Help! My Overprotective S-Rank Master Who Loves Me Too Much Won't Let Me Go on Quests! - Chapter 48: My Relationship with Aria-san is Beginning to Change!

Chapter 48: My Relationship with Aria-san is Beginning to Change!

“Ta-da! Adin-kun! Today, I made you a homemade meal!”

“Wh-what? Aria-san, you made this? By yourself!?”

“Isn’t it amazing? Isn’t it!?”

“It’s incredible!”

“Yay~!”

Aria-san beamed with happiness. I found myself staring at her smile for a few seconds, unsure why I was doing such a thing. I quickly shook my head to snap out of it and turned my attention to the homemade meal she had prepared.

The table was beautifully decorated with vibrant colors—juicy meat, a fresh salad, and some fruits. It looked absolutely delicious.

“Can I start eating?”

“Go ahead! But—”

Aria-san picked up a forkful of salad, holding it up to my mouth, and said:

“You have to let me feed you the first bite~.”

“I-I can eat by myself!”

“Open up!”

“…”

I had no choice but to comply, opening my mouth as instructed. Aria-san fed me the salad, then smiled gently as she asked:

“How is it? Is it good?”

“…Yes, it’s delicious.”

“I’m glad.”

Again, I found myself watching her smile again for a few seconds before I shook my head and tried to focus.

…What’s going on with me?

Something had started to change inside me, something I hadn’t felt before. Lately, Aria-san and I had become much closer and more intimate, and maybe that was affecting me in some sort of way.

“Adin-kun? Is something wrong?”

“N-no! It’s nothing!”

“Okay, let’s eat, then!”

“Y-yes!”

I wasn’t sure what these new feelings of mine were, but I decided to fully enjoy the meal Aria-san had prepared for me.

“You ate a lot today! By the time you become my age, Adin-kun, I bet you’ll be a strong young man~.”

“Your age… So, in three years when I’m eighteen? It’s hard to imagine what things will be like in three years… When I was eleven, I never thought I’d have a mentor as amazing as you, Aria-san.”

“You’re making me blush~. But… no matter how many years pass, we’ll stay together, right?”

“Yes. I’ll never leave you, Aria-san.”

When I said that, Aria-san gently hugged me and replied:

“Me too, Adin-kun. Three years… no, no matter how much time passes, I’ll never leave you either.”

“Aria-san…”

Moved by her words, I found myself hugging Aria-san back without even thinking about it. I might not be able to fully reach her yet, but someday, I hope I’ll become strong enough to protect her—

“Wh-wh-wha!? A-Adin-kun!?”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Aria-san was blushing, clearly flustered and embarrassed.

“What’s wrong? Y-you hugging me like this, Adin-kun… it’s the first time, right? Why are you doing it?”

“…”

Now that she mentioned it, she was right. I’d been hugged by Aria-san many times before, but this was the first time I had hugged her back like this.

Even so, here I was, holding her without hesitation.

“Why did I do that…? I’m sorry for suddenly doing it.”

I tried to release her to clear my head, but Aria-san tightened her embrace and said:

“Stay like this. Please, Adin-kun… just stay like this.”

“…Alright.”

And so, Aria-san and I held each other for a while. I could feel the changes in our relationship—small but unmistakable.

And strangely enough, that realization brought me a sense of comfort.