After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 46
Alice slowly looked up.
Standing at the entrance of the alley…
Was Yuichi Sakai.
He was breathing heavily, clearly having run all the way there.
“…Yuichi?”
Alice blinked in surprise.
She hadn’t expected him to appear at all.
Yuichi was still wearing his blue work uniform.
An umbrella rested in his hand.
Even so, nearly all of his clothes were soaked from the rain.
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“I… I got a message from a traffic officer.”
“They said they saw you walking this way.”
“So I hurried over.”
He laughed nervously.
“I was in such a rush to leave that place earlier…”
“It wasn’t because I wanted to ignore you.”
Alice remained silent.
She simply stared at him.
Her eyes were slightly red, as if she might cry at any moment.
Yuichi avoided her gaze.
He stumbled over his words, desperately trying to explain himself.
“In any case…”
“…I’m sorry.”
Alice tilted her head.
“…Why are you apologizing?”
Yuichi froze.
“…Huh?”
“You don’t need to apologize to me.”
Her words caught him completely off guard.
“B-But…”
“I ran away by myself back then.”
“If I hadn’t…”
“You wouldn’t have disappeared.”
Alice gently shook her head.
“…That’s not it.”
Yuichi looked even more confused.
“…Then what is?”
Alice lowered her eyes once again.
She didn’t answer.
Seeing that…
Yuichi quietly walked over and crouched beside her.
He didn’t speak again.
He simply stayed there.
If Alice remained silent…
Then he would continue waiting.
As long as it took.
The rain continued falling.
Alice glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
This idiot…
It’s pouring outside.
Why is he staying here with me?
If I just tell him what’s bothering me…
He’ll probably leave.
After hesitating for a long time…
She finally spoke.
“…Yuichi.”
“I told you before about my parents…”
“I’ve always wanted revenge for them.”
“But after everything that’s happened…”
“…I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore.”
Yuichi quietly nodded.
So that was it.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Alice’s hesitation.
Her strange behavior.
Her conflicted expression.
This wasn’t something that could be solved with a few comforting words.
After thinking for a moment…
Yuichi finally answered.
“…I understand.”
“If that’s truly what you’ve decided…”
“Then go through with it.”
Alice stared at him in disbelief.
“…What?”
She had expected countless answers.
That wasn’t one of them.
“…Why would you say that?”
“Aren’t you always protecting them?”
Her question was perfectly reasonable.
Every time she fought Chiba…
Yuichi had always stepped between them.
Yuichi fell silent.
After a long pause, he smiled bitterly.
“…It’s true.”
“I’ve protected them many times.”
“And…”
He looked away awkwardly.
“…To be honest.”
“I like Chiba.”
“But…”
“This isn’t something I can decide for either of you.”
“I can’t selfishly think only about what I want.”
“The conflict between you and Chiba…”
“…Is yours to resolve.”
“So…”
“I won’t interfere anymore.”
“If revenge is truly what your heart wants…”
“…Then do it without worrying about me.”
Alice was speechless.
She had only wanted to be alone for a while.
She never imagined Yuichi would say something like that.
She could tell…
Those words hadn’t come easily.
He had forced himself to say them.
Simply because he was worried about her.
A warm feeling quietly spread through Alice’s heart.
She wasn’t someone who liked causing trouble for others.
After taking a deep breath…
She smiled.
A genuine smile.
“…Okay.”
“I understand.”
“…Thank you.”
Yuichi unlocked the front door.
“…I’m home.”
His exhausted voice echoed through the apartment.
He looked around.
“…Huh?”
The room was empty.
That was strange.
Chiba had promised she’d be waiting for him.
Still…
That wasn’t his biggest concern.
After getting caught in the rain…
He felt sticky and miserable.
A shower first.
Everything else can wait.
He changed into his slippers, grabbed a fresh set of clothes, and headed toward the bathroom.
The sound of running water came from inside.
Without thinking much about it…
Yuichi casually opened the bathroom door.
“…Huh?”
Steam filled the room.
For a few seconds…
He couldn’t see anything.
Then…
A small figure slowly emerged from the mist.
Their eyes met.
“…!”
Yuichi froze.
Standing beneath the shower…
Was Chiba.
Completely startled, Yuichi immediately covered his eyes.
“S-Sorry!”
“I didn’t know you were taking a shower!”
“I’ll leave right—”
“Die.”
A familiar, ice-cold voice interrupted him.
The next instant—
Thunk!
The bar of soap in Chiba’s hand flew through the air with frightening accuracy.
It struck Yuichi squarely on the forehead.
“Ow!!”
He tumbled backward out of the bathroom.
At the same time…
Blood began pouring from his nose.
Lying on the floor, Yuichi hurriedly apologized.
“I-I’m really sorry!!”
The bathroom door slammed shut.
From inside…
Yuichi could almost feel Chiba’s murderous glare through the wall.
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