Path of the Extra Chapter 386: Leo Karumi [20]

"Hey, Leo! Dammit—you’re going to get us both in trouble!"

"Nathan, where are you going? Come back here and serve this beautiful mistress!"

"Eh, but—!"

"Now!"

"...Yes, ma’am."

Without a single look back at Nathan, Leo vanished behind the curtain. Nathan stayed put, pouting miserably, powerless to chase after him.

Dimmer lights filled the lounge area compared to the bustling café front, but visibility remained decent. Leo’s gaze locked onto Lea instantly.

Perched on a wooden box, she cradled a bowl of strawberries in her lap, her mouth half-full, cheeks bulging like a chipmunk as she scrolled on her phone.

His abrupt arrival startled her; she glanced up and stiffened mid-chew, resembling a thief squirrel busted in the act.

"Fwghath—"

"Swallow first," Leo interrupted, his voice heavy with irritation.

She complied swiftly. After a couple of quick swallows, a sigh of relief escaped her—followed by a cough, hand flying to her mouth.

"W-what are you doing here?" she questioned, a touch of bashfulness coloring her words as she huddled smaller, peering up at him.

The inquiry surprised him momentarily.

Yet he recovered quickly, replying with steady calm as if it were the most natural thing.

"Nathan said you weren’t feeling well, so I came to check on you."

Lea gawked at him as though he’d uttered something impossible.

"You were... worried about me?"

Leo parted his lips to reply—then held back. Frowning, he cocked his head, truly puzzled.

...Apparently.

Only a few individuals ever earned Leo’s concern, and Lea had somehow joined their ranks.

But... how? Why?

In truth, she’d always proven more irritating—and more tenacious—than anyone else. Back in middle school, she’d pop up once, twice, even three times monthly, begging for his aid. Each occasion, he’d rebuffed her coldly.

Things changed this round. This time, he’d consented. After all those years, he’d chosen to assist—at the close of what others dubbed a pivotal "Chapter" in their lives.

For the majority, sure.

To Leo, it merely signaled the shift to high school. Academics and the workload? He’d prepped two years early. High school posed no real hurdle.

So when exactly did she sneak onto that exclusive list?

Their hangouts hadn’t stretched that long—and much stemmed from the year-end festival, yet...

Afterward, Leo sensed a shift in his view of her. Greater trust bloomed, though admitting it chafed.

Lips pressed tight, his mind raced through these reflections in moments. Lea observed with fretful eyes—eyes that oddly gleamed with expectation too.

"I... guess?" he admitted.

"You guess?"

She blinked, utterly disoriented. Then promptly, hands clamped over her mouth as she dipped her head. Leo noted her shoulders quivering.

"Pfft—hahahaha!" Laughter erupted from her, vibrant and joyful, sweetness piercing even through her stifled efforts.

Now Leo stood rooted, eyes fixed unmoving on her.

Once her mirth subsided, she dabbed her eyes, pushed aside the bowl and phone, and beamed up warmly.

"You really are weird, Leo," she remarked, a soft giggle trailing.

"Are you mocking me?" Leo shot back, tone sharper than intended.

Shaking her head, Lea kept her sunny smile—radiant, almost luminous as she rose.

"No. I’m just really happy to know you’re worried about me."

Drawing nearer, thrill bubbled in her voice.

"Does this mean we’re friends now?"

"Friends?"

She bobbed her head eagerly.

"Yeah! If you worry about me, that means we’ve become close enough to be called friends, right?"

Leo rubbed his chin, pondering briefly, fighting to harden his features. But facing her gaze—so pure, brimming with delight—he couldn’t refuse. With a sigh, he relented.

"Yeah... I guess we’re friends."

"Finally!"

Fists thrust skyward, she celebrated like a victor claiming a prize.

"Is it really that exciting to be friends with me?" Leo wondered aloud, baffled by her enthusiasm.

Leaning in close, Lea’s pitch surged with fervor.

"Of course!" she exclaimed. "Do you know how many years I’ve been trying to be friends with you? It’s like that impossible character you can never beat so you can get them in your party—but you keep trying anyway. This means I finally won! Who knew all I had to do was open up to you and land the final hit?"

Her eyes shimmered vividly, as if recasting their bond into a game she’d conquered repeatedly.

Leo’s spirits plummeted. Shadows crossed his face.

"So this was all just a game to you?" he murmured lowly—cutting deep, rougher than planned.

That halted Lea dead. Panic flashed in her eyes.

"N-no!" Her hands flailed defensively.

"That’s not what I meant at all! Please don’t misunderstand! I don’t see this as a game, and I don’t see you as some villain character I have to beat! My feelings—and my effort to be friends with you—are one hundred percent real!"

Her earnest plea softened Leo’s expression naturally.

"I see," he replied plainly.

Relief washed over Lea as she exhaled, thankful to avert a nasty mix-up.

"...If you wanted to be friends with me that badly, why didn’t you just ask?"

Lea’s face contorted in sheer astonishment as she gaped at him, her eyes silently howling,

Lips quivering, she responded, barely containing her feelings.

"You mean ask you—the guy who’s rude to everyone on the first sentence, who’s made multiple students cry with words alone, who acts like he dislikes every human being on the planet, who has a god complex, who doesn’t want to hang out with anyone—"

"Alright, I get it. I get it," Leo interjected, halting her rant. Massaging his temples, he eyed her anew, still perplexed.

"If there are that many negatives about me, why bother being friends with me at all? Or is it because I’m a genius, and you’re hoping you’ll get some benefit out of it?"

Lea denied it with a head shake and a fresh grin.

"Nope." Her finger jabbed toward him.

"Because you’re kind."

Leo blinked repeatedly. His look soured once more—but interruption struck before he spoke, as someone shoved the curtains aside.

"Leo! At least eat what you ordered!" Nathan growled, storming in fuming, clutching Leo’s parfait plate like damning proof.

"My class poured tons of time, love, and cash into all this, and you’re wasting it! Forget the other two, but you—do you think money and tasty treats sprout from my back?!"

Their attention snapped to him.

"Ah..." Leo uttered.

"I guess."

"You guess?!" Nathan exploded.

"Listen here, you handsome piece of sh—"

"Nathan!" Lea bolted to him, overjoyed.

"Leo has finally decided to be friends with me!"

"Huh?"

Nathan froze solid.

Lea positioned herself before him, palm raised expectantly.

A beat passed, then he recovered, delivering a crisp high-five.

Grins and chuckles lit up both their faces.

"Ah—right, Lea," Leo summoned, drawing her attention back.

"Hmm?"

Leo scrutinized her features.

"You still haven’t answered my question. Why did Nathan say you were feeling ill?"

"O-oh. Yeah... that." Her eyes darted away, nerves flaring inexplicably.

"I-I’m alright. Really," she murmured.

Leo’s eyes narrowed skeptically.

"Are you sure? You do look pale."

Hiding discomfort spelled trouble if true.

"That’s just because the lighting is terrible in here," she countered fast, pasting on a vivid smile.

"Really. Believe me."

"..."

"I’m one hundred percent fine."

"...Alright." Leo relented, voice resolute.

"But if something’s wrong, you should say so."

His clear worry prompted a nod from Lea—somewhat stunned, deeply moved.

Leo pondered.

And if others couldn’t...

...Might he?

"Hey..." Nathan’s tone intruded, subdued now—nearly whiny.

"You’ve never shown that kind of concern for me, Leo. And Lea, I know you wanted to be friends with him, but... hmm." He sulked, cheeks ballooning slightly.

"As I thought—I wasn’t imagining things. You treat him like a real friend, unlike how you treat the others you call your friends. Leo, you are much kinder to her as well..."

Lea extended a hand to respond, but Nathan beat her to it, spinning and fleeing through the curtains.

She started after him, halted by Leo’s words.

"Leave him. He’ll be cheerful again in about an hour."

"But..." she whispered, guilt shadowing her gaze at the curtain.

"I still feel kind of bad..."

Leo shrugged casually.

"Trust me. Either you try to console him for an hour, or he gets over it by himself in an hour. There’s no point wasting your energy."

Lips pursed, she conceded.

"...Alright."

Mulling Nathan’s parting words, curiosity sparked as she turned to Leo.

"What did he mean about us getting even closer later today?"

Leo scratched his nape, gaze drifting ceilingward in his signature detached manner.

"Ah... yeah. About that..."