So it really turned out ...
Is this Gion's tsundere version of "don't act all smug"?
Daren's mouth twitched, then he shook his head with an amused smile.
Looking at the girl lying motionless in his arms, he couldn't help but feel a bit of a headache.
Her long hair, draped over her shoulders and set against the white of her cloak, looked even darker than ink. Her onyx-like eyes were slightly red-rimmed, filled with grievance and reluctance.
But her proud and stubborn nature wouldn't allow her to show the slightest trace of weakness. Combined with her delicate and refined face, she had a unique charm.
Maybe it was the preconceived image from before he crossed over, but he had always associated Gion with the cool, mature aura from the original storyline.
In reality, though, Gion at this point in time was just a teenage girl.
A girl her age, especially one with such an exceptional background, being a little willful and tsundere was completely normal.
"Feeling any better now?"
Daren looked down at Gion, who was nestled quietly in his arms like a kitten, her earlier willfulness completely gone. He grinned playfully.
"W-What does that have to do with me..."
Gion turned her head away, not daring to meet Daren's eyes. Her voice was low and soft, barely audible.
Daren chuckled, feeling the softness pressing against his chest. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly as he spoke gently,
"Go back and get some rest, alright?"
"Your body's already at its limit."
Gion bit her lower lip and muttered,
"I-I don't need you to tell me what to do..."
Daren shrugged with a smile.
"That won't do. If you ended up injured from challenging me and suffered any long-term consequences... I doubt Admiral Sengoku, Staff Officer Tsuru, or Zephyr-sensei would let me off easy."
Before she could say anything else, Daren moved.
With a small cry from Gion, he slipped one arm around her waist and scooped her legs up with the other, lifting her into a bridal carry.
Warm, soft curves filled his arms, and even someone as battle-hardened as Daren couldn't help but feel a little distracted.
Years of training had given Gion an incredibly slender waist—barely a handful—and her ample chest only made the contrast more striking. Her thighs were smooth and springy, legs long and shapely, swinging slightly in the air.
From Daren's angle, her toes—encased in high heels—were clearly defined and looked almost translucent under the light.
"D-Daren... what are you trying to do!?"
Gion suddenly panicked, her eyes wide with alarm.
Held in such an embarrassing position, she could no longer maintain her usual aloof composure. Her face turned bright red as she pushed against Daren's shoulders.
"Stop squirming, or I really will take advantage of you."
That single line made her go quiet in an instant. She froze, not daring to move again. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel·fiɾe·net
With Gion in his arms, Daren lightly tapped the ground with his foot and launched into the air.
As they sped through the air, Gion had no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck to stay balanced.
Feeling this damned scoundrel holding her tighter and tighter, her face burned even more.
'Good thing it's already night... he probably can't see.'
She muttered inwardly.
In less than five minutes, Daren had carried her all the way to her residence.
He curled a finger, and with a sharp click, the door lock popped off and flew away.
Gion's face turned pale in alarm.
Seeing her flustered and uneasy expression, Daren was thoroughly amused and became even more curious about her place.
Ignoring her protests, he pushed the door open and walked in.
Unlike Daren's own modest, elegantly decorated home—courtesy of Toki—Gion's place was warm and inviting... maybe even a little too cute.
Fluffy rabbit plushies were scattered all over, and the dominant color in the room was a soft, delicate pink.
"That's honestly a bit unexpected. With how cold you usually act, I didn't take you for someone with such a girly side."
Seeing the scene in front of him, Daren's expression turned odd. He couldn't help but chuckle, a mischievous thought surfacing as he glanced teasingly at Gion and exaggerated dramatically,
"Gion-san, you wouldn't want the secrets of your bedroom getting out, would you?"
Gion's face turned red enough to drip.
"Y-You... put me down right now..."
He had to admit, the contrast between her usual aloof demeanor and this shy, flustered reaction was surprisingly charming.
Daren gently laid her on the bed.
After a moment of thought, he suddenly crouched down and reached for her ankle.
"What are you doing?!"
Gion froze, alarmed—was this bastard trying to take advantage of her?
"I already told you, I'm not trying anything."
Daren sighed, annoyed, and calmly untied the laces of her high heels, helping her remove them.
As she looked into Daren's clear, focused eyes, and saw that his actions carried no hint of lewdness, Gion's tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed.
She said nothing, but her teeth sank a little deeper into her lip.
Daren gave a satisfied smile as he stood up.
"Well then, sparring with you today was a pleasure."
"I should get going."
Gion lifted her head to glance at him, but as soon as their eyes met, she looked away.
Then, as if realizing she was showing too much weakness, she gritted her teeth, gathered her courage, and stared him down again.
"Today... that kind of thing... only happened because I was completely drained! Don't think you'll get away with taking liberties next time!"
"Otherwise... I won't let you off easy."
Daren raised both hands.
"Alright, alright, I get it."
"You hate scumbags like me—degenerates, womanizers, total sleazeballs..."
He walked over and gently pulled the covers over her.
With that, Daren turned and quickly left the room.
Several seconds passed before Gion cautiously poked her head out from under the blanket.
Through the window, she watched as the scoundrel's silhouette disappeared into the night beyond the courtyard. She stayed silent for a long moment, then muttered softly,
"Surprisingly gentle... and kind."
The memory of being carried in his arms came rushing back—her flushed embarrassment, the comforting solidity of his chest. Gion wasn't sure what was going through her head, only that the spots where he'd touched her still tingled like they'd been shocked.
Her face, which had just returned to normal, started to heat up again.
She suddenly slapped her cheeks hard, gritting her teeth.
"That guy is the scum, the degenerate, the flirt you hate the most!"
Outside Gion's residence, Daren leaned against the wall under the moonlight and quietly lit a cigarette.
Smoke curled around his face as his expression shifted again and again.
By the time the cigarette burned out, he suddenly slapped himself across the face and cursed under his breath,
"I actually acted like a gentleman!?"
He looked completely regretful.