"Wow! You're amazing! You can actually fly!" Catherine exclaimed, her initial fear replaced by excitement as they soared through the air.
"I have many talents," Shirakawa boasted.
However, Catherine's exclamations were getting on his nerves. He could tolerate it once or twice, but it was becoming annoying.
Thankfully, they soon reached the outskirts of the city and landed.
"Aw, that was too short," Catherine complained.
"Don't call me 'short'! It's rude!" Shirakawa snapped, offended.
"Can you fly me all the way back to my country?" Catherine asked, batting her eyelashes hopefully.
"No. Our main goal is to gain experience on the battlefield. Taking you back to the palace is just a side quest."
"A side quest? I'm a side quest?" Catherine couldn't believe her ears.
"You're a handsome man, yet all you care about is getting stronger. You'll be single forever," she said angrily, walking ahead, leaving Shirakawa behind.
"I'm doing this for your own good too," Shirakawa called out, feeling a pang of guilt at her dejected figure. "I'm not the right person for you, or any girl in this world, for that matter. Do you understand?"
"What do you mean?" Catherine asked, hearing the sadness in his voice.
"You'll understand someday. Even if I told you now, you wouldn't believe me."
Catherine knew that their relationship could only ever be platonic. There was no future for them.
"It's okay," she said, forcing a smile, though tears welled up in her eyes.
Shirakawa was doing this for her sake. He had to crush her unrealistic hopes, and his own as well.
'Why do I feel relieved?' he wondered.
After waiting for a while outside the city, Buggy and Shanks finally caught up, panting heavily. Shirakawa was glad to see them; he didn't want to endure the awkward atmosphere with Catherine any longer.
"Shirakawa, you jerk!" Shanks and Buggy yelled, grabbing his collar as soon as they reached him.
"Hey, I had faith in your abilities. I knew you could escape those soldiers," Shirakawa said weakly, knowing he was in the wrong.
"Don't think you can get away with this just by complimenting us! I'll get you back for this someday!" Shanks threatened.
Shirakawa ignored him. He knew Shanks would likely forget about it soon enough.
"Shirakawa, next time you want to fly, take me with you. Leave Shanks behind," Buggy pleaded.
"Sure, if you can escape Shanks' clutches," Shirakawa chuckled.
If Shirakawa flew alone, Shanks might complain, but if he took Buggy, Shanks would never allow it. Not because he was particularly close to Buggy, but because he needed someone to keep him company.
"Hey, you and Catherine seem different. Did something happen while we were gone?" Shanks asked, noticing the change in their dynamic.
"Nothing happened. You're imagining things," Shirakawa denied.
"Something definitely happened. You're acting all weird. Did you do something... indecent?" Shanks teased.
"Indecent? Like what? You're being ridiculous!" Shirakawa retorted.
"Didn't I just say that?" Shanks asked innocently.
"Shut up, Shanks," Shirakawa snapped. He hadn't expected Shanks to have such a dirty mind. 'Did Rayleigh teach him that?' he wondered.
'I need to stay away from Rayleigh. He's corrupting my pure heart. Look what he's done to Shanks!'
Far away, at the casino, Rayleigh sneezed. "Someone's talking about me. And it's probably not good. I better watch my back."
"Let's go," Shirakawa said, ready to continue their journey. He walked over to Catherine. "Ready?" he asked, his tone a bit stiff.
"Yes," Catherine replied quietly, still not fully recovered from their earlier encounter.
Her first love hadn't even begun, and it was already over. Shirakawa had crushed her hopes before she could even confess her feelings.
They rearranged their clothes and set off, discarding their disguises. There weren't many soldiers outside the city, so they didn't need to worry about being recognized.
"Do you know where your capital is?" Shirakawa asked Catherine.
"Of course I do. It's in the northwest. We just need to keep heading that way."
"But do you know its exact location?"
"No. I've never left the capital before. If it weren't for this situation, I wouldn't be here."
"You've done well, then."
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you looking down on me?"
"No, I'm genuinely impressed. A princess who's always lived in the capital has managed to survive on her own for so long. You might be a bit clumsy, but you're strong."
"Hmph. Your compliments won't heal the wound you inflicted on my heart."
Shirakawa was at a loss for words. How was he supposed to respond to that?
Catherine realized she had said too much and fell silent.
"Buggy, look at them. They're totally flirting," Shanks whispered to Buggy.
Catherine blushed, and Shirakawa glared at Shanks. 'That brat needs a good beating.'
"Yeah. They're definitely different from this morning. Something must have happened," Buggy agreed.
"Mmm-hmm."
"Shut up, you two brats!" Shirakawa said, flicking both their foreheads, causing large bumps to appear.