Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

T ime at the Red Boar Inn passed slowly. Konomi made herself familiar with the kitchen, much to Rudeus' delight and praise. When she wasn't helping him, she chopped wood like she'd been doing it her whole life while I set traps all around the inn. The rabbits and pheasants were lean during winter but also desperate, making them easy to catch.

I still didn't know if we could trust the two old men running the inn but staying had been the right choice. Especially when the snow came.

The front door of the inn shrieked open and Konomi came in, snow resting on her shoulders and her dark hair. Her cheeks were flushed pink from the cold, a look I particularly adored on her.

She gave her basket with foraged goods to Rudeus who looked at her like she was some sort of goddess. I understood how he felt. Only Konomi could go into a winter forest and emerge with a bounty, a skill that had saved me and my shaky fingers many times during our journey.

Our eyes met and I quickly averted my gaze, embarrassed to be caught staring. I turned my attention back on the shoe I was fortifying, pretending like I'd been doing that all along. She approached me from behind, not nearly as subtle as she thought she was. Or maybe she didn't mean to be.

Her little giggle gave her away and without even a greeting, she pressed her ice cold hands against my cheeks. I gasped as the sensation made me shiver in a way that had nothing to do with the coldness and everything feeling her pressed against my back.

I squirmed out of her touch, laughing from the nervous energy coursing through me. She didn't relent and pushed one hand down the back of my neck.

"Konomi!" I shouted, twisting to get away from her and somehow twisting into her. Her whole face was lit up with childlike glee and that innocence made me feel even more guilty about the flashes of desire sparking through me.

"It's cold outside," she said redundantly, still grinning.

"I can tell."

"It's absolutely gorgeous, too. The sky is the most beautiful blue and the snow glitters like it's covered with crystals. You should come see."

"Why would I go outside when I don't have to?"

Konomi folded her hands together. "Pleeeeeaase. It'll be fun, I promise."

If only I was capable of saying no to her. I abandoned my repairs and followed her outside, fully intending to have just a look. I didn't even put on my coat because while there was something to be said for appreciating nature and the wonders of winter, I much preferred the warmth and safety of the inn. In fact, if I'd known this journey was going to be this cold and miserable, I might've never gone in the first place.

The fresh snow was truly as beautiful as she described but it paled in comparison with the smile on Konomi's face. She ran through the snow, leaving a trail of tracks that seemed to delight her like she was a child seeing its first winter.

"Come on!" she shouted, waving for me to join her.

"Don't even think about it," I called back, staying right by the inn. Despite the snow, it wasn't all that cold. There was no cold breeze or chill in the air, just a crisp dry winter's day.

Konomi grinned as she collected a handful of snow. She balled it together and held it up with an impish grin.

"Don't you dare," I warned her.

The snowball came flying my way, missing me by a hair. It hit the inn with a dull thud instead and was followed by a carefree laugh from Konomi that made some nearby birds scatter. Just seeing her so unburdened and happy made me feel warm and giddy. There was something so irresistible about her unbridled ability to have fun, I had no choice but to give in.

I reached down to form a snowball of my own and threw it her way, hitting her in the stomach with the practised aim of an archer. She squealed in delight, clearly pleased she roped me into her little game, and fired more back. Her aim was surprisingly good and even though I ran away, one of them hit my face. The cold burst made my skin tingle and glow like it was held near a fire.

Konomi's concerned laughter clattered through the air. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

Instead of replying or wasting more time throwing snow her way, I charged directly at her. She only understood my intention when I was mere steps away and by then, it was too late. I threw myself onto her, knocking her to the ground. Our fall was cushioned by the snow and her laugh mingled with my own.

I grabbed a handful of snow and let it rain on her face as payback, trying to ignore just how beautiful her dark hair was sprawled out in the white tapestry of snow. She wriggled in protest, somehow managing to throw me off. Without wasting a moment, she jumped on me and pinned me underneath her with surprising ease.

I bucked to free myself, only pressing myself more into her as she pinned me down. My laughter ebbed away as I became aware of different sensations. The feel of her cold hands enclosed around my wrists, her strong thighs straddled around me. Her face was surprisingly close to mine, so close I could feel her warm breath on my lips.

"Konomi," I managed, surprising both her and me with how strangled I sounded. Without meaning to, I imagined her cold lips on mine, her hands travelling down where the heat of me would warm them up.

She let go of my wrists but remained on top, her look pensive like she was on the verge of working something out. Panic lashed through me and I shoved her, harder than necessary. She tumbled backwards and I scrambled out from underneath her, panting like I'd just ran a mile.

"Sorry," I murmured, although I wasn't entirely sure what I was apologising for. Knocking her to the ground or the indecent thoughts running through my head.

"It's fine," she said, not quite sounding like herself.

"We should go back inside," I said, avoiding looking her in the eyes, too afraid of what she would see in mine.

"Mayu—"

I ignored her and fled to the inn, my poor heart hammering in my chest with such force, I was afraid it would break. The longer this kept going on, the more I was sure it inevitably would.