I Love You

Ignoring the situation around him, Mateus envelops Mahiru with a protective shield, his immediate instinct being to protect her at any cost. Feeling the momentary relief of having her safe, a dark anger begins to bubble up inside him, fueled by the sight of Mahiru in such a vulnerable state and by his fury against those who dared to harm her. Normally, he would use his black hole ability to end everything silently, but the rising fury consuming him leads him to opt for a more devastating decision.

Consumed by anger, Mateus chooses a spell he learned from an eccentric, explosion-obsessed mage, but he amplifies its potency to unprecedented levels. Without the characteristic enthusiasm of the young mage, he murmurs with a cutting coldness: "Explosion."

As the words leave his lips, magical circles form in rapid succession, layering on top of each other and filling the air with an intense, almost blinding light that precedes the impending destruction. For a brief moment that feels like an eternity to the fallen angels, the world seems to stop before a colossal explosion tears through the silence. The deafening sound and shockwave not only eradicate Mahiru's kidnappers but also completely destroy the entire Khaos Brigade base, reducing everything to ashes.

As he surveys the devastation caused by the explosion, Mateus feels a mix of relief and satisfaction. The sight of the place reduced to ashes comforts him somewhat, as he knows he has spared Mahiru from an even worse fate. However, behind this satisfaction, a shadow of guilt briefly crosses his mind, a small voice questioning the need for such widespread destruction, but the thought of Mahiru being safe is what truly matters to him.

Although Mahiru has not suffered physical injuries, the trauma is immense. It's not every day that someone is kidnapped by a fallen angel and recovers as if nothing happened. She, completely unaware of the supernatural world, is in shock, trying to process the reality of everything that has occurred. 'What were those beings? Does magic really exist? Why can Mateus use magic? Why didn't anyone tell me about this? Do more people know about this?'

As Mahiru is consumed by these questions, Mateus finally turns to her. "I'm glad you're safe and well, Mahiru," he says, his voice laden with relief and concern.

With a deep sigh, Mateus relaxes and embraces her tightly, showing all his worry and affection. Mahiru, feeling the warm embrace, finally comes to terms with the reality of what happened. The weight of the events hits her, and she begins to cry, thanking Mateus as she gives in to his embrace, feeling secure for the first time since the kidnapping.

With her eyes still wet from tears, Mahiru looks up at Mateus, her voice trembling as she tries to express the depth of her gratitude. His embrace was the only thing that made her feel secure amid the chaos. She felt the weight of emotion and gratitude building up inside her.

"Mateus," she began, her voice trembling with the intensity of the moment. "I... I don't know how to express how grateful I am. You saved me from something terrible, and I..."

She hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. What started as a whisper turned into a clear and fervent confession. "I love you, Mateus. I've always loved you."

Mateus looked at her in surprise, the intensity of his feelings reflected in his eyes. He smiled, a smile that mixed relief, happiness, and deep love.

"I love you too, Mahiru," he responded softly, holding her closer. "I will always be here for you."

The moment was charged with a new intensity, and their words sealed an even stronger bond between them. The embrace continued, now a symbol not only of safety but of the love that had finally been revealed.

---

After the intensity of the moment, Mateus realizes it is time to go home, where he can more calmly explain everything to Mahiru. Now, with more reasons than ever, Mateus shows all his affection for Mahiru in every gesture and action. Given everything that has happened, it is normal to act this way and recognize that their relationship is no longer just that of neighbors and friends, but something more.

Turning his attention to the girl in his arms, Mateus, though reluctant, breaks the comfortable silence between them. "As comfortable as it is here, Mahiru, we're kind of in the middle of nowhere. How about we go back home and talk about everything that happened?"

Nodding her head, Mahiru agrees with Mateus.

With Mahiru still firmly in his arms, Mateus teleports back home, where the familiar mixes with the unknown he is about to reveal.

Seeing the familiar environment, Mahiru feels even more at ease in Mateus's embrace. Feeling comfortable, she begins to speak to Mateus, "Thank you, Mateus, for saving me. Although it may seem insensitive to ask my savior, what were those creatures?"

Once again reassuring that everything is fine, Mateus begins to explain, "The ones who kidnapped you were fallen angels. They probably wanted to use you as a means to lure me to their side or to use me."

Continuing his explanation, Mateus tells Mahiru, "In this world, it's safe to say there are two types of worlds: the normal world, where people know nothing, and the supernatural world, where all kinds of creatures exist.

The most important are the angels, the Devils…"

Mateus provides a long explanation and teaches Mahiru the truths behind this world. To break the rhythm and surprise Mahiru, Mateus jokingly says, "You know Ophis? She is also a dragon and one of the most powerful ones out there. She represents the element of Infinity."

Surprised and incredulous, Mahiru struggles to reconcile the image of the small and harmless Ophis with the reality that she is one of the most powerful beings in the world.

After learning about the truths of this world, Mahiru is completely astonished by everything she did not know. Finally, Mahiru asks, "Have you always been part of the supernatural world, Mateus? By the way, are you really human?"

Answering his beloved's questions, Mateus explains, "Since I've been in this world, I am like this, and yes, I am human."

Relieved to know that Mateus is at least human, Mahiru wants to learn more about this world. "I want to learn how to use magic, can you teach me, Mateus?"

Looking like a puppy asking for affection, Mahiru requests Mateus's help. Seeing this cuteness before him, Mateus can't refuse. "I can help you, Mahiru, but not today. How about we start tomorrow? I want to rest a bit today, and I imagine you do too."

With a nod, Mahiru agrees to Mateus's proposal. Little did Mahiru know that this simple request would be the first step toward becoming one of the most powerful people in this world.

But unaware of the future that awaits her, Mahiru simply relaxes and rests in the embrace of her beloved.