The Author's POV

"W-what?"

Unknowingly Sophia's face started to become bright red.

"Hm? Are you okay?"

Noticing her slight change in demeanor, I tilted my head to the side.

There was something about her behavior.

It didn't seem like I was the only one who noticed this as Leopold worriedly placed his hand on Sophia's forehead.

"Sophia dear, are you okay?"

"S..stop."

Smacking Leopold's hand away, Sophia stuttered as she looked at me.

"It can't be...it..."

'Hold on…'

Meeting her gaze, I suddenly had a strange thought inside of my mind.

'That can't be...'

I quickly shook my head, trying to deny such a thought.

It just couldn't be…or rather, I wanted to not believe in the thought.

It was then that Sophia once again spoke up.

"Y..you're Ren Dover, right?"

As she spoke up, I managed to pick up a slight tremble in her voice.

Letting out a small sigh, I nodded my head.

'It looks like my hunch was right.'

"Yes, I am indeed him."

"Oh my god!"

Sophia's face instantly brightened up. Her face quickly snapped in Leopold's direction.

"Dad! Why didn't you tell me that he was your boss!"

"Huh?!"

Turning his head, Leopold looked at me with a look that said 'what is she on about?'

I shrugged my shoulders in response.

Although I already had an idea, I really wanted to deny it.

It was right then that Sophia suddenly lunged in my direction and grabbed both of my hands and said.

"I'm a huge fan!"

"What!?"

Finally, Leopold was able to understand what was happening. Turning his head, he looked at me with a betrayed and hurt look. His face then proceeded to contort.

'How is this my fault?"

I wanted to rebuke; however, before I even had the chance to do so, Sophia had already started speaking.

"I've watched and replayed all of your matches back at the conference, especially when you beat up that orc and that pretty boy."

A word suddenly caught my interest.

Raising my brow, I asked.

"Pretty boy?"

"Yes, yes, that Kevin guy. Although he looks pretty, he clearly was no match for you. All my friends say he's handsome, but honestly, you are way better looking. Oh, and the way you forfeited was so cool!"

For a split moment, I wanted to let her continue.

Just the fact that she was praising me over Kevin made me like her instantly.

However, knowing just how wrong the situation was, I quickly freed my hands and looked at Leopold. My hope was that he would try and stop his daughter, but...his response wasn't really what I had expected.

With his arms crossed, and with his head lowered, he nodded his head.

"…I have to agree with my daughter. You were pretty cool back there."

"Oy."

Now it was my face's turn to contort.

"What in the world is he doing? This should be the bit where you are supposed to deny!"

Leopold shook his head.

"Boss, I'm an honest man."

"Haaa…"

to react, I could only let out a

have caught the attention of the other people present, as I was quickly surrounded by all

my god! I

"Kyyaaaa!"

"It's him!"

"I…."

Amanda's direction in the hope

this aren't

Or at least what I assumed it said as her expression was quite

currently

to her before because she simply attracted

time the camera was pointed in our direction, no one took

guaranteed that all attention would've

because had it not been for the mask, she

"Mr. Dover, Mr. Dover."

"Wow."

my thoughts as I moved my head away from

"Sorry."

Quickly apologizing, Sophia coughed.

were single and that you

her head slightly, she glanced in

said that she was your daughter, but doesn't she

Nola is

she could finish her sentence. The moment

"However..."

up, I quickly followed

she is my girlfriend is not

"Hiip!"

moment I said those words, I suddenly heard a weird sound come from

face Amanda was making. However, this was something I

was not out of pettiness, but because I didn't want Leopold's

short, I was using Amanda

"Oh."

Sophia turned to

head to the

"Is that true?"

my eyes

at each other for a brief moment and seemingly understanding each other, Amanda simply

"Waaah! So beautiful!"

"Oh my god."

She was also in

girls from Kimbol apart from Sophia looked at

around her and tried to strike up

rid of all the attention away from me, on a bad note, it seemed that Sophia had still not given up on me as she looked at

really your girlfriend?" She asked with

"Well, sort of."

I nodded my head.

"Sort of?"

started dating not too long ago. Our relationship

was going to try at the

probably going to say something along the lines of 'Prove it to me, prove to me that you two are in a

but no

I disliked

with everything that happened today, the idea that Amanda liked me became

was true, I still was unsure about my feelings

incredibly beautiful, kind, and more than anything else a calming person to stay with, but I had been too

that my

I needed more time

"Hmmm…"

with a skeptical look on her face.

I stood up from my seat

is getting sleepy. Guess it's time for us to go back. You stay and have fun with your

of here before things became

"Sure."

Leopold nodded his head.

around to the others,

"Ren, wait up."

it?"

"Well…"

Leopold scratched the side of his cheek before eventually

the cigarettes you

"Nope."

before

was no way in hell I was going to give

thinking about cigarettes, think about spending

on my mask to change my face again, I grabbed Amanda's wrist and

I made sure to say goodbye to

a good day, really enjoyed your performance…oh, and keep our appearance

Clank—!

could even reply, I

"Haaa…"

out a

Amanda, I

tiring than

"…"

met

"Amanda?"

I realized where the problem lay and quickly let go of

"Sorry." I quickly apologized.

"No, it's okay."

wrapped around her neck. A smile involuntarily appeared on my face when I saw