Chapter 119 – Retreat (6)

She had intended to maintain boundaries.
After all, they hadn’t yet established any relationship.

More importantly, Azalea was well aware that her actions could be a burden to him.
She knew it so clearly. But why?

“…Ah.”

A heated breath escapes her mouth.
Desire overtaking reason.

– Hwaa!

Unknowingly, flowers bloomed atop her head.
Embarrassed, Azalea hurriedly covered the flower with her hand.

‘What should I do…’

Soon, a wave of shame washed over her. Who might have seen?

Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but be intoxicated by the elation that made her entire body tremble.

The fact that her wooden seal had bloomed signified a sense of happiness she would remember for a lifetime.
Its meaning was slightly different from the fruit directly connected to pleasure.

Fruits and flowers. Their growth on the head varies depending on one’s constitution, but typically, a tree person blooms flowers and bears fruits only once or twice in their lifetime. Azalea experienced something she may never encounter again in her life.

“Are you okay?”

At the man’s gentle voice, her cheeks, nestled in his embrace, blushed like ripe strawberries.

‘I’m okay.’

Her mouth was tightly closed, making speech nearly impossible. Dry saliva was repeatedly swallowed, and her nose wrinkled as if she had been crying. What unfolded before Azalea’s eyes, while held in his arms, was the scene she had always dreamt of.

‘I can’t stand it…’

Azalea squeezed her eyes shut. Another flower bloomed—this time, not on her left temple, but on the right.

‘Right now, in your arms… Closer.’

Blooming flowers.

Just the thought of knowing each other for the rest of their lives made Azalea’s heart feel like it would burst, but she changed her mind, realizing it was all a foolish idea.

For the wooden man, flowers brought him an overwhelming sense of happiness that he couldn’t control. It was like a self-produced drug. While blooming, the brain became active, filling the head with certain substances. As a result, self-control diminished and the heart raced. It was akin to a person’s judgment becoming clouded when reaching the pinnacle of joy.

A reddish emotion etched in her eyes. She constantly felt thirsty. If she didn’t act now, she knew she would regret it for the rest of her life.

‘I shouldn’t be doing this.’

Lately, she had been spending her days completely absorbed in the thoughts of a man, his name filling her mind. Whether she was handling her company’s tasks or completing assignments in the academy dormitory, she never let go of her thoughts about him, not even for a moment. This was far from normal.

She knew it. She was aware that all of this was wrong.

I know, but—

‘…It doesn’t matter.’

Despite that, her yearning was so strong it left her parched. In an instant, her ever-negative mind was transformed into optimism by a single flower.

“Hey, it’s over. We won.”

At Lee Si-heon’s words, Azalea’s eyes, freed from her contemplation, grew even darker than before.

“…Really?”

Her mouth curved like a crescent moon, and her pink lips, coated with lip balm, glistened.

Azalea relaxed her grip on the arm that held him tightly. Then, discreetly, so no one else could see, she plucked a flower from above his head and tucked it into his embrace.

“Please take this… I don’t have any pockets.”

Lee Si-heon accepted the flower with a complicated expression, concealing it from view.

Her hand itched with a hint of regret, but it was alright. For her, today was an incredibly important day. Patience was absolutely necessary.

* * * * *

“Cheers!”

With glasses raised high, they clinked them together to mark the beginning of the drinking party.

Pork belly and soju.
Although there was the option for a more formal hotel-style meal, the group unanimously chose this menu, insisting that this was the true way for Koreans to enjoy a drinking gathering. The irregular sizzling sounds of meat cooking on the grills at each table caused the newcomers’ shoulders to bounce involuntarily.

“Bunny bunny, bunny bunny, tree tree!”

These were the prime years, the ages when blood alcohol levels would be at their highest. Watching the groups that had already begun playing drinking games, a snicker escaped their lips.

‘…I can’t keep up.’

Mad tension.
No matter how much soju they mixed with more soju, these people would follow suit. It reminded them of an old college friend who used to chuckle, claiming that the freshmen would laugh even if their noses were broken. Strangely enough, since arriving here, their body had been overwhelmingly tired, preventing them from keeping up with the others’ high spirits.

And there were some slightly older cadets who shared similar thoughts to mine. Eventually, a gathering formed where a few of them came together and quietly shared drinks.

“That professor is truly excellent at teaching, but the class was so difficult.”
“Seriously, while taking the exam, I couldn’t help but curse. I subtly mentioned that it was too much, but they said they managed just fine when it was their turn…”

A casual drinking party where light-hearted drinks and grievances are shared. Instead of provocative gossip, they exchanged small, everyday stories.

“How was your exam, Sansuyu?”
“…It was average.”

Sansuyu, who was sitting with a soju glass in hand, answered the cadet’s question. It was a short and terse response, but as the cadets present had a rough understanding of Sansuyu’s personality, no one misunderstood.

“Oh, right. Aren’t the restaurants near the dorms really good?”
“Agreed. The food tastes better than what my mom makes. Hehe.”

As conversations dwindled, they moved on to the next topic.

The cadets naturally became interested when they observed Sansuyu, a kind and innocent individual, engaging in conversation. The fact that one of the most esteemed nobles was speaking informally with a human significantly lowered the barriers to entry.

“What’s your favorite food, Sansuyu?”
“There is. Spicy Tteokbokki.”
“Spicy taste…? Oh, are you talking about the one behind the mall?”
“Yes, yes, it’s very delicious.”
“Laughing.”

Sansuyu’s appearance is also strikingly beautiful, eliciting smiles from both men and women when she speaks. Her mood, too, was gradually improving. She may not be aware of it, but it is visible to me.

‘When she’s in a good mood, her shoulders are always slightly raised. It’s very subtle.’

And for some reason, when she’s excited, her hair takes on a brighter hue. Today, Sansuyu’s hair was a sun-kissed yellow. Comparatively, she resembled a forsythia in full bloom during spring.

“Oh, shall we all go eat Tteokbokki together next time?”

Sansuyu, having received an invitation from a female student, widened her eyes and looked at me.

– Is it okay?

I couldn’t help but laugh at her rabbit-like expression that seemed to be seeking my approval. It feels like raising a mischievous little sister. It’s incredibly enjoyable.

As I gave her a nod, Sansuyu replied.

“Let’s go.”

My child has changed. Do they now meet people outside by themselves?

The impressive progress brought a tinge of sentimentality to the tip of my nose.

– Jjorreu

A rising shot glass. When one is emptied, it is filled once again. My concerns for Sansuyu now seem pointless. Emptying my glass, I turned my gaze to the woman beside me.

The delicate, fair hand that had been closely attached to my side, pouring drinks, belonged to Azalea.

“Your glass is empty.”

While engaging in witty conversations with the people around her, she subtly keeps my drink flowing.

We often locked eyes, and each time, there was a sly, hungry look in them.

▶ Azalea (96/100) [Obsession]

As I observed her fondness, it was evident…
What had previously shown faint signs, exploded today.

‘Affection never lies, as they say.’

The completely transformed Azalea seemed like an entirely different person. Ordinarily, she was sharp yet slightly naïve, but now naivety was far from her. She resembled a lioness, restless and unable to capture her prey.

I contemplated, quenching my burning throat with a glass of water.

‘I don’t know what to do.’

Being ambiguous like this is a terrible habit. My worry is that if I broach the subject hastily, things might take a wrong turn. However, being honest might be the right choice…

Perhaps due to my racing thoughts, I was already beginning to feel tipsy. Gradually growing drowsy, I left my lodging after announcing I would step out for some fresh air to awaken my senses.

Outside the hotel.

Taking a breath under the foreign sky, Azalea, who seized the moment to step outside, trailed closely behind me.

“I came out to catch my breath too.”

As I felt a nudge on my shoulder and looked back, a gleeful twinkle danced in Azalea’s eyes upon seeing me.

“Is that so?”
“Yes, is Shiba alright?”

By now, Shiba would be having dinner with Heaven, brushing their teeth, and venturing together into the land of dreams.

As I continued walking, I pondered about their life in the dormitory. Primarily, both Shiba and Heaven sleep a lot and tend to go to bed early, so they’re usually the first ones to fall asleep. Afterwards, Zodiac would wake up and smile affectionately while watching the slumbering Shiba. Subsequently, White Peach would indulge in her hobbies late into the night, perhaps playing games on her phone.

The quotidian routine of my dormitory life unfurls line by line in my mind.

“Hehe.”

As I turned my head, I heard laughter emanating from the side.

Azalea was beaming with a smile.
It wasn’t the uneasy grin she used to give while gauging my mood; this was a genuinely radiant smile.

“…You know, you always have that goofy smile when you think about your daughter?”
“Really?”
“I think it’s cool.”

Whether it’s goofy or cool.
It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but compliments feel nice to hear.

“Cool dad.”
“I’m not so sure about that. I’ve been worried lately because I haven’t given her enough attention.”
“You’re raising a child on your own, and you have so much to do… You’re doing great. If I were your daughter, I would be extremely grateful.”

Azalea didn’t receive much love from her parents.
That conflict continues to this day. She says she still doesn’t talk to her mother.
It’s a bitter family situation.

“If there’s anything you need help with regarding Shiba, just let me know. How’s kindergarten going?”
“Oh, they say she’ll be able to talk pretty soon. Actually, she can already understand most of what we say.”

Lately, I can’t help but feel overjoyed at the praise Shiba receives from her kindergarten teacher. Today, she accomplished something and won first place. It’s delightful to hear even the smallest things. The most heartwarming part is that Shiba, who initially sought only her father, has recently begun to actively mingle with the other children. It’s bittersweet to think her love for me has cooled somewhat, but good is still good.

“They’ll be hosting a concert later on. Would you like to attend?”
“I’ll definitely be there.”

Azalea smiled, balling her fists in both hands, and inquired when it would take place.

Looking back, I received a great deal of help from Azalea when raising Shiba. My child was incredibly shy, so the only person who could truly assist was Azalea, a familiar face.

“…This makes me feel like a mother.”

– Purr.

The moonlit forest, radiating an almost mystical aura, was filled with the sounds of insects in the grass.

Strolling along the pathway within such a wooded area, exchanging a few words, the surroundings gradually shifted, as the light receded and the atmosphere took on a dimmer quality.
My footsteps grew slightly heavier.
A silence that set the heart racing. Azalea followed me closely, hands resting beneath her abdomen, her gaze focused on the ground beneath her.

“Excuse me.”

The sound of her measured footsteps ceased.

“Uh.”

My own steps halted in response. The ambient noise around us silenced, allowing us to concentrate fully on each other’s words. Silently, I swallowed a bitter breath.

“You know, something happened while we were playing the game today.”
“Are you referring to the flower?”
“…Yes.”

Azalea shyly confirmed.

The flower…
When I first encountered it, I couldn’t fathom what this flower signified.
Had it been a fruit atop my head, I would have felt slightly embarrassed, but I wouldn’t have been ignorant of its meaning.

To avoid any misunderstanding, I surreptitiously sought further information.

Blooming is a physiological phenomenon occurring in wood people when they experience great joy. There are many who have never experienced it in their entire lives.

“…You understand what I’m saying?”

There might be some differences due to individual constitutions, but even a mere embrace could evoke such immense happiness. The degree may vary depending on one’s thoughts, but ultimately, Azalea’s words were akin to an indirect confession.

“I know.”

After a long silence, I finally found my voice.

“What do you think?”

It was incredibly challenging to verbalize my intentions. I retrieved the azalea flowers I had been holding onto.

How could a flower be so resilient? It must have rolled around in my pants several times, yet it retained its vibrant color without a single crease. Seeing that, I forced my unyielding lips apart.

“I don’t know.”

I admitted honestly. Lingering here could escalate the situation into a larger issue. At my words, Azalea’s breath hitched for a moment.

Only after a considerable time did I hear a response.

“Am I not that attractive?”
“No.”
“Or, do you like someone else?”

He didn’t specifically answer. Sometimes, silence is a better response than anything else.

For Azalea, this was akin to rejection.
An impolite, abrupt refusal that seemed to cut off the connection.

Yet, there was an indescribable strength in Azalea’s voice.

“You’ve done everything that could lead to misunderstandings…”

Drip, drip –

Tear marks engraved themselves on the ground.
As I reached into the pocket where I had placed my handkerchief, Azalea tightly grasped my hand.

“…Still.”

With all her might, she clutched my wrist.

“It’s already too late.”
“What?”

A translucent status window etched onto my retina.
Azalea’s affection level, recorded where it was connected, was now higher than before.

“…You said you didn’t know yet. Then you don’t know.”

A tear-streaked smile, but it didn’t appear distorted.

“I’ll be by your side for the rest of my life.”

Azalea said. It was a truly characteristic statement of hers.

“…If you find me repulsive, then step onme and move on. I’ll keep following you regardless.”

The ingrained obsession remained, refusing to fade away. It was then that I instinctively understood that it might take a very long time for even a single label, etched beside her name, to finally come loose.