"Hmph, dad you idiot. Belobog Heavy Industries didn't let you down, did it?" Koleda shouted, emotion slipping through her voice as she slumped into a chair.
A short while later, Wise stepped back into the cockpit and asked, "Koleda, how are you feeling? Are you okay... huh?"
He didn't even get the chance to finish before she wrapped her arms around him.
Koleda stayed silent, holding him tightly while staring through the cockpit glass at the other three members of Belobog Industries waiting outside.
Some things were better said in person.
With that, Belobog Industries commission finally came to an end. Despite everything, the three machines swallowed by the monster were still there, their logic cores completely intact.
That meant it was only a matter of time before Grace had them running again.
><
Several days later, Wise was managing the video store, enjoying the calm atmosphere, when he suddenly noticed a red-haired figure entering.
"Hmm? Koleda? It's been a while. Did you go to the hospital? How did the examination turn out?" he asked with a hint of concern.
"Don't worry about it, Wise. Everything was normal. You and my sister were so sure I had Ether corruption that I had to go through a full check-up."
Koleda grinned confidently, placing her hands on her hips. Compared to before, her tone felt lighter. The unease that once followed her was gone, replaced by a bright and energetic presence.
"It's not strange for us to worry. You were operating the prototype machine and fighting at close range for a long time. There was no way to be certain it wouldn't affect you," Wise said as he brought Koleda into the staff room on the first floor.
She glanced around the room with clear interest.
"That's true… Anyway, I came here to thank you and your sister properly. Especially you, Wise," Koleda said, her eyes finally stopping on his.
"Me?"
"Yeah. Thanks for everything you told me before, and for helping me out. Because of you, I got to settle things with my dad, and also..."
Koleda suddenly stopped, remembering what she had decided earlier. Her cheeks reddened, and she coughed lightly.
"Ahem... Well, that's it. Thank you, really."
Seeing her only manage those words after hesitating for so long, Wise intentionally showed a hint of disappointment.
"Sigh, so that's it? Just a verbal special thanks?" Wise said, clearly unimpressed.
"Wh-what's wrong? Do you want me to raise the commission fee..." Koleda asked nervously.
"It's not about the commission fee."
"Then what is it?"
Seeing Koleda completely clueless, Wise could only be a little more direct.
"We've been through a lot together. Wouldn't it be normal to celebrate with a hug? That's how it usually goes in movies and novels."
"Eh?! B-but that's just fiction. And didn't I already hug you before?"
She was talking about when Wise was controlling Eous.
"Sure, but I still want to hug you properly. Especially since you're cute, Koleda..."
As Wise said those words, Koleda on the other side was already blushing, completely flustered and unsure of what to do.
"C-C-Cute? There's no way!"
Even though Koleda denied it, Wise could tell from her thoughts that she was actually very happy.
"Alright, I was just joking..."
"Oh..."
Sure enough, aside from her dad and Sister, no one had ever called her cute.
Koleda looked a little disappointed after hearing that, until Wise spoke again.
"But that last part was serious."
"Ugh! You don't have to say it like that... I don't care, I really don't!"
In reality, she cared a lot. After all, her favorability had quietly increased by 1, reaching 92.
It was only because her favorability was already so high that Wise dared to tease her like that. If not, the result would have been completely different.
While he was still thinking this over, Koleda suddenly acted.
She rushed forward and hugged Wise tightly around the waist, pressing her face straight into his chest.
He couldn't see her expression, but the warmth of her breath against his clothes made it obvious how nervous she was.
Right then, Belle opened the door, took one look at the situation, and immediately backed out. She quietly shut the door and decided to come back a few hours later, pretending nothing had happened.
Wise was caught off guard by Koleda's sudden action. Still, considering her favorability had already reached 92, it didn't feel entirely unreasonable.
So he naturally hugged her back. Despite her usual tough attitude, she felt soft and warm in his arms, no different from any other beautiful girl.
Wise gently patted her head, his fingers brushing through her fluffy hair. It felt clean and fresh, like she had gone out of her way to shower beforehand.
'Wait, didn't I forget something important?' Wise was thinking when he suddenly felt a tug on his clothes.
Lowering his head, he saw Koleda clinging to him, her fangs lightly gripping the fabric of his shirt.
Her gaze grew hazy in that moment. It was a familiar sight, as her condition had become identical to what Anby and the others suffered through before.
"K-Koleda?"
"Huh? What's wrong, Fa— cough, Wise, huff..."
Koleda was rambling incoherently. Noticing this, Wise decided it would be better to put some distance between them first.
Even if he could be considered a scumbag at this point, he still had his principles.
In a situation this sudden, and when it wasn't even clear whether the other party was truly willing, Wise would never act recklessly. If he really crossed that line, he didn't even want to imagine the consequences.
"Koleda, something's off with you right now. Why don't you drink some water first and calm down?"
They hadn't been this close for long, so she still had a bit of reason left. Wise intended to use that chance to persuade her.
Unfortunately, Koleda didn't agree at all. She puffed up her cheeks, looking annoyed, and took a few stubborn steps closer, looking just like a grumpy little red panda.
"What do you mean I'm not myself? Hmph, I said I'm fine. And Wise, why are you suddenly stepping back? Do you not like how I smell? I already took a shower before coming. When you hugged me earlier, you didn't smell anything weird, right?"
Koleda said this with her face flushed as she stepped right up to Wise, reaching out to grip his clothes and stop him from retreating any further.
"Honestly, Wise, I'm really grateful to you. You helped me and Belobog Industries through a difficult time, you helped me and my Sister repair our relationship, and you even made me believe in my dad again."