started walking again.
But! For some reason, their hands remained clasped!
Well, they had walked hand in hand many times before. Like when she used to drag Aaron, who was still stubborn, to the training grounds, or when she'd catch him trying to sneak out to the pleasure district and drag him back, making up all sorts of excuses to stop him.
But this was different. The atmosphere was completely different from those times!
It wasn't the act of holding hands that was important, but the atmosphere when they did. There was a huge gap between how they usually were and how they were now!
So, she was thrown into total confusion!
(Ahhhhhhh! He grabbed my hand, and now he won't let go!?)
That was just a misunderstanding!
He only grabbed her hand to stop her from falling, and there was no other reason. And they didn't let go because they both missed the timing to release their hands.
But right now, she wasn't thinking straight. To put it bluntly, she was so embarrassed that her head was spinning, and her intelligence was rapidly declining!
(Ahhhhhhh! What do I do now?! Help me, Eva!!)
The one she relied on in her heart was her dear friend Eva.
Inside Fiona, Imaginary Lady Eva responded to her friend's help and emerged into her conscious mind.
This was a memory from the past. A scene from a conversation devoid of love.
'How do you seduce a gentleman...? Haha, it's so simple!'
Eva had said that before. With a bewitching smile on her face, she would flaunt her stunning beauty, and people of all ages would turn their heads. She would confidently emphasize her voluptuous chest by crossing her arms, captivating everyone's gaze.
'――Just hold his hands like a lover, and that's it!'
Eva Kirke (virgin, with no boyfriend, same age as her years of experience) had said!
Recalling those words, Fiona's intelligence seemed to regress, and she thought intensely.
(I must hold hands like a lover!!)
Fiona awkwardly intertwined her fingers with Aaron's, then finally gave his hand a tight squeeze.
(This is perfect!)
Fiona was confident in her heart, nodding to herself. But even she didn't know what was perfect about it.
However, if that meant "captivating Aaron," then it was far from perfect.
Aaron Gale's life experience was not so shallow that he would fall for such a childish trick. He wasn't inexperienced with women, having had relationships with many (although, most of those were for his fortune...).
But now, just entwining fingers wouldn't stir any waves in his heart.
(Whaaaat!? Fiona's suddenly holding hands with me!!?)
It was as if nothing had happened!!
Fiona Ackerman is a shy person. She would never take the initiative to hold hands or intertwine fingers with someone.
But for some reason, she's holding his hands like a lover. Even Aaron, who isn't dense, can't figure out what's going on.
He'll take a peek at Fiona's reaction from the side.
Fiona's face is bright red up to her ears, and she's walking with her head down as usual. However, she doesn't let go of the hand she's holding.
Aaron is now convinced.
(No way, this is definitely going to get intenseeee!!! The atmosphere is already like thatttt!!!)
Yes, it's all about the atmosphere.
There's an atmosphere that could suddenly escalate their relationship.
Moreover, if they head back to his place just the two of them, there won't be anyone to disturb them. It's just the two of them. And if that's the case, the possibility of getting swept away by the atmosphere is huge!!
So, Aaron tries to subtly confirm Fiona's feelings.
"Hey...Fiona."
"W-What's up...?"
"Today, instead of going back to your parent's place or your house, how about we head back to my place together...is that okay?"
"......"
Fiona is silent for a few seconds, not understanding.
"!?"
Then she intuitively understands what Aaron is getting at!
These days, Fiona rarely goes back to the house she's renting, and sometimes she stays at her parents' place to learn cooking, but most of the time, she's living with Aaron. So, Aaron doesn't need to confirm where she's going back to today.
But he deliberately asks her anyway. The atmosphere between the two of them makes it clear what he's getting at.
"Ah...yeah."
Her face turned even redder, and she nodded enthusiastically.
And Fiona was convinced.
(No way, this is definitely going to be a huge success till the very enddd!!!!)
The atmosphere had already been set!
Whether or not he confessed, it was just a trivial matter. The situation had already told Fiona that everything would go smoothly till the very end.
(Oh no...! I'm in trouble, I'm in big trouble...! I'll take a bath first, and then, and then, I also forgot to buy the thing I needed to get at the store...!!)
Fiona had made up her mind, her face still flushed.
On the other hand, Aaron also steeled himself.
The pace of the two people quickened, and they hastened their way home.
Before long, they arrived at his house. They unlocked the front door and entered. As they closed the door, the darkness of the night enveloped them.
Aaron turned to Fiona once again at the entrance.
"Fiona."
As he called her name, Fiona nodded firmly.
"Yeah."
That was the final confirmation.
They released their entwined hands, and the two of them walked down the corridor simultaneously. But the direction they were heading was the same for both of them.
The direction they were heading straight for was the bathroom.
The two of them stood in front of the door connecting the bathroom and the changing room.
And then, Aaron opened the door.
Creak, they went.
"――――Oh? ...Ah, welcome back, both of you."
""......""
The changing room.
There, a naked girl with her silver hair wet and tangled, her skin still hot from the bath, was wiping herself dry with a bath towel.
No, not a girl, but a young child.
Or rather, Lucia Aron.
""......""
For some reason, the two of them gazed at Lucia, who was in the house, with faces that looked like they had lost some emotion, as if they had snapped out of their excitement and returned to their senses.
((Damn, she is annoying...))
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