Side Story 21
Claude couldn’t deny it anymore—there were still many things he didn’t know about Rose.
He had been confident.
Rose clearly liked his face and body. Sometimes, she would look at his face as if she were admiring a masterpiece, and her eyes would sparkle with awe when she touched him. So, he had never doubted that he was her type.
But now… to find out that her type was Oscar?
The same Oscar she had constantly complained about, calling him dumb and annoying?
Claude had opened Pandora’s box, and for a while, he couldn’t shake the shock.
Of course, Rose, unaware of any of this, carried on with her life as usual. This included her regular meetings with Irene.
One sunny afternoon, Rose and Irene met at a charming café, just as they often did.
And as always, Irene noticed that Claude was nearby, watching them. She had caught on but chose not to acknowledge it.
The fact that Claude’s pride still hadn’t let him give up was a bit surprising.
…She was curious how long he could endure it.
Feeling a bit impulsive, Irene suddenly said,
“Rose, instead of just holding hands today, I’ll give you a hug.”
When she opened her arms, Rose blinked in surprise.
“Huh? You don’t have to. I’ve already gotten plenty of guiding…”
“…Just do it while I’m asking nicely.”
“Okay…”
Though Rose approached obediently, her expression was unmistakable—she looked uncomfortable. Irene sighed inwardly.
This naive girl had no idea how to be greedy. She had this innocent face, as if life was all about avoiding pain and staying content.
…There was no way Irene was going to hand her over to some nefarious, scheming villain.
Until now, Irene had never given Rose anything more than basic hand-holding during guiding.
It had been enough to sustain her, but Irene also worried that Rose might become too reliant on her guiding if they went further. Sometimes, when a Guide’s grade was significantly higher, the Esper could become addicted.
But it wouldn’t hurt to let her experience it just once. After all, if that man tried to use his body to offer guiding, Rose would need to build up some immunity.
Irene gently pulled Rose closer, wrapping her arm around her shoulders and patting her back.
Rose, who had been awkward at first, quickly melted into the embrace, resting her chin on Irene’s shoulder with a soft sigh.
“Feels good?”
“Mhm, better than I thought…”
“See? I told you.”
As Irene whispered and stroked the back of Rose’s head, Rose snuggled into her even more, almost like a child seeking comfort.
Irene couldn’t help but chuckle at how anyone could mistake Rose for being the younger one between the two of them.
“You’ll only get guiding from me from now on, right?”
“Mhm.”
“Even if an S-Class Guide tries to seduce you, don’t just give in, okay? You know I’m the best.”
“You’re the best…”
Rose was so deep in the comfort of the guiding that she had no idea what she was even saying. Irene knew Rose wasn’t thinking rationally, but she wasn’t exactly complaining.
She continued to pat Rose’s back gently until—
Suddenly, like a root being pulled from the ground, their bodies were yanked apart, and Rose was lifted into the air.
“This is cheating, Rose Valentine.”
Claude’s voice growled, full of fury.
Rose, still drowsy from the effects of the guiding, didn’t even flinch. She dangled in the air, looking up at Claude with a dazed expression.
“What do you think you’re doing? Put her down right now,” Irene said sharply, but her words fell on deaf ears.
Rose’s arms and legs moved weakly in the air. The meaning behind her movements was clear—even while still under the influence of the guiding, she was trying to return to Irene’s embrace.
When Claude refused to let her go, her previously relaxed face twisted in confusion. It was as if she was wondering why he was interrupting their moment.
Claude’s frustration only grew hotter.
Grinding his teeth, Claude began to remove the gloves he wore like a second skin.
He couldn’t stand seeing Rose turn into a limp, helpless figure in someone else’s arms, even if it was a friend.
However, just as he was about to remove the glove, he felt a small hand grab his arm.
Even though it was a weak grip, her intent was clear.
She was refusing him.
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