It was terrifying.
It felt as though a thousand arrows were poised at his back, ready to pierce him if he so much as twitched.
After dealing with the stalker, Avira made sure to escort Noelle safely home.
The night wind had grown stronger. As they stepped out of the taxi, Avira casually tossed her jacket over Noelle’s shoulders.
Trailing behind her, wrapped in the jacket’s warmth, Noelle stared at Avira’s slender back. Despite their similar height, there was something undeniably protective about her demeanor.
Her cheeks flushed faintly, and a thought crept into her mind.
Was I just… protected?
“T-that…”
Noelle struggled to form words, wanting to say something but unsure of what. She cast her gaze downward, searching desperately for the right thing to say.
Finally, she stammered out:
“D-did you… come to watch the movie too?”
“Hmm?” Avira blinked.
“Mm.”
“How… how did you think I did?”
Noelle’s tone carried a hint of nervousness, her eyes filled with anticipation.
But then she realized how abrupt her question sounded and quickly tried to backtrack.
“What I mean is… um, did you think… the movie was good?”
The more she tried to explain, the more flustered she became. Her cheeks grew hotter, and her words jumbled together until she could barely finish a sentence.
Avira tilted her head slightly, gazing up at the sky with her usual air of nonchalance.
“Hmm… well, if I could fall asleep during it… it must’ve been pretty good, right?”
“…You fell asleep?”
“Mm.” Avira nodded matter-of-factly, pulling a handful of crumpled movie tickets out of her pocket.
“See? I’ve watched it several times already. But this is the only movie where I could sleep so soundly. Maybe… hmm, the music was really nice.”
“…”
Noelle stared at the pile of tickets in Avira’s hand, her mouth twitching in disbelief.
Who goes to the same movie over and over just to sleep well?
Buying so many tickets… thanks for your support, I guess?!
Noelle’s home was located in the most luxurious area of the city—a grand European-style villa.
“T-that…”
Standing in front of her door, Noelle clasped her hands tightly, seemingly gathering every ounce of courage she had.
Her cheeks were bright red as she looked up at Avira, her voice growing loud in her nervousness:
“T-thank you so much for t-t-today!”
“Hmm… you’re welcome.”
Avira reached out and gently patted her head, just as she often did to Ashton on the team.
It was an absentminded gesture, like soothing a small animal.
Noelle froze.
Her entire face flushed a deep red, heating up like a firework that had just gone off.
So this… this is what it feels like to have someone pat your head?
Noelle’s heart felt as though it were on fire, warmth spreading through her entire being.
No matter what she did now, she felt she could smile through it.
She had planned to approach her little by little, to wait until Avira began to like her back.
This girl is different from everyone else…
From the very first moment they met, Noelle had known.
Under the shattered crystal chandelier, Avira had reached out to her like a deity descending from the heavens.
She had said: “If it doesn’t hurt, get up.”
If it doesn’t hurt, get up.
It was the first time anyone had said something like that to her.
Noelle had always been alone.
Even when surrounded by crowds of people, when disasters struck, she had faced them all by herself.
From the moment she became aware of her existence, of how it wasn’t accepted, from the moment she was cast out, she had been alone.
Beneath her dazzling exterior, she was nothing but lonely and hollow.
She knew that. She had known it for a long time.
That knowledge had taught her never to hope for anything from anyone, to never desire anything at all—because, ultimately, she would always lose it.
Yet, in that moment, amidst the chaos and panic, Avira had still been her usual languid self.
She had extended her hand and helped her stand up.
Even though Avira was only by her side because of mutual interests.
Even though it had been a simple, ordinary sentence.
