Even though a few days had passed, Chuuya was still thinking about Aiko and what people said about him. Was it true that he was starting to like an innocent girl like her?
Even so, Chuuya realized that he was dangerous to Aiko let alone his work. However, at the same time, wasn't Aiko much more dangerous than Chuuya because her own ability?
He didn't understand why he could have these feelings for her, because he also felt afraid that he would have to lose the person he cared about again.
If it was true that he really loved Aiko in the end, would he be able to protect her?
"Damn, all these things keep spinning in my head," he said irritably while grumbling.
Not knowing what else to do, Chuuya decided to go to Aiko's shop again and see her. Maybe talking to her for a while would clear his head, and find out what exactly she wanted from him.
When Chuuya finally arrived at Nozomi bakery, he saw Dazai who was apparently with Aiko.
'He's here,' he thought.
He stood still in front of the door as he watched how Dazai and Aiko joked with each other.
It seemed that Aiko was laughing so freely, as if there was no boundary between her and Dazai.
For some reason, Chuuya felt that Aiko had never laughed like that in front of him. She might have laughed in front of him, but her laughter was so small that it seemed like it was just a snicker.
There was a feeling of jealousy within him when he witnessed that. Why was Aiko never like that with him, but seemed so free with Dazai?
Was it because the two of them had known each other for so long?
Were their chats much more enjoyable than his conversations with Aiko?
Or could it be that in fact, Aiko had liked Dazai, but she had never said so?
Chuuya bit his lower lip. 'If that's true, that means there's no place for me anymore?'
His gaze became rather blank but looked so cold. Aiko noticed Chuuya's arrival and immediately turned to him.
"Oh Chuuya-san! Come over here. Don't just stand there," she called out to him excitedly.
Chuuya finally walked in and stood near Dazai and Aiko.
"I seem to be bothering you two," he said flatly.
"Bothering us? Not at all. We were just chatting about the customer who left earlier. He looked a bit silly because he almost fell over and ruined the cake he bought," she replied.
"You should have come earlier, Chuuya. It was funny to see that guy's expression," Dazai said.
They both chuckled again remembering the events of the few minutes before Chuuya arrived.
"Yeah yeah whatever, I'm too lazy to talk about that. I'll just have two pieces of strawberry shortcake and go home," Chuuya replied lazily, as if he didn't care at all and didn't want to be there too long.
Aiko, who noticed the change in Chuuya's attitude, felt somewhat surprised and also worried.
"Are you okay, Chuuya-san?" asked Aiko.
"I'm fine. What's wrong?" he asked back coldly.
For a moment the answer made her pause, like she knew something was wrong but she didn't know what it was.
The girl then shook her head, saying it was probably just her feelings.
"Then I'll get your order," Aiko said, trying to smile.
"I have to go to the storage for a moment to get the container of cookies that ran out. Just a moment." She then walked away leaving Chuuya and Dazai to enter the kitchen and go to the storage area.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Dazai as he glanced at his former partner, his tone casual as ever.
"Not really. I just came to check on her and she seems to be doing well with you. So I don't think there's any need for me to stay here and I'd better go home," Chuuya replied.
However, that answer was met with a laugh by Dazai who immediately approached Chuuya's face.
"Is that really so? Or are you feeling jealous because you saw me with Aiko-chan today?"
The orange-haired man was surprised when Dazai asked that, then turned his face away.
"Why would I feel jealous? I don't care about her, and I just came here to check on her as usual. So stop talking as if I have feelings for such an innocent and stupid woman," Chuuya said simply because he didn't want it to appear that he really liked Aiko.
He also said that he didn't come because he cared, but he just didn't want Aiko to lose control of her ability and ruin things in Yokohama.
Including endangering many people.
"There's nothing else I care about than the threat she poses," he continued.
Dazai fell silent when he heard Chuuya speak like that. After all, they were former partners and had always worked together even though they were enemies.
And the brown-haired man knew what his former partner had been like.
"You know, sometimes lies can lead you down a path you'd rather avoid," Dazai said.
But Chuuya chuckled coldly, saying that he wasn't lying and was telling the truth.
"For someone like me, for me to fall for a woman as innocent and trusting as her? I can get a woman who is much better and more than a burden like her." He folded his hands in front of his chest.
"That's cruel of you to say, Chuuya."
"Who cares? I'm just saying the honest thing rather than having to keep getting involved with your annoying teasing about me liking Aiko."
Both of Dazai's eyes were closed and when he opened them, his gaze went straight to the wall between their current place and the kitchen.
It was as if he realized that Aiko had been listening to their entire conversation from behind the wall and was trying not to make a sound.
Even though her feelings were hurt by what Chuuya said about her.
Tears dripped from her beautiful red eyes, while covering her mouth so that she would not make any sound that the two men would notice.
Her eyes closed, she slowly slumped down until she sitting down and hugged her legs together.
'So I was just... A burden to Chuuya-san all this time?'