Trying to Kill Each Other Doesn't Count as Flirting (or Does it?)

Chapter 14

She shook her head, legs trembling beneath her, but before she could fall to her knees, Sougo spoke up.

"By the way," he said, crossing the room to the door, "there's someone here who wants to see to you. I think you might find them quite...interesting."

Someone wants to see me? Who could that possibly be?

He slid open the door, and when (F/N) saw who stood at the other side, her jaw dropped to the ground.

"It's—it's the Shogun?"

The Shogun smiled. "It's good to see you again, (F/N)-san."

Before she could process what was happening, Soyo popped out from behind her brother.

"I'm here, too!"

"Soyo-chan?"

(F/N) didn't hesitate before flinging herself across the room, and wrapping her friend in a tight hug. She didn't know what was going on, but whatever it was, she was happy about it.

"What's happening?" she demanded. "Why are you here? What—"

Soyo drew back with a giggle.

"(F/N)-chan, my big brother has something to tell you."

The look on Soyo's face instantly made (F/N) suspicious, but when she looked up at the Shogun's face, she couldn't imagine a single bad thing coming out of his mouth, and the moment he spoke, she found her suspicions were confirmed.

"I want to start by apologizing," he said. "Okita-san informed me of what happened to your parents. It was my fault. If I had been more aware of my uncle's actions, nothing of this sort ever would have happened. I apologize from the bottom of my heart."

It took (F/N) a moment to process that not only had the Shogun just apologized to her, but he was bowing to her.

"What—what are you talking about?" she exclaimed. "You—you don't have to apologize! You—"

"Please. You must let me make it up to you. Okita-san told me you don't have a place to stay. Therefore, I'd like it if you came to live at the palace. That is, if that's something you'd like—"

"Are you kidding me?"

(F/N) didn't even realize she'd interrupted the Shogun. She was too busy wondering what was happening. The Shogun was taking her in? How? Why? What was going on?

Wait, what was that thing he kept saying? Okita-san informed me? This was Sougo's doing? What horrible, unspeakable things had he done to their country's leader?

Oh, well, it didn't matter. All that mattered was that she had a home, and this was the Shogun. Nobunobu couldn't override his decision.

She was free at last.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and before she knew what she was doing, she threw her arms around the Shogun, sobbing into his chest.

"Thank you! Thank you so, so much!"

"Oh..." he stammered. "You're...happy?"

She didn't bother answering before hugging Soyo again.

"Thank you so much! Really! I can't thank you enough!"

As she drew away from Soyo, she noticed the Shogun trying to wipe a small blush off his face, looking mildly concerned about something—probably Okita, who was glaring at him from his spot, forgotten in the corner.