Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death
chapter-22-55-30041322

Editors: sleepchaser, ASplashofMusic

After we graduated, we can’t see each other daily like in the past.

Since Lian hired me, we get to work together on Saturdays, Sundays, and other days that are convenient. I’m also worried about Marie and the kids, so I plan on stopping by once or twice a week. If the timing is good, Lian and I can see each other there.

But like I mentioned before, we won’t be able to meet every day anymore.

Still, it doesn’t mean that we won’t meet.

So I suggest a countermeasure. “You know, if you want to visit, you can just come. I won’t mind if it’s you. Also, there’s a lot of vacant rooms at Cheddar-san’s place. If you want to borrow a room, they’d probably let you stay in one if you ask.”

“Eh? Really?”

We’re talking about the Cheddars after all. I’m sure they will gladly lend a room to Lian. Cheddar’s wife also said that she hates having empty rooms.

“Yeah. I can go and see you whenever I want to meet you as well. Since you hired me, that wouldn’t be strange, right?”

Lian widens his eyes as if he just realized it, and finally breaks into a slight smile.

“You’re right…”

“Yes. Also, I will be delivering milk from Cheddar’s Ranch to your mansion’s kitchen every morning.”

“S-seriously?”

“Yeah. You didn’t know? I’m going to help Cheddar-san with deliveries from now on. If you get up early, we will also be able to meet then.”

“I-I see… So you will come every morning to the mansion…”

Lian’s was originally pale in anxiousness, but now gradually reddens.

What a relief.

He finally managed to compose himself a bit.

He doesn’t resist as I loosely pull at his wrist, allowing me to bring him into my arms.

If I hug him tight, he’ll most likely pull away. So I gently place my hands on his lower back

“If they can’t lend you a room… You can use my room as you like, just like in the church. “You can just stay there if you want to.”

Lian flushes red as a tomato.

“N-no way.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ll do something… weird.”

“Something weird?”

Lian sulks. The redness of his face doesn’t fade, and he averts his eyes without answering my question.

His nape that is tinged red is a lovely sight. So much so that I have the urge to bite it.

I usually can’t control my desires. I know that. But I can only keep enduring. Thankfully, I’ve been too busy before to entertain such thoughts.

…Would Lian let me touch him even just a little?

The moment I bring my face closer to his neck, his body jolts.

There’s a light fragrance emanating from Lian’s skin.

Unable to endure anymore, I nip his neck lightly with my lips. Lian trembles, but doesn’t immediately try to jump back and escape, as is often the case.

He obediently stays in my embrace.

I take his action to mean that I can touch him a little more, so I press a kiss on his cheek.

Lian suddenly raises his face as if surprised, causing our lips to almost touch. Out of impulse, I bite on those lips.

Lian opens his mouth to say something, and I take the chance to slip my tongue inside until it comes into contact with his.

He once again jolts in shock and tries to retract his tongue, but my tongue chases after it. Rubs against it.

However, he persists in avoiding the French kiss. When I try to give further chase, Lian starts pounding my chest. And so I’m forced to separate from his lips.

“Y-you actually did it!” Lian glares at me, red-faced. His shoulders shake as he tries to calm his breathing.

“But isn’t this situation inevitable?”

“W-what the heck do you mean inevitable?!”

“I like you. It’s only natural that I want to touch you.”

“Li…” Lian is redder than I’ve ever seen him. He lowers his gaze, slightly frowning.

I sigh in my heart.

I don’t think he hates me.

That night, he told me to stay by his side.

When I kiss, hug, and tell him that I like him, just like what I’m doing right now, he doesn’t run away from me.

And when he knows that he will be away from me, he looks lonely and anxious.

Rather than hate, I’d say he likes me. My guts shouldn’t be wrong.

But… he still won’t answer my question from that time.

I wonder why?

Lian… It feels like he is scared of something.

I still don’t know what it might be, but if I can remove the source of Lian’s anxiety, will I finally get his reply?

“Lian, what are you scared of?”

He flinches.

Then he grabs my clothes, his pale hand faintly trembling. “What are you saying? I’m not… scared of anything.”

“Then, why do you seem so worried? I swear I won’t do anything hateful. I will cherish you, and I definitely won’t do anything that will make you sad.”

I am met with silence.

“Do you… hate me?”

Lian immediately looks up at me and shakes his head. “O-of course I don’t!”

“Then, do you like me?”

“Tha…” His eyes tremble. He looks to be on the verge of crying. “…After all, you…”

“Me?”

“…For you, she─” Lian seems like he wants to say something, but eventually decides against it and closes his mouth.

He gives an awkward smile while shaking his head, trying to look calm. Yet, there is still a tint of sadness in the depths of his eyes.

And rather than answering my question, he says something else. “Alfred. You should calm down, and re-think about this. You will surely… meet an amazing person in the future. One whom you’ll find to be incomparable to me..” The sadness in his eyes deepens. “You will surely like that person too… More than me, or anything else.”

“…What are you saying?”

“That right person who will give you eternal happiness will surely appear in the future. That’s why, let’s stop this. It will be better for you─”

“Lian!” With the anger building up inside me, I unconsciously scolded him. Lian jumps in surprise.

I can’t ignore what he said. “Why are you saying these things?”

“Alfred…”

“No one knows the future, yet…”

He seems to be… saying the same things as that star-reading woman.

Lian squints in pain. “After all, you─”

“How can I like someone whose face I don’t even know? Don’t be stupid. There’s no way that will happen.”

“Al–”

“Are you saying you don’t trust me?”

“No, it’s not tha–”

“Then where did your words come from?”

Lian averts his eyes.

“Lian.”

“…It can’t be helped.”

His voice is trembling.

“It can’t be helped, you know! It’s already decided. The future is already decided. So what are you─”

“What is decided? Nothing is set in stone. Aren’t you the one who said before that we can change the future?”

Lian lifts his head. Looks at me again with a hopeless face.

“You are the one who said that, right? To me.”

“Change… I wonder if I should still change it.”

He looks unusually timid.

What made him so uneasy?

“Why not? You can change it in whatever way you want. We decide our own future.”

“Is it really okay?”

“Of course.”

“So even I can change the future?”

“If you want to, you can. You yourself told me that.”

Lian chokes on his own saliva as his eyes tremble.

“I know myself the best, so I will decide what I want. Don’t decide things for me. That’s why… you should also think about what you truly want. What do you want to do?”

Sorry for another late release…