And it wasn’t like anything special had happened. After all, Shihyun and I just fell asleep like that.
…No, perhaps that moment itself was special, so maybe saying it wasn’t is wrong.
Actually, I had been mentally preparing myself ever since I told Shihyun that I wanted to stay over. So, I had thought… that something more than just a kiss might happen between us. How sly of me.
This time, I made sure to brush my teeth thoroughly and rinse with mouthwash several times so that there wouldn’t be any smell of alcohol. I also washed my body clean and shampooed my hair meticulously.
But somehow, we ended up just talking and then falling asleep.
It wasn’t about wanting or not wanting to do something. It just didn’t feel like the right moment for either of us. Though, if I were to be honest, my heart was leaning more toward wanting to…
It was my fault, really. If I had just taken the initiative and either pushed Shihyun down or seduced her, things might have gone further after the kiss. But for some reason, I just wanted to talk.
I wanted to hear about what Shihyun had been up to during the time we were apart. Maybe it was because, in my own way, I had already accepted Shihyun as the Shihyun from the past.
Since I had reunited with the person I loved, I wanted to hear more about what had happened during the time we were apart.
I also wanted to know more about that “goddess” she mentioned, the one who had made it possible for Shihyun to return to my side.
And so, we talked, shared our warmth, kissed, and confirmed each other’s feelings, until at some point, without anyone taking the lead, we fell asleep.
It’s a bit embarrassing to admit at my age, but it felt like all the tension had melted away.
Suddenly, I opened my eyes and frowned. It seemed I had fallen asleep without even turning off the lights.
Shihyun was sleeping peacefully in my arms.
Her shoulders rose and fell rhythmically, and her soft breathing was soothing to listen to.
Shihyun’s body, clinging tightly to me, was warm and soft.
…Maybe it was because she wasn’t wearing any underwear. She had washed up before bed, so it was natural that she might have taken off anything uncomfortable.
Well, I was the same, though.
When I held her tightly earlier, I hadn’t been fully aware of it. I was looking into Shihyun’s eyes and talking to her.
Shihyun’s body was incredibly…..well-proportioned. Now that I was conscious of it, I could feel it vividly. Her chest, her slim waist… Even just the way her lower body pressed against me made her curves unmistakably noticeable.
Feeling Shihyun’s body and sensing my own body heating up, I seriously wondered if I might have some interest in women after all.
…But that probably wasn’t it. The reason I felt both embarrassment and excitement now was because it was Shihyun. If it had been anyone else, whether a man or a woman, I might have just felt uncomfortable.
It was because I liked her that much.
Being this close made my throat dry.
I carefully brushed the hair that had fallen over Shihyun’s face behind her ear, kissed her forehead, and slowly pulled myself away.
Fortunately, Shihyun, who was asleep, wasn’t holding me too tightly.
But.
“Unnie…”
As I moved away from her embrace, Shihyun murmured.
Startled, I looked at her face, but it didn’t seem like she had woken up. It was probably just sleep-talking.
But even as I thought that, I held Shihyun’s hand tightly once more and kissed her forehead again.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but Shihyun’s sleeping expression seemed to relax a little.
*
The reason I stepped out of the room wasn’t anything special—I was just thirsty. I was planning to head to the fridge, drink a glass of water, and go right back.
But the kitchen lights were already on.
Sitting at the dining table was Arna.
…Her outfit was something straight out of a fairy tale—an emerald green garment that instantly reminded me of Peter Pan. Of course, the one wearing it wasn’t a mischievous boy but a mature woman.
And there was something else straight out of a fairy tale.
Arna’s ears were pointed. Not just slightly pointed, but so distinct that they stood out even from behind.
Seeing something like that in real life should have felt out of place, but maybe because of Arna’s overall appearance, it didn’t seem strange at all.
The last image of Arna in my memory was her in casual clothes, with completely normal ears.
“Hm.”
At the sound, I turned my gaze. Arna had noticed me but didn’t look surprised in the slightest.
“You’re not as shocked as I expected.”
Seemed like we were thinking the same thing.
“Those ears… they’re not some kind of special effects makeup, right?”
At my question, Arna chuckled as if amused.
“You do realize it’s considered rude to say that to an elf, don’t you?”
“Asking about your ears?”
“No, questioning whether I’m an elf. Most elves take great pride in being who they are.”
As she spoke, she poured water into a cup that had been sitting on the table.
Was she thirsty too?
“But if I don’t ask, how would I know?”
“True.”
Arna nodded, her gaze shifting slightly into the distance.
“But most elves live their entire lives in the forests where they were born. It takes them a very long time to even consider that they might be wrong about something.
It’s only after witnessing another species one that hasn’t even lived a fraction of their own lifespan discover something amazing or see the world from a completely different perspective that they finally begin to acknowledge it.”
Shihyun had told me that elves live for an incredibly long time. He also mentioned that Arna was much older than us.
That must be why she could say things like that—because she had lived through them herself.
“We live long lives and think we know a lot, but we fail to consider that others may have experienced things we haven’t. And then, we make assumptions. We start believing we’re superior. It’s a bad habit.”
“Humans do the same thing.”
At my comment, Arna simply shrugged.
“You heard that from Shihyun, didn’t you?”
“…Huh.”
She nodded knowingly, as if she had already expected my answer. Then, she took a sip from her cup. Strangely, the way she drank water looked less like someone gulping down a drink in a kitchen and more like someone elegantly sipping a cocktail at a bar.
Maybe it was just my own bias, seeing her as an elf now. I hadn’t thought that way earlier.
I took the glass she had handed me and drank. The cool water soothed my dry throat. It was probably the alcohol that had left me parched. At least I didn’t have a hangover.
“Did you already know?”
“…Who knows.”
When I asked again, Arna furrowed her brow slightly, as if unsure how to answer.
“I could hear that you two were talking inside. And that the conversation went on for quite a while. Elves have sharp hearing, after all.”
At her words, my face flushed red.
“But that doesn’t mean I could make out exactly what you were saying not with two doors between us. Especially in a house like this, where the soundproofing is excellent.”
Even so, it was still embarrassing.
If we had actually gone further tonight… Just the thought sent a chill down my spine.
Arna tilted her head at my involuntary shudder, but I had no intention of explaining further.
“…I heard that Shihyun was a Hero.”
“Yeah.”
Arna answered without the slightest hesitation.
“I can swear on my name he was more of a Hero than any I’ve ever read about.”
“That much?”
I knew the story I heard from Shihyun himself might not have been entirely objective.
But Shihyun wasn’t the type to exaggerate his accomplishments. If anything, he was more likely to downplay them. That was the Shihyun I knew.
“At the final moment, he was the kind of person who could choose to sacrifice himself over anyone else. Without a second thought.”
“……”
Hearing that, I found myself staring blankly, my mouth slightly open.
Ah. I see.
Even in another world, Shihyun had chosen to sacrifice himself.
This was something he had never told me.
He had spoken as if he had simply completed his task and returned.
Noticing my dazed expression, Arna gave me a small, wry smile before refilling my cup with water.
…Anyone watching might think it was alcohol.
“If you want, I can tell you about the Shihyun I saw. Though……..it’s pretty late for that now.”
“…I want to hear it.”
I answered without hesitation.
“I thought you might.”
Arna smiled at me as she spoke.
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