Shadow Monarch: Heroines Could Hear My Thoughts?!

Chapter 41- Aria's Reward (Part 1)

(Wholesome chapter alert! Too much fluff and sugar. Take your insulin people!)

After that, Rin started his daily training as usual. He had already grown accustomed to it after a few days of that high intensity. It still exhausts him greatly, but, at least, he doesn't basically fall to the ground unconscious.

After that, he took a shower and ate something. Finally, when he finished all of that. He decided to go to Aria's room to talk with her.

The fact that she was still angry and didn't even talk with him through all of that made him feel guilty for ignoring her. So, with that in mind, he walked toward her room.

Reaching there, he knocked on the door. He wasn't a moron to open the door without knocking or even opening it without getting an answer from inside. He respected her privacy and didn't want that trust to get crushed because of his mistake.

After knocking a few times, he didn't hear an answer. However, he was sure she was inside so he waited patiently for her to open the door.

"Aria, it's me, Rin… can I come inside?" He asked.

However, even that didn't get him a single answer. So, the boy assumed that she was asleep or something so he turned around to leave.

"Rin?"

Suddenly, he heard a whisper behind him, he turned around, and much to his surprise, he could see through the half-opened door, two gorgeous eyes peeking at him with a hesitant look.

"Oh, so you weren't asleep?" He asked with a small smile.

Aria averted her eyes for a second before she answered.

"No."

"I see… Well, can I come inside to talk?" He asked.

"Mmm, sure."

Opening the door for him to enter, Rin walked inside and examined the room with an impressed look. It was basically the same as his room except that it felt more 'feminine' for him. Everything looked elegant and in order.

The most notable thing however was the smell of the room. Aria's addictive smell was filling the whole room. A small whiff of it and Rin already felt himself relaxing slightly. Her smell was simply calming for him.

[I applaud you, host.]

'What now, system?' Rin held himself from sighing as he asked.

[You enjoy your sister's smell. Isn't that unacceptable?]

'Don't turn me into a pervert! I just thought that her smell calms me down. It doesn't need to be sexualized for me to actually say that. I just appreciate her as my sister.'

[And other things you say to yourself to make it sound normal, host.]

'You will never get it. I genuinely don't feel anything weird toward Aria. Besides, I can't just fall in love with my own sister. It's fucking weird and quite frankly not my cup of tea.'

"Rin?" Aria called for him gently.

"Ah! Nothing, I was just admiring how beautiful your room is. It's nothing compared to my room."

"O-Oh! T-Thanks." Aria fidgeted with her fingers secretly as a small blush appeared on her face.

After that, Aria walked to her bed and sat down before she tapped on the side of the bed indicating for Rin to sit down next to her too.

The latter obliged and sat down. He could feel Aria's warmth next to him and he could hear her rhythmic breathing. The atmosphere felt weird, to say the least.

"So, how are you now?" Aria tried to start a conversation so as to not keep this awkward silence anymore.

"W-Well, it's not bad. I'm basically fully recovered. See, even my leg is fine."

"Good. You know, when I saw you in that state, I felt as if my whole world was crumbling. I felt as if I lost you and that scared me to death." She said with a sad smile as she touched her chest.

"You are very precious to me, Rin. I know that you don't remember me very well because of your memory loss but I will tell you that we weren't that close before. We actually didn't talk much as you were quite silent and introverted."

'I guess that description fits this character. I feel sorry for them, I must've treated them coldly.'

Aria coincidentally shook her head and continued.

"You were just cold and distant but nothing else. However, I still made sure to take care of you as my little brother. That's why when I thought I lost you… I couldn't bear to live any longer."

Rin listened silently as she spoke her heartfelt words. Even if he wanted to say something, he knew that he won't be able to utter a single word.

"I know that this world is dangerous and I know that you will have to face danger sooner or later. But, please, I beg you, don't do something that could kill you. You don't have to be anything special, just rely on me and our parents and we can face any challenge together. You don't have to put your life at risk."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke those words. Then, her arms extended to his cheek and continued.

"Will you promise me that?"

Gazing deeply into his eyes, she waited for his answer anticipatedly.

Rin however shook his head and muttered to her.

"I can't."

"Huh?" Aria didn't quite register what he said.

"I can't promise you that. But, listen to me…"

Aria was about to release him when he held her hand. His hands held hers gently but firmly to assure her and to also convey what he felt.

"Even though I do not quite remember anything, I still consider you guys as my family. I do want to rely on you when I need to but I also want to cherish you and protect you. I can't bear the thought of letting you guys face threats for my sake while I just stand on the side and watch you get hurt for my sake. I can't bear the thought of being a weakling that doesn't act when he needs to."

His grip on her hand tightened slightly and a determined look appeared on her face.

"That's why I have to get stronger… stronger than anyone else. I want to become so strong that no existence could ever try to threaten you. That's my goal. But, I can't do that without putting my life on the line for it."

"Rin…" Aria whispered his name.

She understood. She understood how resolved he was just from one single glance in his eyes. She had asked herself many times whether this Rin was actually the Rin that she knew or maybe he was nothing but a fraud.

However, if she had to be honest with herself, she liked this Rin way more than the other Rin. He was more expressive, kind, and gentle which contrasted with the old him.

'I'm really naive. I can't stop him because of my selfish desire. But, I don't want him to do anything. I just want him to stay beside me… forever. I want him to be mine forever. I want him to shower me with endless affection and love while I take care of everything that threatens our precious life together. I want him to sleep next to me, hug me, kiss me and do all kinds of things to me. I want us to rely on each other and support each other through thick and thin. Is that too much to ask?' Sighing under her breath, Aria nodded her head to Rin in understanding.

"I get it. I'm sorry. It's just, seeing you almost die made me hate the idea of seeing you suffer at all."

"Hahaha!" Rin chuckled gently and then smiled again.

"Don't worry. Even though I can't promise to put my life at risk. I can promise you one more important thing…"

Then, Rin turned around and faced her with a completely serious look that made Aria visibly flinch with anticipation.

"I promise you that I won't die. I will always come back alive. No matter what, no matter when and no matter how, know that I'm going to be always alive and well for your sake."

After that, Rin raised his pinky finger in the air.

"Hm?" Aria tilted her head in confusion at his gesture.

"Pinky promise. Never heard of it?" He asked.

"No. What's that?"

"Well, it's simple, we cross our pinky fingers together and chant a small song to seal our promise."

"Oh! That sounds nice. Ok, let's do it."

'Ah! I always wanted to do this scene. What the hell! This looks so cool! Watching anime characters do this was cringe but me doing it looks great!' Rin chuckled in his head.

"Fufufu!" Aria suddenly then started laughing.

"Hm? Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing… you just look cute." She replied with a warm smile.

"Hey! Where did that come from?"

"You do look cute though. Like a fluffy bear."

"I'm not fluffy. I didn't train every day to be called fluffy." Rin pouted jokingly as he turned around.

"Ok, fine. I'm just joking. You look dashing, Rin."

"That's better."

After that, both of them looked at each other and laughed happily. This small conversation was the start of their actual relationship. A bond forger with trust, respect, and most importantly love.

However, how they ended up like that is a story for another time. The wheel of fate will turn and the inevitable will happen… It is only a matter of time.

(A//N: fluffy chapters are nice. I will take this chapter and the next chapter to deepen Aria's character and to settle their current relationship before anything major happens.)

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Thanks for reading. Any support you give me is always appreciated no matter how small it is. Let's all keep it up :)