“Then that’s settled.”

Hans started walking ahead.

Only after we were outside the company could I finally hold Hans’s hand.

“We should buy some food too.”

I felt strangely excited. The original mission had been long forgotten.

“You do realize we’re not here for a leisure trip, right?”

“Just for today.”

“Sigh…”

Despite his weariness, Hans followed where I led.

We bought dinner, desserts, and even some alcohol…

“Hold on.”

Hans grabbed my wrist as I naturally reached for a bottle of alcohol.

“What are you doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you buying that?”

“I’m an adult, you know.”

“I know that, obviously.”

So what’s the issue? I blinked innocently, looking at Hans.

“Do you like drinking?”

“Only when I’m in a good mood.”

“…And that’s why you’re buying it?”

“Yes.”

I was in a very good mood now. That’s why I picked up a bottle, even though I don’t usually drink.

I shrugged off Hans’s hand and placed the bottle in the basket. Hans sighed as he watched me.

“I don’t drink. You’ll have to drink alone.”

“Sure, sure.”

I hadn’t expected the upright young man to drink anyway. I planned to drink just a little by myself. I wasn’t a lightweight, so I wasn’t going to get drunk.

We carried our bounty of food and headed home. It was so much that I wondered if we could finish it all in one evening.

“Should we invite OnlyFinley or PleaseShakeACarrot?”

“No, it’ll get chaotic.”

I thought about calling some close angel friends for a party, but Hans cut the idea short.

After putting down the bags, I looked around the house.

Perhaps because I had told them it was okay for the cleaning service to come, the house was spotless. It was clear it had been maintained recently.

“It’s like you.”

“The house?”

“Yes.”

Was that a compliment or a criticism? It was hard to tell.

“In what way?”

“Small and quaint.”

Is that how Hans saw me? It might have been part of his rose-colored glasses.

“The second floor is even cuter, want to see?”

It was more of an attic than a second floor. But I went up the stairs first.

As expected, the second floor was also clean. The shopping bags I had left around were nowhere to be seen, probably put away in the wardrobe.

Hans tilted his head as he looked at the second floor.

“How do you sleep on such a small bed?”

“It fits me perfectly.”

“…I guess I’ll have to sleep on the couch.”

“You can just squeeze in.”

“That’s uncomfortable.”

Always so practical.

I glared at him sharply, and Hans, as if making excuses, said,

“If I lie down, my feet will stick out.”

“Do you want to try lying down?”

“Was that really necessary to check… Sigh, fine.”

Hans obediently climbed onto the bed.

The bed was just barely long enough for Hans. I quickly hopped on next to him.

“See, if we squeeze in, it’s not too cramped.”

“……”

Hans, with a puzzled look, covered my face with his large hand.

“Why?”

“Don’t look at me.”

“I can’t breathe.”

“Promise not to look into my eyes and I’ll let go.”

“Do you dislike it that much?”

“It’s not that I dislike it… Ah, I’ll just get down.”

Hans moved away to the other side, leaving me sitting there, somewhat bewildered.

“I’m hungry, let’s eat dinner.”

With that, Hans went downstairs first.

I lay on the bed for a while, lost in thought.

‘Even though we’re a couple now, nothing much has changed from before.’

It felt like he was even more distant than before.

Should I feel upset about this? I had expected us to become closer, or at least more affectionate than before.

I pouted slightly and then got off the bed.

Downstairs, Hans had already set the takeout on the table.

“Come and eat.”

“Okay.”

I answered tersely and took a seat.

Noticing the mood, Hans asked,

“Why are you sulking again?”

“Me? No, I’m not.”

“You definitely are.”

It’s challenging being with someone who knows you too well.

Hans sat opposite me, meeting my gaze.

“If you’re unhappy about something, say it now.”

“……”

I rolled my eyes while resting my chin on my hand.

It seemed petty to say it out loud. After hesitating for a while, I finally spoke.

“Why are you keeping your distance from me?”

“What?”

“You’ve been distancing yourself more since we started dating.”

“Me?”

Hans looked genuinely confused. He clearly hadn’t realized it himself.

“I haven’t been distancing myself.”

“Liar.”

“It’s just restraint.”

Restraint? For what?

As I stared at him, Hans turned away, his face reddening.

“…It’s just how it is.”

I couldn’t understand.

After that, we just talked and ate. As usual, we had a conversation.

The only difference might have been the addition of a little alcohol.

But maybe that difference was too much.

My vision was blurry. It seemed I had fallen asleep.

I lifted my head, which had been resting on the table.

“You’re awake.”

Hans was cleaning the table. The table that had been full of food looked like it had been cleared.

“From now on, don’t drink alcohol.”

“…What did I do?”

“I won’t tell you.”

That’s unsettling.

I must not have taken the alcohol well since it’s been a while.

My head was still heavy. I didn’t seem to have completely sobered up.

“Go wash up and brush your teeth if you’re going to sleep.”

“Okay…”

I sluggishly got up and headed to the bathroom.

* * *

After washing up, I went upstairs to the second floor. Hans followed.

“Aren’t you going to sleep, Hans?”

“I will soon.”

It felt like I was a daughter being put to bed by her father.

It seemed he was waiting to leave until after I laid down.

‘He could just lie down next to me and sleep.’

But he seemed determined not to share the bed.

Maybe the bed was too small for him. It was fine for me, but it might be uncomfortable for Hans.

“Make sure you’re covered with the blanket.”

“I’m not a child.”

Hans seemed relieved after making sure I was properly lying down.

“……”

“What?”

Hans just stared at me without saying anything.

Then, he leaned down and kissed my cheek.

“……?”

“Good night.”

Without waiting for my reaction, Hans turned off the light and left the room.

I stared blankly at the door he had exited through, my hand still on the cheek where he had kissed me.

“…What?”

He sure was an angel who knew how to surprise people.

* * *

When I woke up, it was around seven.

Used to waking up early as Anais, I woke up early here too.

I stretched and yawned.

When I went downstairs, Hans, already neatly dressed, was there.

He must have gone to bed after me, yet he was already awake. I wondered if he even slept.

Noticing me, Hans spoke up.

“You could have slept more, why are you up?”

“Just… woke up early.”

I replied but kept staring at Hans.

Won’t he give me a kiss today? I looked at him expectantly.

“What.”

Oblivious Hans didn’t catch my hint.

Finally, I opened my arms wide and said outright,

“Hug.”

“……”

Hans stood up and hugged me tightly. I giggled and hugged him back.

“Kiss too.”

“Enough.”

“Tch.”

“We’re not here to play. Get ready to leave.”

“We have plenty of time anyway…”

“I don’t want to see you dead, even if you can come back to life.”

Even though Anais would resurrect, it seemed tough for him to witness.

‘I guess I’d feel the same.’

The thought alone was truly unbearable.

Agreeing with Hans’s suggestion, I reluctantly headed to the bathroom.

While washing my face and looking in the mirror, I suddenly blinked.

“……”

After showering, I came out of the bathroom with a towel around my neck.

“Hey, Hans.”

“What is it.”

“Did you by any chance come up and down to the second floor while I was sleeping?”

Hans flinched. I pondered for a moment and continued,

“I thought I heard your voice in my half-sleep. Was it a dream?”

I hadn’t recalled it when I first woke up in a daze, but after washing my face, a hazy memory came back.

It might have been mixed up with a dream. I would have thought so if Hans hadn’t come out so boldly.

“Why, can’t I check on you while you’re sleeping?”

So he did come. It wasn’t a dream, it seemed.

“I was just looking. You were sleeping so soundly.”

“You pinched my cheek too.”

“Were you awake?”

“No, I just mentioned it. Guess it was true.”

“……”

Just looking, huh? It seemed he did more than that, like pinching my cheek.

“Why don’t you do it when I’m awake?”

“Quiet. Let’s go.”

He doesn’t seem to be in the mood for a date.

“Well, we’ve rested as you wished. Do you have a plan now?”

“I told you before, don’t ask me about the plan.”

“…Any suspects in mind?”

“We’ll go see Ian. He’s supposed to know the identity of the culprit, so I thought we’d go and press him.”

We really came here without a solid plan.

But it wasn’t like we were completely out of options. There was a lead.

“If it’s Ian, he should be at work by now, so let’s go to the office.”

“Yay.”

“Are you sure you’re not here to play?”

“Of course.”

I might be the only person who likes going to the office this much. Of course, it’s because it’s not my office.

* * *

It didn’t take long to get to the office since my dorm wasn’t far.

“I’ll call Ian. Wait here.”

“Okay.”

Hans seemed to be going to fetch Ian separately since I couldn’t enter the office anyway.

I sat on an outdoor bench covered with shade. There was also a table in front.

“Oh.”

At that moment, someone stood in front of me.

I looked up. There was the woman who had introduced herself as the original author.

“We meet again.”

“Hello.”

They said she was hard to meet because she was busy. Yet, we’ve bumped into each other quite often. Maybe it’s because I tend to get mixed up with angels.

“What brings you here today?”

“I’m here to find an assassin.”

“……?”

The woman’s expression turned puzzled at my sudden remark. She didn’t watch the broadcast, so she probably didn’t understand what I meant.

I boldly and cheerfully asked the woman,

“Actually, this is perfect. Could you help me out?”