Chapter 6
821words
Leoran walked ahead, book tucked beneath his arm. The sky above the hill district shimmered with soft blue mist, filtered by the rising smoke of morning chimneys.
Behind him—
Tip toe. Tip toe.
Leoran didn’t stop.
He kept walking.
Mosu’s footsteps followed—too light to be called walking, too close to be coincidence.
Leoran suddenly halted.
Mosu froze mid-step.
Leoran didn’t turn at first.
He took a slow breath. The book slightly crinkled under his grip.
Then, with a sigh, he looked over his shoulder.
His voice was sharp, clipped—like a sword pulled halfway from its sheath:
“Why are you following me?”
His glare wasn’t rage, just worn-out patience. A look that said, Please don’t be stupid.
Mosu blinked, caught red-handed like a sneaky child.
But instead of fear, he raised both hands and gave a sheepish grin.
“Whaaaat? Follow you?”
His voice rose like a squeaky violin string.
“No, no! It’s just there… somehow meant to be entangled…”
He smiled wider, more awkward now. A laugh tried to escape his throat, but it didn’t quite make it.
Leoran said nothing.
The silence between them stretched again.
But this time—
He didn’t walk away.
Leoran exhaled quietly, then resumed walking.
This time, Mosu didn’t trail behind like a sneaky kid.
Instead, he casually strolled beside Leoran—both hands tucked behind his neck, elbows out wide, steps exaggerated like a boy without a care in the world.
Almost like… he belonged there.
His shoulders eased. His chest loosened. He felt a little more comfortable now.
“You know… you still didn’t tell me about the submission hall,”
he said with a lighthearted tease in his voice—maybe mocking, maybe just trying to sound cooler than he felt.
Leoran didn’t respond.
Didn’t look at him.
Didn’t even blink toward his side.
Just walked, eyes ahead, focused on something that wasn’t there.
Mosu glanced sideways, lips curling into a tiny frown.
Then he sighed—long and theatrical, but with something real underneath.
“Sighhhhh… Are you ignoring me again?”
The question came out softer this time.
A little hurt. A little disappointed.
And somewhere, buried deep inside the quiet…
Leoran felt it.
That ache in Mosu’s voice.
That little sting of guilt behind his own coldness.
The silence lasted another beat.
“I don’t know where it is,”
Leoran finally muttered.
His voice was low. Grudging, almost. But honest.
Mosu’s eyes widened like a puppy who just got a biscuit.
“Yayyy—Thank my Lord, you finally spoke!”
He bounced a little on his heels, arms flopping back behind his neck.
“I thought a cat got your tongue!”
Leoran didn’t react.
But he didn’t shut him down either.
So they kept walking.
Side by side.
The stone path wound past bronze poles and small potted shrines, leading toward a quiet street lined with folded prayer flags.
The wind blew gently.
Some birds flew across the rooftops.
A crow cawed far away.
Silence again.
Mosu stared straight ahead, walking, walking…
(I can’t bear this silence…)
(Mom… Grandfather… Father… Lord… Majesty… help me.)
(Even when I finally find someone in Bailey… I can’t start a conversation.)
He tilted his head to the side, muttering internally.
(Ughhh, my head is hurting…)
If someone were watching from the outside, they’d probably think he looked like some great thinker lost in an epic life decision.
They kept walking side by side.
The sky was still, the wind soft. Even the birds seemed hesitant to chirp between them.
Mosu tilted his head, sneaking glances at Leoran.
(Should I… pinch him? Just a little? Then run? He’d definitely chase me, right?)
He sighed dramatically. His foot scuffed the dirt.
And then—his thoughts froze.
His cheeks suddenly flushed.
(Wait… how long has it been since I wanted someone’s attention this bad…?)
His hands dropped from his neck.
He stared at his feet.
The silence between them didn’t change—
but something inside him did.
(I… really am a mess, huh?) he thought, lips curling shyly.
Mosu leaned in fast—kissed Leoran’s cheek like a kid stealing candy—
A loooooong silence.
(What did I just… but it’s too late.)
He picked up his tail (metaphorically) and dashed off like a shy anime girl who just kissed her crush.
“Aaaahhhhhhhhhhh!”
“How dare you seduce me, you melious man!!”
Then turned tail and ran like a gremlin on sugar.
“Whahhhhhhhhh! Wuhwaaaaaaaaa!”
Dust clouds exploded behind him.
His footsteps echoed like fireworks in a festival alley.
Leoran stood frozen.
Completely.
Emotionally.
He blinked once.
“You—you kissed me?!”
“YOU ABSOLUTE INFANT!!” he snapped, fists clenched—storming forward in full fury.
“Why are you reacting?! I’m the victim here!”
“COME BACK HERE, YOU MOTH—!! Jahdsgsh!!”
His yelling spiraled into static rage noises as he chased Mosu through the narrow streets.
Their voices faded—
getting softer and smaller—
the deeper they ran into the curving paths of the Hill District.
Until only laughter remained.
And somewhere… a little warmth in the wind.
