Wanting to Leave Without Saying Goodbye

"Why can't you just stay?" Miroku slowly lowered her head. She felt a little upset and was curious about the strange feeling inside her. She didn't know why, but when she heard that Uchiha Chen was leaving, her heart had started to ache as if it were cramping.

Miroku pressed a hand tightly to her chest, not wanting Uchiha Chen to see her looking so sad. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, then raised her head and forced a smile. "Then... before you leave, could you at least tell me?"

Miroku asked Uchiha Chen carefully, afraid he might even take away her chance to see him off.

Uchiha Chen instinctively wanted to refuse, but when he saw the tears glistening in the corners of Miroku's eyes, he found he couldn't bring himself to do it. The words he'd meant to say caught in his throat.

In the end, Uchiha Chen let out a soft sigh. He still couldn't bring himself to refuse her.

"Probably in a few days. If I decide to leave, I'll be sure to tell you!"

"Mm!" Miroku nodded happily. Even that simple verbal promise from Uchiha Chen was enough to make her happy.

"Then it's settled! It's getting late, so remember to go home and get some rest. You really helped me out today. I won't keep you any longer."

Miroku pushed herself up and stood, then waved to Uchiha Chen as she left the tavern.

Uchiha Chen watched her walk away, holding his cup without bringing it to his lips.

How could Uchiha Chen not understand Miroku's feelings? As someone who'd been through this before, he'd realized long ago that she had feelings for him.

But so what? They belonged to different worlds, and Uchiha Chen would eventually have to return