After noticing Yuto's flushed cheeks and hearing him say he was fine, Valentina mistook it for anxiety about the exam rather than him seeing the inn. She immediately quickened her pace, glancing back at Yuto with a gentle smile.
"It's just up ahead!" They called out as Yuto was a few steps ahead.
He struggled to keep up, his larger frame making it difficult to match Valentina's speed. His heart was racing for multiple reasons now - both from physical exertion and the strange emotions swirling inside him.
"Wait...!" He panted, trying to catch his breath. "Slow down...!"
Valentina finally slowed to a stop in front of a cozy-looking inn, looking slightly embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to rush you. I just thought..." They trailed off, studying Yuto's flushed face with concern. Her expression softened as they realized Yuto was out of breath, reaching out to steady him, their warm hand pressed against his arm. "Here, let me help you." They guided him to a nearby bench.
Yuto sank down gratefully, still trying to process everything that had happened today; from the mysterious transportation to these confusing feelings.
"Take your time, Yuto." Valentina sat beside him, giving him space but staying close enough to offer support.
The cool evening air helped Yuto's clear his head a bit, but his heart continued to race as he stole another glance at Valentina's profile. She noticed Yuto's lingering gaze and tilted her head, their expression gentle yet questioning. "You seem distracted." They said softly, their voice barely above a whisper. "Is everything okay?"
Yuto's throat felt dry as he struggled to find the right words. The evening shadows made Valentina's features appear softer and more... inviting.
"I... uhm... well..." He started, then stopped, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I don't know what's wrong with me. My heart keeps racing and I feel... strange."
Valentina widened their eyes slightly with understanding dawning on their face. They shifted closer on the bench, their knee brushing against Yuto's. "Maybe it's just all the excitement of today catching up to you." They suggested carefully, though Yuto's breath hitched as Valentina moved closer. Her presence overwhelmed his senses, and the air felt thick with tension—he could feel the warmth radiating from their body.
"We should probably... go inside." He managed to say, standing up abruptly. "It's getting late, don't you think?" Valentina stood up as well, their eyes following him with concern and something else that Yuto couldn't quite place.
"Wait, Yuto..." They reached out brushing their hand against his arm again. "You're still looking unsteady, let me help you inside." Yuto's heart pounded even harder at the suggestion, nodding mutely and allowing Valentina to guide him toward the inn's entrance. He wouldn't deny her kindness even if he didn't need it.
Walking inside, the inn's interior was warm and inviting with wooden beams and flickering lanterns casting a soft glow. The scent of fresh bread and roasted meat wafted from the common room of elves, dwarves, and beastmen.
"This way." Valentina led him up a creaking staircase as their footsteps echoed softly in the narrow space. Once they reached the top, Yuto could see that the hallway was lined with doors; each one marked with a different number. Valentina stopped at a door with the number seven above it. "This is our room." Taking off their Wizard hat, they pulled out a key from the inside, unlocking the door. "I requested one on the second floor with a good view a few days ago." She put back on her hat.
While Valentina stepped inside, Yuto followed behind her, a bit nervous. The room was simple but comfortable, with a large bed, a writing desk, and a window overlooking the town square, there was also a warm fire that crackled in the hearth across the room.
"It looks cozy in here..." All of a sudden, his stomach growled audibly, making him blush again. He almost forgot he hadn't eaten all day. "Ahaha, how did I forget? I am a bit hungry." He admitted sheepishly, turning to face Valentina who was now standing in the doorway.
She smiled warmly and walked into the hallway. "I'll buy us some dinner from the kitchen. They make excellent stew here." They hesitated for a moment, then added: "By the way, I can order another room for myself, so if you aren't feeling comfortable, I can switch rooms if you want me to."
Yuto widened his eyes at her comment. The idea of being alone in this strange world terrified him, and having Valentina nearby made him feel safer. "No!" He said abruptly, meeting their eyes. "I think it would be best if we stayed together. No need for you to get another room, Valentina!" He suddenly cringed at himself, realizing how clingy he sounded.
Valentina nodded with a gentle smile. "Alright then, I'll be right back with food!" They promised, closing the door behind them and walking down the hallway.
Yuto watched them go, his heart racing with anticipation. He heard their footsteps fade down the hallway, then the loud obnoxious townspeople below. The room felt different now, charged with unspoken feelings as Yuto sat down on the edge of the bed, his mind racing with everything that happened today.
"So... I'm really in another world, huh?" He talked to himself, taking off his shoes and sliding them underneath the bed. "Who would've thought I'd be accidentally Isekai'd into an alternate reality? This is something you'd see in an anime, it feels like I'm gonna wake up any second now in my bed." Yuto reached for his pocket and took out his phone, seeing its low battery percentage. "This is the only thing I have left to remind me of everyone back home. My mom, dad... brother and sister."
As he stared at the home screen, the device felt foreign and useless in this new world, a reminder of everything he'd lost. "I'm so useless without you guys..." He whispered, his voice breaking as tears welled up in his eyes. "I can't do anything right."
The familiar words of his family tasted bittersweet on his tongue, memories flooding back of family dinners and weekend outings. The ache in his chest grew stronger. "I miss them so much..." He clutched the phone to his chest, his shoulders shaking as silent sobs wracked his body. The weight of homesickness crashed over him like a tidal wave.
Yuto's tears fell freely as his body trembled with painful sobs. He remembered the way his mother would support him through his painful experiences at school, and the way his father would laugh at his terrible jokes. Despite being in a fantastical new world, the thought of his home life felt far better than any magic he could learn in Algunita.
"I can't do anything here..." He choked out between sobs, his voice thick with despair. "I don't belong in this world..." The phone slipped from his fingers and clattered to the floor, but he didn't notice. His mind was consumed by memories of his siblings - his sister's infectious laughter, and his brother's protective nature.
Valentina eventually returned quietly, holding two steaming bowls of stew. They paused in the doorway as their heart broke at the sight of Yuto's tears. Immediately sitting down the bowls on the table, she quickly rushed to his side, wrapping their arms around him in a comforting embrace. "Yuto... it's okay!" They whispered softly, understanding his pain.
She held him tighter, their warmth seeping into his bones as he cried. Valentina murmured soothing words as he sobbed, their voice a gentle balm against his pain. "Let it all out..." They whispered, tracing their palm along his back. "I'm here for you." Yuto buried his face in their shoulder, his tears soaking through their robe as he cried like a baby. The familiar scent of home - the smell of cooking and fresh laundry - seemed to surround him, making him cry harder.
"We've all been there... lost and afraid." Valentina started to rock him gently, ignoring his vicious sobs into her shoulder. "You're safe now." They whispered, their breath warm against his ear.
+
Thirty minutes have went by. Valentina stayed with him as he cried himself out, holding him until his sobs finally subsided. After cheering him up, Yuto ate his stew and was well-fed, but his body was heavy with exhaustion; both from the emotional outburst and from the terrible events of today.
Yuto lay quietly in bed, fast asleep as Valentina tucked a blanket around him. Time passed in a blur as Yuto slept deeply—the emotional toll of today being overwhelming for any human being.
Gently sliding into bed, Valentina was careful not to disturb his sleep. They could still see the tear tracks on his face, even in the dim light before nightfall.
The mattress dipped slightly as she settled in and whispered, "Goodnight Yuto." Her words caused him to stir slightly as he slept, mumbling something incoherent in his sleep.
He felt safe, knowing that he had someone he could finally rely on, other than his family and loved ones.