The Power of the Saint is All Around (LN) - Volume 6 - Chapter SS1

One More Step

I STOOD ABSENTMINDEDLY at a spot that was commonly used for meeting up with people.

It’s always so busy here, I thought as I watched the person I was waiting for head toward me from out of the crowd.

Gah, he’s so sparkly! I really did feel like I was hallucinating the sparkles wafting around Albert.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

I smiled back at him. “No worries. I just got here myself.”

Albert was dressed much more casually than the attire I normally saw him in. Even though he was dressed simply, in a white hempen shirt and gray jeans, he still earned stares from the crowd. Maybe it was because his clothes were of such fine quality.

I suddenly felt awkward, but Albert encouraged me to walk forward, so that awkwardness quickly vanished. My heart still racing at getting to see him dressed so differently, we quickly made our way to our destination.

We started at a pancake house that had been all the rage recently, then went window shopping, caught a movie, and in the blink of an eye, it was evening. Like they say, time flies when you’re having fun.

One thing led to another, and he wound up walking me to the door of my apartment.

“Thank you for walking me home.” I felt a bit bad, since he had work the next day.

“Don’t mention it. I would’ve worried about you making it home alone otherwise.”

“Thank you so much for today, Lord Hawke. I had a wonderful time.”

“Me too.”

An awkward silence fell between us then. Albert’s eyes darted around nervously.

“Is something the matter?” I asked.

“Um, Sei?”

“Yeah?”

His eyes focused on me. I saw a spark of determination within them.

As I waited for what he was going to say next, he took me by surprise by placing his right hand on my cheek.

Huh?! What the?! I internally shrieked at the sudden change in his demeanor.

“How about you call me Al from now on?”

“Huh?”

We stared at one another, but I was unable to endure it.

“Al,” I said his nickname in a weak voice.

A beautiful smile spread across his face.

My eyes blinked sleepily open. My heart was pounding even though it had only been a dream.

Wh-wh-wh-wh-what the heck kind of dream was that?! Oh my goodness! Why?! I was again internally shrieking, barely managing to contain my actual voice.

It went without saying that the next thing I did was hold my head in my hands and start rolling back and forth in my bed.