Chapter 35
Chapter 35
This was uncomfortable.
Extremely uncomfortable.
Rene stared silently out the window, Rin calmly sipped the same black tea as me, and I sat between them, painfully aware of both.
Ever since Rin joined us, not a single word had been exchanged at this table.
At this rate, I might suffocate before anything else happens.
So I forced myself to speak.
“Ruen is asleep, right?”
“Yes. As usual, I rented two rooms and put him to bed. He looked like an angel while sleeping.”
“…Good.”
And that was it.
Conversation over.
No matter how much I squeezed my brain, nothing else came out.
Silence returned.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
“I’ll go to the restroom. I’ll also bring more tea and snacks.”
“Please go ahead.”
“Take your time.”
Their voices overlapped—
and somehow, it felt terrifying.
Still, I believed nothing would happen.
They had always gotten along well.
So I left.
[Contractor. You really don’t understand, do you?]
‘Understand what?’
[Their feelings toward you.]
‘I know. They both like me.’
[Then why leave them alone?]
‘What, should I invite one of them to the restroom? And it’s not like they’ll start fighting.’
[…]
[You truly don’t understand women.]
‘Want to bet? I say nothing happens.’
[Very well. I say something will.]
‘Loser grants a wish?’
[Agreed.]
Even with Prah’s ominous tone, I didn’t worry.
It would only take a few minutes.
Nothing could happen in that time.
Right?
The moment I left—
the air turned cold.
The only mediator was gone.
And the tension deepened.
Rene spoke first.
“…Why did you do that?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Don’t play dumb. Why did you interrupt?”
“I believe you misunderstand. I simply found you here.”
“Liar. I sensed you nearby before we entered.”
“Coincidence.”
Rene clenched her teeth.
No proof.
Then—
she changed tactics.
“Fine. Then you didn’t know what was happening?”
“…No.”
“I was about to confess to Bern.”
Silence.
“You ruined it. When he returns, I’ll confess again. So leave.”
A direct attack.
Rin paused.
Then answered calmly.
“Wouldn’t that burden him?”
“How is confessing a burden? Are you belittling my feelings?”
“No. I simply think it’s too soon.”
“Why?”
“You’ve known him less than a month.”
“Time doesn’t matter. My mother said love can happen instantly.”
“…Even so, Bern may think differently.”
“If he rejects me, I’ll accept it. So step aside.”
Rin’s composure cracked.
“You don’t understand. He already knows how we feel. That’s why he keeps distance. If you confess now, you’ll pressure him.”
“You don’t know that! He might accept me!”
“…That’s unfair.”
Rin clenched her teeth.
“I want to confess too! But I’m holding back!”
“So you’ll just hide it forever?”
“Not forever. Just until the time is right!”
“That’s not love. That’s worship.”
“Don’t twist it! I’m thinking of him!”
Their voices rose.
The entire café watched.
But no one intervened.
One was a half-dragon.
The other, a sword saint.
Their presence alone crushed the air.
“I’ll confess no matter what!”
“I won’t allow it!”
“You want to fight me?”
“If I must.”
Claws emerged.
A hand reached for a sword.
The air trembled.
They were seconds from clashing.
People held their breath.
No one could move.
And then—
“What are you two doing?”
My voice.
Instantly—
Rene hid her claws.
Rin released her sword.
“Nothing!”
“Just stretching!”
“…Really?”
Suspicious.
But I didn’t press.
Instead, I grabbed my things.
“Let’s go.”
“O-okay!”
“Yes!”
They hurried after me.
Outside—
Prah chuckled.
[I win.]
‘Nothing happened.’
[If you were any later, the café would be gone.]
‘…Draw?’
[Not a chance.]
“…Sigh.”
Between two women ready to fight over me—
and a sword planning something with its prize—
my headache only grew.
Still…
I understood something.
I couldn’t keep avoiding this forever.