Making It Obvious

"Wow, you're amazing—you can even fly."

After flying through the air for a while, Kaiser Lynn had gone from fear to excitement.

"I've got plenty of amazing traits," Shirakawa said proudly.

But Kaiser Lynn's exclamations were just too many. Hearing them once or twice might be tolerable, but after a while, they got genuinely annoying.

Fortunately, that didn't last long, because he could already see the outskirts of the city.

Once they reached the city limits, the two of them descended.

"Wow, you're so fast," Kaiser Lynn said, a little disappointed.

"Fast—that word doesn't apply to me." Hearing that word, Shirakawa gave her an unpleasant look.

"Then how about you fly me back to my country too?"

Kaiser Lynn opened her eyes wide, sparkling with expectation.

"No. Our main goal this time is to get some battlefield experience, and incidentally send you back to the palace."

"Incidentally? I'm the incidental one?" Kaiser Lynn couldn't believe her ears. Had she misheard? But seeing the firm look in Shirakawa's eyes, she knew she hadn't.

"You jerk. A beautiful woman is standing right in front of you, and all you care about is your own strength. No wonder you'll be single for life."

Kaiser Lynn huffed angrily, took a few steps forward, and left Shirakawa with her back.

"I'm doing this for your own good." Watching Kaiser Lynn's dejected back, Shirakawa felt a twinge of pity and walked up to her.

"You and I aren't suited for each other—or rather, I'm not suited for any woman in this world. Do you understand what I mean?"

"What exactly do you mean?" Kaiser Lynn could hear the loss and melancholy in Shirakawa's tone.

"Maybe you'll understand later. Even if I told you now, you wouldn't believe me."

Kaiser Lynn knew that from now on, their relationship could only remain as close friends of the opposite sex. Taking it any further was impossible.

"It's fine." Kaiser Lynn forced a smile, but a few tears could still be seen at the corners of her eyes. No matter how you looked at it, that smile seemed all the more bitter.

Shirakawa was doing this for Kaiser Lynn's own good. He had to cut off her unrealistic hopes—and his own as well.

For some reason, after saying those words, Shirakawa's heart suddenly felt much lighter.

After waiting outside the city for a while, Shirakawa finally saw Buggy and Shanks running up, panting heavily. Seeing them arrive, Shirakawa breathed a sigh of relief—no more having to maintain that awkward atmosphere.

"Shirakawa, you bastard!" The moment they saw him, both of them flew into a rage. They grabbed Shirakawa by the collar and roared at him.

"Haha, I was just trusting in your abilities. I knew you'd definitely escape from those soldiers."

Shirakawa knew this behavior was a bit off, so his tone was slightly subdued.

"Hmph, don't think praising my strength will make me forgive you. Let me tell you, I've already written this debt in my heart. One day, I'll make you pay it back."

"Yes, yes." Shanks' threats went in one ear and out the other. With Shanks' personality, given enough time, he'd probably forget the whole thing himself.

"Shirakawa, next time you fly, can you take me and leave Shanks behind?" Buggy stepped forward and said to Shirakawa.

"Of course, as long as you can escape Shanks' clutches."

If Shirakawa flew off alone, Shanks might just complain a bit. But if he took Buggy, Shanks would absolutely not allow it—not because he and Buggy were such great friends, but because he needed a companion.

"Hey, what exactly happened between you and Kaiser Lynn? I feel like something's off between you two."

"Nothing. You must be sensing wrong."

"Don't tell me you did something beastly in that short time. Hmph, scumbag."

"What are you even talking about? 'Beastly'? 'Scumbag'?" Shirakawa said indignantly.

"Am I wrong?"

"Shut up, Shanks." Shirakawa hadn't expected Shanks to have such a nasty mind. Was this also taught by Rayleigh?

"Sure enough, when I get back, I need to stay as far away from Rayleigh as possible. Otherwise, he'll definitely taint my pure heart too. Just look at what pure Shanks has turned into."

Rayleigh, I'm not taking the blame for this.

Far away, gambling in a casino, Rayleigh suddenly sneezed. "Who's thinking of me? It can't be anything good. Looks like I need to be more careful for a while."

"Let's go, then." Since everyone had arrived, they were ready to set out. Shirakawa walked up to Kaiser Lynn and said stiffly, "Let's go."

"Okay." Kaiser Lynn only replied with a single, indifferent word, her mood still low.

Her first romance hadn't even begun—she hadn't even gotten to confess her feelings—before it was ruthlessly snuffed out by the other party.

The group tidied up their clothes and continued on their way, dropping any pretense of disguise.

Outside the city, they weren't likely to run into large groups of soldiers, so there shouldn't be any problems.

"Do you know where your kingdom's capital is?"

"Obviously. My country is to the northwest of this one, so as long as we keep heading northwest, we'll be fine."

"So you don't actually know the exact location of your capital?"

"Obviously. I grew up inside the capital and never left. If it weren't for that accident, I wouldn't be here at all."

"You're pretty impressive too, you know."

"What do you mean? Are you looking down on me?"

"No, I'm genuinely praising you. A girl who's always lived in the royal capital, yet managed to survive out in the world for this long—a bit rough around the edges, but still quite something."

"Hmph, even if you compliment me like that, I won't be happy. It doesn't make up for the trauma you've inflicted on my heart."

Hearing this, Shirakawa felt a bit awkward. How was he supposed to respond to that?

Kaiser Lynn also realized she might have said something she shouldn't have just now, and fell silent.

"Hey, Buggy, look—there's definitely something going on between those two."

Shanks leaned close to Buggy's ear and whispered, but since the four of them were standing so close, Shirakawa and Kaiser Lynn naturally overheard.

Kaiser Lynn's cheeks flushed slightly, while Shirakawa was already thinking about how he'd deal with that brat Shanks later.

"Yeah, they're definitely different from this morning. Something must have happened that I don't know about." Buggy nodded in agreement with Shanks.

"Mm-hmm."

"Shut up, you two little brats." Shirakawa gave each of them a whack on the head, and instantly, a big lump swelled up on both their heads—hilarious to behold.