Alice smiled at Sana, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
"Sana… I'll remember that name. You're my hero."
Sana let out a small, awkward laugh.
"I'm just a normal guy… but being someone's hero doesn't feel so bad."
Alice shook her head, her voice soft but certain.
"No… you really are."
For a moment, Sana didn't know how to respond.
The air felt a little too warm.
"So… did you call your parents?" he asked, quickly changing the subject. "Let them know what happened?"
[I hope it's not like the Alice I knew…]
Alice nodded.
"Yeah. I told them already. Don't worry."
Sana exhaled quietly.
"…Good. That's a relief."
After a short pause, he added with a small smile,
"I'll apologize properly when I recover… for borrowing their daughter like this."
Alice's smile faded just a little.
"They're busy… I wish they could come see you."
She hesitated, then added more softly,
"Their hero."
Sana met her gaze, calm and steady.
"It's okay. They're working hard—for you, right?"
Alice lowered her eyes.
"I've never thought about it like that… They're always working… it doesn't really feel like they care."
Sana's voice softened.
"Maybe there are things they can't tell you. Problems you don't see."
He paused.
"But no matter what… they're still your parents."
Alice looked at him in silence, something unreadable in her eyes.
"You're… different," she murmured. "More mature than I expected."
Sana scratched the back of his head, smiling faintly.
"Maybe…"
Alice leaned a little closer, चिंता flickering across her face.
"Does it still hurt?"
It did. More than he wanted to admit.
But Sana just shook his head.
"I'll be fine soon. Don't worry."
Alice let out a small breath, her shoulders relaxing.
"…I'm glad."
She reached for her phone.
In truth, she hadn't called her parents.
She didn't want to bother them.
They would come home late anyway.
As the screen lit up, a flood of notifications filled it.
Sana frowned slightly.
"Something wrong?"
Alice glanced at them.
Not from her parents.
From him.
Her childhood friend.
Her expression darkened.
[Why won't he just stop…?]
Sana gently took her hand.
Alice flinched—just for a second.
"Oh… it's nothing," she said quickly. "Just something annoying…"
But she didn't pull away.
Sana started to let go.
Her fingers tightened around his.
A faint blush spread across her face.
"I… I was just overthinking."
Sana smiled softly.
"Looks like something's bothering you."
Alice sighed.
"It's my childhood friend… I've rejected him so many times, but he just won't give up."
Her gaze dropped.
"I told him clearly. I don't like him."
Sana nodded slowly.
"I can see why he won't give up," he said. "You're… special to him."
Alice shook her head.
"We just live near each other. That's all. I never wanted to be close to him."
Sana hesitated.
His heartbeat quickened.
"…I might have a way to help."
Alice looked up.
"What is it?"
Sana took a quiet breath.
"…Then I'll be your boyfriend."
A brief pause.
"Just for now."
His voice was steady—
but his ears had already turned red.
Alice smiled.
Warm. Soft. Just a little shy.
"Okay… my hero."
She held his hand tighter.
"You're the only one I can trust."
Sana looked away, his face heating up.
"…Then you have to take good care of me."
Alice nodded without hesitation.
"I will."
Her voice was gentle—
but firm.
"I promise."