Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 34 - Holding Hands

Chapter 34 - Holding Hands

It was late afternoon when we stepped out of the Megamall. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a rich, golden-orange hue over everything around us, painting long shadows across the pavement. A gentle breeze swept through, carrying the faint scent of street food from nearby stalls.

On the sidewalk, I noticed a father and his young daughter. She was no older than a grade-schooler, clutching a fluffy pink cloud of cotton candy in her small hands. They walked hand-in-hand, the father's gentle laughter mixing with the girl's carefree giggles—a normal scene, blissfully unaware of the chaos that had unfolded just minutes earlier. It was true what they said: ignorance really was bliss.

"Zaft," Myrrh's voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to find her staring at me, her azure eyes shimmering with a resolve that hadn't dimmed, even after everything that had happened. There was a strength in them that made my breath hitch.

"W-what's up?" I stuttered, feeling my own voice tremble.

"It's getting cold. My hand is shivering," she said, her voice soft but steady.

"Oh, yeah?" I forced a smile, trying to mask the unease that gripped me. I looked down at my own hand, noticing the slight tremor in my fingers and the way the hairs on my arm stood up. "I think my hand is cold, too."

Myrrh's eyebrows knitted together in a look of playful frustration, and then she pouted. "No wonder you never had a girlfriend. You're completely hopeless at taking a hint."

Before I could react, she reached over and grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers in one swift motion. Her touch was warm and soft—a delicate contrast to the chill in the air. My heart skipped a beat. It was a feeling I'd never experienced before. Her hand... it was so undeniably feminine.

"I-Isn't this kind of lewd?" I stammered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

"Pfft! Hahaha!" Myrrh burst into laughter, doubling over as if the weight of my awkwardness had finally tipped her over the edge. She laughed so hard that tears started to form in the corners of her eyes, glistening like tiny diamonds. When I shot her a disapproving frown, she tried to pull herself together, wiping away those tears of joy and mockery with the back of her hand. "You... You really are innocent, aren't you? Holding hands in public is never lewd, dummy!"

"B-but, aren't couples supposed to do this? We're not a couple, r-right?" I managed to stammer, my voice cracking as I struggled to find the right words.

Myrrh's lips curved into a smug smile, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. "We're on a date, so we should at least walk hand-in-hand until this is over," she teased, her tone both playful and gentle. "This is just the standard procedure for dates... unless, of course, you want to kiss me or something."

"F-fine, let's settle with holding hands," I muttered, feeling the heat creep up my neck as I looked away, the embarrassment burning my face. My ears felt like they were on fire. I couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth—maybe I should wash my tongue with soap later.

"Oh, are you blushing?" Myrrh's eyes lit up with mischief as she leaned closer, her grin widening. "You can't resist my beauty, can you? Come on, admit it. Maybe you've developed a little crush on me?"

"S-shut up," I grumbled, my voice barely above a whisper as I fought to keep my composure. I knew my cheeks were probably as red as the sunset above us, but there was no way I'd give her the satisfaction of admitting it.

"You should feel blessed that I'm letting your dirty fingers hold my hand," Myrrh declared with a haughty tilt of her chin, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "But don't let it go to your head. If you ever confess, I'll shoot you down without a second thought. But," she added, her smirk widening, "you're free to admit that I'm your crush."