At this moment, Akira, who was still holding Ryuu, slowly leaned back against the tree trunk.
He glanced down at the elf girl nestled in his arms and asked in a teasing tone, "My arms are that comfortable, huh? Does Ryuu not want to come out?"
Hearing his words, Ryuu slowly lifted her head. Her clear, lake-like eyes silently locked onto Akira's face, carrying a depth of emotion that made time feel still.
Her lips quivered faintly as she murmured, her voice soft and low, "No… It's not that..."
But before she could finish, she buried her head once more against Akira's chest, as if too shy to continue.
"…Is this what Alise and the others mean when they call her 'useless'?" Akira mused to himself, watching Ryuu curl up in his arms like a timid kitten unwilling to leave the warmth.
Unable to resist, he reached out and gently stroked her long golden hair, the strands cascading like a waterfall down her back. His fingertips traced through the silken strands, savoring their softness.
The two remained like that, leaning into each other's warmth, letting the fleeting moment stretch into an eternity. For a brief span of time, it was as if the world had stopped. Nothing existed except for the sound of their gentle breathing and the synchronized rhythm of their heartbeats.
But fleeting moments are called so because they never last.
After a while, Ryuu's fingers quietly tightened around Akira's cloak as she pulled slightly on the fabric, then slowly raised her head again.
She turned her face to the side, clearly avoiding his gaze, and whispered, "I'm sorry, Akira… I got carried away earlier and said some ridiculous things. I must have troubled you."
Seeing the gloom in her eyes, Akira realized she was once again caught in a spiral of self-blame. This overly serious elf, even after everything, still couldn't forgive herself over small matters.
"Why would you think like that?" Akira leaned forward slightly and raised a finger in front of her, his expression serious.
"I've done far more inappropriate things to you, haven't I?"
He locked eyes with her, gaze firm. "I know you're an elf, and elves have strong mysophobia. But even so, I've held your hand more times than I can count… even dared to touch your ears."
"Isn't that my fault? But you never once blamed me. You've always treated me with kindness."
Their gazes met—his gentle, hers slightly flustered—like two quiet stars pulling into each other's orbit.
Ryuu bit her lower lip, turned her head slightly, and murmured with a mix of nervousness and protest, "Th-this is different. I… I understand…"
But before she could finish, Akira cut in resolutely, "No. It's the same. The only reason I dared to do those things was because I believed in your gentleness."
After a short pause, he added, "Because I knew—if it were you, you wouldn't be angry with me."
Akira's brows drew slightly together, a hint of frustration flickering in his expression. "But you don't treat yourself the same way. It was just a small mistake—why would you assume I'd be angry with you?"
"Isn't that unfair to yourself, Ryuu?"
Just then, Ryuu, who had been quietly listening until now, suddenly muttered under her breath, "That's… not what Akira said…"
For elves, allowing others to touch their skin was an act of deep trust. The racial instinct that shaped Ryuu's mysophobia had been cultivated over years of elven upbringing—surrounded by peers with proud bloodlines and strong racial pride. Her reaction wasn't just personal, it was cultural—engraved into her very being since birth.
And yet, when it came to Akira, the emotions buried deep within Ryuu always compelled her to break those rules. Her body no longer resisted his touch.
'As long as I can stay close to Akira like this… I feel so happy.' Ryuu thought silently.
But her innate shyness was like a veil gently covering her lips, making it impossible to express those words aloud.
Ryuu slowly loosened her grip on his cloak, placing her palms against the earth, and prepared to pull away from his arms.
But just as she began to rise, she felt a gentle but firm tug around her waist, and in the next moment, she was pulled back into Akira's embrace.
Feeling the warmth of the delicate yet clearly stronger-than-average body holding her, Akira asked softly, "If it's not that, then tell me—how do you feel about me?"
"Is it about… hate? Or is it that you like me?"
"I want to hear your real thoughts, Ryuu."
"…No. I don't hate Akira." Ryuu whispered, not moving or resisting at all, her voice quiet yet sincere.
After hearing that, Akira gently smiled. "Then there's no need to apologize for earlier. I hope you can relax more around me. Laugh. Joke with me."
Ryuu clung to his warm, sturdy body—one clearly stronger than any ordinary boy's. Yet in that moment, an odd realization dawned on her.
He's younger than me.I'm the older one here…
But ever since Akira joined the Astraea Familia, he had always been the one comforting her, protecting her, guiding her forward.
And she? She had only brought him trouble.
I really am a useless elf…
Lost in self-reflection, Ryuu didn't even realize that Akira's gaze had been fixed intently on her for some time.
Seeing her zoning out, Akira smiled wryly and teased, "Although I wouldn't mind holding Ryuu like this forever, are you really not going to wash up? Or…"
He leaned a bit closer, voice playful. "Are you planning to bathe with me? You did throw me to the ground earlier, and now there's sand in my hair."
Ryuu instinctively rubbed his chest, as if trying to feel something.
Then, as if suddenly awakening, her face turned crimson. She struggled frantically, using both hands and feet to scramble awkwardly out of Akira's embrace.
"W-Who wants to take a bath with you?!"
Just like that, the atmosphere returned to normal.
Akira got up slowly, dusting himself off. He approached her, extended a hand, and smiled gently. "Then how about you go join Alise and the others? My turn's coming up soon, after all."
Ryuu flinched slightly, then stammered, "T-This isn't the only stream around here. I can just find another spot to bathe later…"
But even as she said that, her hand reached out and gently took the one Akira offered her.