Chapter 99
After that, Kirine’s relationship with Ares remained steady. Though he would frown when she seemed particularly close to Vincent, it was only momentary—even when displeased, he understood her until the end.
Seeing this side of him made Kirine view Ares in a new light.
“So how’s the romance front? Any problems?”
During a brief break, she had been heading to the training grounds where Ares would be.
Before she could arrive, she ran into Reilly and was dragged along before she knew it.
“Is that what you’re curious about?”
Though sweet desserts that looked like they would melt in her mouth were laid out before her, Kirine responded calmly without touching them.
At first, she hadn’t known how to handle Reilly’s forceful way of appearing and dragging her along.
But now that she had somewhat figured out Reilly’s personality, it didn’t feel unpleasant. Still, she couldn’t quite shake off her bewilderment.
“Yes, won’t you tell me a little?”
It might have been considered a rude question by some.
But knowing Reilly was simply a straightforward person who didn’t know how to beat around the bush, Kirine didn’t find it uncomfortable. If anything, it made her think about how much trouble Ares must have had with Reilly when he was young.
“Everything’s fine, just as you hoped.”
“Hmm…”
But for some reason, Reilly seemed uninterested in this response.
“That’s boring.”
“Wasn’t this the answer you wanted?”
“I did want to know, but it’s such an expected answer that it’s dull.”
Reilly, who had been watching Kirine while resting her chin on her hands propped on the table, suddenly pushed out her lips petulantly.
“By the way, how long are you going to keep using formal speech?”
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
Kirine had thought someone like Reilly would want her to maintain certain boundaries even while being casual.
But apparently not, as Reilly looked dissatisfied.
“Yeah. Maybe because I only have a gloomy little brother, but I want to hear a pretty little sister call me ‘unnie.'”
“Getting me to call you unnie would be quite expensive.”
“How much would it cost?”
Not expecting such a serious response, Kirine fell silent for a moment before breaking into a smile.
At times like this, she really seemed like Ares’s sister.
Of course, she knew exactly what expression Reilly would make if she said that out loud.
“Never mind.”
It wasn’t like she was trying to brag about having money.
The old her might have called Reilly “unnie” for money, but not anymore.
“You said it would be expensive. How much would it cost to hear you call me unnie?”
“Are you serious?”
When Kirine opened her eyes wide, wondering if Reilly was really serious, Reilly just stared at her silently.
It was exactly like when Ares did something inexplicable.
“Never mind, I should get going.”
“Where are you going?”
But Kirine stood up without responding. Reilly stood up too, clearly intending to follow her.
Kirine spoke with a sigh in her voice.
“Where else would I be going except one place?”
“To Ares?”
“Yes. I haven’t seen his face today.”
In exchange for Ares being understanding, Kirine went to see him whenever she had free time. Though it wasn’t an explicitly stated rule, it had somehow become an unspoken promise.
Sometimes it was tiring, but just as Ares waited for her silently, Kirine wanted to express her feelings too.
“How annoying.”
“You know we’re dating.”
“I know, but it’s still annoying.”
Reilly even stamped her feet, seemingly frustrated about something incomprehensible.
Watching her quietly, Kirine spoke casually.
“Then I’ll see you later, unnie.”
“Stay with me just a little longer… What?”
“I’ll be going now.”
“Wait!”
Though Reilly called out belatedly, having stared dumbly at Kirine wondering if she had heard wrong, Kirine left to see Ares without looking back.
***
She went straight to the training grounds, but strangely, Ares was nowhere to be seen.
When she went to check their private training ground just in case, she fortunately found Ares sitting quietly there.
“Why are you here?”
When Kirine approached and asked, having assumed he would be at the regular training grounds, Ares glanced up at her and patted the space beside him.
“This place is better for being alone together.”
“That’s true.”
Actually, she felt more comfortable meeting at the training grounds too.
Nodding in agreement, Kirine sat down right next to Ares.
“Aren’t you sitting too close?”
“Do you dislike it?”
“No.”
There was no way he could dislike it. He had only said it because he felt bashful for no reason.
Knowing she would immediately move away if he said he disliked it, Ares quickly waved his hands saying not at all.
“How was training today?”
“Same as always, you know. What about you?”
“Same here. Just the usual.”
Actually, they didn’t have any special conversations when they met.
Just sitting shoulder to shoulder while looking at the scenery felt peaceful and comforting.
“That damn New Year’s Festival, I wish it would just start already.”
Maybe because it was getting close.
It was becoming increasingly difficult to just wait patiently.
Still, he endured it with the single thought of not wanting to make things difficult for Kirine. It felt like an exercise in self-discipline.
“I just met Reilly.”
“Is that why you were late?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Seeing her nod as if it were obvious, Ares gave a bitter smile.
It seemed he would need to have a word with his sister soon.
“What did you talk about?”
“Just asked how things were going with you.”
“What did you say?”
Though he had asked out of courtesy, he found himself genuinely curious.
Reilly had always been curious about Ares’s daily life. Though she rarely interfered, this time seemed different—perhaps because his dating was unexpected—and she kept crossing lines.
It irritated him each time, but surprisingly, Kirine didn’t seem to mind.
“I told her we’re getting along well.”
“…”
At this casual answer, Ares studied Kirine intently for a moment.
He had worried she might have been upset, but apparently not.
“Why are you staring like that? Aren’t we getting along well?”
“We are. You answered well.”
“What’s with you? I thought I’d said something wrong.”
Kirine found it amusing that she had worried about misspeaking when he just stared without saying anything.
“After the New Year’s Festival…”
Just as she was feeling relieved, Ares’s expression turned strangely serious.
As she waited for his next words, wondering if something was wrong—
“Stay with me all the time.”
“…”
It was a moment that made her previous tension seem silly.
Moreover, despite his serious expression, his words were absolutely adorable.
“It’s punishment.”
“That’s supposed to be punishment?”
It didn’t sound scary at all for a punishment. If anything, it was what she wanted.
“If that’s punishment, I’d like to receive it every day.”
Since she wanted to be together too, she could gladly accept it.
But this wasn’t the response he wanted, apparently, as Ares furrowed one eyebrow.
“You can be quite glib sometimes.”
“Must be picking it up from you.”
Kirine let out a small “heh” and rested her head on Ares’s shoulder.
Just that slight contact filled her with a sense of peace, making her lips curl up involuntarily.
“You have to stay with me every day.”
“I already said I would.”
“Morning, afternoon, and evening—you have to be with me.”
“I know that too.”
Though his tone was firm as if pronouncing some terrible punishment, Kirine couldn’t help but smile.
She just loved this moment too much.
