Chapter 4

With everyone watching, Lin Xi opened his stream. The other young Lins who’d entered the competition took out their terminals too.

I found somewhere to sit and casually opened mine.

[Year XX, Month X, Day X

There’s been a surge in missions to deal with aberration monsters lately. Alistair and I haven’t had a proper rest in three days and nights.

This is exploitation!

Before they could assign us another mission, Alistair decided to have a nice little chat with the administrator. With his short blade.

I dragged him back by the ear.

You can talk all you want. We can’t actually refuse the missions.]

…

[Year XX, Month X, Day X

I got hurt.

Alistair charged too fast and too far ahead on the battlefield. He couldn’t get back in time to help, so I had to change the plan on the fly. Ended up with a broken left hand, a broken right leg, and three broken ribs.

Alistair came to apologize, awkwardly, his head hanging as if his whole world had fallen apart. He stumbled over his sorrys and promised it wouldn’t happen again.

Since he at least knew to bring flowers when visiting a patient, I forgave him.]

…

[Year XX, Month X, Day X

I never expected Alistair to keep his promise like this.

Bad intelligence left us surrounded by more than a hundred aberrations.

We barely managed to kill them all. Alistair collapsed in front of me, utterly spent.

One cunning aberration had lashed out as it died. He took the blow for me. Its sharp forelimb went straight through his chest, and blood kept pouring out of the wound.

He was shaking from blood loss.

I held him, trying to give him my warmth. My life.

I must have looked pathetic. All my schemes, my observations, my plans slipped out of my head. There was nothing left but overwhelming terror.]

…

[Year XX, Month X, Day X

The medical department told me Alistair had recovered and asked me to come get him.

? Is anyone who heals this fast actually human?

When I picked him up, I gave him a hug to celebrate his recovery. He had the nerve to ask if I’d cried.

I’ve decided I’m not speaking to him for the rest of the day.]

I typed the final punctuation mark and stopped.

Surrounded by people, Lin Xi was still writing with a solemn frown. I propped my cheek on one hand and idly read the chat.

The moment I’d written the part about the protagonist dragging his partner by the ear, a string of comments had rolled past.

[The flirting. THE FLIRTING.]

[Wasn’t a certain prodigy supposed to never listen to anyone? Nice double standard.]

[Oh? Even the strongest fighter alive lets someone grab him by the ear? Try being less in love, I dare you.]

By the time I’d reached the pickup at the medical department, the screen was full of:

[THIS SHIP IS EXQUISITE.]

[You don’t ship this? You DON’T SHIP THIS?!]

[Everyone, throw up your dinner and eat THIS instead.]

[Hello, I’d like a bite.jpg]

[AAAAH CAN YOU TWO KISS? DO IT FOR ME!!]

[Isn’t having this for dinner a little too decadent?]

[Keep us well fed!]

The seeds of the coming heartbreak were already planted. The audience hadn’t noticed a thing.