If it were possible, he would have wanted to live in this state forever. Although breathing was difficult, it was a temporary inconvenience that could be remedied by taking a break and then returning to it.

As he tried to kiss her again, a thud echoed in his head.

"Snap out of it, Detective Arcangelo Urseau!"

It was Leila who had opened her hand. She had struck him in the head during the brief moment he had taken his lips off hers, and managed to break free from his grasp.

Flames danced in her eyes that resembled the color of pumpkin stones. She crossed her arms.

"Why are you suddenly losing your senses? Is your body that bad?"

"Ugh..."

"Since you didn't hit me that hard, snap out of it and answer me properly."

She deliberately spoke coldly and sat far away from him. She didn't want any contact unless it was absolutely necessary.

"If he has consciousness, it's not that serious."

She squinted and observed his condition.

"That's why I made sure to make him faint when moving him."

It's more difficult to move someone who is conscious than someone who is unconscious. They struggle more to stay in their current state.

Furthermore, Leila was weaker than him. Something really bad could happen if she made a mistake.

"If his condition is really bad, it might be better to make him faint."

She didn't want to recreate what happened at the motel. It was really difficult and she thought she would die.

"You're not in your right mind, are you?"

"..."

"Oh, you're just being shy and not talking?"

He didn't say anything and just rubbed his forehead with his hand and stared at the floor. Leila assumed that Arcangelo had regained his senses.

"This is not the time for that. Talk to me properly. How is your body doing?"

"Is Detective Cassilia not bothered by this at all?"

"Are you not embarrassed?" replied Leila firmly.

"Of course I'm embarrassed, annoyed, and humiliated. Seeing the face of Detective Urseau who did such a thing is extremely repulsive."

"But why do you look so nonchalant about it?"

He lifted his head. Arcangelo's face was slightly flushed.

"Huh, what?"

Seeing his expression, a dark thought came to mind. It was something that had been on her mind since hearing what the researchers said.

"Really?"

Arcangelo Urseau... sees himself as a rational being?

"No, right?"

"What?"

"That's not really true, is it? That's impossible! It would be more likely for the sky to come crashing down!"

"… Could he have gone crazy?"

The redness in Arcangelo's face disappeared. He wore a troubled expression.

"Did he eat something bad? That must be it, because he's been with me all day."

The expression on his face was that of someone looking at a strange person. It was not at all directed towards someone he secretly admired.

"Should we call a doctor?"

He said something unusual, as if he was worried about Leila.

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It was only then that she snapped out of her daze.

"It's different from usual. But it's the same," said Leila, looking into Arcangelo's eyes.

There was desire, but no affection. Lust, but not love.

However, however...

"Arcangelo Urseau."

"What?"

"I don't attach any meaning to that act. I think it's just an instrumental act to save you."

Her lips moved on their own.

"Like performing CPR on someone whose heart has stopped."

It was something she had said before. She had spoken to him to comfort him because he was so ashamed.

At that time, Arcangelo had shown no reaction to her words.

But now, things were different.

Perhaps he had had time to cool his head, or maybe there were other emotions that he had not been able to express because he had been so taken aback then.

"...What?"

He stared at her as if he wanted to devour her.

"It's nothing, really."

"Nothing?"

And now, when he denied that what had happened that day was important, he became angry.

It proved one thing.

"That day meant something to Arcangelo in his own way."

...But not to her.

"Then does that mean Detective Cassilia can take off her clothes in front of strangers if it's necessary?"

"That goes without saying," he replied with certainty. "But it's not a possibility to be ignored."

"What does that matter?" she asked.

If that's the case, the solution is simple: to trample upon that feeling.

"It's not even anything special," she said with a sigh.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps could be heard. She wanted to let out a sigh of relief.

"My head hurts," he thought to himself.

It could be that it wasn't love after all.

There was also a high probability that it was just possessiveness or a desire for exclusivity towards the woman with whom he had shared his body.

For those with a lineage tracing back to wild beasts, their desires were stronger than those of other humans.

"Such as a desire for domination, possession, or exclusivity," he explained.

That's why they fought a lot during the era of wars before countries were established.

Nowadays, they have become more socialized, so it's not as bad.

"But Arcangelo Urseau is pureblood among the purebloods, direct blood among direct blood," he said.

There was a high probability that he inherited those strong instincts.

"If it's really not that special, then you can do it for me, can't you?" she asked hopefully.

That's the problem.

Is what Arcangelo has for his one-night stand, or is it what he originally felt for the other person?

"I hope it's not the latter," she thought.

Leila looked directly into Arcangelo's burning gaze without flinching.

"Definitely, if necessary," he replied.

“The answer came quickly,” he said.

“Is it necessary?” she asked.

“Right now?” he replied.

“Yes,” she confirmed.

Her face remained unchanged.

Archangelo tightened his grip on his fist.

“I’m in a bad mood,” he thought.

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have done something like this even if he were annoyed, but he wasn't in his right mind.

“Okay, then you can do it,” he finally agreed.

The sound of something breaking was heard.

His instincts broke free from their leash and began to rampage. Archangello's eyes blazed open.

It could be seen as anger, possessiveness, or even lust.

Their lips met. Suddenly, Leila became curious.

“Why did you start seeing me as someone special? At first, I was just like any other person to you.”

It was a question that would never be fully answered.

"He will never remain still, whether he disdains or ignores Leila now.

If it's the Arcangelo Urseau I've seen so far, he will do so because he abhors such sexual matters."

Indeed, he had shown a reaction of great discomfort when he heard a sexual joke.

The person who spoke those words at that time felt as if they had become trash.

But in fact, that is not very relevant.

"Since the moment the chief of investigations began to suspect him, Arcangelo Urseau could no longer be an investigator, and there will be no more clashes as colleagues."

Moreover, now that this has happened, Detective Urseau will not remain silent. After all, he could end up losing a successor he had raised so diligently.

"Either a colleague who unjustly suspects, or a real betrayer."

Whatever the answer may be, it is right that this relationship ends like this.

A lower-class canine family's cat shapeshifter, with few advantages other than their numbers.

A wolf shapeshifter who is the direct and successor of one of the ten families who occupy the pinnacle of this country, almost equivalent to kings.

"It's unbearable."

It's impossible anyway. So it's better not to even start, even if there is a slim chance of becoming true comrades with that person.