I Can’t Run Away From the Girl Who Saved Me

113 – Secret Talk (5)

＊

The meal was satisfactory.

Although it was only grilled fish over a campfire, the sweet flesh of the fish permeated my mouth and stomach, which had been hungry all day.

It seems like today, which was a confusing day in many ways, was quite a burden for me, as I quickly finished off my share of fish.

Ms. Sylvia stared at me intently, then brought her sleeve to my mouth and wiped it.

“Eat slowly, Ash.”

“Oh, what was it that you asked?”

“It’s covered in soot.”

It seemed like he had a lot of burnt fish skin stuck to the corners of his mouth.

Looking around, I saw that neither Sylvia nor Alice had finished eating a single one.

When I realized that I had been eating it all by myself without thinking, I blushed and said, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“Thank you, Sister Sylvia.”

“And now you’re bringing this up?”

Sister Sylvia said so with a smile.

Sister Alice, who was staring at the sight, spoke while chewing on the fish flesh.

“Okay, Ash. Don’t be shy.”

“huh?”

“You’ve been passed out all day, so you must be hungry. Aren’t you, Sylvia?”

“…”

Sister Sylvia glared at Sister Alice without saying a word.

Feeling the atmosphere growing colder again, I hurriedly opened my mouth with an awkward smile.

“I’m fine, so finish it. Sister Sylvia. Sister Alice, don’t worry about me and eat quickly. You’re so tender.”

Ms. Sylvia said, holding up one of the grilled fish she was eating and handing the rest of the fish to me.

“Ash, if you’re hungry, do you want to eat more?”

“Huh? Aren’t you hungry?”

“Not as much as Ash.”

Sister Alice muttered again.

“Why would Sylvia be hungry? She hasn’t been underwater for weeks.”

“…”

“Sister Alice…”

“why,”

“…”

I sighed.

It was hard to say that Sister Alice’s attitude, which kept making the atmosphere heavy, was good, but the fault was clearly on Sylvia’s side.

Rather, it was more surprising that it ended with just a ticking sound, and I couldn’t blame Sister Alice even more because I knew that she had been through such a terrible thing.

This was even more so when I remembered that the reason the fight had stopped for a moment was because of my request.

“Sister Sylvia.”

“huh?”

“Let’s talk later.”

Sylvia nodded slightly at my words.

“…Yeah. I have something to apologize to Ash too.”

＊

After finishing the meal, Sister Alice got up from her seat and said she was going out for a short walk.

It must have been to make room for me and Sylvia to talk more comfortably.

It was already very cold outside in the middle of the night, so I approached my sister, who was wearing only a pair of old clothes, and gave her some clothes.

Sister Alice took the clothes and whispered in a voice so small that Sylvia couldn’t hear.

“I’ll wait outside. Come out when you’re done talking.”

With a small nod, she turned around, opened the door to the cabin, and went out.

Behind me, Sylvia was cleaning up the fish bones and utensils that had formed after the meal.

I said to Sylvia as I closed the cabin door.

“Sister Sylvia.”

“huh,”

As soon as she answered, the rustling sound stopped.

I slowly turned around and looked at Sylvia and said.

“I said let’s talk, but I’ll ask anyway. Do you have anything to say to me?”

Surprised by the cold tone of voice, Sylvia began to speak hesitantly and stammered.

“As expected… you’re really angry.”

“…a little bit.”

“It’s true that you’re angry.”

“Yes, I’m angry.”

“… Sorry.”

I slowly approached Sylvia.

“Do you know why I’m angry?”

“I’m sorry for hitting you… I… I was so excited… I wasn’t in my right mind.”

“…”

When I stared at her without saying anything, she seemed flustered and continued speaking in an urgent tone.

“That, and that wrist… Oh, it’s already recovered… That, I’m really sorry about that too… I couldn’t think of any other way back then…”

“…”

“I can’t think of any way to make Ash not leave me, so I…”

“Ms. Sylvia.”

“Ugh,”

She swallowed deeply and closed her mouth.

She looked up at me with her head slightly raised, her expression filled with bewilderment and despair.

I wasn’t so stupid as not to realize that the cause of the great shock she received was the title attached to her name.

“Why, why… Ash, I’m sorry, so, again… Sister Sylvia…”

“Why, Sylvia?”

“Ah, uh.”

I said, shaking my head.

“Anyway, Miss Sylvia thought I was going to leave.”

“…uh?”

“If you don’t knock me out and tie me up, I think you’re a stranger enough to leave. Even though I told you I like you, I love you, and we’re family.”

“Oh, no, that’s not it.”

Ms. Sylvia shook her head in denial, sinking to the floor as if her legs had given out.

“It’s not like that… I just…”

“Are you afraid that I will be shocked when I see what you did to Sister Alice?”

“…ah,”

Ms. Sylvia made a sound like the strings of a harp snapping weakly from deep within her throat.

She seemed shocked by my words, calling her Sylvia while calling Alice “older sister.”

I also emphasized the word “sister” to some extent.

But even taking that into account, the shock she received seemed to be greater than she could have imagined.

But I didn’t stop.

“No, you weren’t worried that I would be shocked. You were worried that I would freak out and leave.”

She approached slowly, walking on her knees.

Then he grabbed my leg with trembling hands.

I was a little nervous, knowing how strong her hands and arms were, but her hands that actually grabbed my trouser legs were very careful and weak.

“Ash… I was wrong. Okay?”

“What did Sylvia do wrong?”

“It was all my fault. I disappointed you.”

“that’s right.”

“…”

When I gave a weak affirmative answer, she shut her mouth.

No, she just looked at me with a pitiful expression, her lips trembling.

I sighed and dropped her hand.

Then he squatted down and faced her, saying:

“I’m disappointed, Sylvia. I’m really disappointed in you.”

“… Ash.”

She said, lowering her head to avoid my gaze.

“Uh, yeah… yeah, of course… swinging my fist at you, really…”

“That’s not it!”

“… then?”

“Why didn’t you tell me about Sister Alice?”

I saw Sylvia clench her fist.

As I saw blood dripping from under her fist with a squelching sound, I knew she was clenching it so hard that her nails were digging into the flesh of her palm.

“…Alice.”

“Because you’re my fiancé?”

“Is Alice that… precious to you? Did you… miss her that much?”

“She’s my precious person. She’s my sister’s childhood friend, and the same goes for me. She’s one of the few people I have left with who shares my past. Of course she’s precious, and of course I miss her.”

“…”

Ms. Sylvia lowered her head for a long time.

Blood was flowing out ceaselessly from his fists, which were clenched so tightly that they were trembling.

She was silent for a moment,

“Sorry.”

I could barely spit out just that one word.

I sighed and clenched my fist around hers.

And he held her head tightly with his other arm.

Ms. Sylvia flinched, seeming very surprised.

“…I didn’t know you could be this stupid.”

“Ash… why?”

“What is it?”

“Why… are you hugging me?”

“Why can’t I hug you?”

Ms. Sylvia was so confused that she couldn’t even finish her sentence and just kept licking her lips.

“Why… you Alice… no, I… huh?”

“Ha… Really.”

“Ash… was disappointed in me…”

I hugged her head tighter.

Her bloody hands shook slowly, unclenching her fists.

“Yes, I am disappointed. I feel betrayed. I feel cheated. I feel like I have been deceived.”

“But… why,”

I answered.

“So you thought I wouldn’t love Sylvia?”

I distinctly heard her breathing stop.

Slowly, slowly, her hand was raised.

It was a careful and secretive movement, as if checking something.

Her hands wrap around my back.

I didn’t avoid it.

Only then did she take a deep breath and hug my body tightly.

“Ash…”

I said, hugging her with my remaining arm.

“When will you realize that I’m not leaving?”

“…ugh,”

“I love Sylvia. I won’t leave her even if she’s not tied down. No matter what terrible things she’s done, and even if everyone in the world curses her, I’ll stay with her.”

Sylvia buried her head in my arms and rocked up and down.

I felt a hot, damp sensation spread across my chest, but I didn’t show it.

“The reason I was angry was because Sylvia still didn’t trust me.”

“Ah, ugh,”

“Do you still think I’m going to leave?”

Sylvia shook her head, still burying her face in my arms.

I held her close and kissed her golden hair as she rested in my arms.

＊

Sylvia must have thought I had feelings for Alice.

Of course, if I said I had no feelings of favor, that would clearly be a lie.

Because Sister Alice is a very precious person to me.

No, it would not be an exaggeration to say that she was one of the few people from my past who had such value to me that it was difficult to describe it simply with the word precious.

As I said in my conversation with my older sister, I couldn’t deny that the future with her was dazzling and definitely wonderful.

But it wasn’t love.

Longing for the peaceful old days was distinctly different from burning affection.

The person I love,

The one who makes my body burn and my head dizzy,

The only woman who made my heart flutter was Sylvia.

And it seemed that Sylvia had only just begun to realize that fact.

Sylvia cried for a long time, and I held her in my arms the whole time.

When she finally stopped crying, I said to her.

“Sylvia.”

“huh…”

“Apologize to Sister Alice.”

“…”

Sylvia was hugging me without saying a word.

He didn’t even move his head.

Now I don’t even think I have feelings for Alice, is it because of pride, or is it because there are still some subtle feelings that are hard to explain?

I don’t know why, but I had no intention of putting up with her antics.

“Sylvia…”

“…”

“… This is not a request.”

“…”

“Are you going to disappoint me again?”

Only then did Sylvia shake her head.

“Apologize properly.”

“If Ash… wants it, I’ll do it.”

I patted her head.

You might ask what’s the point of an insincere apology, but even a formal apology is definitely meaningful.

At least it will serve as a declaration to stop openly hostile fighting.

I slowly tried to pull her out of my arms, but Sylvia shook her head and held me tighter.

I laughed in vain.

He beat me, tied me up, clung to me, and now he’s being stubborn.

Seeing Sylvia acting like a little child today, I didn’t hate her but found her cute, so I guess I’m also quite into her.

I spoke to Sylvia, who clung to me more and more forcefully the more I tried to tear her away.

“I have to go tell Sister Alice that Sylvia wants to apologize. It’s cold outside and she’s waiting for me.”

“…”

“Sylvia, do you still think I like Sister Alice? That would really piss me off.”

“That’s not it.”

“then?”

Sylvia slowly began to move away from me, then suddenly grabbed me by the neck and threw me over.

I was so shocked that I couldn’t even react and just collapsed underneath her.

Sylvia slowly lowered her hips to my pelvis, then slowly straightened her back and lifted her upper body.

“…Sylvia?”

“Then prove it.”

“…what?”

Sylvia’s moist red eyes still sparkled with moisture.

“Ash loves me?”

“huh,”

“Ha… Prove it to me, right here, right now.”

“how?”

She slowly moved her hips down my back, keeping her pelvis pressed firmly against my body.

Then, after finding the exact location, he paused for a moment and then slowly moved his waist back and forth, rubbing it again.

“Huh,”

“Sylvia…?”

“Do it, now.”

.