Chapter 97

Extra Case File 97 Flower

: Just liked this taste

“Are you not used to it?”

“I just like being alone more.”

Stopping the motion of shaking the wine glass in his hand, Ash turned in another direction and walked towards the balcony opposite from the bustling crowd behind him. Seeing the flowers as he did, he casually grabbed another wine glass and followed at a leisurely pace.

“Aren’t you too lonely by yourself?”

“As long as I learn to be friends with solitude.”

Following Ash’s steps, watching that man hold champagne, leaning against the rooftop, taking off the paper crown on his head, Flower smiled naturally and joined beside Ash, bringing their shoulders close, reducing the distance between them to nothing.

“It’s easy to say so because we are already here beside you, right?”

“Just you.”

“Huh? Ah…”

Initially not understanding the meaning, Flower instinctively froze before realizing it was an even more embarrassing statement than when he confessed to her. Her face instantly blushed vividly.

The one who can now comfortably lean against the clearly troubled Ash is indeed only Flower.

Feeling the heavy love hidden in Ash’s indifferent words, the already shy Flower fiddled with her burning cheek to ease her heart’s itch.

“Well then, this, thank you?”

“A natural reaction.”

Unable to stop cupping her excessively heated cheeks, Flower could only hear her rapidly beating heart.

What should I do? My heart feels so hot, unable to calm down, my face feels the same way, unable to stop!

Why would you suddenly say something like that, making me so happy! Oh no~ my expression must look very strange!

Though we’ve done many things together, or rather, been subjected to those things together. Perhaps it’s because of this reason, “purity” in her heart, which has become increasingly clear, causes her to care much about her image in his eyes, as if she were still a little girl.

Glancing a few times and seeing that Ash wasn’t looking this way, Flower breathed a sigh of relief but couldn’t help feeling sad about her immaturity.

Really, if only I am the one feeling shy, don’t I end up looking like an idiot?

I want to be mature! Yes! I should be steady and mature. My actual age might be older than Ash’s, so I need to show my mature side.

“But Flower, I also understand the feeling of being alone.”

Imitating the method Ash used to swirl the juice in his glass and nearly spilling orange juice from it, Flower seemed to understand part of the subtlety in心情. Squinting her eyes, pretending to know but actually not understanding, and nodding confidently.

“After all, during those days without you, I endured it all without worrying friends and family.”

“Then, Flower can call herself a solitary hero ~”

“Haha~” She was amused by Ash’s teasing and laughed happily. “I’m not a hero, Flower doesn’t have that power. I just did what only I could do back then.”

“What only I could do, that is what I should do, isn’t it?”

“You’re being too modest, Flower.” Hearing this, Ash turned around, leaning against the banister facing the sunshine. “Only true heroes can accomplish such feats.”

Including yourself. The people I’ve encountered often understate their amazing deeds… yes, maybe it’s precisely because they don’t think of them as such great achievements that they deserve the title of hero.

At least, that’s how I feel.

“Your path to where you are now needs no reminding, right? It’s a well-deserved reward.” Picking up pink bangs with a bent finger and lightly tapping on her forehead, hearing her make a ‘yelp’ sound, Ash chuckled. “So, with such a title, just accept it gracefully, Flower.”

“Is that so…”

Although she was praised by Ash, Flower could not feel any joy at this moment.

If being a hero means having to lose happiness and bear so much pain, then I’d rather there be no heroes in this world.

I just want to be good enough as myself, Flower.

Instead of becoming a person admired by everyone, I prefer to be with those I love and who love me, spending a simple yet warm life.

“However, you don’t need to feel this way anymore, right?”

Wanting to pour out sorrows and wanting someone to rely on… thankfully, I’ve waited for it…

“Who knows?”

Ash shook his head without giving a direct answer. Despite standing in such bright sunlight, a melancholy atmosphere always seemed to linger around him, attracting Flower.

Short black hair swept across his forehead by a gentle breeze, obscuring the uncertain light in his eyes.

Flower’s face, bearing an expression incompatible with her youthful appearance, exuded an air of seasoned wisdom. This made her look like a melancholic, battle-scarred beauty.

“Gulp~”

Still fixated on the unusual look of Ash, Flower could even hear the sound of her own swallowing saliva.

“Well…”

Finally noticing her distraction, as Ash turned his head, he felt that intense gaze.

“What is it?”

Well…well what, exactly?

“Great!”

“?”

Confused, Ash tilted his head.

This combination of a melancholic and a stubborn, never-giving-up look could not be resisted; wanting to embrace him gently stroking his hair then whisper in his ear “It’s alright, I’m here, you don’t need to keep trying anymore”—Oh! How white my teeth are! I really want to soothe his darker side.

“Oho~”

Now aged over 23, aiming to be a mature woman, Flower let out a childish girlish shout, akin to being struck by a cupid’s arrow, right before her lover once again.