Chapter 117 ~ Behind the Mask

Chapter 117 ~ Behind the Mask

“You... No way...”

The devil’s mask Mordred had always worn split open and moved to the side, revealing a familiar face.

“Alex...”

Karen stood frozen as a soft whisper escaped her trembling lips. Her eyes were wide open, shocked, as she stared at his countenance.

He wore an anxious, vulnerable, nervous expression, which she had never seen from Alexander since she had met him. However, he was, unmistakably, the Alexander she knew... It was impossible for her to mistake him for someone else. Even in this dim of light, as they stood under the night sky on the port, the few lights and moonlight were enough for her to see his countenance clearly, leaving no room for a mistake or confusion.

She took a step back, stumbling from the shock. But she immediately stopped herself when she saw the look of shock and hurt that suddenly appeared on his face when she moved away from him.

“Karen... I’m sorry...”

She could hear the pain and guilt in his voice. But if he were to feel such things, why don’t he just tell her who he was?!

She knew there would be a reason. Or rather, he better have a reason, else she would’ve become even angrier. But no matter what his reason was, haven’t the time they spent together, the life and death battles they’ve been through, and the trust they’ve built between each other not enough?!

Or was she the only one who thought so...?

“Why...?”

The pain in her chest slowly became more and more painful as she clenched her hands into a fist. Tears filled her eyes before finally dripping down her cheeks as she looked at him ini shock, disbelief, and pain.

And soon, her confusion, sadness, and feelings of being betrayed turned to anger.

“I must’ve looked like an idiot to you, huh...?”

She bit her lips and turned her head down to the ground. Her eyes shut closed, causing few more drops of tears to fall directly onto the concrete ground, as her fists trembled.

“No, Karen...! Of course no-”

“WHY DID YOU LIE TO ME?!”

Her voice didn’t echo far in this wide, opened space, drowned by the sound of waves and wind. But her voice reverberated within Yuuji’s mind over and over.

“Why... Just why...?”

Karen suddenly grabbed onto his shoulders and rocked him violently as she clenched her teeth.

“Hey! Answer me! Do you know how mad I am with you?! Does the time we spent together mean nothing?! Do you have that little trust in me?!

Tears continue to stream down her face.

“I thought I knew you... “Both” of you... Why...? Why...?”

She let go of his shoulders weakly as she stumbled back.

“I... I don’t know anything anymore... I’m so mad... I can’t understand why you would hide such a thing from me...”

The pain and hurt she felt in her heart was unmistakable. But soon, as the shock began to subside, a new emotion surfaced in her heart.

But why...? Why do I feel... relieved...? I can’t understand myself anymore...

The fact that Mordred and Alexander were the same... should’ve shocked her to no end. But why did she feel relieved at the same time...?

Why did she feel relieved that they’re the same...?

“Karen...”

She could feel Yuuji flinching a bit due to how tightly they were in each other’s embrace, and felt him tightening his hug around her. And she knew what his answer would be before he even say it.

“Yes... But I can’t tell you here... And not now.”

She pouted her lips and did her best to pinch him through his suit of armor as she cursed him under her breath.

“...You’re such a bastard.”

“I’m sorry...”

“...I won’t even be surprised if you have other women.”

“...”

She froze for a moment at his silence, before she turned and looked up to him with widened eyes in shock.

“Do you?”

“...Yes.”

Yuuji answered truthfully.

And with everything that had been going on, Karen had no more energy to get mad at him or even to be shocked anymore.

She just shook her head tiredly and slumped back down to his chest.

“Why did I fall in love with such a bastard... Why does it have to be this bastard...?”

She mumbled helplessly in a voice that she thought Yuuji wouldn’t hear. Her head was hurting now from all the revelations she was subjected to today.

“Take responsibility, you bastard...”

“Of course. I would love to. But... Are you really fine with this...?”

“How could I be, you idiot?!”

She tried her best to pinch his waist once again. And when she couldn’t, she decided to vent her frustrations by trying to squeeze her arms around him as hard as she could, not realizing that she was just squishing her breasts against him.

Though, in a way, it was certainly a punishment for Yuuji, who had been trying his hardest to control himself from being embraced by Karen.

“But... I’m in too deep already. And I still want to be with you. So... I’ll try.”

“Karen... Thank you.”

“Hmph... You should be grateful that I’m being so understanding.|

“Of course I am.”

“Good.”

Silence fell between them for a while longer before Karen asked him a question once again.

“When can you tell me about yourself...? The real you...?”

“...Tomorrow. After school. Are you free?”

She nodded.

“Alright. Then, let’s go home together. I’ll bring you to my home.”

“Mm... Eh?”