Editing City Series:Volume6c Chapter5 (section)

===Part 7===

“Dammit,” muttered Berger, his arms giving out below him.

Hazel cried out and caught him in her arms as he fell into her chest.

The bed creaked and the air moved for just a moment before stopping.

“…”

He was motionless. So was she.

But her sweat poured out in relief. She could tell her breaths were heated but calm. She felt the beating of his heart as she held him in her arms.

His heartrate was somewhat elevated. Noticing that helped her relax. And…

“This is a first…”

…''I’ve never held him before.

His body was warm, his long black hair was chilly, and his heated skin felt nice.

She didn’t know how tightly to hold him, but her tearful eyes bent into a smile.

“Berger?”

“…What?”

His response was quiet.

Unable to respond right away, she looked around the room. The red flowers in the vase on the side table were looking down at her. She narrowed her eyes toward them.

“Berger…should I be a bit angry with you?”

“You should laugh at me, Hazel. I’m the second worst in the world at finishing what I start.”

With that, he wrapped his arms around to her back.

…''Oh.

When he held her, she relaxed and smiled. Only then did she realize…

…''I was so incredibly tense.

“Sorry, Hazel.”

“You’re so adorable,” she replied.

“Says the child.”

“Am I? Look at me.”

He looked up at her as instructed.

She pulled her head down and awkwardly kissed the puzzled look on his face.

Only now did she realize how soft his lips were.

After a few seconds, she pulled away and licked her own lips.

“See, I didn’t turn into a cat, did I?”

“…You’re an idiot.”

“That doesn’t matter. I’ve given this a lot of thought for an idiot. Including what I want to do after the war. …So everything will be all right. I will find an answer for what you said earlier. And soon.”

“Sounds awfully optimistic to me,” he said, looking exasperated.

Just then, the door opened.

“Hey!”

The large form that entered was Pale.

He immediately froze.

“Oh,” said Hazel. “U-um! It’s not what it looks like!”

Her shirt and jacket were still on her arms, so she pulled the front shut to hide her and Berger, but there was no hiding Berger while in his arms, the clothing caught between her back and the bed, and this did nothing to cover her legs.

After some hesitation, she gave silent Pale an excuse.

“W-we were only, um, discussing our future plans.”

“Your future plans?” Pale looked deadly serious. “Family planning is important, but, well, it has been three years since you saw each other. …Good luck.”

“Why does everyone respond that way!?”

He ignored her and shut the door.

“Oh, god…”

She pulled Berger’s head toward her as if for support.

“Fine then,” he said, suddenly looking up. “Hey, Hazel?”

“Wh-what?”

There was some gentle relief in his voice while she pressed his face into her chest.

“You’ve actually grown some, haven’t you?”

She grabbed the vase from the side table and broke it over his head.