In the blink of an eye, I quickly assessed the situation that had unfolded. It was still unclear what had exactly happened, but it was certain that someone had their eyes on Luche.
Luche wasn’t a fool, so even in this crowded place, she would have sensed the unfamiliar gazes directed at her.
“…That fool.”
Despite thinking that, seeing Luche standing in front of the waffle shop, smiling widely while watching the waffles being made, it was clear she hadn’t noticed anything at all.
“Is it really her?”
“Seems like it.”
Those who saw Luche for the first time were in a state of uncertainty, but as people in the crowd began to hear the word “Spacystro,” one by one, their gazes turned toward her.
And the moment I saw a smartphone camera being pointed at Luche from somewhere, I decided to abandon any thoughts of resolving this situation safely.
I hastily pulled out money from my wallet, placed it on the stall’s table, and threw a nearby smartphone case.
The flying case hit the hand of the person holding the smartphone. Startled by the sudden impact, they dropped the phone.
Only after receiving her waffle did Luche notice the attention being directed at her. I pulled up my hood and approached her.
“Senior?”
After wrapping her in my coat and holding her, I leaped high into the air without considering the surroundings.
We cleared the heads of the crowd, and the conspicuous action drew the attention of even those who hadn’t been interested before.
“Move aside!”
I shouted at the people in the landing area, and those who saw us quickly made way.
“Hold on tight.”
The moment we landed, I ran at full speed to quickly escape the scene.
I could feel the flashes of smartphone cameras behind us, but I kept my hand on my hood to prevent it from falling off, not daring to look back.
We had run out of the bustling area, but just in case, I didn’t stop running. I ran with the determination to reach a place with absolutely no people, and Luche in my arms held on tightly.
After running at full speed for a few minutes, we entered a deserted alley and caught our breath while looking back.
Fortunately, no one was following us or paying attention.
I hoped that those who noticed Luche weren’t entirely sure it was her, but things never go as I wish. Rather, my action of carrying her away from the scene drew more attention, confirming the suspicions of those who were already unsure.
“Senior, are you okay?”
“What’s not okay? I’m not hurt anywhere.”
I slowly let go of Luche, who I had been holding, as I caught my breath.
The waffle she had been holding was no longer in her hand.
“Did people recognize you?”
“Seems like it.”
Since we left before Luche could fully grasp the situation, she first tried to understand why I had acted that way. After grumbling, she let out a sigh.
“What’s going on? This has never happened before.”
She seemed more upset about having her fun moment interrupted than being recognized.
“The waffle?”
“I dropped it when you started running.”
It seemed she had dropped it when I suddenly hugged her in front of the waffle shop. Although her back might have been photographed at least I prevented her face from being captured. As the tension eased, I let out a hollow laugh.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Nothing, I’m just relieved it’s over.”
Even though her face has been exposed in the media, it’s only during battles. There’s never been a time when her private, makeup-free appearance out of the suit has been exposed. While one post on SNS wouldn’t drastically change her life, given recent societal trends, there’s no harm in being cautious.
“You’re overreacting a bit, aren’t you?”
“There’s no harm in being cautious.”
“It might’ve been a fan. But it was a bit novel being recognized outside like this.”
Luche was so composed that it made me wonder if I had been too sensitive.
As Luche said, someone recognizing her without any disguise could very well be a fan. But it could also be someone hostile toward Spacystro.
Though the idea of a fan of an invader is inherently odd.
“Or were you worried about others finding out?”
“Stop teasing.”
I pressed my finger on her forehead, making her close her eyes tightly.
“How could I not be worried?”
I couldn’t help but worry. Only yesterday, thanks to Yubin, some of my worries had eased a bit. I didn’t need more added to the pile.
Though we’re living ordinary lives on Earth, we’re still invaders. The information exposed to the public is limited, and what’s known among that limited information is the face of the team leaders.
The team leaders, who aren’t celebrities, having their faces slightly exposed in the media doesn’t mean they’re recognized, so it doesn’t affect daily life.
So, you’d think we could walk around confidently without worrying. But that’s not entirely true.
If the person who recognized Luche was a fan, it’s one thing. But if it was someone hostile toward Spacystro and intended harm, I might’ve retaliated against them.
It could be considered self-defense, but harming civilians of an invading planet is prohibited.
“Were you really worried?”
As I honestly admitted to being worried, Luche looked surprised and flustered.
It’s a bit funny for me to worry about Luche. In terms of abilities, there’s not a single area where she falls behind me. Who would worry about someone like that?
“Why? Can’t I be worried?”
“No. I’m glad you’re worried.”
Her unexpected response made me smile despite her slightly bewildered expression.
“Okay. Got it.”
Seeing Luche smiling brightly while making such remarks, it was hard not to worry as she said.
“Too bad about the waffle. It would’ve been perfect to eat it and head home.”
We left the alley and started walking toward the nearest station. Luche, seemingly still thinking about the dropped waffle, vented her frustration about the earlier situation as we walked side by side.
“Right. It was just starting to get dark, and it would’ve been the perfect way to end the day.”
Meal, followed by a snack, and then heading home. It was a logical sequence, and Luche had dropped the waffle she’d been longing for without even taking a bite.
“What about eating near home?”
“That’s not the same. What’s important is having it with you after the meal.”
“Is that so?”
It wasn’t the waffle itself but sharing it with me that mattered. Her words made me smile awkwardly, and Luche paused in her steps when I gave an evasive answer.
After taking a couple more steps, I noticed she had stopped and turned around to see her standing there.
“Senior, are you going to pretend not to know?”
“I’m not pretending.”
I knew exactly what Luche was implying.
I had no intention of treating her feelings as a joke.
“But why do you keep beating around the bush?”
Throughout the day, Luche and I had many conversations, and even when I knew the answer she wanted, there were several times I didn’t give it.
“I’m not ready yet.”
“How much longer do you need? Another 10 years?”
“…It’s not about Luche, it’s that I’m not ready.”
It’s been over 10 years since Luche took me under her wing, and it was only recently that I learned she is ‘Ati.’
The way she looked at me before and after I knew her true identity had completely changed.
No, I thought it had.
Looking back, the way Luche looked at me had always been the same. I just hadn’t noticed it before. After learning she was Ati, her gaze and actions became more proactive.
In every glance, every word, every action, I could sense her intentions.
“What’s not ready?”
I couldn’t pretend not to recognize Luche’s heart now, as she smiled at me, hugged me, encouraged me, and kissed me.
But the burden I carry now feels too heavy to face the emotions she’s giving me.
“Ready? What’s there to get ready for?”
Luche kept questioning me, who had no answer.
The idea of being prepared is absurd. When I met my girlfriends, I wasn’t prepared then either, and we started dating without any preparation.
“Right. Thinking about it, there’s really nothing to prepare for.”
It’s laughable for me now to speak of preparing my heart, having never done so before.
“Still, can you give me a little time?”
“Okay.”
Though it might sound like a rejection, Luche coolly accepted it without asking why.
“Are you okay? It might take a while.”
“After waiting for over 10 years right by your side, you develop a certain patience.”
In terms of waiting, Luche was a step ahead of me.
Seeing her confidently puff out her chest, all I could say was, “I see.”
Knowing that the person she’s been waiting for is me, I couldn’t bring myself to praise her patience.
“But what are you thinking about?”
“How to face it more seriously.”
As mentioned earlier, I have no intention of treating her feelings lightly.
Despite maintaining a playful and light relationship with her so far, just because we’ve kept it that way doesn’t mean I can casually accept her sincere feelings.
It’s not like I’ve been insincere with my girlfriends. But with the number of girlfriends I have now, I need to approach accepting someone’s feelings with a more serious attitude.
“Then you can wait, right?”
Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Luche smiled with a slightly flushed face.
“I also need to talk to my girlfriends.”
“Do you need their permission?!”
Startled by the unexpected response, Luche looked up at me with a flustered expression, her previous smile gone.
“Permission might be too strong a word, but I think it’s good to talk it through. They’re all Earthlings, and even among my girlfriends, opinions are divided.”
“If you like each other, you should just be together. I don’t understand Earth customs.”
“Hahaha…”
As someone with Earthling girlfriends, I couldn’t openly agree with Luche, but I smiled bitterly, internally understanding her confusion with Earth’s customs.
“Can we still hold hands?”
On the way back, when she suggested holding hands, I extended my hand, and Luche, beaming, tightly grasped mine.
