Chapter 375: Ursus Girls Don't Play With Words
After finishing his talk with Patriot—tying up loose ends and trading a few more supplies—Steven knew there was still one last group he had to face before leaving.
Talulah and Alina were nowhere to be found, but Yelena… Yelena was already waiting for him. She'd been standing by the doorway for quite a while, as if she somehow knew he would come.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
Steven asked gently the moment he stepped out, reaching for her hand. Her fingers were slender and cool to the touch—too cool, really. The faint shadows beneath her eyes told him enough; she hadn't rested much at all.
"I thought you were gonna start lecturing me," Yelena said, her lips curving into a small smile. "Something like, 'you shouldn't fight anymore, Yelena,' you know? But all you're asking about is sleep?"
She slipped her hand more firmly into his, their fingers lacing together naturally. Leaning against his shoulder, she tilted her head up to study his face from the side.
"Please," Steven sighed. "As if saying that would stop you. Since you're going to keep using your power, then I'll just treat you afterward. That's how it's gonna be. What can I say—friends take care of each other."
There was resignation in his tone, but also warmth. Yelena, like Talulah, was the type who couldn't be swayed once she'd made up her mind. If he could truly convince her to stop using her freezing Arts, it would only be after the day the Infected's suffering finally ended.
But Steven wasn't one to ruin a soft moment with heavy words. He reached into his inventory and pulled out a small jar—half-filled with candies of different colors.
"When you start feeling uncomfortable, eat one of the milk candies first," he said, placing the jar into her hands. "Then, a little later, have one of the watermelon ones. Together, they'll help with the cold backlash in your body."
He raised a finger and gave her a mock-stern look.
"And don't share them with the kids this time, alright? I made these just for you. They're not exactly… normal candy. Could mess someone up if they don't need it."
That last bit earned him a small, delighted laugh. Yelena hugged the jar to her chest, her silver hair glinting in the pale light. Her smile was bright—warm enough to melt the very frost she carried.
"Well, well~" she teased softly, eyes sparkling. "This isn't something people just give to a friend, is it? You totally have a crush on me, don't you?"
She tilted her head, her bunny ears twitching playfully. There was nothing accusing in her tone—only a teasing sweetness. She believed in him completely; she always had. And if Steven said these candies would help her, then she trusted him without hesitation.
"If we're calling it that," Steven shot back with a grin, "then aren't you the one openly crushing on me? I'm just returning the favor. No secret feelings here."
He shrugged, amused.
He hadn't made the candies because of some hidden romantic urge—he'd done it because he genuinely liked being around this warm, stubborn, snow-haired girl.
Yelena laughed, bright and unashamed.
"Fine, I'll say it then—I do like you. What about it?"
Her words came without hesitation, as fierce and honest as the blizzards of the northern tundra she'd grown up in. Just like other Ursus girls, she wasn't the kind of person to dance around her feelings.
Steven blinked, a little caught off guard, then chuckled.
"Funny, someone else already said that to me not long ago. And, well… I might've told her I liked her too. You sure you don't mind?"
He said it half-teasing, half-serious—but there was that trademark spark in his eyes again, the one that always made it impossible to tell if he was joking.
"I know that," Yelena said casually, "but that doesn't mean I can't compete fairly, does it? It's not like you completely belong to that girl. So why shouldn't I try to win you over with my own strength?"
Her tone was as carefree as ever. Of course, Yelena knew exactly who Steven was talking about—aside from that fiery red dragoness who liked to stick to him all the time, who else could it be?
But having grown up on this harsh, frozen tundra, Yelena understood one thing better than anyone else: happiness is something you have to fight for. If you give up before the battle even starts, that's the real defeat.
As long as the other girl hadn't truly "conquered" Steven yet, it meant they were still standing on the same starting line.
And honestly, with that girl's personality, winning over this stubborn man in front of her wouldn't be easy.
At least, not until she achieved that impossible dream of hers. Before that, completely "capturing" Steven was more or less impossible.
In that sense, she and Talulah were quite alike.
As long as Yelena remained a member of the Yeti Squadron, she could never stay by his side for long—that was simply their reality.
And that was exactly why she could take Steven's words so lightly.
Since she herself couldn't promise to be with him forever, why should she demand that he remain "pure" for her?
As long as the moments they shared now brought them both happiness, that was enough.
"Tch~ sometimes I really can't figure out what's going on in your head," Steven sighed with a wry smile. "Girls really are impossible to understand."
He honestly couldn't tell what she was thinking.
It almost felt like she didn't mind him spending time with Talulah at all.
What was with these tundra girls—why did all of them have such big hearts?
Steven let out a helpless laugh. Still, maybe that wasn't entirely a bad thing.
Without saying more, he gently rubbed the pair of soft bunny ears he'd been curious about for so long, then finally loosened his fingers from her hand.
"Think whatever you want," he said lightly. "Anyway, I really do have to go. If anything comes up, just contact me directly, okay? Don't shut yourself away with that stupid Waystone again like the rest of your squad told me. It's not like I can feel your longing through the rock or anything—it's not that advanced."
He gave her a teasing pinch on her now-healthy cheeks before smiling and saying goodbye.
Yelena didn't resist. After a moment, she reached out, hooked her arm around his neck—and their faces drew close together.
Naturally, a few indescribable things followed.
But unlike before, when it all happened out of nowhere, this time Steven finally had the chance to savor the sweet taste of this adorable little bunny properly.
After what felt like forever, Yelena reluctantly pulled back, panting softly for breath. She licked the corner of her lips, then tilted her chin up proudly.
"She didn't do that with you, did she? Your first time… belongs to me."
Steven looked at her smug little grin and decided—yeah, maybe it was better not to mention that his actual first time had been with Gladiia.
He did told her that she was his adopted daughter after all.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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