Vol 3 Chapter 65 – Yukino, Angry【Empire War Arc】

Roy opened the door to his room intending to sleep, only to find Yukino already in bed.

They’d see each other at meals, but it had been three days since they’d shared a bed.

He slipped slowly under the blanket to avoid waking her.

Her sleepwear was a white tank top and shorts—far too defenseless. The tank top didn’t fit properly; it was pulled tight and rode up, exposing her navel. The shorts had shifted slightly, revealing a glimpse of pink underwear.

Roy turned his back to Yukino and closed his eyes.

If I keep her lovely face, her soft breathing, and that scent in view—if I see even her chest—I’ll react whether I want to or not.

Just as consciousness began to fade—

“Mm… huh? Roy?”

Yukino’s eyes opened.

“Sorry, did I wake you?”

“You just… suddenly appeared in my dream, and it startled me…”

“A dream?”

“I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s because I smelled you.”

That makes sense. Since I haven’t been sleeping here, Yukino’s scent has soaked into this bed. I’m the foreign element.

“Hey, Roy. Do you remember what I said?”

Yukino’s usual gentle, warm presence felt distinctly cold now.

“D-did I promise something?”

“Roy, I said I would give you a proper lecture, remember?”

That was near the end of the Cerberus fight, after Ange and the others crashed the vehicle through. Yukino had indeed said that to Roy.

Was she angry because I nearly lost? That possibility made Roy mention it—but Yukino shook her head.

“I’m not mad about that. Roy, when that dark dog Cerberus was about to attack you… you gave up, didn’t you?”

It was certainly possible in combat. And if he’d taken that breath attack, he would’ve been seriously injured, possibly fatal. Roy had been desperately calculating ways to minimize damage at that moment.

“No, back then… if attention hadn’t been on me, you and the others would have—”

Squeeze!

Suddenly, Roy’s body was enveloped by something soft.

“Don’t fight like that… please. I was so, so worried!”

“But in combat, there’s—”

“Your fights are always prepared, and no one in your party is ever abandoned. But you can’t be missing from that! We’re not a party without you… please, don’t leave me behind…”

Roy had no words left. Maybe I was thinking that if someone had to be attacked, it should be me. That only I could afford any damage. That thinking… yeah, that’s definitely wrong. If Yukino cries because of me, I’m worse than Haruto.

Behind him, Yukino sniffled and sobbed. Roy untangled her arms from his waist and turned to embrace her tightly.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be careful.”

Held in Roy’s arms, Yukino clung to him, unconcerned with how disheveled her clothes became, squeezing him tighter still.

But then Yukino noticed Roy’s arms suddenly go limp.

“Suu… suu…”

“Huh? Roy, did you fall asleep?!”

Yukino cradled his head and began gently stroking it.

“Geez, I still had things I wanted to tell you… Hehe, Roy. Thank you for living. If you hadn’t been there, I might not have been able to handle how my companions changed. I probably would’ve… well. I’ve had rough times, but adventures by your side are fun. I even felt a little reluctant to come home…”

Yukino brushed away her own tears and softly kissed Roy’s forehead. She’d been genuinely angry at first, but by the time Roy showed remorse, she’d shifted to expressing her feelings instead. His falling asleep had sabotaged her plan, but Yukino’s indomitable spirit burned brighter, anticipating her next opportunity.