My Desertion Would Be Faster Than Heros’ Obsession

‘She’s the same as ever.’

Watching Salvia, bright and cheerful as always, comforting her subordinates, Aquila let the corners of his lips curl into a smile. It was such an endearing, wonderful sight.

Then, suddenly, a sharp pain throbbed in his head, causing him to momentarily frown.

He had played it off in front of Salvia as just an excuse to stay by her side, but when he had complained about a headache to the medic earlier, it had been real. Not that he had received any useful treatment from them, of course.

Still, just looking at Salvia made the pain fade on its own, so Aquila kept his gaze fixed on her.

These days, every day felt like happiness. He had always been on edge, wary of everything, but now, his tension had eased considerably. So much so that if Patty and Matty had carelessly dropped a banana peel on the ground, he might not even have the reflexes to dodge it and would slip right on it.

The year that Salvia had been promoted and stationed in the Snowy Mountain Battalion had nearly driven Aquila insane.

"Ha..."

Every morning, waking up to the realization that he had to spend the day without Salvia left him looking visibly dejected.

"Haa..."

Whenever Patty, Matty, or Dalin caused trouble, he instinctively wanted to run over and tear his hair out with Salvia, but she wasn’t there, and that absence tormented him.@@novelbin@@

When the weather was cold, there was no Salvia for him to warm up.

When pudding was served, there was no Salvia to whom he could give his portion.

When tying his bootlaces, there was no Salvia to help him knot them properly.

When a rainbow appeared, there was no Salvia to watch it with.

When it rained, there was no Salvia to dry his wet hair.