Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 1440 - 226 Embrace

"So, what?" Catherine looked at Pannis with a smile that was not quite a smile, appearing to have seen through Pannis’s thoughts. She was much calmer than the other girls, calmly asking, "You’ve said so much, but you’ve actually never gotten to the point. What exactly are you trying to tell us?"

"Heh, haven’t you already guessed?" Pannis said. "Some time after that, I suddenly realized that I wasn’t so grateful to you all anymore. Do you know why?"

"Who would be so idle as to spend every day thinking about feeling grateful to themselves?" Catherine said with a light smile, biting her lip, "That behavior is just too shameful."

"Hahaha, you’re right, that is indeed too shameful," Pannis agreed, saying, "I don’t know from when, but I’ve started to see you all as a part of my life, everything taken for granted, just like you said to me a long time ago. Between us, there’s no need for the concept of gratitude anymore, what you do for me, I do for you, because we are one."

"However, up until now, you still haven’t clarified what exactly you want to tell us," Catherine’s smile at the corner of her mouth deepened, as she teasingly licked her lips and said, "We are rather slow-witted girls, after all. If you don’t make it clear, we won’t understand what you’re trying to say, and misunderstanding your intentions in such an important situation could lead to big problems."

"You’re one to talk, you’ve already guessed it all," Pannis said, rubbing his forehead in frustration, using the opportunity to block his gaze, preventing the girls from seeing, "Didn’t we just agree not to pressure me?"

"That’s not the same thing, Pannis," Lina said with a mischievous chuckle, teasing him, "Besides, big sister might have guessed, but us dunces surely can’t. If you don’t explain clearly, we understand nothing, and that could make us worried."

"Fine, fine, if that’s the case, then don’t regret it," Pannis said, cornered by Lina, his head hanging silently, until everyone started to feel curious. Then in a deep voice, he finally spoke, "This is what you’re forcing me to do." Lina seemed to have a bad premonition, just as she was about to say something, but it was already too late. Pannis was faster than the wind; before the girls could even blink, he had disappeared from where he stood, and in the next moment, he appeared right next to Lina, his hands wrapping forcefully around her, encircling the girl in his arms. His palms wrapped around from her back, gently stroking her short silver hair as he spoke softly, "You’re the ones who forced me."

"You, you, you, you, you, let go of me," Lina’s fair face turned purple, even her scalp was red through her short hair, her body stiff as a board, she’d even forgotten how to struggle, only stammering, "You perv, you better watch out or I’ll smash you, let go right now. Hey, someone come and help me."

"Then you’d hate us afterwards, no thanks." Unfortunately for her, nobody wanted to help. The other girls stood to one side, covering their mouths with giggles; no one was willing to do what seemed to be the stupidest thing at that moment.

"That’s exactly what I wanted to say," Pannis whispered in Lina’s ear. "You all deeply attract me, I like you, hmm, I like you. Even though you’re curious yet timid and like to join the crowd, even though you often inexplicably turn into someone else, even though none of your friends are easy to deal with, even though you always act crazy, I still like you. Even if you became bald, I would still like you. Because you have a kind, yet timid heart full of selfless courage, always shining so brightly, attracting my gaze all the time."

"You’re the one who’s going bald," Lina finally couldn’t hold back. She stomped hard on Pannis’s foot, and as Pannis howled clutching his foot, the girl quickly fled to one side. Her face was so hot it seemed steam might spout from it. She turned away, not daring to even glance at Pannis, but still tried to sound fierce, saying loudly, "You beast, you pervert, I won’t be happy hearing those words, jerk."

"No one believes you, silly Lina," Vivian teased from the side. "Even now, so shy, yet still talking big. Look, even the palms of your hands are red. What are you, a crab? Hahaha."

But in the next moment, the mage girl couldn’t laugh anymore, for she saw Pannis’s gaze shift from Lina to herself. The clever girl immediately realized what was about to happen. Recently, this scene had appeared countless times in the girl’s vivid dreams, but in front of her sisters, it was too embarrassing. The feeling of shame made the mage girl involuntarily take a step back, holding her magic staff in front of her, raising her eyebrows like a threatening kitten, cautiously saying, "What are you trying to do, you, you stay away. I warn you, I’m not as easy to bully as that dummy. If you dare come any closer, I, I’ll hit you with a fireball."

"Okay, hit me," Pannis completely ignored Vivian’s warning, his face bearing a faint smile, he slowly approached with open arms, not worried in the slightest about a fireball hitting him in the face. He had to admit, he was right; the fireball never materialized as Vivian said, and the similarly blushing girl seemed to have forgotten how to cast the Fireball Technique. All she could do was instinctively step back, but backing away was always slower than moving forward. Pannis’s steps, though slow, quickly drew him near, and he bended down to embrace the petite mage girl in his arms. It wasn’t the first time the two had such close physical contact, but this time felt completely different for the girl. A slight shiver ran through her skin, which hadn’t even touched directly, making her heartbeat speed up, and then speed up again. At first, Vivian’s body was stiff, but as her heart raced faster, her body slowly softened. With a misty look, she gently rested her head on Pannis’s chest, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat, while also listening to him whisper softly in her ear.

"I like you too, Vivian; your strength is incomparable to anyone. It gives me the courage to face reality," Pannis said softly. "Although you’ve been tormented by illness, teetering at the edge of death, you’ve never bowed to fate, never given up trying. Your resilience and persistence are the strongest attractions for me, the greatest encouragement. I like having you by my side. Seeing you is like seeing hope itself."