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Dante wasn’t only a great wallet, he’s also a great porter.
One day, the day when I got used to the fact that there was someone else staying in my house, I asked him to follow me to the village because I had a lot to buy and at my words he frowned as he obeyed faithfully. Saying that since he’s like a good kid.
I belatedly remembered that Dante said he didn’t like crowded places, but if he didn’t like it, he would’ve refused, that’s why I passed it over that it’d be okay.
The village where I shop for groceries is located next to the forest, so I could walk just a little bit. It is close, but I liked it because it’s smaller and quieter than the neighboring town.
Deep down, I thought there would be an ugly rumor circulating that someone got hurt and went into the forest, and outsiders were wandering around the village looking for that person, but there wasn’t any. If they were curious about Dante, it’s more about amazement, and there was no sign of suspicion or wary at all.
It was fortunate for me and Dante. Even though I live far away from the village, there’s nothing good about being treated like a suspicious person.
It’s been a while since I’ve been shopping for groceries with someone, so I bought a lot of things I wouldn’t normally buy. Dante’s hand, which lifted the luggage in a natural way, grew heavier and heavier. Oh my, his expression is getting worse and worse. With regret, I added one more load.
“What are you buying so much for?”
“I buy a lot because the number of people living in my house has increased. If I live alone, I don’t need this much.”
The moment I said so, he shut his mouth again. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him win with words, perhaps because he’s weak at arguing.
Just as I was telling him to go through the suffering a little more because we’ll be home soon, someone shouted out loud.
“Sister!”
I don’t come to the village often, but there were people I got acquainted with whenever I visited the village. When such people found me, they pretended to know me and were happy to see me, but whenever that happened, I would greet them properly. Saying it’s nice to see them after a long time.
Most of the time, it was friendly adults or girls my ageㅡof course, the word ‘age’ is used only when I look at their outer appearances.
Today was the latter.
“It’s been a while, Sister!”
We were instantly surrounded by the crowd of children talking to each other. The children welcomed me, and then quickly turned their gaze to my side. It was a face that stood out so much, it seems like their eyes were drawn on its own.
The children’s reaction to seeing Dante was exactly as expected.
“Wow, Sister, wow.”
“Sister, who is this person?”
“Whoa. I’ve never seen such a handsome person.”
“Me too.”
“Is he Sister’s friend?”
“Does he live with you, Sister?”
Are you excited about seeing someone for the first time, or are you just excited about that face? I opened my mouth to explain the situation to the flood of questions, but suddenly felt annoyed and shut my mouth.
As Dante was in trouble, I could see him answering the questions that came to him ㅡhow old are you, where did you come from, what did you eat so that you become so handsomeㅡin moderation. And it seemed like it was becoming increasingly difficult to answer.
“It is right that he’s a person who’s living together with me. This
”
“Together? You guys live together? Only the two of you?”
“How come you live together?”
“I didn’t know Sister was so capable like this!”
“You be quiet!”
“
”
Chaotic. They weren’t usually this loud, yet today they’re so crazy.
As the liveliness of the children who were much younger than me became more and more difficult, I realized that most of them were looking at me.
They’re asking about Dante, but their eyes are on me. Then I can see the answer.
First of all, since we live together, they’re asking for permission. Whether they can attack this person with questions, that kind of permission.
“
”
They sure ae nice for kids their age, right?
I looked at Dante once, and once I saw the children looking at me with eager eyes, I made a decision in an instant. After all, I have to get out of here to do some shopping.
“If you have any questions, why not ask him directly?”
While saying this, I pointed to Dante and they ran towards him as if they were waiting.
In my heart, I gave Dante my heartfelt words of support, then I got out of the crowd and headed for the store right behind him. For getting out after sacrificing Dante
 rather than feeling bad, it feels refreshing, though?
Is it okay if my personality is like this? I looked around at the stalls lined with fruits, contemplating. A fruit that’s not an apple but looks like an apple and
 there are fruits that I’ve never eaten. I didn’t know because I wasn’t interested, but there were quite a few different types.
Dante seems to eat anything. Shall I try this too? I was suddenly curious, so I included a few things I saw for the first time.
When I finished grocery shopping, the children around Dante stood croaking for a long time. I was greeted by smiling faces the moment I came out of the checkout.
“So what’s the relationship between you and that Brother?”
What relationship, you asked? That is, of course, the lodger and the landlord. But I know I shouldn’t answer like this unless I want to be bombarded with more questions.
Thus, I gave the quickest and simplest answer. There is only one answer that will solve all the questions of those children without the need to unravel the story.
“Oh, he’s my lover.”
“Whoa!”
“Really? I thought that you somehow brought someone you didn’t know!”
“Sister is so cool! I want to date someone as handsome as that Brother!”
“Just looking at his face makes me feel full, but you’re lovers!”
No matter what they say, I put the things I could see from another stall. And as I turned around to see if Dante had any hands left to hold it, suddenly someone burst into laughter.
“It hasn’t been a while since Sister dated this Brother, right!”
“Um, that’s right. Why?”
I’ve never dated, but let’s assume like that. When I answered while blurring the end of my words, there was another laugh. What’s wrong? After a moment of wonder, someone spoke in a voice full of laughter.
“Just look at his face!”
Dante’s face, seen by the children, looked like the fruit I picked earlier. In a word, it was ripe red. To the extent that I wondered how a person could turn their entire face from face to neck that way.
As an added bonus, he even had a face that looked like he was going to die of embarrassment.
When I said that we were lovers, he should’ve adjusted the rhythm roughly, what if he’s that embarrassed? I secretly clicked my tongue, but the other kids didn’t care.
“I thought you were surprised when Sister said that you’re her lover, but you turned so red! You must be very shy!”
“You’re handsome and you’re even cute! Brother, what was your name?”
As I looked at it, the face that seemed to be getting even redder turned into an explosion. I looked around the children and reached out to rescue Dante from blushing.
“My love, what are you embarrassed of? Let’s go home now.”
“No, you
 No
”
My love! We returned home, leaving behind the children who burst into almost fits of laughter. I held his hand since I said we were lovers.
I wondered what to do if he pushed me away, yet Dante meekly took my hand.
Dante’s complexion didn’t return until we got home and I let go of his hand. I asked if he was sick, yet he covered his face with his hands and shook his head. If you’re sick, you should tell me so.
***
“You need to improve your acting skills.”
“
What acting skills?”
When we had dinner together after shopping, I suddenly remembered what happened in the village. I know my words are nonsense, but what can I do now?
“Earlier. They fell for it because they focused on something else, and if you show such embarrassment, you’ll look suspicious.”
“If it was earlier, then that
”
“That?”
“
”
Why can’t you speak? There was no answer although I looked at him while chewing the bread roughly.
“You know, right? As I said before, you are very shy if you usually aren’t like that.”
“Because you’re so indifferent.”
“Yeah, it’s true that I’m indifferent, but you’re a bit too much. Well, I’m glad you didn’t show that you were upset. That would have been strange to anyone.”
Then Dante opened his mouth as if to answer something, but then closed it without saying anything. I thought he’d just stop replying, but he opened his mouth again.
“Are you really not in a bad mood? You even get involved as my lover.”
“You’re saying weird things.”
Dante’s expression became subtle as I laughed lightly
“I’m the one who brought it up first. If I’m offended, I wouldn’t say anything.”
“
”
Although Dante’s subtle expression was slightly distorted when he heard me, I decided not to care. He usually makes that kind of expression when he’s shy.
I thought that he was particularly embarrassed by the sound of my ‘lover’, but Dante was naturally shy, that’s why it was understandable.
“Anyway, if we get a question like that from now on, I’ll reply that we’re lovers, so try acting naturally.”
You don’t even want to explain how you ended up staying here, right? Having said that, Dante let out a small sigh.
“It’s the first time in my life I’ve been told to act naturally.”
“That’s great. You have to hear nagging like this at least once in your life.”
As I added in a grin, Dante also relaxed his expression.
“Be natural means not to be flustered even if I hear the lovers thing, right?”
“Yeah.”
Dante seemed to be contemplating something at my words, then nodded his head.
“Alright. If that’s the case, it’s not difficult.”
“It’s not difficult, you say? It didn’t seem like that today.”
Even when I said it in a teasing tone, Dante was steadfast.
“I was embarrassed because I heard this all of a sudden today, and it will never happen again from now on. Like you said, I can improve my acting skills, can’t I?”
Saying so, he smiled softly. Not showing off, just stating the obvious.
“There’s nothing I can’t do if I want to nurture it. I’m good at everything.”
“Ah, I see
”
It’s bad luck to say you’re good at everything. You can’t even say something like that once you experience the bitter taste of life.
As I finished eating, I devised a way to tease Dante whenever he was embarrassed by the word of lovers. Thinking that the more he rants with confidence like that, the more fun it is to make fun of him later.
It was possible because I didn’t know that there was a reason for him to say that he’s good at everything, and because I didn’t know that I was rather the one who would be flustered.