âItâs okay if you want to call them treasures.â
Ui said, his usually stern voice softening. He thought her embarrassed face was incredibly cute, but he could not bring himself to enjoy it because of her obvious distress. His need to protect her in all situations rose up.Â
I want to protect you. I want to protect you. I want to hold you in my arms.Â
He followed that urge, sneaking up form behind her and wrapping his arms around her entirely. Hairuâs body was soft, and warm. Even though he remembered how she looked as a corpse, he wanted to cling only to this warmth.Â
âEven an old man like me has treasures. My treasure is right here, after all.â
He leaned his chin on the top of her head, until almost his entire body was wrapped around her. The two of them looked like a pair of cats protectively snuggling. As he hummed reassuringly for a moment, he waited for her to sit still. Which, with Hairu usually took a long time, but he did not mind the wait at all as long as he could keep holding her.
âWhy are you so afraid of looking childish?â
Hairu paused in her whining as Ui came closer, wrapping his arms around her. Upon reflex, she leaned into his touch, wanting nothing more than to find comfort in his presence. Still, her lips were curled into a pout, and she looked like a child that was lamenting over being scolded.
She blushed, and mumbled something under her breath.Â
Once she could finally sit still, as Ui patiently waited for her to do so, she spoke again, now loud enough for Ui to hear her.
âI want to be cool and mature... like you.â
Hairu paused again, tilting her head back until her eyes met Uiâs.
â... Donât tell anyone about that box, okay? I want it to be our secret...â