Chapter 146

So it wasn’t because of me. I had gotten ahead of myself all on my own.

“…Then do as you please.”

When I mumbled, Gerard let out a low laugh. As though he couldn’t resist, he suddenly wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his chest. I barely managed to stop him with both hands when he tried to kiss my forehead.

“What are you doing!”

“Sorry. I’ll only tease you a little from now on. It’s true that I want to transfer because of you. I want to stay with you.”

“Aren’t you embarrassed to say things like that?”

“You seem more embarrassed to hear them.”

“Oh, please.”

I shoved hard against the chest pressed to me. While Gerard staggered back, I ran out of the alley.

My entire body ached, so I wasn’t moving particularly fast, but fortunately, Gerard didn’t follow me. He probably knew that I would hate it if he acted familiar with me outside the alley.

“…He does seem a little different from three years ago.”

Even when we were dating, Gerard had wanted to tell the whole world about our relationship and boast about it, but he had restrained himself from actually doing so.

But now, he seemed like someone with no one to consider and nothing to fear.

He only refrained from showing it because I disliked it. Otherwise, he seemed ready to kiss me in the middle of the town square that’s packed with people.

“Somehow, he seems even bolder.”

Either way, it wasn’t a particularly good sign for me.

* * *

After sorting out my feelings for Gerard, things I hadn’t noticed before gradually began to catch my eye.

“It’s time to find a new job.”

But the problem was that it was the end of the year. The number of job seekers increased every year around this time, while the number of job listings decreased.

Moreover, finding a job willing to accommodate my chaotic training schedule wasn’t easy.

There were no jobs nearby, so I traveled a little farther, but the situation was the same everywhere.

In the end, I came away empty-handed.

Since I had come so far, it felt disappointing to simply return home, so I bought a sandwich from a street vendor as a substitute for dinner.

If I ate while walking, I wouldn’t be bored, and I could save time.

I stopped in front of a small, one-story bookstore because of the warmth spilling through the front window.

I felt like some stray cat, but despite the bitterness of the thought, I couldn’t easily make myself leave.

The streets after sunset were bitterly cold, and even after passing this place, I still had another hour to walk. My feet, trapped inside stiff shoes, were so cold that they were nearly numb.

I felt embarrassed standing there merely to enjoy the warmth, so I pretended to examine the books displayed beyond the window.

Then one book caught my eye.

< Keeping an Appropriate Distance from the Superior Who Likes Me >

…Interesting.

It was exactly the book I needed. I rewrapped my half-eaten sandwich, shoved it into my pocket, and entered the bookstore.

When I opened the door, a jingling bell rang, and warmth that melted my frozen body enveloped me. My cheeks, which had been exposed to the cold air, stung painfully.

I glanced at the roaring fireplace before looking around.

Despite how it appeared from outside, there were quite a few customers farther inside.

“Welcome.”

I reflexively turned toward the voice coming from the counter.

‘Is he the owner? He’s quite young.’

Since the bookstore looked old, I had naturally assumed it would be run by a kindly elderly person with a slow manner of speaking.

But the plump, fair-skinned man with dark brown hair appeared to be in his thirties.

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mikan

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