Hooligan

ㅤ Relaxing in the hot springs after a busy day was pure bliss. Traveling alone with Arche presented many challenges. His friend's restlessness was sometimes maddening! But at the same time, Chester didn't want to see her any different. Seeing her cheerful despite everything brought joy to his heart, because her smile and cheerful laughter meant she was happy. Happy with him. A splash of water distracted him from his thoughts: Arche, wearing a bath towel, stepped into the hot water. "Are you crazy!? This is the men's section!" "Men's?" the girl's eyes widened. "What are you talking about? This is a shared hot spring, there are no segregated areas." "Huh?" Chester expressed genuine surprise, desperately trying to remember the sign at the entrance. He couldn't have missed such an important thing. Arche didn't let him think much, nestling next to Chester, resting her cheek on his shoulder. Chester turned away sheepishly, unsure what to do: hug the brat or put her down and give her a good scolding. "Silly girl," he muttered, blushing, not at all from the water's temperature, "they might see us." "You're the silly one," Arche pressed even closer, nuzzling his collarbone with her nose, whispering tenderly, "no one's going to come in. You saw there aren't many visitors, and they're all busy with their own business. So shut up," she said suddenly, sharply, "let me enjoy the moment!" "F-fine…" 'Well, since no one's going to come in anyway…' Chester thought, carefully hugging Arche, his eye glancing toward the exit. As soon as the great journey ended, as soon as Dhaos was defeated and everyone returned to their own time, Chester thought about Arche constantly, waiting for her to show up, unable to find her in the old house. He worried he'd never see her again. He missed her terribly. Missed her… And yet, he hadn't seen her for less than a year. "I'm sorry," Chester hugged Arche tightly, sincerely repenting. "I'm such an idiot. It must have been so unbearable for you to wait all these years." He found it strange then that Arche had announced right away that they were going on a journey. Just the two of them. She seemed withdrawn and lonely, though she pretended to be her usual, carefree self. A hundred years. For Chester, it hadn't even been a measly year, and he was completely exhausted. For her, it had been a long, agonizing hundred years! Chester felt terrible, disgusted with himself. How dare he complain? How dare he be angry at her petty pranks? Arche was silent. Gritting her teeth, she clutched Chester's back painfully, trying with all her might not to sob out loud, sobbing softly into his chest. She was freeing herself from the feelings that had held her back all these years. After all, it was over. The worst was behind her: they met again. They were together. Neither of them thought of rejecting each other. Their feelings and relationship hadn't changed, only grown closer. As if the lonely century had never been lived. "I love you," Chester whispered in her ear. "I love you so much. I'm sorry I didn't understand right away. I will never leave you alone again." They sat there hugging for a while. Arche had calmed down and was simply enjoying the warm embrace. Chester, too, had almost forgotten himself, holding his most precious treasure in his arms, but he felt his head begin to spin just in time. "We need to get out, otherwise we'll get sick." "Just a little longer," Arche protested. "This isn't our last day here. And it won't be our last time," Chester insisted. But Arche had a different opinion. He had to drag her out by force, lifting her into his arms. But she calmed down for a moment, gazing rapturously at her prince. All the way to the locker room, she kept her loving gaze fixed on him. Chester, too, looked at her as if she were his princess. An ordinary witch and a hunter, whose lives were transformed by the magic of love. In the locker room, Chester once again began to doubt whether it was truly a shared one. Arche hurriedly changed and ran off suspiciously quickly, promising to wait in the room. Approaching the exit, Chester noticed a crooked sign indicating a malfunctioning power source. Then he, too, hurried to peek outside to confirm that the men's half of the room was, after all, men's. "Arche!" he shouted after the girl, her heels sparkling. Then he let out a resigned sigh: there was no point in yelling at her. She was incorrigible. But that was precisely how he'd fallen in love with her. And she with his hot temper. Especially since now Chester could resort to other forms of punishment. That night. Together. In the same room. ㅤ