Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death

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“I didn’t agree to doing it in two years! It was just a slip of the tongue!”

“Nn?”

“What’s with that grunt? Do you understand what I am saying?”

“Nn.”

What’s with that irresponsible and half hearted reply!? Are you really listening to me? I’m begging you, please listen.

Alfred’s currently lying down beside me, playing with my hair as he pleases.

I don’t understand what’s so fun about that. Also, don’t touch my hair.

…Well… It’s not as scary as being pinned down… I mean, this is a bit better, but…

“Heyー”

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“I’m hungry.”

“Hah?”

“I didn’t actually eat dinner yesterday.”

“Eh? I-is that so?”

“Yeah. You’re also hungry, right? Let’s eat breakfast together.”

Alfred quickly rises from the bed, hopping off. Are you going barefoot? At least wear slippers!

He turns toward me, and with no regard to how I feel, grabs my wrist.

“You too, wake uー”

But he stops as soon as I pull back my arm. He stares at my wrist, and frowns.

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“W-what?”

“…You, have you gotten thinner? Have you been eating properly?”

“I-I have! How rude!”

“Really? That’s not the way I see it, though…”

“I haven’t lost any weight! It’s just your imagination! This is normal! You’re the one who’s too big!”

“I see. Come on, Lian. Let’s go.”

As I wonder whether he listened to me, Alfred pulls my hand with a smile.

Ahh.

This is the usual Alfred.

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“O-okay…” I nod, feeling relieved.. I shake off the last remnants of drowsiness as I sit all the way up and put on my shoes.

“Before we step out, fix your shirt.”

“My shirt?”

Your shirt’s unbuttoned all the way… It’s really tempting me.”

When I look downwards to the front of my shirt, the buttons really are unbuttoned all the way.

I quickly do as he says, before summoning all my strength and punching Alfred’s stomach.

It’s so hard!

Damn, this infuriating idiot!! Swap your body with mine!

“S-stupid idiot…!! Aren’t you the one who undid my buttons!!!”

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＊　＊　＊

Finally, the long spring break comes to an end.

Once the three bullies return to the village, classes start. We are also back to our routine.

And every Saturday, I still visit the church.

…Sometimes, I will encounter Alfred as I’m heading back home from there.

Anyway, today is Saturday.

Upon arriving at the church gates, I come across Alfred who’s just about to leave for his part-time job.

As soon as he lays eyes on me, a smile forms on his lips. He approaches me.

At this point there’s no place for me to run, so I just stand there and wait for what’s to come.

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“Good morning. Lian. You’re earlier than usual today.”

“G-good… morning. Y-you too. Going to your part-time job?”

“Yeah.”

He quickly stands up straight front of me. Because he’s so close, I can’t bring myself to raise my head, and avert my gaze by looking down.

Then, Alfred grabs my wrist.

“Hey.”

“W-what?”

My field of view suddenly shrinks, Alfred pressing his cheek against mine. It’s slightly cold to the touch.

He does the same to my other cheek.

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He does it so suddenly that I stiffen, and when I finally come to my senses, I recoil in a jump.

“Wha…!!? W-what are you doing!?”

“I was just thinking about getting the ‘blessing’ from you.”

“Huh!? Stup— wha… What are you saying, you idiot!? Y-you’re only going to your part-time job, right!!? Why would you need a ‘blessing’ just for that! Also, you can’t do it so suddenly, you know!”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right! Go learn it from Marie-sama one more time!!”

Alfred laughs out loud.

He looks as if he is having fun.

But he’s totally not reflecting upon what I said!

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“Then, I’m off.”

“J-ju… Just leave already!”

Before he leaves, Alfred lets me know that he’ll be returning home before dinner. After I send off his laughing self, I sigh.

For some reason, he’s been doing things like this more often these days. Touching me and shortening the distance between us. And without a warning too. When he does this, I’m at a loss.

Sometimes, a strange, subtle, and indescribable feeling envelopes me. It makes me second guess myself. As if not running away from Alfred’s advances is somehow okay… Ah crap, I’m in huge trouble now.

And then there’s that bit about our promise to not leave each other. The promise made under slightly dubious consent.

No matter how I think about it, it’s bad, right? In a lot of meanings. It’s totally bad to the nth degree.

Even asking Alfred about his intentions back then is a bad idea.

That’s why I’m careful not to touch on that matter day after day. That’s why I’m cracking down on that strange, subtle, and indescribable feeling.

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“Oh, Lian-sama. Good morning! Isn’t the weather great today?” says Marie as she leaves the back door of the church, a bucket held in each hand. She approaches me, cheeks dyed an a shade of apple, and greets me energetically.

“Good morning,” I reply.

“Oh my, what happened? You look upset! Don’t ruin your cute face with that expression! If you have any trouble, you can just tell me. I will always be here to hear it!”

What do you mean with ‘cute’? Please stop describing me the same way my perverted elder brother does. In fact, I request a correction from you.

I sigh. “Marie-sama, er… Things just haven’t been going as planned.”

“Hmm? Well, that might be so… But every cloud has a silver lining.”

“Silver lining?”

“Yeah. I mean, if things aren’t going as planned, then that means you can change the course as much as you want, doesn’t it?”

The sheer absurdity of her words almost cause me to lose my balance.

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“…M-Marie-sama is optimistic as usual, eh… I’m jealous…”

“Hehe. I mean, even if you think about it pessimistically, it won’t really change anything!”

“Uh… W-well, that’s… certainly right, though…”

“It’s because Lian-sama is thinking about it too much. You should be more, cold? ...Cool? Or chilly? Ah, chills? Is that it? Well, I don’t really know if I said it right, but you should be more like that!”

“Ehh… Really?”

“Yes!” Then she breaks into a laugh.

All of a sudden, I feel stupid for overthinking things. A small sigh leaves my lips and I somehow manage to smile at Marie.

Special thanks to Anon-san and MsLori-san for the ko-fi! Have a nice weekend, everyone!

If Chinese BL novels are lacking of gong POV, then Japanese BL have tons of it, but they are lacking of third person POV!!! It sounds so natural in the JP version but now I start to think that I didn’t do the first person POV justice… _:(´ཀ`」 ∠):-

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is from Alfred’s POV, he may or may not eat another tofu again…! I took a small peak at the raw ToC and it seems like there is a bonus chapter with Lian’s perverted brother POV… ???????? I’m shocked ahaha