Chapter 63

The door closed, and Kaede glanced at me once before averting her gaze, standing rooted to the spot.

"Hey... why don't you sit down?"

I spoke to Kaede, who was standing there, biting her lip.

I had come here with Yuki, and then Yuki had disappeared from here.

Perhaps there was something she didn't want Yuki to hear.

I sat down on the floor, leaning against the wall.

I thought she would sit next to me, but Kaede approached hesitantly and sat across from me, kneeling properly.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

When I spoke to her in a gentle voice, Kaede, who had a bandage around her neck where it had been slightly cut, gripped her hands tightly on her knees.

To begin with, I thought Kaede was still feeling the aftereffects of the "Intimidation" skill, and was afraid of me.

Her body, which was trembling slightly, and her reluctance to look at me, told the story.

"...Um. I haven't properly thanked Azami-san yet..."

"...Ah. It's fine, don't worry about it."

I was about to say that it was understandable given what had just happened, but I couldn't find the words.

"...I always rely on Azami-san for help."

"I was the one who said I'd help you when we first met."

"..."

In response to Kaede's trembling voice, I told her not to worry about it again.

Unlike usual, she didn't look me in the eye, but tried to meet my gaze, glancing at me from time to time. I thought she was still afraid of me, and the gesture made my chest ache.

"...I'm really, really grateful to Azami-san. I really am."

"Is that so?"

"Yes... but, for some reason, I've been afraid of Azami-san, even from that time, and still now."

"...I see."

I hadn't expected to hear this from Kaede herself, and I didn't know how to respond, so I just said that.

Kaede seemed to be trying to suppress her fear of me, and she was clenching her jaw tightly.

Silence filled the room, but eventually Kaede looked up, her eyes moist, and said to me,

"...Can I touch you, Azami-san?"

"It's fine, but..."

Unlike before, Kaede was now looking me straight in the eye.

Even though tears were welling up, there was a certain strength in her gaze. I felt a bit intimidated but nodded.

Kaede leaned forward and reached out to my shoulder.

She touched it lightly once, then pulled her trembling hand back, and this time touched it firmly.

Then, Kaede leaned into me, hugging me.

"Hey, hey."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't think of Azami-san like this."

Even as she leaned on me, Kaede's body and voice were still trembling, and she kept apologizing.

"I don't understand why I'm so afraid. I don't know why I feel this way about Azami-san..."

"..."

I waited silently for her to continue, but she didn't. Instead, she tightened her arms around me.

I could hear her sniffle softly by my ear, and I was at a loss for what to do. Then, Kaede said in a small voice,

"...Can you pet my head?"

When I placed my hand on her head in response to her request, Kaede's body jerked slightly.

I thought about taking my hand away, but Kaede leaned into me even more, as if seeking comfort.

"I'm still scared. I'm scared, but I think if I do this, it will go away."

Kaede said this, still trembling.

"...You don't have to push yourself."

"I don't want to. I don't want to keep thinking of Azami-san like this."

Hearing this, I left my hand where it was and stroked Kaede's head.

Like soothing a baby, like comforting a child.

I didn't like the idea of Kaede being afraid of me.

It wasn't just that I found it unpleasant; the image of those who called me a monster kept flashing through my mind.

Kaede was like this now because of the aftereffects of the "Intimidation" skill.

In time, its effects would surely fade away, and there would be no need for such drastic measures.

But when I showed my supernatural powers, Kaede might truly be terrified of me.

This thought troubled me.

Kaede's trembling was transmitted to me, and a slight tremor ran through my hand on her head.

"...Azami-san?"

"What is it?"

"Nothing... never mind."

Kaede must have noticed the tremor in my hand.

She called out to me, but didn't seem to dwell on it, and again leaned into me, tightening her arms.

How long had we been like this?

I realized the orange light that had been filtering through the curtains was gone, and the room was now dark.

Kaede's sobs had stopped, and her rapid heartbeat had calmed.

The strength in the arms around my neck had also relaxed, and I could feel her quiet breathing by my ear.

"...Um, Azami-san."

"...Hmm?"

After a long silence in the room, Kaede said softly, and her heartbeat, which had seemed calm, quickened again.

"I... I think I'm okay now."

When I took my hand from her head, Kaede slowly pulled away and sat across from me again.

Like when she first entered the room, Kaede glanced at me, but her gaze felt different.

"Um... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have acted so clingy..."

Kaede's face was red, and she looked embarrassed.

There was no trace of fear in her expression, just a memory of our earlier conversation.

Seeing Kaede like this, I felt a bit embarrassed too, and I chuckled.

"No... are you not afraid anymore?"

"...Yes."

"That's good."

"Yes, I'm glad too."

She said this with a shy smile.

"Um, Azami-san."

"What is it?"

Kaede, who had called out to me, was fidgeting, her hands in the space between her knees.

After a while, she looked up at me and spoke.

"...Can you pet my head again sometime?"