REMUNERATION?!

Ch 26

"Pfft! Puhahahaha…"

I reluctantly opened my eyes to the sight of Lancera wiping off tears of laughter from her eyes.

"W-What's so funny?!" I pouted, nervous to the point of tears.

She grinned at me slyly with those violet eyes of hers. "You're too cute, that's why!"

Trembling, I felt my face heat up.

T-Tooo cute?!

I- I- I'm CUTE?!

W-W-W-W-W-W-WHAT IS THIS STRANGE PERSON SAYING?!

"Hey! D-Does your feet not hurt anymore?!" Puffing up my cheeks, I got ready to stomp my heavenly weapons called shoe heels onto the unassuming girl's feet. "Just so you know, our deal is off! We're not holding hands!"

Hmph! We'll see who gets the last laugh!

"Noooooooooo! Asu… I-If you hurt me again, although I don't mind, you'll be owing me another two favors… and since I know that I'm a petty person, I-I… I don't want you to owe me something! Or else… I…" Lancera showed a small, modest smile. "I wouldn't know what I would do to you!"

Small? Modest?

Ha!

THOSE WORDS! Do you think you can go through with them? Do what to me? Huh? My coolness will DEFINITELY defeat you within five seconds!

Hmph!

But after a few milliseconds of self-praise… I quickly caught the crucial words in her speech.

TWO favors?

Wait. Why would I owe her any favors?! It's her honor to be stepped on by me!

Ok. Maybe that went too far. But…

"What do you mean by 2 favors?"

My eyebrows furrowed with an ominous premonition upon seeing Lancera's eyes turn wet with tears.

"Oh! My Asu… How could you ever… ever think that I would abandon you?!"

I froze.

T-T-T-This topic… AGAIN?!

N-N-N-N-N-NO!

DON'T SPEAK OF THIS! I BEG OF YOU, DEAR LANCERA! PLEASE.

AND GOD! D-D-Don't you think I've received enough punishment for my perfection? I don't deserve this!

But no matter how much I hollered in my mind, my words did nothing… especially since I knew that saying these words directly would incur far more suspicion… and so the Hall brat continued with her little skit.

"Oh! I feel hurt, thinking that you thought I was such a loose person! I would never abandon you… and I tell you that every day… yet! Yet you would lose faith in me after one day! I-I… I feel wronged, my beautiful Asu!"

Lancera took out a handkerchief from nowhere and began to dab at her eyes while silently weeping. Grabbing at my sleeve, she pouted cutely. "Don't you think I deserve remuneration, Asu?"

Remuneration?

R-R-Remuneration?!

REMUNERATION.

At those words, I had suddenly recalled a certain scene in a certain novel that I'll never admit to reading…

W-W-W-WHAT REMUNERATION?!

Without warning, my face flared up in crimson.