Chapter 39 - 38. Where Something’s Changed
"Hey, Anise," Han Shin pulled on the researcher's sleeve. He lowered his voice to a whisper as his eyes squinted at the view a few meters in front of them. "Something's happened isn't it?"
"Something...like what, Sir?"
"I don't know. I mean, look at them..." he twisted his lips, fingers stroking his chin like an avid observer. "They're getting chummier every day,"
Anise followed Han Shin's gaze, although she already knew what the healer talked about. The object of their conversation, once again, seemed to be in their own world. Even inside the camp, they tended to sit a little further away from the others, and then absorbed in conversation that involved no one but themselves.
Even while they were still walking along the ruin, they'd converse with each other, a lot. And touchy. So touchy that Han Shin could no longer just ignore it.
"But, Sir, I thought we all already knew that Sir Vaski is pursuing Mister Zen?" Anise tilted her head. Honestly, she didn't think she was a very good partner for this kind of conversation, since she had no interest in the romantic or sexual aspects of a human relationship.
But she still at least understood that Bassena Vaski was openly insinuating his interest in the beautiful guide, and had been persistent in making his advances.
"I know that," Han Shin scoffed. "He's so forward it was starting to look pathetic before."
"Before?"
Han Shin crossed his arms and twisted his lips. "It's one thing for Bas to chase Zein and flirt his way, but..." he narrowed his eyes as Bassena unwrapped something that looked like candy and wiggled it in front of their guide.
If it was a week ago, Zein would either ignore the esper or just snatch the candy with a deadpan expression, and Han Shin would have a field day teasing Bassena about it. But now—now Han Shin witnessed Zein roll his eyes but opened his mouth without hesitation, and Bassena put the candy in the guide's mouth with a soft smile that made Han Shin have goosebumps.