For some reason, the saint of our school drops her façade when she's with me (GL) - Chapter 24

I left my skirt behind.

It wouldn’t have been able to keep up with this battle.

With that resolve, I charged into the scene, barely registering the presence of a familiar silver-haired foreigner—Claudia.

But I had no time to worry about that.

I was too overwhelmed, too focused—on running away with Aizen-san—no, Karen-san.

My breath was ragged.

I had already run all the way here, and now I was pedaling with Karen on board.

Compared to the cars chasing us, this escape vehicle felt utterly unreliable.

“Karen-san, get on!”

“What a lovely white horse.”

Don’t say that!

I’m not some prince on a white horse!

The only thing I managed to prepare was a tiny, humble silver steed—

A mamachari with a luggage rack.

“Please, take me away.”

“Got it!”

As I took the driver’s seat, Karen, still in her kimono, sat behind me gracefully—almost as if she were enjoying this.

I had expected her to be more distressed.

But of course, she wasn’t.

Maybe Mizuki had been right all along.

“Two people on a bike… we’re going to get scolded.”

“I don’t care. I’ll take the scolding later.”

If that’s all it takes, it’s a small price to pay.

With my breath still uneven, I struggled to control the unfamiliar weight of two riders, steadily putting more distance between us and the venue.

The thrill of knowing we were being chased, the burning sensation in my lungs with every pedal stroke, and the rhythmic beating of Karen’s heart pressed against my back—

Everything was so vivid, so real.

“You really came for me.”

Karen’s voice was barely above a whisper, carried away by the wind.

“I’m a troublesome woman.”

“So it seems. But so am I.”

I felt a slight tremble in her hands.

At first, I thought it was from my own shaking.

But it wasn’t just that.

“I’m sorry for being late.”

“It’s okay. You came. That’s all that matters.”

“Karen-san.”

“That’s not what you should be calling me, is it?”

She looked at me with eyes full of longing, waiting—demanding something more.

Overwhelmed, I threw away all hesitation and shouted—

“Karen!”

It felt different from my panicked outburst earlier.

This time, it carried all my feelings.

And—

“Yes, Yukie.”

Hearing her call my name so naturally—

The last barrier between us had disappeared.

“Yukie, do you love me?”

She didn’t hold back.

“Of course, you do. But if you don’t say it, how will I know?”

Ah, seriously!

She’s got such a terrible personality!

Driven by frustration and desperation, I yelled—

“I love you! I love you, Karen! I didn’t want anyone else to take you, so I came to steal you away!”

At my declaration, Karen hugged me even tighter, her joy evident.

“I love you too, Yukie! I love you so, so much! I’ll never let go! Let’s run away together, wherever we need to!”

That was the plan, but hearing her say it out loud made me blush!

“Yukie… I’m not a saint.”

“I know!”

“I’m not something holy—I’m just a wicked woman who schemed and stole away the person I love.”

“I know!”

“You could at least deny the ‘wicked woman’ part.”

But it’s true.

Still—

“That’s just another part of you I love!”

“…You really…!”

I could hear the unspoken words in her breath.

“You’re so precious to me.”

I was running on pure adrenaline and dopamine.

Pedaling all the way to the venue, rushing in to grab Karen, and now biking away with her clinging to me.

This was, without a doubt, the most I had ever exercised in my life.

But even as I sweated, Karen didn’t pull away.

If anything, she held on tighter—

As if afraid that letting go would mean losing everything.

Normally, I would have pushed her away, embarrassed about being sweaty.

But just for now—

I wanted this moment to last.

Just the two of us.

The wind swept through Karen’s silver hair, making it dance in the night.

“It’s beautiful—your hair, your eyes—everything about you, Karen!”

Her heterochromatic eyes widened in surprise, and I smirked.

I was completely high on emotions.

The crash would come later, but right now, I could afford to be bold.

“Karen—all of you belongs to me!”

At my declaration, Karen tightened her grip around me and retorted—

“Then all of you belongs to me, too!”

She was pouting, but it was adorable.

“Yukie… thank you.”

Karen smiled from the bottom of her heart.

“Thank you for stealing me away—thank you for loving me.”

I didn’t even need to shout “Same to you!”—

Instead, I just pedaled harder.

I didn’t care if I lost my composure later.

From now on, no matter what happens.

We’ll always be together.

Because I had made up my mind.

The curse still lingers.

The cowardly part of me still watches, wide-eyed.

But none of that matters.

Because I love Karen.

And that feeling, Is the absolute truth.