After finding out, she was safe, I finally found a little relief. The last 30 minutes was quite troublesome. But, after seeing her peaceful sleeping face, I felt like these hurdle was worth it. After seeing this face, I could not resist the urge to caress her face. So, I reached forward and gave her a head-pat. She started smiling and caught my hand in hers and took it under her head to get a good sleeping posture. Her face was full of bless. I wanted to keep watching her like this. But it was quite dangerous there for I don't know when these bastards are going to wake up. So, I took her up in my arms and went out of that room. While heading towards the lift, a strange feeling started to rise up in my heart.
'What is this feeling? Why am I feeling so agitated? I am just carrying her because she is unconscious for Christ's sake. My heart, stop beating so rapidly'
While I am lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice when Alex came and stood in front of me. I was just staring at her sleeping face completely mesmerized by her.
"Breaking news! Breaking news! Now, we are witnessing a lover's reaction after watching the person he loves while she sleeps. Don't miss this opportunity. Come everyone and join us in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness their reactions."(Alex)
"Yeah, breaking news it is! ..... Wait, what breaking news?"
Only then did I notice Alex standing in front of me with a face full of smile.
"What the heck are you talking about Alex?"
"Well, the fact that you are princess-caring her and looking like that is a breaking news to me. After all, you just said to me yesterday that you have no feelings for Ichika. Barely a day has passed since then and I have to watch you flirting with her sleepy-self. Such injustice!"
"Are you going to stop or should I smack you?"
"Well, you can't hit me even if you want to so I have no reason to stop."
"Why, you?"
....
We kept bickering like that for a time. In the meantime, those three bastards were detained by the police and they were taken away for. Maybe we were shouting too loudly that Ichika woke up from her sleep. She looked a little confused at first but became composed within a moment. It seems like she was half-conscious this whole time. She just could not react at anything. I wanted to let her down but she kept holding my neck and told me not to let her get down. I kept holding her like that helplessly. Anyway, we moved towards the lift and rode it to return to the 1st floor. Just when the door of the lift will reach 1st floor, she pulled my face towards her and planted a kiss.
"I am not letting you get away this time. I love you and you are mine"
Saying that she ran out through the lift. I was completely dumfounded. For some reason, these words felt way too familiar. Alex didn't notice anything odd and started teasing again.
"Oh, so hot in here. It feels like a thousand degrees in here. We are going to burn....."
"If you spit one more non-sense...."
Seeing that I am getting serious, he stopped joking and pointed outside. I saw a man who was very tall. Ichika was in his arms. He is Ichika's father, Uncle Arther.
"Hi, Uncle. Long time no see"
"Hi, Saitou. It's been some time. How are you now-a-days?"
"I have been fine. How's things at home?"
"Same as usual. Oh, shit! I fully forgot to thank you. Thank you saving my daughter. If you didn't notice at that moment, who knows what would have happened?"(Saying this, Uncle turned pale)
"It's okay, uncle. You don't need to thank me for such a trivial matter. It is my duty to protect her as I ..." (Oh, shit! What was I about to say? If I say it now, would they misunderstand me or would they accept me? )
I felt Ichika's gaze. When I met her gaze, I seemed to hear what she wanted to tell me, 'Tell it please, Saitou. Tell it.'
"Hmm?! Did you want to say anything, Saitou? If so, feel free"
"Well, then. I know that this is hardly the appropriate time but I have stalled and wasted too much time. So, I want to inform you that I am in love with your daughter and want to ask your permission to date Ichika"
I bowed after saying this. Uncle Arther was so shocked that he didn't know what to say. After some time, he regained his composer.
"Raise your head, Saitou. I think you should ask her first before talking with me about this matters"
After this, Uncle Arther started going out but before going out, he turned around and said such words that shocked us to our core.
To be continued ......…