Reze paused, realization dawning. The carefully constructed facade—the pretense of maintaining distance from Renji, of disassociating herself—
It had now been completely seen through by him.
After he was injured, she hadn't even had time to think. Her body had moved instinctively, frantically, rushing toward him.
This single action had confirmed something undeniable.
Her icy demeanor just now had been nothing but a bluff.
Didn't this prove… that she cared about him to such an extent that, in a critical moment, she would abandon all pretense?
She was still supposed to be escaping for her life. She couldn't even afford to worry about her own survival.
Yet this deep affection, kept buried in her heart until now—
At this moment, it was exposed without reservation by an unconscious reaction.
She really still…
Couldn't keep up the act any longer.
She already…
Couldn't hold on.
"Big liar… you're so cunning…"
"But if I didn't do this, you'd really leave. And you wouldn't let me follow. I had no choice. The effect was… quite good."
"Big liar…"
Reze slowly squatted down, as if all her strength had drained away. She hugged her knees tightly with both arms, trying to grasp her last shred of warmth and stability.
Her beautiful hair fell loosely on either side of her face, obscuring most of her features—but it couldn't hide the glistening tears that continuously fell.
"Big liar… big liar…"
Renji's heart clenched at the sight of her crying. He panicked slightly. He opened his mouth, but found he didn't know how to comfort her. Silently cursing himself, he sat down beside her.
"The red blood in my mouth was all tomato juice. I found it in that abandoned warehouse by the coast while you were still unconscious. The roses too—there are many, many beautiful roses there. If you like them, I can take you to get more. After all, Reze, you're so beautiful. Paired with roses, it's simply a match made in heaven."
Reze's anger wasn't appeased by his explanation. She sobbed and cursed hysterically.
"Bastard… bastard… bastard… Renji, you're a complete bastard! Why don't you just die?! Go die right now!"
Facing her scolding, Renji only shook his head slightly and replied.
"No. I won't die."
Hearing this, Reze cried even harder. She covered her face with her hands, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"You do this to me… you make my heart such a mess… What am I supposed to do now… How am I supposed to go on… You bastard…"
Renji wiped the tomato juice from the corner of his mouth.
"Then don't go. Stay here, Reze. Don't leave me again. Even if I have to say it a hundred times, I'll say it: I like you. I really, really like you."
Reze slowly raised her head, her swollen eyes gazing at him. After a long moment, she took a deep breath, seeming to calm herself slightly, and spoke hoarsely.
"I… I have one last question I want to ask you."
Renji nodded.
"Mm. Ask."
"Do you think… country mice… or city mice… which is better?"
"Huh? Why ask that all of a sudden?"
"Answer me! You big bastard!"
Reze cried again, her tears falling like pear blossoms in the rain.
...
...
"Have you been to the library? There's a short story in a book called Aesop's Fables."
The Angel Devil asked. Renji shook his head.
"I've heard of it, but I haven't read it."
"Country mice live a comfortable life, but they can't eat the delicacies of the city. City mice can eat delicious food, but they're hunted by humans and cats."
The Angel Devil stood up and tossed the small stick she'd been fiddling with into the heavy rain.
"As for me… I yearn for the country mouse. But… I was caught by Makima and brought to the city. My heart is still in the countryside. That's why I don't want to deal with you city people. And I don't want to encounter dangerous things."
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze hazy as she looked up at the sky, as if recalling something. After a moment, she sighed softly.
"And yet, look at the result. Truly terrible. Unlucky. Who would have thought? I'd actually encounter a man that even devils in hell want to possess—and I have to protect him. For me, that's tens of thousands of times more terrifying than any dangerous thing."
By the end, her tone had grown increasingly helpless and frustrated.
"Hey, is it really that exaggerated?"
Renji raised an eyebrow.
"What about you, Renji? Which do you think is better? Country mice or city mice?"
...
...
"I think country mice are better."
"Big liar!"
"Really! If you don't believe me, let me explain!"
Renji thought carefully, considering what examples to give Reze. He organized his thoughts and began to speak.
"I… I actually had a good friend back where I came from. She loved reading novels, and once recommended one to me. It was about a protagonist revitalizing his race—and of course, he succeeded in the end. But regarding the ending of the novel, the protagonist's fate, my friend and I had a disagreement."
He cautiously glanced toward Reze. She showed no reaction—just buried her head again. Only her slightly trembling shoulders and occasional faint sobs and sniffles could be heard.
Renji continued.
"She always firmly believed that, for a character, the so-called perfect ending was for them to die at their most glorious, most peak moment. Because only that way could the character's image be sublimated through death, cleverly avoiding any potential character derailment issues that might arise later."
"However, I hold a completely different view. In my opinion, if a character has already endured countless hardships and accomplished great feats, it's only right to give them a good ending."
"I believe the protagonist should rightfully continue to live—not just die at every turn. Frankly, for characters I like, even if they deviate slightly from their original design in later developments, I still hope to see them remain in the story for a long time."
"Alright, so here's the key point. The way I prefer a character to exit… I lean toward that kind of leisurely, reclusive life. Living in seclusion, retreating to the quiet, rustic countryside."
"Hmm… I've said a lot. I don't know if you can understand, Reze. It's just that after the ending, it's better to be a free and easy country mouse—simple and fulfilling. So I think country mice are better. If I were one, I'd be a country mouse."
Reze slowly turned her head. Her movements were gentle, revealing a pair of clear, beautiful eyes—slightly red-rimmed, with a few glistening tears still clinging to her long lashes—as she looked at him.
"So much… so much nonsense. The first few paragraphs were completely unnecessary."
"Ah… haha… At least you understand. That's what matters."
Renji was a little embarrassed. He suddenly remembered Kishibe saying his verbal expression was weak. That's why he'd explained so much, laying out the whole cause and effect. He was really afraid of messing up at such an important moment.
"I also like being a country mouse. Just like you—comfortable and peaceful, with no one bothering me. Seems we really are two hopeless perverts."
"That's true…"
Reze wiped away her tears and stood up.
"Then let's continue, Renji."
"Continue?"
"Mm. Let's continue what we didn't finish at the middle school."
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