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Leo stood in the doorway, staring at Rin as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. The quiet of the hallway contrasted starkly with the chaos of the last few hours. His legs, still tense from the chase, finally began to relax, but his mind raced with lingering doubt.
Rin shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, clearly aware of the tension between them. Her face softened as she spoke again, her voice quiet. "I… didn't mean for it to get this out of hand. I'm really sorry for everything."
Leo scratched the back of his head, unsure how to respond. On one hand, he was relieved to hear the search had been called off. On the other, he wasn't exactly thrilled about having been hunted like an animal for something that wasn't even his fault.
"It's… fine," Leo finally muttered, stepping out of the storage room. His voice was stiff, his tone uncertain. "I just didn't expect to spend the day running from traps, dodging accusations, and almost getting caught multiple times."
Rin winced at his words, clearly pained by the situation. "I understand, and… I can't blame you for being upset. I just want to make sure you know that it wasn't on purpose." Her eyes met his, and for a moment, the tension between them seemed to ease. "What happened in my room—"
Leo quickly held up a hand, cutting her off. "I get it. It was an accident, right?" His cheeks flushed as he remembered the awkward fall, the broken mask, and the kiss that wasn't supposed to happen. He cleared his throat, trying to push the memory aside. "Let's just forget it."
Rin's expression softened. "Thank you… I didn't mean to cause such a mess."
The two of them stood in the hallway for a moment, neither knowing quite what to say. The tension lingered, but there was also an unspoken understanding between them. Things weren't back to normal just yet, but it was a step in the right direction.
Leo rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "So, what now?" he asked, glancing around. "Are the girls going to try and kill me if I step outside?"
Rin managed a small smile. "No. I made sure everyone knows it was a misunderstanding. You should be safe now."
Leo let out a breath of relief. "Good. That's one less thing to worry about."
Rin's smile faded, replaced by a look of genuine concern. "But… there is one thing I still need to do."
Leo raised an eyebrow, not quite following. "What's that?"
"I need to take responsibility for this," Rin said quietly, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I'm the reason you got into this mess, so I want to make it up to you."
Leo blinked, caught off guard by her words. "Make it up to me? You don't have to—"
"Please," Rin interrupted, her voice firm. "It's the least I can do."
Leo paused, sensing the weight of her sincerity. He wasn't used to people taking responsibility for things, especially in such a direct way. "Well… if you're serious about it, I guess I can't say no."
Rin looked up, a determined glint in her eyes. "Thank you. I'll figure something out, but for now… just rest. You've had a long day."
Leo nodded, his body suddenly feeling the exhaustion from the non-stop running. "Yeah, I could use some rest."
He took a step toward the hallway, but before he could go any further, Rin hesitated. "Leo… one more thing."
He turned to face her, waiting.
Rin's cheeks flushed slightly, and she avoided his gaze. "What you said… before, about my mask." Her voice wavered with uncertainty, as if she wasn't sure she wanted to bring it up. "Did you… mean it?"
Leo's mind flashed back to their earlier conversation—the moment when he had told her she looked beautiful without her mask. He hadn't meant for it to be a big deal, but now, seeing Rin's expression, he realized it had affected her more than he'd expected.
"Yeah," Leo said, his voice soft. "I meant it."
Rin's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, she seemed at a loss for words. Then, she smiled—small and hesitant, but genuine. "Thank you."
Leo scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "It's nothing, really. I just… thought you should know."
Rin nodded, the awkward tension between them easing just a little. "I appreciate it. I don't hear that very often."
Leo smiled back, feeling the weight of the day start to lift. "Well, maybe you should hear it more."
Leo's words hung in the air between them, simple yet impactful.
Rin stood there for a moment longer, her gaze lingering on Leo as he turned to leave. The warmth of his compliment still echoed in her mind, stirring something deep inside her. It wasn't the first time someone had commented on her appearance—her role as one of the academy's Five Swords often brought superficial admiration—but this was different.
This time, it felt real.
As the sound of Leo's footsteps faded down the hall, Rin absentmindedly reached up to touch her face, her fingertips brushing the line where her mask had once rested. She thought about what it had meant to wear it, how it had protected her, and how it had hidden her true self for so long. The mask was a shield, but it was also a burden.
Beautiful without it…
She hadn't expected those words to affect her as much as they did. In her mind, the words played over and over again, each repetition digging deeper into memories she had buried long ago.
She was younger, sitting in front of a mirror in her family's large estate. Her reflection stared back at her, eyes wide with uncertainty. The mask was on the table beside her, newly crafted, gleaming under the room's soft light.
Her father's voice echoed in her mind. "You must always be strong, Rin. Never let them see weakness. Hide your true self, and no one can hurt you."
The weight of those words had settled on her shoulders that day, shaping the way she viewed herself—and the world around her. She had worn the mask to please her father, to live up to his expectations. Over time, it had become a part of her identity, a symbol of the strength she was supposed to embody.
But strength, she had learned, came at a cost.
Back in the present, Rin closed her eyes, trying to push away the sudden wave of emotion. Why did his words make me feel this way? She had been called many things in the past—strong, disciplined, dangerous—but never beautiful. Not in a way that felt personal, meaningful.
Her hands clenched at her sides, heart pounding. What does he see in me that I can't?
She took a deep breath, pushing the question aside for now. There would be time to confront these feelings later. For now, she had to focus on making things right with Leo. He had been dragged into her world of chaos because of a misunderstanding, and that was something she couldn't ignore.
But even as she prepared herself to leave the room and find him, Rin couldn't shake the thought that had taken root in her mind—the possibility that, perhaps, she didn't need the mask as much as she thought.
A/N:-
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