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Since you arrived at this realm, you've been thinking of surviving from the Masks or called Angels who are making you fell into the temptation of death by hunting you down. Surely, this realm sucked a lot already for risking life or death everytime when you fought and crossing the suspension bridges that connects one skyscraper to another.
But, don't worry. Even in worlds like this, there's always be a silver lining.
When you first known the term "God Candidate" and of course Sniper Mask, it was when Kuon saved you. She's called by that term as you can remember, since tailing on her back is a freaking Angel that the white smiley mask had haunted you for long nights and days here.
But, Sniper Mask is a whole lot different than the Masks you've been encountered and killed before. He's always looks so gentleman and elegant in fine tuxedo and fedora, and the way he aims his rifle to enemy Angels... Wow, you're way safer than you could ever think inside this hellish realm.
Speaking of which, being friends with both Kuon and Sniper Mask brings you to much more feelings. Admiration and love are one of them. Of course, Kuon is a very nice and determined girl who has otherworldly abilities within this realm who makes you comfort and happy. But, Sniper Mask...
' I guess I've been like Kuon then... Having a total crush to Sniper... ' you thought, as the three of you finally residing a bedroom on a hotel
That's right. You have a crush on him.
You thinks again, as the ombre-haired girl talks with Sniper, ' Kuon said to me once that he might have a handsome face. Makes me curious... '
The man turns, felt that he was stared at, and you immediately scrambles. "_____? Are you alright?"
You quickly shook your head, "I-I'm fine! You guys can take a rest! I'm gonna be on watch!"
Grabbing your axe, you immediately sprints out the bedroom to the walkway to the suspension bridge where the three of you were before. Kuon just looked in confusion at your sudden reaction. But, she's relieved that you always can be a helping hand since she had done much to saving you before.
Looking up, Kuon asks, "Are you sure you don't want to sleep, Mr. Mask? I know that you're really tired."
"No, I'm not. It's my job to look after you two," of course, the white smiley mask just looks back at her
Deciding to sleep first, so Kuon takes off her shoes and climbs the bed. Presumably this room hasn't been used before, the bed is nice and fluffy, quickly drifting her off to sleep. Sighing, that's one been taken care of, Sniper sits down on a chair and pulls out cigarette to start smoking. He knew that smoking a lot is bad, but it's becoming of a habit. While at it, he starts to thinking of your seemingly weird gestures whenever he is around.
Meanwhile, you just sits down, back against the wall, looking on the suspension bridge ahead. Truly, your head is just full of surviving this world and him lately, it's making you wanting to grab him by the collar and kiss him, you don't care if the mask were on the way. But, you didn't know how he would react if a normal human would kiss a Mask.
' It would be nice if I met someone like him on the real world. So gentleman like that, that fine fashion too... Surely the smoking habit is a bit off, but he's too good... ' you thinks, axe in hand
The way his slender arms holds the long rifle, his body position and that gloved hands were a perfect addition too. The way he always leads the way, sharing foods, and so much more. All of a sudden, your cheeks starts to warming, thinking of how there was a Mask that is as nice as him. Perhaps, he might bumped his head somewhere and ended up acting differently.
The sun starts to descend, as you were on watch. So far, there were no Masks wandering around, it's quiet with an occasional wind gush that makes you shudders. Being so high above the ground, makes you feel cold a lot. Even though you have a jacket that kept you warm, the cold is still creeping.
' I wonder how Sniper's face would look like... ' you think, as you pulled up your knees together, hugging it
Would it be like those actors from movies you watched on the real world, featured with a handsome face that sweeps audience's feelings... the possibility are endless.
Wait a minute.
Why you kept thinking about Sniper Mask when life and death is at risk here if you encounter a Mask?!
Quickly, you claps your cheeks to regain focus. But, you were too distracted by how warm your cheeks were from that thoughts. Unknown to you, the person you've been thinking is standing beside you, cigarette on the empty space of the smile.
He blows out smoke, before asking, "Why are you daydreaming like that?"
A screech is what you let out, as you immediately scoots away. But you quickly stops as soon as you see the familiar tuxedo colors and the rifle he carry.
Sniper said, cigarette between his gloved fingers, "You're really don't minding if you ended up dead if a Mask goes this way, huh? You better be thankful that I'm not that."
You somehow forget that Sniper can be quite bossy too, "Y-Yeah, t-thanks about that."
You looked around, and Kuon isn't with him. "Is Kuon asleep?"
Sniper nods. "Yeah. I was planned to see you in a bit before going back to wake her up."
That question needs to be told, so you gathered your courage by standing up. Sniper moves his head as you stands, an indication that he's intently gazing at you.
"Hey, Sniper, if you remember your life on the real world before, have ever someone crushes on you?" you decides to bring up a quite loose topic to break the ice
"Why you asked? As far as I can remember, I don't have one," Sniper answers, still smoking
Right, the Commands that control the Masks' memories exists. Even for someone like him with a cracked mask, he only regained a few. It's getting hard, that you were about to confess to him. But, letting out that words from your throat is too hard, so you ended up just smiles wide.
"Nevermind about that! Come, let's wake Kuon and continue to search allies!" you skips away from him, as he moves his head to observes you who were skipping—more like running away from him.
Proceeding to put out his half-burnt cigarette, he starts to wonder of what did you just thought on your watch here. Moreover, you seemed to fluster much lately and that question too. Perhaps, that would be for later, if you ever had the courage to say it and you still alive in this hellish realm.
Besides, love could be a reason to stay alive here.
Securing allies with Yuri seems like a great idea to end this realm in peace. Moreover, she's stronger than she looks like. While surrounded by stronger people, you start worrying of what if you died first before you could confess to Sniper. Taking the quiet side of the rooftop, you start opens the wrapper of an onigiri.
"May I sit with you?" a familiar deep and velvet-smooth voice greets you
You immediately looks up, "Sniper! C-Come sit down, you must be tired!"
The man then sits down, taking off his fedora. He had a pack of sandwich and water bottle. Instinctively, you scoots to face yourself away from him. Sniper didn't give a reaction, as he proceed to take off his mask.
"You do exactly what Kuon did," he commented, before eating his lunch
"A-Am I? M-Maybe I wasn't ready yet to see your face..." you quickly comments, seeing from the corner of your eyes
Sniper sighs, "Idiot. I guessed you have something to say to me before."
You almost choked on your onigiri. "You remembered it, huh?"
"Of course I am."
There's no way backing out from it then. Gulping the rest of the rice ball, you sigh to calm your already pounding-like-crazy heart.
"Mr. Sniper Mask, I like you!" you try to sounded not loud enough to be heard by him only
The wind gush is the only answer. Sniper just froze from your sudden confession.
"I know it's stupid coming from me, but you kept me alive all this time. From the time you two saved me, I just can't help on falling in love with you...!" Closing your flushed face with your palms, you blurbed out your bottled feelings about him
Sniper then stands up, picking up his mask along the way. After securing the straps, he reaches out his hand to you.
"That's not stupid at all, coming from you."
You take his hand, feeling that you were pulled along. Holding your hand gently, he takes you to the nearby wall of the rooftop's stairway door. His hand is wrapping around yours, as if he's just a normal human instead of an Angel. You smiled upon that kind gesture.
The two of you was hidden from the eyes of others. You thought it was a great idea to sneak away like this, plus your totally flushed face would be for Sniper to look only.
thinking it's the perfect timing, you shyly ask, "C-Can I kiss you, Sniper? I-It's a totally stupid idea, you can reject that—"
The man reaches for his mask, slightly loosen the straps to reveal half of his face. Your eyes gone wide by the sudden movement, as Sniper takes you closer by the waist, closing the gap.
He then say again, in that velvet-smooth voice you swore you had fallen for. "I'm a gentleman, there's no way I'm gonna reject a wish from a darling like you."
Before you could process on how he called you a darling, his lips meets yours, gently. Although he's aware of how the Command would do in response, but he wants to savor the moment for now. Awarely, he pulls back to make sure the mask he wore halfway doesn't say anything weird to his brain.
"H-How's that? I never kiss someone before..." you mutters, eyes looking down to your shoes
His lips tugs into a smile. "You did well for your first try."
Sniper wears again the mask, and these hazy feelings is making you dizzy, upon your curiosity of the upper half of his face too.
"T-Thanks for returning my feelings... Makes me think that I gotta survive together with you!" you says enthusiastly, while still flustered
From behind the white smiley face, he also smiles on you. "If you did well, I'll give you more. But, let's keep it a secret from Kuon until it's the perfect timing to tell her."
The wind continues to blow, on top of this world of skyscrapers. In this hellish realm, you found love, not with a normal human, but a human who wears a mask.
And for once, you didn't mind about it.