"Arte, you don’t have to come. Really..."
"Huh? But..."
Seeing her droop her head like that made my chest ache.
I was grateful she came to meet me every day because she wanted to see me. I really was. But...
"Uh, my stomach’s getting full now, so... Yeah? It might be dangerous."
"You don’t have to worry about that. There’s always someone protecting me."
"Hello."
A cold sweat ran down my back as I met Raira’s indifferent gaze.
At this rate, I’d be overpowered by Arte’s logic.
I had to do something.
"B-but... Raira’s already considered dead, right? If someone from the Academy recognizes her..."
"Don’t worry about that. I’m wearing a hat, and my appearance changed a little after my abilities got stronger. No one will recognize me."
"..."
I knew that.
After all, Arte had been faithfully coming to meet me after school for over a month now.
If anyone was going to recognize her, they would’ve done so by now.
Was it because of her Werewolf genes? Or maybe her slightly sharper features?
Or was it because everyone was so convinced she was dead?
Given that she was standing right here at the Academy’s front gate, drawing everyone’s attention, and yet no one noticed her... I guess it was safe to assume she wouldn’t be recognized.
"The other guys aren’t really suited for escort duty, so I get to slack off. It’s not like I’m causing trouble. You don’t have to worry so much."
"O-oh... Right..."
...This was bad.
I couldn’t think of any more excuses.
What logical reason was there for Arte *not* to come?
I’d told myself I had to say this properly today, but...
As I looked around, I could hear the whispers of people pretending not to stare at us.
"Is that her?"
"Wow, I thought it was a lie, but she really *is* pregnant..."
"That’s so messed up... How hard must it be for her at that age..."
Ugh...
Here we go again.
I was grateful that Arte came to see me, but the pitying looks the students gave her—and the way they looked at me like I was some deadbeat who’d knocked her up—filled me with an indescribable emotion.
"...Do you not want me to come?"
"N-no, that’s not it..."
Of course Arte would notice my reaction.
It was embarrassing to admit, but she really did care about me deeply.
As her expression darkened, the reactions around us grew even more intense.
Naturally, in the worst way possible.
"O-of course it’s fine. Haha..."
In the end, I failed to stop Arte from visiting me today as well.
...Damn it. I’m going to get teased again. It’s about time she showed up, though.
"Oh, Arte. Hi. Here to pick up your husband again?"
Speak of the devil.
Sometimes I hated how accurate my instincts were.
Couldn’t they be wrong just this once?
"We’re not married yet..."
"Our Yu Siwoo is so scared of going home alone that he makes his pregnant girlfriend walk him there, huh? Right?"
"..."
I was furious at Amelia for always finding ways to mock me, but I couldn’t say a word to her.
My instincts warned me that if I fought back, things would only get worse.
In situations like this, the best move was to not react at all.
Amelia would get bored quickly—her personality guaranteed it.
"Ugh, you’re no fun."
Of course.
Amelia, who had lost interest just as quickly, stopped teasing me and soon turned her attention to Arte’s belly.
"It’s still so amazing. I never knew a person’s stomach could get this big."
"How many times are you going to say that?"
"What else am I supposed to do? It’s amazing every time I see it. Aren’t you amazed? Our daughter’s in there."
"…It is amazing."
Hmm, well.
Amelia had a point.
The very fact that our child existed inside Arte’s belly was incredible beyond words.
Especially since, up until last year, I’d never even considered the idea of having a child.
So I could understand why she kept saying it was amazing.
"You talk about it every day. Don’t you ever get tired of it?"
"Of course not. I don’t think I ever will."
"Honestly, I can’t even imagine what you’ll be like when the baby’s actually born."
…A baby, huh.
It still didn’t feel real.
The fact that I was going to be a father.
The fact that Arte and I were going to start a family.
"Enough idle chatter. Shouldn’t we head back soon?"
"…Yeah, I guess."
"Mhm. We should enjoy some uninterrupted time together, just the two of us."
I stared, entranced, at Arte as she grinned and offered me her hand.
Just the two of us.
Now that I thought about it, opportunities like this might become rare.
Once the baby was born, there would always be a third wheel between Arte and me.
I had heard her mention feeling lonely when she was by herself lately…
But even that kind of solitude might not last much longer.
In a few months, our child would enter the world.
I’d never experienced it myself, but I’d heard raising a child was exhausting.
If that was true, then even something as simple as walking home together like this would become a rare luxury.
"…Aren’t you going to take it? Eep—!"
That thought struck me, and on impulse, I stole a kiss from Arte’s lips.
As she flustered from the sudden kiss, I took her hand and laughed brightly.
"Alright, Arte. Let’s enjoy our time together."
"…Seriously, kissing me like this in public? What if someone sees?"
"Haha, sorry."
Now that she mentioned it, there were other students around.
I’d been so focused on Arte that I hadn’t even considered how others might react.
Looking around, everyone wore shocked expressions.
Maybe they never expected me to openly display affection like this in a place like this.
It felt good to catch those gossiping idiots off guard.
"Alright, let’s go."
Maybe it was because I was in such a good mood.
I decided to do something I usually wouldn’t in public.
I looped my arm around Arte’s, making it obvious to anyone who saw that we were a couple.
"What’s gotten into you? You never do this."
"No reason. Just felt like it today."
"…Hehe, I don’t know why, but it feels nice."
As I glanced around, I noticed a few people’s expressions darken noticeably.
They were probably the type who wanted to be in a relationship themselves.
The way they stared at us with envy confirmed it.
I didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty.
After all, they were the ones who kept whispering and annoying me.
"Shall we go, Arte?"
"Yes, that sounds good."
I shot Amelia one last smirk for all the teasing she’d done, then leisurely turned to leave.
Not long after, the sound of grinding teeth reached me from behind.
"Can you two please save that for your own damn house…?"
"Seriously. Do the boss and Siwoo have no shame?"
Puhaha.
Who even started it?
This was payback for all the daily teasing.
Take it like a champ.
"…Hmm, not bad. Tastes fine."
I checked the seasoning on the dish I’d made with the ingredients I’d picked up on the way home.
Fortunately, it didn’t taste terrible.
Hopefully Arte would enjoy it.
As that thought crossed my mind, a grumble of protest came from the living room.
"I could’ve cooked at least…"
"Ah-ah."
"Siwoo, you must be exhausted after the Academy…"
"Tsk."
"…"
I forcibly cut off Arte’s complaints.
I had no intention of making a pregnant Arte cook for me.
It wasn’t like I couldn’t cook myself.
Sure, I wasn’t as good as Arte, but thanks to my years of living alone, I could at least make something edible for others.
"But this way, I feel like I’m always just taking from you…"
"That’s not true."
I knew why Arte kept trying to do things for me.
She must’ve felt indebted.
But there was no reason for her to feel that way toward me.
"You have no idea how much strength you give me every single day."
Siwoo didn’t think he held any advantage in his relationship with Arte.
But Arte was different. Maybe because he had helped her?
She seemed to have this strange compulsion to do something for him in return.
It was touching. Adorable, even. So he’d let it slide.
But if it was weighing on her, that was another story.
"What do you mean…?"
"Arte. I help you because I love you, because I care about you. You don’t need to feel that way."
"Hah, but…"
She was more stubborn than he’d expected.
Arte could be like this sometimes.
"And besides, you’re already giving me a huge gift."
"…A huge gift?"
Her expression was full of confusion, as if she had no idea what he was talking about.
Did she really not know?
It was so cute he couldn’t help but smile. He gently rubbed Arte’s belly as he spoke.
"Yeah. The biggest gift of all—a child between us."
"…"
"So don’t worry so much. Just enjoy the meal… How is it?"
He’d said it casually, but he was a little nervous—his cooking wasn’t quite on Arte’s level.
Arte, who had been looking at him with tearful emotion, suddenly let out a small laugh.
"Ahaha, it was perfect… until that last part."
"Was it? Sorry."
"…It’s really delicious. Thank you."
Her sincere praise made him grin, and Arte smiled back at him, her own face lighting up.
A moment of warmth, shared with the woman he loved—something he’d never imagined possible before.