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"I was kidding. I ducked under the water when I saw you coming."
"Oh."
"I heard about it, by the way. You and Loki's romantic stroll."
"Romantic?" he gasped out, "nothing about it was romantic!"
"You were holding hands."
"That-that..." he trailed off. They had been holding hands.
"You know, I've never really seen Loki treat someone the way she treats you before. Not Aiz. Not even other Gods."
"There aren't many Campione around."
"You know that's not the only reason, Godou."
It was just him and Finn in the pool. Godou sunk lower into the water, until his chin was submerged.
"I know."
"I never thought the day would come where I'd see Loki would fall in love."
He pursed his lips. "Calling it love is a little...it's a crush. Nothing more."
"You sound very sure of that."
"It's a Campione thing. Gods and Campiones are attracted to each other. It's instinct."
"So you do like her."
"Not by choice," Godou grumbled.
"Still a good choice, I think."
"No. Gods and Campione aren't supposed to get along very well."
"You and Lancelot seemed to get along very well, if I remember correctly."
Godou felt his cheeks grow warm. "She's...different."
"Loki's pretty different too."
"Yes, I suppose she is."
"So? What are you going to do about her?"
"Nothing."
He kept his eyes forward, but he could imagine Finn starting to look upset next to him.
"She's trying really hard. I can see that. The whole Familia can see that. You can see that."
"I know."
"And you're just going to pretend nothing's happening?"
"Yeap."
"I misjudged you, Kusanagi Godou."
The words stung like a slap.
"So did Loki," Godou added softly. "I'd rather she hate me."
"Yet you never truly push her away when she tries to get closer to you."
"I can't do that."
"And why not?"
"Because she is a good God. I don't want her to ever lose that."
He could feel the Pallum's stare drilling into him.
"You're a hypocrite, Kusanagi Godou."
"I'm only human," he mumbled.
XxXxXxXxX
"I feel this is a rather demeaning position for someone of my station to be in," Loki commented.
"Well, since you can't run very fast, we don't have a choice, do we?" Godou shot back. "Unless you want to be burnt to bits, or strung up by a giant spider."
"Oh I have nothing against you carrying me," Loki said. "I was actually looking forward to it."
"Then shut up and enjoy the ride."
"My issue is how you're carrying me. I'm supposed to be draped in your arms, like a princess! Or at least piggybacked!" Loki said indignantly, from where she was slung across his shoulders, "not carried like a sack of potatoes!"
Godou would have shrugged his shoulders, but the additional weight on them made it difficult. "This is the only way I can keep my hands free to fight."
As if on cue, an unseen spider hidden in the darkness above spat out a thread of web at him, and he swung Lancelot, in her sword form, to deflect it away.
Finn hadn't been joking. The Fifty-First Floor was a hellhole.
They had been running at an all-out sprinting pace for the past thirty minutes. The entire journey was expected to take several hours. And that was if they didn't get lost wh
ich, given that the labyrinth-like landscape here constantly changed, was certainly a possibility.
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Want to read more?
The next 10+ chapters are already available on my Patreon!
By joining, you'll get:
📖 Early access to future chapters
🗳️ Polls to shape the story
🎁 Exclusive content for Patrons
🔥 Bonus scenes & content you won't find anywhere else
👀 Don't fall behind—others are already ahead!
👉 patreon.com/FanfictionTakashi
(If link doesn't show, just search on Google: FanfictionTakashi Patreon)