''So, Nishio… Tell me, do you remember what happened back then?'' she finally asked, breaking the ice.
''Ah, yes… Is that… Bad?''
''Mmm, well… That depends on what you saw, doesn't it, N-i-s-h-i-o?''
I fiddled with my thumbs for a bit, looking away.
''Hey, did you… Was that a human corpse?''
She froze on the spot, before smiling. ''And if it was?''
And if it was… Does that change anything? It simply means I can't tell other people about her, right? Even if she did something wrong, I still love her...
''I was just curious, that's all.''
She let out a sigh, before adapting a more serious tone. ''If you saw everything that night, then why did you look for me and come to this place; have you no common sense?''
I flinched at her tone. ''That's… That's because… Um…''
''I lov-''
*hiss*
''Ah, the stew!'' she yelled, standing up and taking it off the stove. She turned around. ''What were you going to say?''
''N-Nevermind…''
Her expression darkened, and she grabbed me by the wrist. ''Hey, that hur-''
''Shut up and answer me already, before you end up like that mangled corpse you saw.''
She was like an entirely different person.
At this point, I was afraid of losing my life and completely forgot all common sense.
''I-I've been looking for you since then because I wanted to thank you! I asked everyone in the village, but until yesterday, there was no trace of you…''
''And what? You somehow followed me all the way here just to thank me? You expect me to buy that?'' she growled, grabbing a knife from the counter and waving it in front of my face. ''I'm not afraid to use this, you know.''
Even when she was angry, even when her beautiful face was convulsed, her lips set in a twisted grin, she still made my heart beat.
''I-I…''
''I…''
''I-I was looking for y-you and came here b-because…''
''I-I'm…''
''I'm in love with you!''
She stared at me in disbelief for a while, her lips forming a small o.
''Is that so?'' was all she said before sitting back down.
Unsure of what I should do, I sat down as well, looking down at my feet, embarrassed.
''Nishio, do you realize what I've done?''
I looked up at her. ''Y-You… killed someone, right?''
''Mhm. You're going to tell me you love me despite all of that?''
She said, fiddling with her hair. ''You're just a boy, Nishio. Stop pretending to be a man and go home.''
Oh, I see. So she doesn't want a boy to take care of… I guess it's over then…
I clenched my fists in despair.
''I know I'm just a boy, but… When I saw you standing in the meadow that day, soaked by the rain… my heart skipped a beat,'' I said, trying to steady my voice. ''Even if you killed someone, that…''
She tilted her head sideways, curious. ''Hmm?''
''Even if you killed someone… it doesn't change the fact that you're incredibly beautiful.''
I looked her right in the eyes at that moment, watching for any change in her expression. She flushed slightly, covering her face with her hand.
''Beautiful? Don't make me laugh… I've taken countless lives without a care, and you call me beautiful?'' she whispered, letting emotion seep into her voice. It made my heart flutter, made me want to wrap my arms around her.
And I did.