Chapter 22
Telling Hongo about this was very helpful. When you woke up the next day, there were no more seashell products at the door, which made you feel relieved.
Regardless of Lyme's reasons for giving you the gift, the trouble it causes you far outweighs any other emotions. As for the gift he gave you before, you took an unused glass bottle from Lu, put it under the bed, and put it there.
I don't mean anything by it, it's just that seeing Lyme's gift makes you feel stressed. For example, on the morning you didn't receive a gift, Lu said you looked much better than the previous few days when you went to help in the kitchen.
"Is it the glass bottle that's responsible?"
Lu changed his usual way of communicating, teasing you in a serious tone. Perhaps Lu wasn't very good at this kind of thing, as his tone was a bit stiff, but you weren't too bothered by the teasing and responded with a light laugh.
"Yes, glass bottles are very useful."
Because the glass bottle contained the gift that was causing you a lot of stress and hid it under your bed, your stress was somewhat relieved. Isn't that also the effect of the glass bottle?
Lu, who meant to tease, showed an expression of disbelief.
"So, it really is the glass bottle that's responsible? Would you like a few more?"
Lu's reaction was quite interesting; at least on this ship, it was the first time you'd seen someone who'd teased you actually take their own words by surprise. Seeing Lu about to go find an empty glass bottle, you quickly stopped him from adding to his workload for self-study.
"No need, I'll ask you for more if I need them."
Lu didn't persist, but reached out and patted the cabinet door where he was standing.
"Sure. There are plenty of bottles and jars in the kitchen; you can take whatever you need."
You nodded in response to show that you remembered what Lu said.
Lunch for everyone on the ship was finished under Lu's direction. The "hungry ghosts" sitting in the canteen howled even louder when they heard Lu announce that lunch was served. Among the most boisterous ones, Shanks could be identified by his voice.
The usual routine of serving food was unaffected, but this time he invited you to eat with him.
"Go outside and find a place to sit and eat; they won't disturb your meal."
It's probably because Lu saw the last time that Hongo invited you to eat at the cafeteria. Lu, who used to not ask you to eat with him, has now figured out why you don't go out to eat.
You know Lu meant well, and last time you went to the cafeteria, apart from a few specific people, no one actually ate at the table where you were, so you accepted Lu's suggestion.
"I see."
You followed behind Lu, carrying your tray. As Lu walked to his usual spot, you found the place where you and Hongo had sat last time. During this time, the crew members, who arrived late, noticed you sitting in the corner. As they passed by your corner, they casually chatted about topics unrelated to you, but the occasional glances they cast at you betrayed their attention.
Perhaps it's because you've been in the Red-Haired Pirates for a while, and since, apart from certain individuals, the other crew members don't interact with you much, you've become accustomed to this attention.
As for Lem, who's sitting across from you because of your presence, I apologize that it will take you a while to adjust. Because you can't adjust, you want to finish your meal and leave before Lem can speak. Seeing that you're intentionally speeding up your eating, Lem swallowed the words he was about to say and lowered his head to eat his lunch.
In the past, someone would always break the awkward atmosphere at this time. It could be Hongo, the captain of the ship, or someone else who was close to you or Ryme. But today is different; the pirates, who are eating like they're fighting, are paying no attention to what's going on at your table.
A silent lunch ended with Lem finishing his meal first. After he left with his empty plate, you, who had sped up your eating because of Lem's appearance, breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down your eating.
And so, you heard the chatter of pirates not far away who seemed to be paying no attention, but were actually keeping a close eye on what was happening here.
"That kid Lem is still no good... he won't even talk to her."
"Otherwise, why would she have Hongo tell Rei about that? There must be a reason."
"By the way, where's Hongo?"
"It seems someone on the ship got sick, and Hongo went to see him; otherwise, the atmosphere wouldn't be so bad."
Through their barely audible murmur, you get a general idea of what happened. Rem came to find you, probably because Hongo had said something to him, and Rem, based on his own understanding, misunderstood Hongo's meaning.
As for Hongo... you admit that for a moment you wondered why Hongo wasn't there, but it was only for a moment, and you quickly dismissed the expectations you had placed on him.
This is not a good sign for you.
Hongo is neither your friend nor your partner. Even if he seems to have a good relationship with you, he has no reason to help you or take your side when it comes to matters involving partners. He may have helped you before, but that doesn't mean Hongo will provide the help you need in every situation.
Once you take other people's kindness and goodwill for granted, the moment things go wrong, you will be the one who falls into an abyss of no return.
-
On a night without banquets or enemies, apart from a few crew members on night watch playing cards, there was little activity on the ship. And on this night with the perfect temperature and environment, you couldn't sleep.
An environment so dimly lit that you can almost smell the mold on the wood is not a good choice for someone suffering from insomnia. Aside from the time you injured your hand, you rarely go out at night for safety reasons. But tonight, tossing and turning, unable to settle down, you might be breaking your rule.
After mentally preparing yourself, you turn off the lights in your room, lock the door, and try to avoid noisy areas during your walk. Even so, you'll still encounter crew members sitting silently on the deck. Whenever this happens, older or similarly aged crew members will greet you first, while others will simply glance at you and continue with their own tasks.
Even as night fell, the crew members who hadn't paid much attention to you during the day didn't change their attitude towards you, which reassured you quite a bit. However, that's all; you still need to maintain a basic level of vigilance.
So, even when you've mentally prepared yourself and are on high alert, you're still taken aback when you turn the next corner and encounter Lyme, someone you don't know how to face.
Lyme, sitting on the railing gazing at the sea, seemed even more surprised than you. Thinking back to the time you ate together during the day without exchanging a single word, you chose to leave casually rather than strike up a conversation. Regardless, leaving nonchalantly when your eyes are locked is far too difficult.
In conclusion, you should choose a topic that won't embarrass both you and Lyme.
"Good evening, is Lem taking a walk to relax?"
Perhaps pirates aren't used to greeting each other with small talk, because Rem, whose gaze was fixed on you, hesitated for a few seconds before squeezing out a few monosyllables.
"...I guess so."
Once you get a response, you can then find a legitimate excuse to leave.
"Oh, I see. Then I—"
Before you could finish speaking, Lem, realizing something, jumped down from the railing, took two steps to stand in front of you, and blocked your way. Caught off guard, you were startled by Lem's fluid movements and took two steps back. Upon seeing you retreat, Lem made a single sound that sounded like displeasure or complaint, and also took two steps back, increasing the distance between you.
After a brief silence, Lyme, whose expression was even more obscured by the darkness, uttered a few words in a muffled voice.
Don't you like it?
Forgive you for not being able to understand the meaning behind Lyme's words in a single sentence: "What did you say?"
You can feel Lyme's gaze lingering on your wrists and neck, but you still can't reconcile his actions with the "dislike" he mentioned.
Perhaps you were silent for too long, or perhaps Lem finally realized that the lack of a subject was the main reason for your silence, so Lem added a subject and repeated what he had just said.
Don't you like seashells?
Clearly, Lyme genuinely believed you liked seashells, which is why he gave you the seashell. However, you don't actually have a strong preference for seashells; you just don't dislike them. Considering that if this misunderstanding isn't cleared up, Lyme might mistakenly believe you've disembarked, you decide to be honest with him.
"I don't particularly like seashells, but I don't hate them either. Do you understand what I mean?"
To prevent Lym from getting angry at what you said, you subconsciously used a tone you would use to coax a child. Lym, a well-known pirate on the list, stood there listening to your explanation, looking like a child who had done something wrong, too afraid to move.
Once Lyme had recovered, he took a step forward to shorten the distance between you, his tone revealing undisguised anxiety.
"So what do you like? Jewelry? Treasure maps? Or something else?"
"As long as you like it—"
Perhaps because of their previous interactions, Lym had some understanding of your actions, and he subconsciously grasped your hand that was covering your chest when he spoke.
From Lem's reaction just now, you can tell that he didn't mean any harm, but his reaction still startled you. Considering that abruptly shaking off Lem's hand might provoke him, you suppress your fear and softly express your feelings to Lem.
"You scared me, Lem."
A single sentence snapped the anxious Lem out of his daze. The hand gripping your wrist loosened as Lem stepped back, followed by Lem's apology.
"...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
No one would have imagined that a pirate who kills his enemies without batting an eye would apologize for a single sentence from you, and even show a look of regret.
Even you were surprised by Lyme's reaction. Reflecting on your interactions with Lyme so far, a somewhat uncertain but still considered idea vaguely surfaced in your mind.
"Perhaps I misunderstood, but judging from your reaction to giving me the gift and apologizing... maybe I should praise you?"
You carefully chose your tone and words, and softly asked the Lime who was turning his head away from you. The Lime, who was staring at the wooden plank at his feet, stood there stunned. When he looked at you again, his gaze was intense and extremely noticeable.
If I said yes... what would you do?
The slightly trembling male voice was a sign that Lyme was trying hard to control his excitement. Realizing once again that Lyme has a hidden fetish... you've decided to respect that.
You are indeed afraid of being around Lyme. But Lyme seems to only reveal his hidden fetishes to you, which you try your best to control. You can't imagine what will happen to you when Lyme's restraint reaches a certain level.
Rather than letting things spiral out of control, it's better to take the initiative and put the direction of events in your own hands.
As for how far it will develop... that's for you to test. With that in mind, you asked Lem for his opinion in an uncertain tone.
"May I touch your face or hair with your permission?"
As you uttered those words, a chill ran down your spine, and you had already imagined the worst possible outcome. However, Lyme's hesitant reply was beyond your expectations.
Even now?
Lyme is expectant, yet also skeptical of what you say. This is a good sign; it means you're heading in the right direction. The rest... is simply overcoming your fear of Lyme.
After composing yourself, you meet Lym's intense gaze, even through his sunglasses, and give him a positive answer.
Even now.
Having received a reply, Lem took a step forward, closing the distance between you once again, and this time you didn't back down. Perhaps it was your reaction of not backing down that confirmed Lem's belief that your words were sincere and not just meant to comfort him, so Lem lowered his head—to a point where he could reach out and touch your face.
With Lyme's silent permission, you overcome your fear of touching the large beast and reach out to touch your face, which is dry from years of exposure to the sea breeze; it's warm. The moment your palms touch, you feel the skin on your hands tremble.
On the deck where only the two of you are, you hear Lyme's rapid breathing as you touch him. Clearly, Lyme truly craves your touch. Having confirmed this, you want to let go immediately and escape from Lyme's side.
But you can't. You have to try to take control. Amidst Lyme's disordered breathing, you slowly exhale and, under Lyme's gaze, make your request.
"Perhaps you'd like me to touch your hair? You know, you're very tall."
"If it's alright, could you please bend down?"
It's actually a distance you could reach by standing on tiptoe, but Lyme willingly lowers his head, which is a huge difference compared to you standing on tiptoe to touch it.
Surprisingly, as you said, Lyme bent down and proactively revealed the top of her head, which she usually hid in her fashionable hat, to you.
Relieved to have been given permission, you gently touched the top of Lyme's head with one hand. Even on a moonless night, the luster of Lyme's smooth, golden hair was undeniable.
It's hard to imagine that a pirate would have hair like that.
"You must take good care of your hair, right? You maintain it very well."
You gently stroked Lyme's hair, sincerely praising his blond hair. His rapid breathing eased at your touch and compliment, but his voice, when he continued the conversation, was somewhat hoarse.
And so, Lem opportunely offered the condition that you forget about him.
"You said you would praise me."
The undisguised longing in his tone left you momentarily speechless, preoccupied with touching and fear. But the "praise" you'd heard since childhood could come in handy.
“You’re a good boy, Lyme.”
-
Lyme wasn't sure if you'd like gold and jewelry. Even though everyone on the ship said you wouldn't dislike them, Lyme didn't dare to give them to you rashly. He always felt that giving them to you would make you angry. Lyme wasn't quite sure what exactly would make you angry.
Similarly, he wasn't sure if you would like seashells, so he only dared to give you his not-so-refined seashell products. He also didn't dare to confirm whether you accepted the gift as he expected, which led to the situation where he gave you gifts but avoided you.
When Hongo told him that you were bothered by his constant gift-giving, he was more worried that you were angry about his "gifts" than angry. Lyme wanted to explain to you that he was just trying to please you, but your obvious avoidance of his gaze showed that you didn't want to communicate with him at that moment.
Sure enough, he still couldn't understand what you were thinking. Perhaps because he was sulking, he gave up on explaining himself and left before you finished lunch. It's easy to imagine that you, who had been on edge, felt much more relaxed after he left.
He never considered what others were thinking, and his crewmates on the ship didn't require him to guess their thoughts. But you're not just anyone, nor are you a crewmate, so he thought for a long time about what you like and why you don't want to talk to him now.
For the first time, Lem was troubled by things unrelated to battle and suffered from insomnia. Meeting you on the deck was unexpected, as was your change of attitude from the daytime and your conversation with him.
But he knew all too well that you were about to leave as soon as you finished speaking.
Don't you like it?
Don't you like seashells? Or do you dislike the gift he gave you? Or do you dislike him? Otherwise, why don't you wear his gift on your wrist, or around your neck where it's easily visible?
He has so many questions he wants to ask you, but he really doesn't know how to communicate with you. See? In just a few words, he's scared you again.
Perhaps he's too tongue-tied, or perhaps your completely opposite personalities mean that one of you is destined to back down. He doesn't want to back down, but the unease you feel because of his touch and closeness cannot be concealed even in the darkest of nights.
Until you said that unexpected thing.
"Perhaps I misunderstood, but judging from your reaction to giving me the gift and apologizing... maybe I should praise you?"
He wants your praise? Impossible. As a pirate, how could he possibly crave your compliments? But meeting those eyes that make him lose his focus, everything he's done so far, the behavior that's so unlike himself, seems to provide an answer.
He wants you to praise him, to treat him like everyone else, and not to hide from him. Can you truly understand the unspoken emotions and feelings he carries? His voice trembles with uncontrollable joy at the realization that you might accept these feelings.
If I said yes... what would you do?
You no longer backed away when he got closer. Instead, when he lowered his head, you reached out the hands that would leave him with endless regret after waking up from his dream, cupped his cheeks, and carefully examined his expression.
He seems to have underestimated your influence on him. The very fact that you're touching him is making it hard for him to resist the urge to touch you further. No, he has to control the urge to scare you. Once he misses this opportunity, you'll never again allow him to be so close, or even touch him like this.
Sure enough, his restraint earned him further contact from you.
It's a little sad that I can't hold your hand, but the way you stroke him feels so good. Even though what you're touching is the top of his head, a place he usually doesn't want others to see, let alone touch.
If he could, he would like to touch or caress every inch of your skin with his hands, just like you do. You would definitely blush with embarrassment at such an offensive gesture, and perhaps even curse him out.
That compliment, acknowledging that he was a "good kid" who wasn't being aggressive at the moment, will vanish in your angry rebuke.
Therefore, he cannot do that yet. To lower your guard, he can only maintain the current pace and let you take the lead.
Only in this way can he keep you at this stage.
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