Yuria Won't Like You -2-

I tossed out a simple question.

Just to confirm if the Ruin sitting in front of me was really the one I knew.

I threw a few questions he couldn't dodge.

Are you a fucking retard?

Do you just wanna get beat for no reason?

Is getting hit your kink or something?

Of course, besides these normal questions, I did ask a few only the real Ruin could answer. But for sorting real from fake, I figured blunt shit like this was perfect.

The guy who showed up at the mansion a while back had this weird, awkward reaction to provocations like that. Like there was a filter of "This is what Ruin would do," delaying his response.

Watching Ruin conjure a fireball right in front of me now, I thought: This one's the real deal.

I'd sent the lady and Gomtangi out to the yard. Didn't want them hearing any ugly talk if they stayed in the mansion.

Just looking at Ruin's dark expression told me he wasn't here to say anything nice.

If he asked for something tough like taking down a cockatrice, I'd kick his ass out. Felt fishy, and it was a hassle anyway.

I eyed Ruin's shadowed face and carried two cups of tea over to the table.

Clink. The cups hit the table with a sharp sound.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hoped he'd get the hint that I wasn't planning to waste much time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on an uninvited guest. So I asked him,

"Why'd you come here?"

"..."

"Speak, Ruin."

My gentle voice pressed him. A guest barging in without a letter or warning wasn't exactly welcome.

So I pushed even softer. "You must have some reason for coming, right?"

I wasn't in a good mood.

To probe him, I spat out one question. I figured there was only one reason he'd come to this mansion.

Hans.

I thought he'd come to tell me the novel's villain I'd barely caught and handed over had escaped.

Maybe asking for help catching the escapee. Or for info on him.

I doubted the Tower Lord had told him I was the one who caught Hans, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I didn't mention it. But just in case.

If Ruin heard from the Tower Lord that I'd nabbed Hans, he'd think I was his only option. The one guy who'd actually taken down blackened Hans and clashed with him.

So I opened with a light jab. "Don't tell me something happened at the Magic Tower again?"

"What?"

"It's a place riddled with incidents, isn't it? The Magic Tower. Lately, rumors about one of your disciples going down a bad path... or something like that."

"Shut your mouth."

"Hmm. Is that any reason to get mad? I don't think there's anything wrong with what I said."

"I said shut it. What the fuck makes a nobody like you qualified to judge the Magic Tower? Wanna die quietly?"

"Aha... I see. Sorry for assuming."

Ruin blew past my guess nicely. I'd thought he came about Hans, but his pissed-off reaction said I'd struck out.

Then what? Why'd this green-haired fucker come to the mansion?

Not like he missed my face. Hell, I didn't wanna see his either. Same for him, probably.

Now I really wanted to hear his story. What made him swallow his lofty pride and show up here?

I kept wondering what this green-headed prick—who hated me most—could be thinking to visit.

Hoped it was something fun... My mood was soured by that fake Ruin who'd worn his skin before.

Made me wanna storm the heretics' lair right now.

So yeah. I wanted Ruin to tell me something entertaining.

Otherwise, I'd just vent by smashing his fragile ego.

I hit him with a brutal question. "So why're you here? We're not exactly the type to chat and laugh. I don't even wanna see the face of some hot-tempered asshole."

"Watch your mouth."

"Depends on what you say."

"Fuck, you're such a prick."

"You're worse than me."

"..."

"Stop glaring and talk. I'm getting tired of waiting."

Ruin dragged a dry hand down his face. Looked like he was gearing up for a tough ask.

The awkward air filled the kitchen and started spilling into the living room when he finally pried open his sealed lips.

"Lately, I saw Yuria at a bar. Drinking alone. Yuria, who doesn't even like booze."

"Hmm... I see."

"I see?"

"Why snap? I just answered."

Ruin glared, eyes bulging, pissed at my robotic reply.

"Keep going. I'm listening."

"Haa... Fine. I'll hold it in."

"Thanks. So, what's the point?"

"I saw something weird then."

"Weird...?"

Bang! Ruin slammed his teacup down hard and stared me dead in the eye.

Then he spat a short, thick word. Heavy with emotion and petty jealousy.

"You."

"..."

"You were there."

"I don't see the problem."

"You... sat next to Yuria, who was drinking alone, chatting all friendly. I was gonna go over, but."

Ah...

Pfft.

I couldn't hold back the laugh. This was why he'd come to the mansion? Just this?

I'd braced for some heavy request, prepped polite rejections. But for this, his trek here seemed ridiculous. Laughter burst out.

Silence fell.

My snickering twisted Ruin's face like thin ice about to crack.

"Why're you laughing."

"Just... isn't it funny? You come all the way here over me drinking with Yuria."

"Just? Did you say just?"

"No... Pfft... Ruin, doesn't this whole situation seem ridiculous? What's wrong with sharing a drink? And..."

I laced it with sarcasm. "What even makes you think you have the right to complain about Yuria? I really don't get it."

I answered Ruin in a cold tone. Was there anything wrong with my words?

You're not even with Yuria, so isn't it laughable to barge in like this? Ruin shot up from his chair, glaring.

But.

"..."

He couldn't speak. No flaw in what I'd said. He hadn't admitted he liked Yuria yet.

Just someone nagging at him. What could Ruin—who barely thought of her this much—say?

See? Nothing.

Ruin clenched his fists. Frustrated himself, that was all he could do—clench and open his mouth uselessly.

I smiled at him, dripping mockery. Why can't you speak?

"Don't tell me... You're here to beg me not to meet Yuria anymore?"

"..."

"Guess it's true. But..."

I trailed off, reminding him of a fact he'd forgotten. Something I'd felt reading the novel. Felt possessing it.

Told Ruin straight. "Don't you think you have no right to pull this on me?"

"What?"

"If you're so worried about Yuria, why'd the guy who just watched her get bullied—did nothing—come begging me? I'm curious."

"I didn't just watch..."

"Liar."

I smiled. "A shitty lie."

Really.

"Ruin."

Couldn't hold back the laugh.

"Do you like Yuria?"

"...Shut up."

"But, you know."

I hit him with cruel words. They'd hurt—a lot—but it was the novel's truth. The blunt conclusion from her favorability window. I whispered it softly into Ruin's ear.

"Yuria doesn't like you."

"Probably."

Finally, I told Ruin. "Let me ask ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this time."

The one thing I was dying to know. With a hint to get the fuck out.

"Do you like Yuria?"

I threw the question he couldn't answer.

*

Ruin stormed out of the mansion, dark-faced, trudging through the yard.

"Who the fuck is he to boss me around? Such a prick."

Couldn't clear his head.

Originally, he'd planned to tell Ricardo to leave Yuria alone. The more she tangled with him, the worse off she got.

And seeing her at the bar, chatting brightly with Ricardo? Twisted his guts.

Ruin wanted to resolve this feeling. The mess from Hans had amplified a forgotten memory scene.

Erasing it might clear his head a bit.

Honestly, he'd expected Ricardo to agree. Ricardo stayed meek on Yuria stuff, said little.

Figured he'd just say "Got it." But Ricardo wrecked his mood with brutal words.

"Don't give me that shit..."

Fists clenched tight, Ruin muttered low. "Don't give me that shit."

Kept muttering, laced with all sorts of feelings.

I don't like her. She's just stuck in my head. Seeing her with another guy pisses me off. Not weird feelings.

Friendship. Yeah, friendship.

And. I just gotta protect her. From Hans. From other threats.

If he watched over Yuria, she'd come to like him.

Ruin wasn't impatient. So.

He just wished that clueless fucker would butt out. A guy no better than him.

"Fuck, what a prick. And this mansion's color? So goddamn childish."

Ruin muttered louder. Voice echoing through the yard.

And then.

A strange woman's voice hit his ear.

"Huh?"

Sharp, the voice he hated most—reacting to his mutter with a retort.

"What?"

The woman teaching a massive bear-dog to shake blinked blankly and slowly turned her head.

"You?"

"..."

"You picking a fight with me?"

White hair. Woman in a wheeled chair. Her blank eyes darkened with menace.

"Haa..."

Ruin hated Olivia.

"Hey."

"Hey..."

"Can't you hear?"

At the same time.

Olivia scared him.

"I'm asking nicely."

*