MTM 29

Harto was flustered. At first, he didn’t understand what Zed meant, but then he realized it. Zed was talking about how the innkeeper had helped him up.

“I, I didn’t hold on to him!”

Harto shouted, his face burning red.

“I just… he said he’d help, so…”

They had a lot of luggage, and Zed had been carrying him on his back ever since they left the clothing shop. The stairs were steep too.

Harto had plenty to explain, but when he saw Zed turning away, sadness filled him so deeply that he couldn’t bear it. He just wanted Zed to look at him the way he always did.

“Zed…”

Harto grabbed the collar of Zed’s clothes with trembling fingers.

“I don’t hate when you touch me…”

He didn’t want Zed to think that way.

“I…”

He liked it. But he didn’t say it out loud. Instead, he looked at Zed’s hands. He wanted those hands to gently pat his head.

“You?”

When Harto fell silent without finishing his words, Zed turned his head. Harto stood in front of him awkwardly. His left foot was wrapped in bandages, so his balance looked unsteady. Zed’s eyes naturally moved to the injured foot. Even the heel looked raw and ready to bleed again with the slightest touch. His heart ached.

It was because Harto had been hurt and in pain, while he himself had been excitedly buying clothes and food, not realizing anything. He felt ashamed and angry at himself. On top of that, he had even felt jealous of the innkeeper and blamed Harto for it. Such childish behavior was something he thought only kids would do.

“Hah…”

Zed sighed and rubbed his face.

Harto opened his eyes wide in surprise at Zed’s reaction. And because he was so happy that Zed finally looked at him again, he unconsciously tugged harder on his collar.

Zed noticed. He could feel that Harto was happy even over such a small action, and guilt filled his chest.

“…Harto.”

Zed grabbed Harto by the waist with both hands and lifted him up.

“Ah…!”

Plop.

He sat the confused Harto down on the sofa. Zed knelt in front of him, as if to ask for forgiveness.

Startled, Harto tried to pull Zed up, but Zed didn’t move.

“Harto…”

Zed called his name again and rested his face on his folded knees. Harto flinched.

‘I-is this… affection…?!’

Harto’s heart started hammering. Zed’s handsome face was resting against his knees, maybe that reaction was natural.

“…You really don’t hate when I touch you?”

Zed said something anyone could misunderstand. A shiver ran down Harto’s spine. Maybe it was because Zed’s shining strands of hair brushed against his knees and tickled. His golden hair, bright as sunlight, looked so soft. Harto wanted to touch it, but he only moved his fingers, afraid Zed might reject it.

“Hmm? Tell me.”

“Y-yes… I….”

Urged by Zed’s voice, Harto tried to speak honestly but then closed his mouth again.

“I…?”

“I don’t hate it… not even a little…”

“Really?”

Zed smiled broadly, pleased by his answer. Harto’s anxious heart relaxed completely.

“Then… you’re not mad anymore?”

Harto asked carefully, and Zed suddenly raised his head.

“When did I ever…!”

His voice grew louder, and Harto flinched in surprise. Seeing that, Zed bit his lip.

“…How could I ever get mad at you.”

“Huh? You weren’t angry?”

Harto blinked. Wasn’t he mad because Harto hadn’t said anything about his injury? Wasn’t that why he hadn’t spoken all the way to the inn?

“Harto, listen…”

Seeing exactly what Harto was thinking, Zed moved to sit on the sofa.

“I wasn’t angry at you. I was angry at myself, because I didn’t even notice your condition and was just getting excited alone. So it wasn’t you I was mad at… it was me.”

Zed confessed his feelings with a slightly dejected expression.

‘I didn’t know Zed could look like this…’

Harto was surprised. He had never seen him like this before. He had always seen the confident and composed Zed, so seeing him in such a conflicted state was strange and unfamiliar. And watching him blame himself made Harto feel sorry for not speaking sooner.

“Zed…”

But if he apologized now, Zed would probably feel even worse.

“Yes.”

Zed answered softly and looked into Harto’s eyes. Harto saw his own reflection in those black eyes, and somehow, that made him happy. So he decided to be brave.

“Can I… touch your hair?”

“Hair?”

When Harto suddenly asked if he could touch his hair, Zed froze. But because he knew what he had done earlier, he quietly lowered his head toward him.

Swish.

Then Harto placed his hand on Zed’s hair and closed his eyes. It was the same action Zed often did himself.

“What are you doing?”

“I see.”

“You see?”

Was he joking? Zed was confused, but he remained quiet to see what Harto would do next.

“Yes. Zed bought me clothes and gave me good food.”

Harto was imitating Zed’s ability, the one that allowed him to see what he wanted by touching another person’s head. To be exact, it only let him see fragments of memory, not anything about the future.

“And… we’re drinking tea. Since Zed said he doesn’t like chocolate, he gave his to me.”

But Harto was talking about things that hadn’t happened. His version was completely wrong.

“That’s all? You’re saying that’s all I did for you?”

Even though he knew everything, Zed smiled and asked again. He wanted to know what kind of world Harto imagined.

“Uh… no, that’s….”

Harto’s eyelids fluttered as he hesitated, then he closed his eyes again. It seemed he couldn’t think of more. Zed decided to help a little.

“Then what about you, Harto?”

“Me?”

“Yes. I bought you clothes, gave you good food and chocolate. What about you?”

When Zed asked, Harto smiled as he pictured something in his mind.

“I look really… happy.”

Hehe. Harto laughed softly, sounding really cheerful, and then slowly opened his eyes. His blue eyes curved like half-moons right in front of Zed. His chest tingled. He must still have cat fur on him somewhere. Zed thought he would need to wash thoroughly tonight.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

Splash.

Zed filled the tub and mixed in the hot water he asked the innkeeper for, stirring it by hand until the temperature felt warm, not too hot. Then he opened the ruby pendant.

“Zed.”

“Yes?”

As he was about to drop an elixir into the water, Harto grabbed his arm. Harto sat on the edge of the tub, hugging his injured foot.

“I think… you don’t need to use that…”

Harto spoke hesitantly.

He didn’t know how the ruby necklace was producing medicine, but it was wasteful to use it for something like a foot injury. Besides, hadn’t they already used all of it when Zed was hit by an arrow last time? Using Zed’s things again felt shameless.

“Hmm…”

Zed nodded, as if he understood exactly what Harto meant, and then, without hesitation, dropped an elixir into the water.

Plop!

A clear sound echoed through the bathroom, and Harto flinched, staring at him.

“Why…”

“Why else? I’m using it too.”

Then he rolled his pants up to his knees and placed both feet into the glowing water. His journey had been tough too, and his feet weren’t in good shape either.

“Your foot.”

Zed, kneeling in the tub, stretched out his hand. Harto hesitated but carefully extended his bandaged foot.

“The other one too.”

“It’s fine…”

“It’s not. Hurry.”

As soon as both of Harto’s feet were in the tub, Zed looked satisfied. The dissolved elixir glowed as it healed both of their feet.

“Does it hurt? Are you okay?”

“Yes, it just tickles a little… but it doesn’t hurt.”

To check if he was really fine, Harto wiggled his toes in the water. Seeing them recover made Zed happy, but he also decided he needed to make something clear.

“Harto. Remember when I told you to be honest when you’re in pain?”

“Yes…”

Maybe he thought Zed was going to scold him for not saying anything, because he suddenly looked downcast.

“I’m not blaming you. I just want to change what I said.”

“Change what?”

His round eyes looked at Zed, asking what he meant.

“Yes. From now on, when you’re in pain… I’ll notice first.”

That was the only way he could keep this fragile monster by his side for a long time.