For a moment, the Self-Binding Angel failed to react.
Only when she understood what Lynn meant did she fly into a rage, her fair cheeks instantly flushing red. Although they had once accidentally crossed the boundaries of both teacher and student and superior and subordinate, they were clearly discussing something serious right now. How had his mind suddenly veered down such a dirty path?
"I'll unbind your..."
But before she could finish, Lynn wrapped his strong arms tightly around her.
The rest of her words never came.
Lynn did nothing further. He simply held her tightly around the back, burying his face against her shoulder where no one could see his expression. But she could clearly feel just how tightly those arms held her, as though, if he let go, she would drift from his embrace like a feather, never to be found again.
Neither of them spoke in the silent hall.
She sat there in a daze, feeling the young man's unspoken emotions as she held him.
At last, she lowered her lashes.
Yes.
How could she not understand?
For all his usual frivolity, he valued loyalty and affection more than anyone. He loved his life in Dark Night City and treasured the bond he shared with every companion, because that was his greatest vulnerability.
Perhaps it was the upheaval in Dark Night City that had changed him.
Perhaps that experience had made this fixation in his heart grow and grow, until it had almost become his one inviolable boundary, an obsession he could never let go of.
"It's all right. We're still... here, aren't we?"
She spoke softly and patted his shoulder.
"I'm sorry..."
After a long silence, Lynn finally spoke, his voice dazed.
She did not know how to respond.
The anger that had welled up in