Rental

“Hello! I've heard so much about you!”

“Ah, yes. My name is Shin Ian. It's an honor to meet you.”

“Aww, you're being too polite! This isn't a formal meet-the-parents dinner. Relax, relax. Ah, I'm Han Yuri.”

Han Yuri said that and shot a sidelong glance at Ian and Yuna across from her.

Ian was in relatively decent shape, but Yuna wasn't. She couldn't keep her fingers still for even a moment, and her pupils trembled. The look she kept stealing at Ian was filled with unmistakable anxiety.

Compared to someone sitting next to her lover, she was far too tense. Yuri let out a thoughtful hum and stared at Ian with a suspicious gaze.

“How long has it been since you and our Yuna started dating, Mr. Ian?”

It was a question that struck right at the heart. But for Ian, who had memorized all fifty-two lies Yuna had taught him, answering it wasn't all that difficult.

“It's about three years as of today.”

“Mm-hm.”

“I was the one who asked her out first when we met. Ahaha, it's a little embarrassing saying this in front of you, but I fell for her at first sight. She was totally my type...”

“Is that so?”

Han Yuri smiled faintly and turned to look at Yuna. Yuna flinched at that look, but soon took a sip of her smoothie and gave an awkward smile.

“Th, th-that time was so weird! I d-didn't know I'd run into this guy at the convenience store!”

“Convenience store? Didn't you say library?”

“D-did I say convenience store? It was the library!”

“No, it was the convenience store.”

“......”

Han Yunaaaaa.

Ian grit his teeth inwardly and pinched Yuna's thigh with a finger.

“Heuk!”

She let out a groan as if she'd been shocked, but Ian paid it no mind.

It was honestly better to just seal her mouth shut here. She couldn't even be sure of the things she'd said herself, so why should he leave her to fumble around? Rather than invite needless suspicion, it was a hundred times better for him to lead the conversation.

Ian thought that and drummed his fingers on the table. Yuri's eyes naturally turned toward him.

“How about we go get something to eat soon? Lunch time's almost here.”

“Ah, right. I already made a reservation, so let's head there. I'll be paying, of course.”

Yuri smiled and stood up. Ian and Yuna followed after her.

As they stepped out of the cafe, warm sunlight greeted the three of them. It wasn't exactly warm yet, since winter hadn't ended, but it definitely felt a little milder than January. In just a few more weeks, the temperature would suddenly climb.

'I hope this summer is a little shorter this year.'

Every year, summer and winter just keep getting longer and longer.

That made no sense whatsoever. Maybe aberrations were affecting the world's climate.

That damned aberration bastard. I'll definitely find it and kill it.

“The restaurant's nearby, so let's walk there. That's okay, right?”

“Yes, that's fine.”

While thinking useless things, he started walking. Yuri walked a little ahead of Ian and kept asking him this and that. Ian answered with a suitable mix of lies and truth.

Since this was basically just acting, he was careful not to give away too much information. Fortunately, because he mixed in lies so skillfully, the words came out smoothly.

Like on the cruise, it seemed he really did have some talent for acting. It was ironic how, ever since becoming a magician, he kept discovering talents he hadn't even known he had.

“Hmm, so your parents are currently out in the countryside?”

“Yes. They're probably at work right now. They won't be able to answer if you call.”

“Really? Then please pass along my regards.”

“I will.”

Ian mentally sent his regards to his nonexistent parents. They were not kind words.

At that moment, Han Yuri, who had been leading the way, turned her head toward Yuna, who was fidgeting anxiously right next to Ian.

“......”

Her gaze narrowed.

“Yuna.”

“...! H-huh? W-why...?”

Not expecting the conversation to suddenly turn toward her, Yuna jumped and looked up at Han Yuri. Han Yuri looked back and forth between Yuna's hands fidgeting in front of her belly and Ian's hand hanging out by itself, then casually tossed out a comment.

“You say you're lovers, but you don't really hold hands?”

“...Uh, wh-what?”

“No, I just thought you'd naturally be holding hands in this cold. I figured after dating for three years you'd do it without thinking, but I guess not?”

Han Yuri smiled slyly and stuffed her hands into her pockets.

“Are you still an awkward pair...?”

“N-no! It's just, um, because you're here, sis! Normally we hold hands, hug, a-and even kiss!”

Yuna shouted, face red. Ian also gave an awkward smile and scratched his cheek. He looked like a shy boyfriend, but his thoughts were completely different.

'What? Hug? Kiss? What kind of nonsense is that all of a sudden?'

There are limits to physical affection. A couple that's been dating for three years is usually at the point where they've seen everything there is to see, but Ian and Yuna weren't like that. On paper, they were a three-year couple; in reality, they were just business partners and acquaintances.

In a relationship like that, was it even remotely normal to be kissing each other whenever they felt like it?

A hug, sure. If the situation called for it, that was possible. If they survived a difficult request or came back from the dead, they could pat each other on the back and celebrate without feeling anything.

But a kiss? A kiiiiss?

“......”

Ian smiled on the outside while glaring straight at Yuna. Setting aside the fact that the grimoire's vibrations had already become almost massager-level from that one line, what was she thinking, dropping such a bombshell? What if Han Yuri told them to kiss right here and now?

“Hup!”

Yuna also realized what she'd just said and widened her eyes, but the water had already been spilled.

“R-really?”

The corners of Han Yuri's eyes curved slyly. If they left it like that, she was definitely going to ask for something.

Better to get in first before that happened. Ian decided as much and suddenly snatched up Yuna's fidgeting hand.

“Hyaaah!”

Yuna screamed at the sudden physical contact. People around them looked over, but Ian ignored them and squeezed Yuna's hand as hard as if he meant to break it. It was his way of telling her to respond appropriately.

“Ugh.”

As expected of a magician, Yuna picked up on it right away. She immediately took Ian's hand and interlaced their fingers, her lips trembling. Her face and earlobes had long since turned red. Whether it was the cold, embarrassment, or a flutter she herself hadn't noticed, even Yuna didn't really know.

Whatever the reason, Ian didn't care. He intertwined his fingers with Yuna's once her resistance had disappeared.

It was the kind of hand-holding couples did, with their fingers intertwined. It was a little uncomfortable and painful, but for show, this kind of bold move was better.

“Haha, Yuna's just a little shy.”

Ian said as he lifted up the hand he had clasped with Yuna's.

“When we talked on the phone yesterday, she said it would be embarrassing to be seen like that in front of you, so she asked me to hold back on the PDA in front of Han Yuri.”

“Oh, really? I was wondering. If that's how it was, you should've told me beforehand.”

Han Yuri smiled warmly and covered the corner of her mouth with her hand.

“Still, it's nice to look at. Keep holding hands like that on the way to the restaurant. Wouldn't that be better since it'd keep you warmer?”

“...Well, I suppose so.”

Trying to look as natural as possible, Ian slipped their joined hands into his coat pocket. Yuna's eyes trembled, but she didn't really resist. Instead, she gripped Ian's hand even tighter.

He didn't know why. It wasn't particularly important.

“C-come on! I'm hungry!”

Yuna answered, feeling a vibration that could have been her own shaking or Ian's. The grimoire, having had its territory invaded, went even more berserk, but it couldn't reach Yuna, whose head was already clouded over.

“Yeah, let's go.”

The three of them walked down the street and entered a fairly upscale restaurant. Only then could Ian and Yuna let go of the hand they had been holding. Ian was relatively calm, but Yuna swallowed hard as she felt the lingering warmth in their clasped hands.

It even seemed like a faint pleasant fragrance was drifting from it.

“Your reserved table is over there.”

The restaurant was a buffet. The price they charged per person, in keeping with the luxurious interior, was absurdly high, but judging by the quality of the food, it seemed worth that much.

Ian walked over to the seat Han Yuri had reserved and naturally tried to take off his coat and hang it over the chair. But at the same time, when he saw the grimoire in his inner pocket vibrating like crazy, he immediately put it back on.

“Mr. Ian? Wouldn't it be better to take your coat off?”

“Ah, it's a little cold. I'll take it off later when I get warmer.”

“Really? The heater's working really well though... I guess you really do get cold easily. More importantly, where has that vibration sound been coming from all this time...?”

“Maybe it's just your imagination? I don't hear anything in particular.”

“Hmm... is that so? Well, if that's the case, I guess so. Let's get our food.”

He'd managed to brush it off well enough. Ian let out a deep sigh of relief and, hidden from the other two, tapped the grimoire's cover twice.

“Stay quiet. What's wrong with you today?”

[Bzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!]

“...You're furious, huh. I'll take care of you tomorrow, so stay quiet today. I'm sorry.”

[Bzzzz!!!]

“Or what, I'll kiss the cover. I'll keep you beside me when I sleep too, so calm down for now.”

[Bzzzz!]

“Okay, I won't meet any women for a while. Happy now?”

[Bzz.]

The grimoire's vibrations stopped. Ian let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

He felt like he was going to die of exhaustion today....