“When on earth will things go back to normal?” Ares grumbled, his expression sour.
He sat on the chair, his short legs dangling above the floor. Despite his attempt to look intimidating, his cuteness was undeniable. Kirine almost laughed at the sight.
“I don’t kno—” she began to say.
“Don’t you dare say you don’t know,” Ares interrupted.
Kirine sighed, turning away. Ares narrowed his eyes, urging her to respond. “We can’t stay like this forever. Do something,” he demanded.
“Personally, I think it’s a good look,” Kirine replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Maybe to you!” Ares retorted, rising to his feet. He pointed a finger at Kirine, his expression fierce. However, his diminutive stature and the way he looked up at her only made him appear more adorable.
Before he could continue his rant, Kirine reached out and pinched his cheeks. “Your cheeks are so squishy,” she teased.
Ares swatted her hands away, but Kirine just chuckled, unfazed by his annoyance.
“Stop laughing like that,” Ares grumbled, his face turning red.
“How can I not, when you’re this cute?” Kirine chuckled, unable to resist the sight of the young boy. Even as a child, Ares had been strikingly beautiful.
“Just wait it out. You might be back to normal soon,” she offered hopefully.
“And if I’m not?” Ares asked, his voice filled with dread.
Kirine averted her gaze, avoiding the worst-case scenario. “Maybe I should go pick up Sasha,” she suggested, trying to change the subject.
“In my current state? And besides, it’s not even time to pick her up yet,” Ares retorted. Frustrated, he tapped his small hands on the desk, making a pitiful thumping sound. Kirine couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“If it really comes to it, I’ll raise you myself,” she said, her voice serious.
“Stop with the nonsense and just fix this, you irresponsible wizard!” Ares exclaimed.
“Who’s irresponsible? I’m telling you, I’ll take care of you,” Kirine insisted.
“I said no!” Ares shouted, his cheeks puffing up. He couldn’t believe how soft they felt.
What does she mean, ‘squishy’? he wondered, poking his cheeks repeatedly, trying to understand the sensation Kirine had described.
“But we should at least wait until tomorrow. If you’re not back to normal by then, I promise I’ll figure something out,” Kirine suggested. Her tone was unusually gentle, almost coaxing, and Ares shot her a glare filled with irritation before giving a reluctant nod.
Though he kept insisting on being turned back, Ares knew deep down there wasn’t a real solution. Not yet, anyway.
“I’m hungry. Want to eat something? Any cravings?” Kirine asked, her tone as warm as her gaze, leaning down just enough to meet his eyes.
Instead of answering, Ares simply stared at her, taken aback. Is she always this gentle with kids?
There was something strange about Kirine’s gentleness; it felt so out of character that Ares couldn’t help but feel a prickling sensation throughout his body.
“Nothing specific comes to mind,” he finally replied.
“Is there anything you don’t like?” she asked.
“Nothing fishy,” he said.
“Got it. I’ll avoid seafood,” she said, smiling.
Ares continued to stare at her, lost in thought. “What are you staring at?” she asked, amused.
“Nothing,” he mumbled, looking away.
To his surprise, despite the hassle, Kirine left to get the food herself, a gesture so unexpected that Ares found himself watching her a moment longer than he intended.
“I’ll be back, so stay put,” Kirine said, reaching down to ruffle Ares’s hair. Their height difference was striking, and the small head that fit perfectly in her hand felt so endearing she couldn’t help but smile.
It’d be nice if he stayed this way, Kirine thought, barely suppressing the grin that would have stunned Ares.
***
Kirine returned with a special meal prepared by the chef, placing it in front of Ares. However, he hesitated, his hand hovering over the utensils.
“What’s wrong? Not hungry?” she asked, concerned. She had gone to the trouble of bringing the meal herself, and she couldn’t tell if he was simply not hungry or if he didn’t like the food.
As she watched him closely, Ares surprised her with a question. “How did you know I can’t eat meat?” he asked. A flicker of confusion crossed Ares’s face, as if he himself couldn’t quite believe the answer.
How does she know that? He had never once told Kirine about his aversion to meat. Yet here was a meal carefully filled with vegetables and fruits—choices only someone familiar with his tastes would have made. Ares looked up at Kirine expectantly, his eyes searching for an explanation.
“We live together. It’s only natural I’d know that much,” Kirine replied, her tone casual.
“You don’t like me, so I didn’t think you’d notice,” Ares muttered.
“Just because I don’t like you doesn’t mean I wouldn’t know,” she countered.
“I suppose, but…”
Ares felt a strange blend of awkwardness and embarrassment that he couldn’t quite name. The attention unsettled him in ways he didn’t expect.