70 A wretched Dawg?

"Thank goodness… Thank goodness," I murmured, burying my head deep into the nook her shoulders, hugging her soft, warm waist.

Asu flinched within my arms.

Ah, that's right.

I reluctantly loosened my grip and leveled my gaze with hers. Looking into her bloodshot sapphires, my heart broke as I moved to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

For some reason, her face was much redder than normal. Was it due to the stress she received throughout today?

I bit my lip. It's all my fault. Maybe I was rushing things too much.

But it's not like I can slow down either. There's too much uncertainty, and I don't want to lose her.

But none of that is important right now.

I circled her face with my fingers, wiping of the remanent tears one by one, making sure they would not stain her angelic countenance.

"Oh, Asu! Your face looks so red… should we head to the infirmary?" But saying this would definitely hurt her noble pride, so I quickly added, "Though of course, you look lovely like this as well…"

And it was true. Asu was beautiful, even when she cried. I couldn't help but curve the corners of my mouth as a random thought rose in my mind.

Should I… tease her? Just a bit?

A bit won't hurt. I came to a consensus with my inner self; it's Asu's fault for looking so adorable, too adorable that I can't help but want to tease her.

Besides, while she cried, she also exuded an air of happiness right now, so it must mean that she wasn't *that* unhappy with my confession, right?

Also, since Asu's a fully-fledged tsundere, perhaps she even enjoyed it but was too embarrassed and prideful to admit it!

Yes! That must be it!

These thoughts spurred bursts of ecstasy, and following my madly churning thoughts, I pulled Asu closer again. Seeing Asu's frantic eyes and feverish face made me certain of my previous conjectures, and the bursts of ecstasy continued.

"Oh… Asu, actually, I feel quite hurt…"

I felt her flinch.

Yes! My lips curved into a twisted smile. After everything, in the end, Asu must be mine only. Only mine.

And of course, I was hers as well. "You actually thought that I had deserted you for another man—yelp!"

Before I could finish—or rather, even start--my proclamation of love, an intense pain assaulted my left foot.

All my vile thoughts flew away before I could consciously grab hold of them, and I could only let out a wretched gasp before doubling over in pain.

Asu… Asu… Oh Asu… why hadn't I realized before how strong you were? I would've trained my physical fitness more…

If my woeful appearance was faked earlier, by now, it had become truth. It took all the willpower that I could muster to not cry out in agony, but I allowed myself a small whimper.

It seemed that Asu was no longer paying attention to where her heel was placed, so I quietly pulled my feet away, hiding them behind my knees.

How could you, Asu?! "A-Asu…" I sniffled, "I-It… It hurts…"

With elegant tears rimming the corners of my eyes, my act as a pitiful white lotus was near perfect.

"I-I…" Asu mumbled indiscernibly. You must PAY for your actions, Asu!

I whimpered, subtly batting my eyelashes.

"I… C-Can you stand?" Hmph! I'll slowly savor your guilt before I forgive you!

"Umm… Uh…"

Oh, come on! Asu, say something! To express my displeasure, I whimpered impatiently while fondly counting the amount of filler words she has used in the last ten seconds.

"S-Stob it! Yur not a dawg."

Huh—