Chapter 158 - Arc 1 157 – Wholeheartedly Willing

Levi had been worried that his baby would suddenly think about all those years he had been friends with Case and decide to give him a chance. He had been worried that his baby would abruptly realize he also liked Case back. Even if Levi logically knew that the chance of that happening was low, he still wasn’t willing to risk it.

Yet, how come this giant jar of vinegar he had been fed suddenly turned into a big bowl of sugar??

Unlike him, Case’s mouth wasn’t filled with sugar but by biting bitterness that left him unable to spit it out or swallow it down. He arduously squeezed out, “Don’t let yourself be pressured into marrying him in a rush!”

Case took in a few shaky breaths, then spat, “Screw the alliance! You barely know him, and he has a reputation for being a cold-blooded asshole! If he was really gay, what had he been doing dating your sister for 6 years? I smell bullshit! Don’t get involved in this matter. Let your sister handle him. You are too kindhearted; you’ll just end up getting swindled!”

Blackie, (⊙_⊙) ‘This guy… he is actually spot on! Like, 100% spot on!!! Holy shit, mayday, Black to HQ! I’ve got a nearly extinct specimen of a normal clearheaded homo sapiens here! Hurry, send help! We need to preserve this last shred of sanity from being extinguished by this crowd of idiots!’

The cold-blooded asshole Levi, trying to swindle the poor and innocent little lamb into marriage, “…”

(ꐦ ಠ益ಠ) و ‘C. A. S. E! We still hadn’t settled our previous debts, yet you are rushing to add more crimes onto your own head!!!’

Blackie, ‘Uh-oh! ( •᷄⌓•᷅ ) HQ, better send in the whole rescue squad! We’ve got a very angry sociopath on the loose here!’

Yet, Case’s digging of his own grave didn’t end there.

“Don’t rush into it blindly. Think it over properly!” he persuaded, “Don’t be swayed by momentary infatuation.”

Blackie virtually smacked his own forehead in realization, ‘…no wonder he never managed to woo Aris! How can a clearheaded dude successfully woo an idiot? Really not compatible, ah! It’s the divide between two worlds! Doomed to never intersect!’

“It doesn’t have to be him.” Case continued, “You deserve better. Someone who will treat you wholeheartedly with love and care–”

‘Like who? You?! In your dreams!!!’ Levi, who could no longer listen to this, moved to knock on the door. How would he have the patience or magnanimity to listen to this scourge try to rob his precious treasure?! If he could endure a love rival trying to steal his baby away from him from right under his nose, he wouldn’t be a man but a pig!!!

Yet, before his hand made contact, Noah, who could also no longer endure this rant, interrupted it first, “Thank you for worrying on my behalf. You are a true friend, and I really appreciate it!”

Case, who obviously got stuck firmly with a label of a true friend and nothing more, “…” _(´ཀ`∠)_

After making sure to shoot Case down ‘gently’ but clearly once more for good measure, Noah continued, “But, it’s not like that. I’m not being pressured or swindled and am wholeheartedly willing.”

It was only when saying the actual truth within his heart that Noah could fully face Case. Though his cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment, his shiny eyes curved in a reassuring smile. “Outward appearances can be deceiving; Levi is not anything like the rumors. Actually, he is very, very good! He treats me the best! I like him very much!”

Even the tips of Noah’s ears turned scarlet due to his own words, but he still gathered up his courage to continue, “I am not that naïve or that easy to swindle. And I have thought it over. It’s true that we are marrying this quickly due to the alliance, but the feelings between us are–are…” Noah’s valor was exhausted, so he covered up his face with his hands again, “…true.” His voice tapered off, becoming sweeter and more bashful with every word, “And–and–and… what you said… it–it’s not like that… for him… for him, it–it–it can only be… me… and–and for me… also… also can only be… be him…”

Noah’s delicate whimpers sent a huge ballista arrow into the hearts of both men, leaving two gaping holes in its wake.

However, from one hole gushed out blood, while from the other seeped the purest essence of honey.

While Levi died and ascended right into heaven, Case fell alive right into the depths of hell.

Case closed his eyes to hide the turmoil within. He… he refused to believe it! When he met Aris last week, things weren’t like this! When he spoke to him last week, things were definitely not like this!!

Aris… he must have realized Case’s feelings. Aris must be saying all that to make him give up on him. He didn’t wish for Case to continue to wait for him!

Noah felt really wronged. He had no idea where he found the determination to speak such shameless words; he had really fed all his integrity to the pigs this time, just to convince Case that Levi and him were a loving couple!

Yet this bro still didn’t believe it!!!

(ノQДQ)ノ︵ ┻━┻

Baby Noah felt really wronged! QAQ

Levi, on the other hand, felt like he was floating on clouds. With his chest puffed up in pride and the corners of his mouths unable to be pulled down, he concluded that he’d heard enough. It was time for him to make his presence known and settle this pesky fly that kept coveting his baby once and for all.

A knock resounded in the empty toilet, followed by Levi’s loving coo, “Baby, are you alright? You’ve been gone a long time.”

Noah, who had yet to recover from the utter shame of what he had been forced to spew out, nearly jumped out of his skin. “Fine! I’m fine,” He reflexively squeaked out.

“Are you on your communicator?” Levi’s warm, low chuckle trickled into Noah’s flushed ears like warm cocoa, “Open up, mn?”

Before Noah’s mind could make sense of what was happening, he had already unlocked the door.

Then he realized, why should he come out just because the other wanted him to come out?! He wasn’t done with his call yet! How stupid was he to just obediently unlock the door as soon as the other asked him to?!? How could his brain short-circuit like this just because Levi asked it of him!?

…and just because he spoke in that stickily sweet tone that made his tailbone numb…

…and because he used that embarrassing endearment…

…and… uh… ok… so it was a joint attack with high shield penetration! No wonder his little boat got turned over so quickly!

However, at this point, it was already too late for regrets! As soon as Levi heard the door click, he pulled it wide open to find himself face-to-face with his wide-eyed and beet-red-faced baby, who involuntarily trembled at the sight of him like a frightened bunny.

Levi’s self-restraint snapped at that moment, and he picked his baby up by the waist as if plucking a radish.

Then, before his stupefied baby could respond, he spun around and plopped his butt on the same spot his baby had been sitting on previously, pulling his precious darling to sit in his lap.

‘Want to talk in the toilet? Sure, baby, I’ll accompany you~’

Naturally, for good measure, he also wrapped his arms around his precious darling so he couldn’t get up and run away out of embarrassment again. Finally, in the process of nestling his head on Noah’s shoulder, he even couldn’t resist shamelessly smacking a kiss onto that deliciously pink face. Straight on that supple cheek that was softer than satin.

Suddenly, the face of Case’s crush on his light screen was replaced with the image of his crush being intimate with another man. Case nearly spewed out blood and fainted on the spot.

And the shameless man taking liberties with his innocent little Aris even shot a proud smirk at Case behind the little one’s back!