Chapter 83, The Third Form of Love

Chapter 83, The Third Form of Love

Kreig had had plenty of salads in his life but none with this exact composition. He decided to store the recipe in the back of his head, if only because Erica seemed to enjoy it so much. Maybe a little too much. She downright wolfed it down.

On the other hand, she did have a tendency to do the same to almost anything Kreig put in front of her. Maybe she was just a glutton? Though, her slender and healthy frame would suggest otherwise. Kreig took a bite, staring at her as best as he could, trying to decipher her life. Maybe she just didnt eat? It was an odd line of thought, but if she didnt have any food at home, then it wouldnt be too strange if she practically attacked any food placed in front of her.

Hopefully, that wasnt the case. Kreig would hate for Erica to go hungry in his absence. But if it was the case, then Kreig would definitely offer her permanent abode in his house. The house he shared with his siblings. Hm.

No, if he wanted to house her, hed probably have to move out himself.

Kreig has, of course, entertained the idea of living on his own, but he already knows that such a plan is many, many years in the future. He just doesnt know enough about the world to do so. Unless, if he were to move in with Erica, who seemed quite proficient with the world. Of course, such a plan would only be possible if she lived alone. Something Kreig wasnt entirely sure of.

He caught Ericas eye right as she was about to take another massive bite despite her mouth being full. Whadd is id?

Do you happen to live alone?

She stared at him for a few seconds; chewed, swallowed, and smiled. Yeah! Unless you count my cat. Names Sourdough. Really thick boy.

So she lived mostly alone. With a cat. Cats should be the same in this world as in the other one, right? Kreig could somewhat remember seeing cat-shaped creatures out of the corner of his eye, although none would approach him. Though, this did answer his question. Do you have food at home?Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

She squinted for a moment, her whole face scrunching up cutely. Is that a compliment or-? I got food at home, I swear! I just-, well, Im not much of a cook, so most of what I make isnt too tasty, heh. Heh Was Kreig hallucinating or was that a tear in the edge of her eye? B-, but that isnt important, right? Right. Uh, well, um, she absently pierced too many pieces of pasta on her fork. Have you ever been on, like, a date before? Her cheeks grew a blossoming shade of pink.

Kreig blinked. What is a date? He felt a little silly asking, but he did have a good reason. He had actually heard the word on a few occasions. For example, last night when he told his siblings over the dinner table about his plans with Erica, his sister had teased him using that very same word. She never explained what it meant. Kreig would like to know.

She looked off to the side, her face growing red as a rose. She began fiddling with a strand of her hair, making it bounce up and down. W-, well, thats When two people who like each other go and do stuff, its a date!

Ah. So thats it. Then, yes, I have been on many dates before.

Her expression collapsed. Y-, you have?! Muu, this is my first one With whom?

But having them stare back at him felt a bit surreal.

She blinked twice. Oh! I was just-, well, you eat really daintily, you know?

...Daintily? Now that was a new word.

Her hands made strange movements as though attempting to perform a silent dance routine. Y-, yeah! Ladylike. I guess your etiquette will make up for the both of us?

Maybe so. Mutely, Kreig mimicked the way Erica had placed her cutlery across his bowl.

As if in response, Erica stood up. Kreig followed suit. Eustice will handle the dishes, so Wanna go look at bikes? Poirot is really close.

Kreig nodded at her. He wanted to say something, but suddenly he felt very, very nervous. Almost paralyzed.

Surely, all those years ago, hed had some sort of confidence. He must have. The kind of confidence that let him win games and defeat opponents and charm the ladies until they swooned. But now, he doesn't have that. Now, all he has is a freezing fear that he might do something wrong, that he might make such a mistake that she would never look at him like that again.

Eyes stuck to the ground, he barely even knew where he was going at all. Just that he was hopefully following the edge of Ericas dress.

Then, he felt something small and soft grab his hand.

He froze solid. Hesitantly, his gaze left the ground. He found Erica looking at him with those big, fawn-like eyes. She smiled wryly at him. You keep walking the wrong way, so You dont mind me holding your hand? To get you to go in the right direction, that is.

Kreig gaped at her. Wordlessly, he nodded. She beamed back at him, her small grip on his much larger hand gaining some form of confidence. In his heart, Kreig thanked the lord below that he hadnt jerked his hand back or struck her out of instinct. The best case scenario in such a situation would be that she lost her hand or arm. In the worst case

Kreig shuddered.

Her hand gripped him a little tighter. He glanced up at her. She smiled warmly.

He wanted to hold her hand a little tighter too, but in his shaken state, he wasnt sure if he could do it without hurting her. But with her holding him so closely, she was surely holding on for the both of them.