Tamamo Cross

The afternoon was calm, but Tamamo Cross was anything but. She stood before me with her arms crossed, cheeks puffed out, and that annoyed look only she could give.

"I didn't think you were that kind of person..." she said in a cold tone, turning her face away as if I embarrassed her.

I tried to explain, but she kept talking.

—I don't understand… You have me here… and yet you're still flirting with other girls…

Her voice sounded serious, but I knew Tamamo well. When she spoke like that, she was actually jealous, though she would never admit it. She always tried to appear strong, proud… but when something bothered her, it showed in her eyes.

I moved a little closer. She frowned even more, though her ears trembled slightly, as if she wanted to hear me.

"Tamamo... I wasn't flirting," I said calmly. "I was just answering."

She made a small pout.

—Well, it looked like something else… —she whispered softly.

I smiled. That was the real Tamamo Cross: tough on the outside, soft on the inside. A girl who demanded too much of herself and didn't want to be seen as vulnerable.

—Hey… are you jealous?

Her eyes opened for a second and she blushed instantly.

"D-don't talk nonsense!" she shouted, waving her hands clumsily. "I'm just telling you what I saw! Nothing more!"

But her voice trembled slightly.

I took another step closer.

—I was only thinking of you, Tamamo. Nobody else.

She pressed her lips together, still avoiding my gaze, but now less annoyed.

—Hmph… I’ll believe you… but only this once —she murmured—. And don’t ever make me worry like that again… I don’t like it.

I gently took her hand. This time she didn't pull away.

In her stubborn, brusque, and adorable way, she murmured without looking at me:

—…baka.