Volume 1. Chapter 51

Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above, bathing the forest in a soft golden glow. Birds chirped and the gentle rustling of the wind accompanied Ken and Lily as they walked leisurely along a winding path. The day was warm and clear, and their morning had already begun with laughter and playful banter.Ken walked slightly ahead, studying a map, when he suddenly felt something tug him sideways. Turning, he saw Lily grinning mischievously as she wrapped both arms around his.She clung to him tightly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.“Uh… Lily?” Ken started, slightly puzzled but not taking his eyes off the map. “What’s going on here?”“What? I can’t?” Lily looked up at him with a playful glint in her eyes, a hint of challenge in her voice, though her smile betrayed her amusement.Ken sighed, folded the map, and tucked it into his bag.“Well, in my world, people usually do this only if they’re… close,” he said, trying not to show how flustered he felt.Lily raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a sly smile.“Didn’t you say yesterday that I’m the closest person to you? Has something changed?” Her tone was innocent, but her eyes sparkled with mischief.Ken froze for a second, recalling his own words. He couldn’t argue with her logic, though he still felt a bit awkward.“Um… no, nothing’s changed,” he muttered, and Lily giggled, squeezing his arm even tighter.“Then everything’s fine,” she said matter-of-factly, as if that settled the issue completely.And so they continued walking like that. Lily was clearly enjoying the moment, her mood light and playful. She kept moving closer to Ken, occasionally brushing his shoulder or tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear.“You really should take better care of your hair,” she noted, gently fixing his bangs. “You’re just like a kid.”Ken frowned slightly, blushing.“Hey, I’m not a kid,” he grumbled. “I just… didn’t realize my hair was under your jurisdiction now.”Lily laughed, her bright laughter ringing through the forest.“Well, someone’s got to take care of it if you won’t,” she teased.Ken was amazed by her cheerful mood. She was so lively and radiant that he couldn’t help but wonder what had brought it on.“Lily,” he said, glancing sideways at her. “Why are you so… I don’t know, happy today?”Still holding his arm, Lily looked off into the distance, though a sly smile played on her lips.“Why not? Is it wrong to be happy?”“Well, no,” Ken agreed. “It’s just… unexpected. You don’t usually show it like this.”Lily rolled her eyes as if he had just pointed out something obvious.“Maybe I just like walking with you. Isn’t that enough?”Ken didn’t reply, feeling a bit embarrassed by her words. Lily, clearly pleased by his flustered silence, continued walking, occasionally pressing even closer to him. She acted like it was all perfectly natural, but her mind was buzzing.How else can I hint at it so you’ll get it, you idiot? she thought with mild frustration, though her lips curved into a warm smile.Ken, meanwhile, was trying to figure out what was going on. What does Lily want from me? he wondered, glancing at her now and then. Her playful demeanor and closeness threw him off, but he decided it was probably just part of her mood.They kept walking, sometimes chatting about their surroundings, other times just enjoying the silence and each other’s company. Lily seemed completely absorbed in the moment, her joy almost contagious.“Lily, are you always this happy when you walk with someone?” Ken asked half-jokingly, trying to keep his tone casual.Lily looked at him with a broad smile.“Only with people who really matter to me,” she said with a subtle hint in her voice, making Ken blush again.What am I supposed to do with this girl? he thought, staring ahead. But despite his confusion, her words and gestures filled him with warmth.They continued on their journey, and though Ken couldn’t fully grasp what Lily was trying to tell him, he couldn’t deny that everything felt brighter, easier… and warmer when she was by his side.