"Huh?"
Jerusha muttered in surprise. She turned her head to where she heard the source of the voice... and her eyes landed on Pyro.
Then Pyro, seeing Jerusha looking at him—
–mama...!
He repeated himself.
"Wahhhh, you can talk now!"
Jerusha exclaid happily with a smile on her face. But after processing what Pyro just said—
"Ah...!"
Her whole body froze as she was about to go to him. She then slowly turned her head to Raye.
And Raye—
"Haha... Well..."
He had this awkward smile on his face, scratching his cheek.
–...
Zephyrus was looking at the three of them, slightly squinting his eyes...
-'What a ss.'
He thought that, shaking his head slowly.
...
...
*****
(Raye's POV)
"Oh, so the two of them evolved, huh. Then Pyro was able to talk human language."
Jerusha said after I told her the whole story of how Pyro was able to talk.
"Yeah, that's pretty much it."
The two of us looked at Zephyrus and Pyro.
Then, opening her mouth—
"You've beco really cool, Zephyrus, wow!"
Jerusha said that with a wide smile.
-Heh, as you can see...
Zephyrus boastfully responded as he puffed out his chest, flexing his new wings.
Then, looking at Pyro next—
"And you've beco much cuter and smarter!"
Jerusha said that. I could tell she was having a cute aggression over him.
I just smiled and watched them. The three of them played together.
Well, Zephyrus was acting all high and mighty, but he was giving Jerusha a show by using elegant wind spells alongside Pyro.
The two of them were giving us firework shows.
It was beautiful.
...
...
...
After about an hour of giving us a show and using mana—Zephyrus and Pyro got exhausted and slept.
We haven't slept since last night, and honestly, I'm exhausted too.
"So, what happened while you were away?"
Jerusha asked. We were sitting side by side, just beside Old Man Rey's bed.
"Hmm..."
I thought to myself for a while, then, stealing a glance at her—
"Well..."
I started telling Jerusha what I went through with Zephyrus and Pyro.
Our travels, going to the Alvah Dukedom, getting into a rift dungeon, spending almost a year there and fighting crazy monsters, clearing it, the two evolving, getting stronger, getting out and eting my biological father...
Then lastly, the fact that I just got here a few hours ago.
*****
It took more than an hour to tell her everything that had happened—or the summary of it, at least.
But Jerusha... she just listened intently. Her focus was on , and you could tell she was really interested in my story. It made smile seeing her like that, knowing that she really cares.
"So for you three, more than ten months had already passed since you left...?"
Jerusha asked, a shocked and worried expression on her face.
"Yeah."
I simply replied as I nodded my head. I even shrugged.
"You guys have been through a lot."
Fwip—
Jerusha hugged as she said that.
I was surprised—my eyes widened. But regaining my calm almost imdiately—
"Haha, it's nothing... Thanks for worrying, though."
I hugged Jerusha back and patted her on the back, a smile resting on my face.
We broke off the hug not long after. I saw Jerusha blushing a little when we did.
Then, after that—
"..."
An awkward silence engulfed us again.
Jerusha just sat there, looking at the old man with a reddish face.
I just stared at her from the side, admiring.
She's really beautiful.
'Hmm, now that I think about it... She'll be graduating this year.'
Jerusha is in the 4th year. I'm currently a tertiary—3rd year. This is probably the last year we'll be going to the academy together.
I an, I can still see her after she graduates... but it wouldn't be as frequent as before.
And thinking about that—
"..."
It made a bit sad.
I'm so used to Jerusha's presence now that it's hard to believe I thought of her as annoying before. That was so stupid of .
She was one of the first people who didn't judge based on the rumors because of the original Raye's past actions—along with Kyle, Old Man Rey, and Devin.
And honestly... it's not far-fetched to say she's one of the reasons why I'm still alive today.
Jerusha taught a lot, especially spirit magic. She helped every ti.
And during the demon invasion—she saved and everyone else.
After that... that's when I realized my feelings for her.
Thump—
My heart started beating a bit faster just as I recalled our ti together.
Thump—thump—thump—
I beca a bit restless as I stared at Jerusha. I want to spend more ti with her, really.
"Hmm? What is it?"
She asked after noticing staring at her for so long, tilting her head.
"..."
I didn't answer imdiately.
She's so cute looking at like that.
And impulsively, opening my mouth—
"Nothing, I just missed you."
I said that.
"Wha...?!"
Jerusha was surprised, her face flushed red. I couldn't bla her—even I beca embarrassed and my face heated up.
The thumping in my chest got faster out of nervousness.
But then—
" too..."
Jerusha mumbled that shyly.
"Huh?"
A stupid noise ca out of my mouth in disbelief.
"I missed you too."
And Jerusha repeated herself, looking at straight in the eyes. Her face was as red as a tomato now.
"..."
I was speechless. The pounding in my chest and my surroundings quieted. Everything slowed down for and cald.
Jerusha turned her head away after that in embarrassnt, her head hung low.
And seeing her act like that—
'God... I'm so uncool sotis.'
I thought that to myself.
"..."
I looked down at the floor.
"Jerusha."
"Huh?"
I called for her. I could sense her looking at , but my eyes remained on the floor.
I couldn't look back at her. But with my lips slowly parting...
"I like you."
I confessed to her.
"I like you a lot..."
I followed, my voice quivered a bit as I said that. This feels a lot harder than fighting monsters.
And Jerusha, after hearing my confession—
"HUH?!!"
She was beyond shocked. Her whole body flinched, and after catching a glimpse of her—I could see her face reddening even more.
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