That's Why I Like You -3-
That's why I like you. It had been ages since I'd last laughed so hard I clutched my stomach. Watching Malik dance with such a serious expression, and Hanna hiding her face, murmuring 'Why is he doing that?'—both sights were priceless. Laughter kept bubbling out of me uncontrollably. Even though his face was masked, I could picture him concentrating with that rigid look of his. And honestly, he danced well. No empty flattery—it was the real deal. The mask added a dreamy, ethereal vibe, while his movements carried that raw, masculine power, flashy and sharp enough to remind me of idols from my past life. Made me wonder if he'd learned the sword just to dance... His impressive skills held my attention right through the finale. I chuckled at this unexpected side of the shop owner, marveled at his talent, and stayed glued to the performance.
As time flew by like an arrow, I felt a pang of regret at its end. Turning to Hanna, whose face had turned tomato-red with embarrassment, I called out to her.
"Are you okay?"
"..."
"Hanna?"
"Y-Yes!? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."
Hanna, whose soul seemed to have fled her body, shook her head vigorously while watching Malik bow farewell from the stage, letting out a deep sigh.
"No, I mean..."
Pride and embarrassment swirled within her in equal measure. I'd always seen her as someone lively and bouncy, but I never imagined she'd have a brother who went all out like this. Before his apology, she hadn't known this side of him existed. She'd thought he only cared about the sword, family honor—nothing about love for his kin. But there was so much more to him, hidden depths she was only now discovering. In truth, he cherished his family more than anyone. He preferred other things over the blade. Hanna had learned this far too late—on the day he apologized, when he'd bared his true heart.
It was a strange feeling. One she might never have known without that apology, a secret about her brother she almost carried to her grave, only uncovered now as an adult.
Behind the mask, his smile shone through, and Hanna slowly began to smile back.
—Thanks.
"No... seriously."
—You too.
As her brother gracefully stepped back with his left foot, bowing to the audience like a refined gentleman, Hanna lifted her head from its shy bow, swept up in the thunderous applause crashing toward Malik.
—Clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!
She shyly raised her hands and started clapping along.
"What are you..."
Hanna hated her brother. And yet... she was proud of him.
*
After the show, on the way back to the mansion amid the surging crowds, I held Hanna's hand tightly as we exited the theater. Her expression looked content, a faint smile playing on her lips as she kept glancing back at the venue with lingering regret. I'd worried seeing her brother's dance might sour her mood, but thankfully, I'd been wrong. Her subtle smile lifted my spirits too, and I grinned proudly, gazing up at the sunset sky.
Bathed in the soft crimson glow of the afternoon sun bidding farewell, I stretched and said to Hanna,
"That was fun, huh."
"...Yeah."
Hanna let out a small laugh.
"It really was. I wasn't expecting much..."
Her matter-of-fact tone carried an undercurrent of excitement—like pride in her brother.
"It was really fun."
She squeezed my hand tighter.
"All thanks to you, Butler."
Brushing back her brown hair swaying in the sunset breeze, she smiled.
"Nah, what did I do."
"If it weren't for you, we never would've had a time like this."
"You're too kind."
"No... really."
Hanna swallowed, hesitating. Was it the sunset stirring her emotions so fiercely, or had Malik's new side pulled the trigger? Her gaze, full of gratitude, fixed on me—her benefactor. Eyes brimming with thanks, sorrow, joy, and more. I accepted her honest words calmly, without fanfare. I wasn't the great person she made me out to be, and all her hardships had been overcome by her own strength. Sure, as an outsider, I'd given her a push, but that was all—no room for boasting. Even if humility wasn't my strong suit.
Gazing at the fading sunset, I replied humbly and honestly, insisting it wasn't my doing.
"I think it's because you did well, Hanna."
She walked in silence for a long while, still holding my hand. Her shoes scraped irregularly against the pavement—unfamiliar steps echoing unevenly in my ears.
—Click.
—Click.
—Click.
As her clumsy heel strikes stretched on, we drew closer to the dorms, and parting time loomed. Hanna's regret deepened with every moment. She didn't want to waste this time meaninglessly. She wanted to say thanks, to linger longer, to hold this hand more. But she couldn't burden the butler who had to return to the young lady, so she buried these feelings deep. Still, the slipping away of this moment ached.
In a quiet voice, she spoke up.
"Butler."
"Yes, Hanna."
She called my name again, like a fussy baby demanding one more utterance.
"Butler!"
"Yes? What is it."
Hanna burst into a beaming smile and ducked her head. Matching her awkward, uneven gait, I smiled faintly and adjusted my stride. Looking at the sunset, she said,
"You know what?"
"I know I'm handsome."
"Pfft! Not that."
She dragged out her words playfully.
"Do you know you're super important to me?"
"Super important? High praise."
"Super super super important."
She gripped my hand tight.
"For real."
And then, slowly, she began spilling the story from her heart.
"I don't know what you think, but I've always just been receiving from you."
"Awakening aura at such a young age."
"Mending things with my brother..."
"Standing up firm to Father."
"All of it... I couldn't have done any without you."
The smile on her lips slowly faded—not from gloom, but from the weight of gratitude. Biting her lip, she looked lost, forcing a bittersweet smile.
"Ugh, why am I like this...? Did I say something boring? I just... felt like I never properly thanked you all this time. I wanted to say it today..."
I spoke to her with the same sincerity as always.
"I don't see it that way."
Raw, unvarnished emotion. I'd watched her efforts all along, so I could say this. Otherwise, I'd have taken credit—but the Hanna I'd seen was someone who'd toiled endlessly.
Savoring a brief silence, I continued slowly.
"All I did was give you a nudge."
She shook her head.
"No. I..."
Shaking it fiercely in denial. Gently holding her hand, I said,
"Hanna."
"Y-Yes...?"
"Have a seat here."
I guided her to a bench, draped my jacket over her skirt, and knelt on one knee to look up at her. Startled, she stared back with trembling eyes. Seeing her awkward smile, I teased to lighten the mood,
'Why are you about to cry? We had fun.'
Kneeling before her, I pulled a bandage from my pocket and showed it to her.
"Ta-da."
A bandage with a rabbit drawing. Spotting my handmade bunny, she burst out laughing.
"What's that...?"
"Cute, right?"
"It is."
Carefully slipping off her shoe, I gently applied the bandage to her heel. As it neared the reddened scrape, her eyes widened in surprise.
"It doesn't hurt..."
"You're bad at lying."
She fidgeted with her fingers, mumbling,
She hadn't shown it—how did he know?
"How'd you know?"
"I know everything."
"Liar."
She giggled shyly, wiggling her foot lightly. Holding her swaying foot, I carefully applied another rabbit bandage to her other ankle. Gazing at the cute bunny now perched there, she smiled softly. Stroking her tired foot, I said,
"I don't know how you'll take this, but I think you're an incredibly amazing person, Hanna."
"No, I'm not..."
"Effort in places no one sees."
"..."
"Pushing on without results, getting back up after falls like nothing happened—it's not easy. Of course, I've never done it myself, so what do I know."
Her leg, swinging like a swing, stilled. Without looking, I knew she wasn't smiling anymore—I heard the sniffle overhead.
"Sniff. Ah... why? Must be pollen—my nose keeps running."
"Yeah... pollen."
Her excuse about pollen on a flowerless street was obvious to anyone. I just smiled gently, caressing her foot.
"So, Hanna."
"Yes?"
"Don't say it's nothing. People like you make others jealous."
"What? If you keep saying that..."
Slipping her shoe back on, I slowly looked up, meeting her tear-dampened eyes. She rubbed them, shaking her head.
"Don't look..."
"Why not."
"It's embarrassing."
A soft chuckle escaped me. Brushing dust from my knee, I turned my back to her. She eyed me hesitantly, and I whispered,
"I'll give you a secret piggyback ride. Away from the young lady."
"..."
"Our secret."
She smiled shyly.
"Okay..."
Once on my back, she murmured so softly,
"I like you..."
Too quiet to catch, but she kept whispering her heart.
"That's why... I like you..."
Shy and embarrassed.
"I like you."
Hanna whispered.