The rooftop wind was biting. The cold dampness left behind by the rain snapped the mind awake without permission.
Li Lin stared at Texas—still holding him—and froze for a moment, before quickly turning his head away.
"Alright. You can talk now, right? What's this 'new message from the Emperor' supposed to be?"
"You're scared."
"I'm not. I just—"
"You're scared."
"A shadow jumped out at me. Anyone would—"
"You're scared."
"…"
"You're scared."
"Fine! Yes, I'm scared! But anyone who ran into that scene would—!"
His words cut off mid-sentence.
Texas's soft warmth—her body heat and the honesty of her embrace—fell over him like a blanket.
No threats. No sudden shifts. No sense of impending danger.
Just something forceful and stubborn: she pulled him into her arms and used nothing but skin and temperature to say, I'm here.
It was strange.
There wasn't any of that male–female, suggestive atmosphere.
Nor was there the pain of being cornered or coerced.
Texas said nothing. She simply held Li Lin, refusing to loosen her grip even when he struggled.
Minutes passed.
His struggling gradually faded, until all that remained was the smell of her and the solidity of her arms around him.
A calm, steady presence.
No preaching. No profound "spiritual resonance."
Just hands joined, bodies close, cheeks feeling each other's warmth—confirming the other person was real.
"…."
No longer chaos.
The outline of the girl named Texas became clear through touch.
Her cheek, her breath, her temperature—his muddy shadows receded, leaving only the figure holding him tightly, right beside him.
Under the rooftop night, the tinnitus and anxiety—the "haze filter" they cast over the world—vanished without a sound.
At some point, they were sitting together on a rooftop bench, looking up at the starry river of the sky.
It was sharp and clear: stars glittering.
Terra's two moons shone clean and bright, like they were watching the two of them holding each other on the rooftop.
Feeling the warmth beside him, Li Lin didn't know how much time passed—only that the chaos in his mind finally quieted.
"…Alright. I've calmed down. You can let go now."
"No."
"Isn't it awkward to keep hugging like this?"
"It isn't."
"I'm embarrassed."
"I don't care."
"It's about to rain again."
"Doesn't matter."
"…"
"Sorry. I didn't notice for so long."
Pressed tightly to his side—so close he could feel the curve of her body clearly—Li Lin still felt no impulse at all.
Her voice was like clear water.
The anxiety and repression drained away under that warmth, under that sound, until it was hard to believe he'd been suffering over something so absurd.
Because the only thing he could feel now was the will and the decisiveness of the person beside him—something that could not be fake.
She cared.
She was saying it with actions.
"I'm apologizing to you on Sora's behalf. That kid is just too pure—she doesn't realize what some things imply."
"…I know."
"If she knew she'd done something like this, she'd probably cling to you for a month and refuse to let go."
"Then please never tell her."
"Li Lin."
Texas drew a breath at his ear. Her warm exhale trembled as she spoke.
"Don't go."
"I won't let you go."
"Even if I have to break your bones, snap your arms and legs—I won't let you go until you feel safe."
"…That's kind of terrifying."
Li Lin kept his gaze on the night sky, speaking softly.
"Then if I needed you to stay with me for one night, what would you do?"
"Of course. As many nights as you need. You're my important friend."
"…"
A friend card.
Still a friend card.
But for some reason, it felt safer than anything else.
Li Lin turned to look into her eyes—beautiful enough to be called breathtaking. He couldn't see her heart directly, but her actions carried an absolute obsession.
She wouldn't give up.
And she didn't want to.
She laced her fingers through his—ten fingers interlocked—making him clearly feel that she was real, and that someone beside him truly cared.
"This isn't like the usual Texas…"
"This isn't a usual moment."
She spoke softly.
"No matter what happens, I will never hurt you."
Her voice was gentle, yet unwavering—full of trust and resolve.
"And no one in Penguin Logistics will hurt you either. Relax. Everyone is your partner. You're not living alone in this world."
"Summer will pass soon, and autumn will come. We'll gather fallen leaves and grill food on the rooftop. We'll wear new outfits and work together. It'll probably be noisy. Days like that will go on for a long time. You'll probably still have to help with that Lungmen Guard Department expansion—say a few things for them."
"Sora will seriously teach you piano and keep singing and composing. Exusiai will find more dessert guides. Croissant will bring home little oddities from time to time. We'll run deliveries together—when we succeed, we go eat at a hotel; when we fail, we hide in a safehouse for a few days. We'll live meaningful days, one by one."
"Each of us has secrets. We might hurt each other because of habits and differences. We might fight and get angry and separate for a while. But we should never swallow everything in silence and decide to walk alone."
"Like right now—I'm holding you, and you're feeling me. This is what matters most."
"Penguin Logistics shouldn't treat each other like that. We trust you completely."
"So please… trust us a little too."
"Please."
"…."
He was already at ease.
There was nothing left to be afraid of.
That's what a human mind was like.
Staring at the arrangement of stars, Li Lin suddenly thought of a question.
"I want to ask—if I absolutely refused to admit anything, what would you do?"
"If you don't say it out loud, I won't let you off."
"…"
"I'll force you to say it. Interrogation is fine too."
"You're joking, right?"
"When have I ever joked?"
"…Then I'm relieved."
Looking at the stars, Li Lin's vision blurred.
Not from pressure-induced chaos this time.
From something purer—something that hit after days of being wound too tight, the moment the tension finally released.
A crushing fatigue.
And, most importantly, the feeling of safety—someone beside him, staying with him, believing him.
Should he close his eyes?
Watching the sky grow hazy, Li Lin slowly shut them.
Then he heard rapid footsteps charging up from the fire stairs.
"Li Lin? Texas? How long are you two going to talk up here—ah."
"…Ah."
This was bad.
Exusiai came rushing up, staring at them in complete shock.
The three of them froze on the spot.
....
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