Chapter 59
"Then, take your time."
Lumière left the office, leaving only Albert-sama and me behind.
"……"
"……"
Awkward… What do I do? What should I even say? Did I do something wrong? And if I did, what? I don’t understand.
"Um, Albert-sama—"
"I’m sorry, Yuka."
"Eh? Albert-sama?"
Just as I tried to speak, he bowed his head. What was this about?
"My thoughtlessness caused you pain."
"N-no, not at all…"
A lie. I’d nearly cried when he avoided me. Crumbled. Lately, every little thing he did sent me soaring or sinking. Turns out, I’m not as strong as I thought. Pathetic, really.
"The reason I avoided you… was because I was too aware of you. I couldn’t even look at you without… I’m truly sorry."
"…? What do you mean?"
"It’s… not something I can say loudly…"
Then he told me. About his training with Noir—not just combat or magic, but that kind of training, too.
"——!!"
A soundless noise escaped my throat. My face burned. My heartbeat roared. Embarrassment flooded me. But more than anything—
(I’m… happy. He cares about me that much…?)
The person I loved most cherished me in return. The realization filled my chest with warmth, melting the loneliness away, replacing it with something new.
(Maybe… there’s no going back now.)
I could never return to the time before I knew Albert-sama. This aching fondness, this fear of being apart—I’d never felt it before.
"Albert-sama…"
"Y-Yuka? Why are you hugging me?"
"I don’t know… I just wanted to."
Before I realized it, my arms were around him. Burying my face in his warmth, I whispered:
"When you avoided me… it hurt. I thought I’d done something wrong. That you’d started to hate me."
"…Forgive me."
"But now that I know how you feel, I’m happy. You were thinking of me."
"…Yuka."
"Albert-sama, I love you. So much. So please… stay by my side."
"I love you too, Yuuka. More than words can say. I’ll always be here."
"Albert-sama…"
"Yuuka…"
We drew closer, neither sure who moved first. His hand brushed my cheek. I closed my eyes.
A breath of silence—then the distance vanished, and our lips met.
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