# Chapter 30
The gaze that had been normal changed a moment later. Alex’s gentle eyes narrowed. The blue eyes visible behind his glasses turned serious.
“Are you okay?”
I blinked at the sudden question. I thought he was angry, but his voice was slightly lower than usual.
“Did I make a mistake somewhere?”
What went wrong? I reached out to check the documents. But my hand was blocked by Alex.
“No, that’s not it…”
Looking at me with concerned eyes, he applied pressure to my hand. My wrist, caught in his grip, was pulled toward Alex. Not understanding what was happening, I obediently bent my waist.
Alex’s gaze fixed directly on me. After looking me over, he muttered “as I thought.” Then he opened his hesitant mouth.
“Kay, when was the last time you ate?”
It was unexpected that his question went in a direction I hadn’t anticipated. I didn’t understand why he was asking such a thing.
“I’ve been eating enough to maintain normal functioning.”
Though I didn’t understand the reason, I answered his question obediently.
It had been a while since I’d eaten a proper meal. I was busy, and I didn’t feel the need to eat. Besides, my body wouldn’t become weak just from not eating for a few days.
In case there might be health issues that would trigger my regeneration, I occasionally consumed nutrients, though not actual meals. So there shouldn’t be any problem.
“You’ve been eating protein bars. You’ve probably survived on those for about 3 days. Eating that tasteless stuff for 3 days…”
But Alex seemed to think differently. He sighed at my words as if he had expected this.
“I never particularly thought they were tasteless.”
After all, I was just eating to fill my stomach. There was no need to consider taste. But Alex delivered a blow to my response.
“But it’s not like they taste good either.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Since that was actually true, I couldn’t find a response. More importantly, why was he asking about this? It wasn’t even information that would help him.
Today, Alex’s gaze felt particularly intense. His measuring gaze kept piercing me. There shouldn’t be anything special about me.
“So what’s the problem?”
Alex, who had been carefully observing my face, asked me. I opened my mouth reflexively to answer.
“The problem is—”
“There must be one. Let me guess?”
But he cleanly cut off my words. My body stiffened at Alex’s firm denial.
“…You knew?”
I asked, looking at Alex who smiled confidently as if he knew everything. I never thought he would know. This was an issue between Boss and me.
“I could guess. If it’s related to you, it has to be about Boss. So indeed—”
With a knowing expression, he opened his mouth to state his answer. I couldn’t believe he really knew. I knew Boss and he were close, but I didn’t think he would know about this.
Since everything was already exposed, hiding it would be utterly pointless. I opened my mouth like a sigh.
“…I confessed.”
“You were verbally abused… Huh?”
And I could belatedly realize how wrong that decision was.
A strange silence fell in the room due to the mismatched answer. One second felt as long as eternity.
“…Please pretend you didn’t hear that just now.”
Having finally come to my senses, I said to him. He shouldn’t have guessed carelessly. Isn’t it said that one should listen to the end of what someone has to say?
I couldn’t believe such a ridiculous situation had occurred. I must have left my mind somewhere. My face was burning hot. I could endure most things, but this time I simply couldn’t bear it.
I grabbed the doorknob to escape quickly. But my hand never reached the doorknob.
My feet that had been touching the ground began to float in the air. My body slowly started to levitate. I hadn’t expected him to use his ability.
Alex’s ability was telekinesis. If his stamina allowed, he could even move buildings. I didn’t think he would use that ability at this moment.
“W-wait a minute. You confessed? To Boss? How did that happen? When did you do it?”
It seemed he hadn’t intended this either, as Alex rapidly fired questions. I asked to be put down, but those words didn’t reach him either. In the end, I had no choice but to speak.
“…I did it at the last meeting.”
I never thought I’d be telling this to Alex. I thought I’d die without telling anyone. But perhaps I wanted to confide in someone.
Wandering in a maze with no exit was enough to make even the last thread of hope fade away. With both regeneration and the confession, it wasn’t unreasonable to be exhausted.
Maybe that’s why the words came out easier than expected.
“How did it happen?”
“Just, I felt I had to do it.”
If not then, I would never have been able to do it. The result of the confession wasn’t good, but I didn’t regret the action.
It’s strange. I had been afraid I would regret it, but now that I’ve done it, relief outweighs regret.
“Did you get an answer?”
Looking at Alex’s slightly trembling eyes with anxiety, I slowly shook my head.
“…He ignored me.”
Alex let out a deep sigh as if he had expected this.
“His personality never ceases to amaze me, no matter when I see it.”
Normally, I would have denied this, but today I couldn’t. The fact that my confession meant nothing to him made me sad and resentful.
“…Are you going to give up?”
“No, I won’t.”
If I were going to give up, I wouldn’t have held on for 10 years. Even though Boss trampled on my confession, I still liked him. There was no way I could give up over something like this.
Alex, who had been silently listening to my resolute answer, smiled brightly and gave a short reply.
“Then try confessing again.”
“What?”
“He can’t keep ignoring you, can he?”
“But…”
I couldn’t do that. How could I?
“Because it would be a burden?”
Yes, wasn’t I already being selfish enough with this confession? Any more selfishness would only harm him.
“So are you okay with this? Will you just keep holding these feelings inside?”
“…”
But Alex’s following words scattered that thought. Like throwing a stone into a calm lake creating ripples, he continued to speak.
“This time, make a decision for yourself, not for Boss.”
“A decision that I want… you say?”
I repeated his words. The same emotion I felt when talking to Tade came rushing back. Like creating an exit by breaking through the wall of a maze with no way out, his words showed me a direction.
“Kay, what do you want to do? Do you want to end it like this?”
At his question, I hesitantly opened my mouth. I let out the true feelings that had been blocked.
“…I want to confess one more time.”
I didn’t want to give up like this. I didn’t care if it was selfish.
Until the day time ran out, I wanted to convey these feelings to him as much as possible. I wanted him to remember me.
Like the sun appearing after a sudden rain shower, my mind began to clear. His words helped me find what I needed to do during the remaining time.
“Then confess. Keep trying even if you’re rejected. Until you have no regrets left.”
At my words filled with firm determination, Alex smiled warmly and said it was good. That smile seemed to be cheering me on, making me unconsciously smile back.
* * *
Fenil, who had come looking for Boss to submit the plan, could see that Boss was different from usual.
She had been puzzled since opening the door because she didn’t hear any particular response. From his gaze not directed at her, she could tell he hadn’t even heard the knock.
Looking at Boss, who was staring into empty space, Fenil muttered.
“Boss seems strange today.”
As if to clearly prove her presence, Boss’s eyes found focus at Fenil’s voice that rang out loudly.
“Ah…”
His unfocused eyes sharpened and then reached her. Judging by his slightly widened eyes, he had only just noticed Fenil’s presence.
“I’ll leave the operation plan here, but…”
In his current state, she didn’t think Boss would examine it properly. Fenil looked at him without hiding her suspicion.
“I just had something to think about.”
Boss opened his mouth while avoiding her gaze.
“Something to think about…”
At those words, a strange light appeared in Fenil’s eyes. The Boss having something to think about? The corner of her mouth curved upward.
“Perhaps, about Kay?”
Despite saying “perhaps,” she was certain. What else would Boss have to think about? She had been worried, but fortunately, it seemed Kay had acted well.
Otherwise, Boss wouldn’t have been this flustered. Fenil’s eyes crinkled, unable to hide her delight.
“…I don’t know why you’re so certain about that.”
Boss narrowed his eyes as he looked at her smile. Of all things, Fenil specifically mentioned Kay. That must mean she had some basis for her confidence.
It was true that he had been thinking about Kay. That confession wouldn’t leave his mind. It was a first. This sensation of being both stirred up and crushed.
He shouldn’t be feeling such emotions. He should have forgotten it by now. Why was he feeling this way?
He didn’t expect the confession. The Kay he knew wouldn’t have done that. But he had changed. Though he didn’t know what had changed him, Kay had transformed.
The result was the confession. A calm, brief, yet fragile confession. But he could feel how heavy the words were.
That’s why he couldn’t react at all. Feeling that the moment he opened his mouth there would be no turning back, that he might say words he shouldn’t say.
Without realizing it, he forcibly swallowed the sentences trying to emerge. The sentences seeking form lost their shape again.
What exactly did he want to say? He never imagined he would react this strongly to Kay’s confession.
He believed he couldn’t love anyone. Boss had never doubted that. But that definition instantly crumbled with Kay’s confession.
It was strange. He had known him for 10 years. How could that one phrase have more power than 10 years of time?
