The rooftop garden stayed quiet for almost three whole minutes.
That was a record.
The pale-leaf tree barely moved. The little fountain trickled like it had signed a peace treaty. The city noise felt far away, like Lustra was finally bored of me for half a breath.
Vesper sat on one side of the bench, legs crossed, grinning like she'd stolen silence itself.
Valeria sat on the other end, rigid, arms crossed, cheeks warm, pretending she wasn't sitting with me on a hidden roof at midnight for no reason.
Elise stood by the open doorway, arms crossed, watching the path like a tired angel with a strict job description.
I stared up at the sky and tried to feel normal.
Vesper whispered, "If we stay quiet long enough, the city might forget you exist."
Valeria muttered, "Impossible."
Vesper smiled sweetly. "She believes in your fame."
Valeria snapped, "I believe in your mouth being too popular."
I coughed.
Vesper's grin widened. "She said mouth again."
Valeria went red. "Stop."
I exhaled and tried to steer it back to peace.
"Okay," I said softly. "We're on a roof. We found calm. Nobody chant."
The fountain's little sign glowed.
NO CHANTING
Vesper glared at it. "Stop enforcing."
Valeria muttered, "Good."
For a second, it almost felt safe.
Then a distant scream rose from below.
"RENNNNNN."
Rika.
Elise didn't move, but her eyes narrowed like she'd just smelled chaos.
Vesper leaned toward the doorway and whispered, "No."
Valeria stood immediately. "Where."
I sat up. "How did she find us."
Vesper pointed at the sky. "She's a creature of instinct. She can smell romance."
The scream got closer.
"REN. I HAVE A CLAIM. I HAVE TEN CLAIMS. I HAVE A WHOLE LAWSUIT."
Elise sighed, like her soul was clocking out.
"I'll handle it," Elise said.
Vesper whispered, "Spray her."
Valeria snapped, "Do not spray a child."
Vesper blinked. "She's not a child. She's a menace."
Another voice shouted, closer and amused.
"Paladin. We're not stalking. We're just accidentally walking in a group toward the same roof."
Freya.
Sofia's voice followed, flat and confident.
"That statement is legally true."
Charlotte's voice came next, polite and dangerous.
"And spiritually false."
Kaori's tiny voice squeaked, "I'm sorry."
And then, like a final calm wave behind them, the queen's voice drifted upward.
"I only wish to ensure the hero is safe."
Valeria made a sound like her pride was biting its own tongue.
"Elise," Valeria snapped, "you said they left."
Elise said, without turning, "They did. Then they came back. Lustra is like that."
Vesper whispered, "It's a hydra."
The footsteps reached the rooftop entrance.
Elise stepped forward to block the doorway, still leaving it open, still honoring the rule, but also very clearly acting as a living wall.
Freya appeared first, hood up again like a cartoon criminal.
She froze when she saw Valeria and Vesper sitting with me.
Then she smiled like a shark.
"Oh," Freya said sweetly. "A rooftop garden. With the thief. And the tsundere knight."
Valeria snapped, "I am not tsundere."
Sofia stepped up behind Freya, hood up, looking annoyed to be here and pleased to witness chaos anyway.
Charlotte came next, calm, polite, eyes sharp.
Kaori peeked from behind Charlotte like a frightened rabbit.
Rika popped up last, hood bouncing, tail swishing.
"I FOUND HIM," Rika yelled.
The fountain sign flashed brighter.
NO CHANTING
Rika froze mid-yell and whispered, "I found him."
Vesper whispered back, "Good job."
The queen stood slightly apart, composed under her cloak like dignity itself had decided to cosplay.
She looked at me, then at Elise, then at the open doorway, then at the bench, and her expression softened a fraction.
"You found quiet," the queen said gently.
"Yes," I said.
Freya leaned against the doorway edge, grin sharp.
"Quiet is cute," Freya said. "But we miss him."
Sofia smirked. "And the wildcard is getting too comfortable."
Vesper lifted both hands. "I'm not comfortable. I'm alive by accident."
Charlotte smiled politely. "Ren. Are you well."
I nodded. "I'm better up here."
Kaori whispered, "I'm glad."
Rika whispered, "I'm not."
Elise's voice sharpened.
"He asked for quiet," Elise said. "Leave."
Freya pouted. "We are leaving. We just want five seconds."
Sofia nodded. "A micro-visit."
Charlotte smiled. "No touching."
The queen's tone stayed calm. "No pressure."
Valeria's jaw clenched. "No."
Everyone looked at Valeria.
Valeria glared at the tree like it owed her money.
"I mean," Valeria snapped, "this roof is secure. Too many people breaks security."
Freya grinned. "She's guarding him."
Valeria hissed, "Shut up."
Vesper leaned toward me, whispering, delighted, "She's actually protecting your peace."
Valeria snapped, "I can hear you."
Vesper smiled. "Good."
Elise rubbed her forehead like she was about to pray.
Then the bell rang from below, bright and awful.
Ding.
Yuki's voice floated up like an evil fairy godmother.
"Hello," Yuki called. "I heard chanting violations from three blocks away."
Rika shouted, "NO I DIDN'T."
The fountain sign flashed.
NO CHANTING
Rika clapped both hands over her mouth and vibrated silently.
Yuki climbed the stairs like she owned them, clipboard in hand, eyes shining with the joy of paperwork.
She stepped onto the roof, took one look at the assembled harem, and smiled.
"Wow," Yuki said. "A full violation bouquet."
Elise glared. "Send them away."
Yuki nodded. "I can."
Freya grinned. "Or you can permit it."
Yuki's smile sharpened. "Not for free."
Freya's eyes widened. "How much."
Yuki flipped a page. "Quiet Roof Permit. Temporary. Ten minutes. No chanting. No touching. No requests. Only presence."
Sofia smirked. "You invented a permit for breathing."
Yuki nodded. "Yes."
Charlotte smiled politely. "That's disgusting."
Yuki smiled back. "Thank you."
Valeria snapped, "No permit. They leave."
Yuki turned toward me like the only person who mattered.
"Hero," Yuki said brightly, "do you want them gone. Yes or no."
My chest tightened, because the crowd was watching again.
But this roof was mine right now. Not the city's. Not the tournament's.
I looked at Elise, then at Vesper, then at Valeria.
Then I looked at the girls at the doorway.
Freya trying to grin through jealousy.
Sofia pretending she didn't care.
Charlotte calm but intense.
Kaori anxious but sincere.
Rika buzzing with chaotic love.
The queen composed and steady.
I breathed in.
Then I said simply, "I want quiet. I'm not ready for company. Please go."
The roof went silent.
Freya blinked.
Sofia's smirk softened for a fraction.
Charlotte's eyes warmed slightly.
Kaori looked relieved and sad at the same time.
Rika looked devastated, then tried to be brave, then failed.
The queen nodded once, respectful.
Yuki scribbled. "Boundary upheld."
Freya exhaled, then smiled, softer.
"Okay," Freya said. "That was hot."
Elise made a tired sound.
Sofia murmured, "Good."
Charlotte nodded politely. "Wise."
Kaori whispered, "Okay."
Rika whispered, very small, "Okay."
They started to step back.
Then Rika stopped and raised her hand like a student.
"Ren," she said quietly, actually quiet, "may I say one sentence."
Elise narrowed her eyes.
Yuki lifted her pen.
I hesitated, then nodded. "One sentence. Yes."
Rika's eyes shone.
"I love you," she said simply. "Good night."
Then she turned and ran down the stairs before anyone could drown her in teasing.
Kaori followed quickly, whispering, "Good night."
Charlotte dipped her head politely. "Rest."
Sofia smirked lightly. "Don't let the city eat you."
Freya paused at the doorway, grin half-soft, half-sharp.
"Wildcard," Freya said to Vesper. "You're lucky he chose you for breathing."
Vesper lifted a hand. "I know."
Freya looked at me and added, quieter, "If you ever want chaos again, you know where to find me."
Then she left.
The queen lingered last.
She looked at me, calm.
"Your choice was good," she said. "I will not punish you for choosing quiet."
I nodded. "Thank you."
The queen's gaze flicked once to Valeria, amused.
Then she turned and descended like a graceful threat that respected doors.
Elise exhaled slowly when the roof was finally empty again.
Yuki clicked her pen and looked pleased.
"Excellent," Yuki said. "The hero used a boundary in public without collapsing. Progress."
Valeria snapped, "Stop praising him like he's a dog."
Yuki smiled. "He did well."
Valeria's cheeks went red.
Vesper whispered, "He did."
Valeria hissed, "Stop agreeing."
Yuki glanced at the fountain sign.
"It did not spray anyone," Yuki said. "I'm proud of this roof."
Vesper stared. "You're proud of architecture."
Yuki nodded. "Yes."
Elise's gaze stayed on me.
"You okay," Elise asked.
I breathed out. "Yeah. That was hard. But good."
Elise nodded once. "Good."
Yuki snapped her clipboard shut.
"My work is done," Yuki announced. "Try not to trigger another permit category."
Vesper whispered, "Too late."
Yuki descended the stairs humming happily, like she hadn't just managed a harem crisis.
Silence returned again.
Real silence.
Valeria stood a little apart, arms crossed, cheeks still warm, eyes refusing to meet mine.
Vesper sat back down and patted the bench next to her.
"You survived," Vesper whispered to me.
"I did," I said.
Vesper looked at Valeria and smiled sweetly.
"And you," Vesper added, "followed."
Valeria snapped, "Security."
Vesper nodded. "Sure."
Valeria's jaw clenched. "I wasn't stalking."
Vesper's grin widened. "Sure."
Valeria glared at Vesper like she wanted to duel her with feelings.
Then Valeria's eyes flicked to me, and her voice dropped, rough and honest for half a second.
"I didn't want you trapped again," Valeria muttered.
My chest warmed.
I kept it simple.
"Thanks," I said.
Valeria flinched.
"Don't," she snapped, but weaker than usual.
Vesper whispered, "She hates gratitude because it melts her armor."
Valeria hissed, "Stop talking."
I looked at Valeria's clenched fists, the way she stood like she was guarding a battlefield that was actually just my quiet.
So I offered again, gentle, clear.
"Valeria," I said, "may I hold your hand again. Just while we sit. No jokes. No trap."
Valeria froze.
Vesper's eyebrows shot up.
Elise watched carefully, ready to intervene if Valeria panicked.
Valeria swallowed, pride and softness wrestling in her throat.
Then she snapped, quiet, "Fine."
I held my hand out.
Valeria took it.
Her grip was firm, warm, stubborn.
She stared straight ahead like she could defeat the sky by refusing to blink.
Vesper leaned back with a satisfied sigh like she'd just watched a rare creature accept kindness.
Then Vesper cleared her throat and asked properly too, because she wasn't going to lose the bench war.
"Ren," Vesper said, voice lighter, "may I hold your other hand."
Valeria's head snapped toward Vesper instantly. "No."
Vesper blinked innocently. "I asked him."
Valeria's jaw clenched. "He's not a… hand buffet."
Vesper looked at me. "Am I allowed to buffet."
I was going to die.
But it was quiet. It was warm. It was human.
And for once, it felt like I wasn't being hunted. I was being held, carefully, with permission, without a crowd.
I nodded slowly.
"Yes," I said. "You can."
Vesper's grin brightened. She took my other hand gently, respectful, steady.
Valeria went red.
"This is stupid," Valeria muttered.
Vesper whispered, delighted, "He's holding hands with two girls on a hidden roof. That's not stupid. That's peak fantasy."
Valeria hissed, "Shut up."
I laughed softly, because I couldn't help it.
Elise exhaled like she'd finally seen something healthy in this cursed city.
And under the pale-leaf tree, with the fountain softly trickling and the sign still glowing NO CHANTING like a blessing, I finally felt it.
Not the tournament.
Not the dungeon.
Not the scoreboard.
Just calm.
And maybe, for the first time, a choice that belonged to me.