Molly noticed the way someone was looking at her had changed, and only then did she realize how awkward and strange her tone had sounded just now.
Flustered and embarrassed, she grabbed a pillow from the bed and hurled it at him.
“What are you still standing there for? Get lost! I don’t want to see you!”
The way she had turned out like this was entirely his fault!
And because, after she woke up, he had repeatedly backed down in both words and actions, Molly found herself unconsciously reverting to the way she used to treat him.
Partly out of habit, and partly because… he didn’t seem angry at all about what happened last night.
At the very least, he didn’t look like he was going to silence her like she had feared.
He was still the same as before—always accepting all her willfulness and harsh words without question. It made her involuntarily slip back into her old spoiled, capricious self.
Realizing that only made her feel more ashamed and humiliated.
Molly cursed herself inwardly for being so useless. Gripping the edge of the bed with her right hand, she stubbornly tried to stand up on her own despite her sprained ankle and aching body.
“……”
Ten years had already passed. She was no longer the helpless, weak girl she had been back then.
But when she once again said, “I don’t want to see you,” Tsunayoshi Sawada seemed to instantly revert to his younger self from ten years ago—standing frozen in place, at a loss, his heart filled with confusion.
Fortunately, that regression lasted only a few seconds.
Seeing the silver-haired girl grit her teeth and struggle to get up, he finally snapped out of it and stepped forward, scooping her up without a word.
Before she could blush and flare up again, he cut her off—
“Molly, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have treated you like that,” the man said gently, his tone sincere. “You can be angry, you can lash out—but please let me make it up to you as much as I can, okay?”
If anyone else had seen this scene, their eyes would probably have fallen out in shock.
No one would have imagined that the man known as the Mafia boss of the underworld—the Tenth Vongola—would humble himself to such an extent before a girl who had no power to resist.
But to Molly, his attitude felt completely familiar—nothing out of the ordinary.
In the past, every time he made her angry, he would lower himself like this in the end, apologizing so gently and sincerely that she had no reason to keep pressing the issue.
He always seemed like a pushover, as if he didn’t care about any choices or decisions—but in truth, he was the most stubborn of them all.
What looked like humility and indulgence… she hadn’t understood before, but now she finally realized—he had always used this method to control and limit her choices.
Just like now.
And yet, every single time, she had no way of dealing with him.
Turning her face away, Molly bit her lip and spoke with difficulty:
“I don’t need your compensation. What happened last night… I only have myself to blame.”
No matter how much she disliked him, she knew the truth—the drug had been administered by someone else, and she had been the one to push him down. Everyone was at fault, but he was the most innocent.
She wasn’t a child anymore. She could tell right from wrong.
It was just… unwillingness and grievance she couldn’t let go of.
Molly had Tsunayoshi set her down on the sofa. Sitting there, she grabbed a cushion and hugged it tightly, finally feeling a slight sense of security.
Taking a deep breath, she said:
“I’ll find a way to compensate you for any losses in the future. As for last night… let’s both forget it.”
After all, he was already engaged.
Every time she thought about that, it felt like her heart was being torn apart.
It must be guilt. Yes… it had to be.
“……”
Hearing that, the smile on Tsunayoshi’s face froze.
A trace of pain and anger appeared in his eyes.
“What do you take memories for? Trash you can just throw away whenever you want?”
If only there really were a potion that could erase memories.
If there were, Molly might actually drink it—and choose to forget these past two days with him.
But Molly didn’t think the pain in his eyes was because of her.
She just felt utterly drained—body and soul alike.
She didn’t want to argue with him. Hugging the cushion tighter, she stared at the expensive carpet beneath her feet and said coldly, as if giving up:
“Think whatever you want. I’m going back. Return my things to me.”
A suffocating silence filled the air.
After a long while, Tsunayoshi sighed.
“I understand you’re in a bad mood right now. I can forgive the hurtful things you said… I’ll wait for you to calm down.”
“Sit here for a while. I’ve had someone bring you new clothes. Butler William will come to take you back shortly.”
Molly heard his footsteps fade away.
Curled up on the sofa, she buried her face in the cushion, not even daring to look at his back.
Why… was he always so gentle with her?
It only made her seem like the worst villain.
But in truth… she was just a coward.
A coward who didn’t even understand herself.
…
The Vongola moved quickly. Molly had only waited about ten minutes when there was a knock and voices outside.
A young man’s voice.
“Tenth! On my way here I ran into my sister. She said she had something to do, so she asked me to bring you the items she prepared—and told you to take it easy.”
“……” Tsunayoshi fell silent for two seconds before asking, “Gokudera, did you look inside?”
“No!” Gokudera Hayato answered honestly. “Tenth, regarding the interrogation of that maid, I need to report to you in person.”
Tsunayoshi let out a barely audible sigh of relief.
“Alright. Come in and wait in the reception room. I’ll be there shortly.”
The sound of the door closing followed, along with unfamiliar footsteps fading away.
Realizing the stranger wasn’t coming her way, Molly finally relaxed.
From outside came the rustling sound of Tsunayoshi opening the bag… followed by a faint, helpless sigh.
…It’s just clothes. What’s so troublesome about that?
Molly felt like she could barely breathe.
She heard him rummaging through the bag, taking out several light boxes and stuffing them into a drawer before finally entering.
Hearing him approach, Molly immediately buried her face in the cushion again like an ostrich.
“I’ve put the clothes here. Try them on—tell me if they don’t fit. I’ve had the kitchen prepare your favorite breakfast; it’ll be brought up soon… The things you left last night are all organized—in the bathroom.”
He rambled on with instructions.
Molly really wanted to lift her head like before and complain, “You’re so annoying, I know already!”—but she never raised her face.
She said nothing.
Only after that annoying guy left did she slowly lift her head.
Inside the bag was a set of underwear and a light green dress.
Elegant tailoring, soft and comfortable fabric—it fit as if it had been custom-made.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Molly lowered her eyes, dazed.
His subordinate must think these clothes were for his fiancée, right?
He didn’t even need to ask for measurements, yet they fit so well… Was his fiancée built just like her?
No wonder he could say last night that he mistook her for someone else.
Though she had retaliated on the spot, making him think she had mistaken him too.
Even though that “someone else” didn’t exist—she still felt like she had won that round.
She hadn’t lost.
…
Her injured ankle throbbed painfully. Supporting herself against the wall and furniture, Molly limped into the bathroom.
The moment she saw the white bathtub, she jerked her gaze away as if burned.
It brought back unbearable memories of last night.
She just wanted to grab her things and leave.
She found her handbag on the sink.
It was open. Her belongings had been neatly arranged—phone, tissues, hair tie, and… an old brown omamori.
Molly’s breath hitched.
Her mind went blank.
The moment she saw it, memories flooded back like a flock of white doves.
It was a New Year’s gift from him ten years ago—a charm for safety, something he had specially prayed for at the shrine when they went together.
The shrine was blurry. The snow was blurry. The scenery—even herself—was blurry.
But the boy in her memory was crystal clear.
Wearing a gray kimono, a clumsily knitted scarf around his neck, messy brown hair from rushing out…
And whenever their eyes met, his warm brown eyes would light up like stars, a shy smile appearing on his face.
“Molly, this omamori is for you. I hope you’ll always be safe.”
The silver-haired girl took it, glaring at him.
“Do you know how long I spent knitting that scarf for you? And you give me something you got in five minutes?”
The boy scratched his head awkwardly.
“But Molly… you know I’m bad at handicrafts.”
His voice grew softer.
“If you don’t like it, give it back… I’ll prepare something else…”
“Stop acting like I’m bullying you!”
She clenched the charm and turned her face away.
“You can’t take back something you’ve already given! Since you gave it, I’ll reluctantly accept it.”
Seeing his silly grin, she quickly added,
“Don’t get it wrong—I’m only accepting it out of pity, not because I like it!”
“Mm, I know!” he said, eyes curving warmly.
“Thank you, Molly.”
The memory ended with his gentle gaze.
“……”
“…What a joke.”
What a joke!
The charm should have been inside her bag.
She had always kept it zipped in the innermost pocket. It was only because she switched to a smaller evening bag last night that she stuffed her most important things inside.
So… he definitely saw it, didn’t he?
Saw that a casual gift from ten years ago had been carefully carried by her all this time—
He must feel so pleased with himself.
Doesn’t that mean… she’s completely lost?
Standing before the sink, Molly clutched the worn charm, trembling. Her chest ached as if it were about to burst.
Warm tears overflowed uncontrollably, blurring her memories and her vision.
Drop by drop, they fell onto the charm, her fingers, and the sink.
“Molly, are you done?”
His voice came from outside.
“I brought breakfast. Come out and eat something.”
No response.
Tsunayoshi pushed open the side room door, scanning the area—his expression darkening.
No one.
No one in the room.
He pushed open the half-closed bathroom door.
The window was open.
Her belongings were gone.
Only the brown charm remained—soaked with water—and a note beneath it.
On the note, it read:
— I don’t want it anymore. I’m giving it back to you.