I Became A Third-Rate Villain In The Hero Academy [On Hiatus]

Chapter 87: Mischief (3)

At my sudden embrace, Irene flinched.

But she soon became still.

"T, T... Oh. Why this sudden-"

"Stay still, just like this for a moment."

I interrupted Irene, holding her tightly in my arms.

"Ah, uhm... Ok," she replied quietly.

While holding Irene, I glanced out the window.

A faint thud reached my ears - an easy catch using [Focus] stored in [Magic Cartridge].

"Did you, did you hear that noise?"

Irene, who was buried in my chest, looked up at me with a puzzled face.

...It seems that Irene heard it too.

'Damn it, Jang Woohee.'

Such a mistake from an assassin.

Remaining outwardly calm, I answered, "I didn't hear anything, Rin."

"Ah... Ok."

'Rin' - a nickname her friends sometimes called her.

She appeared to still have a soft spot for it, given how easily she complied.

I hugged Irene even tighter, making it impossible for her to even lift her head, and focused my gaze on the window.

Soon, black hair was visible beyond.

Following that, the face of a young girl with brown eyes appeared.

It was Jang Woohee.

Upon locking eyes with me, she wore a look of surprise.

Grinning mischievously, I nodded in her direction.

She quickly disappeared from view.

After about five minutes, I released Irene.

"..."

She looked up at me, her face, neck, and ears all rosy.

"...Theo."

"Yes."

"Do you really think a single hug will make me fall for you?"

I slowly shook my head.

"Of course not. But..."

"But?"

"I just wanted to hug you, Irene. I didn't think that was too forward."

"But you should've warned me first... such a surprise-"

"Is it wrong for a fiance to embrace his fiancee?"

"That's not what I mean."

Irene replied in a small voice.

I maintained a steady gaze on her.

"The past is something we must face. I never planned to ignore it like a coward."

"If that's the case...!"

Irene's eyes shone with anticipation.

"But now is not the time, Rin. I promise, when the moment is right, I will tell you everything."

"But I need a timeline. It's tough. Even while being held in your arms just now, I was worried that this happiness would disappear like a mirage... I hate myself for not trusting you... but we can't just ignore what happened. You should understand that. I want to face it fully."

Irene's gaze was resolute.

... This is not something we can just gloss over.

But I still don't know what 'that incident' was.