Chapter 232: Chapter 232: You’re My Little Haven

Seeing her fluster, Mika couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

"What in the world, Fauna?" He teased with a raised brow. "I thought you’d at least last for a minute or two—but the moment you look at me, you’re already breaking apart. I knew you were weak, but this...this is kind of sad, honestly."

Fauna’s blush deepened, and she whined in protest.

"No, Mika, no, it’s not like that at all! I’m completely fine! You’re just seeing things!" She crossed her arms, pouting like a scolded child, though her voice shook slightly. "I’m still angry at you!"

But even as she said it, she could feel the truth unraveling inside her.

Every time she looked at him, every time she caught that teasing glint in his eyes, all the anger she’d built up over the months slipped further away.

It was impossible to hold onto it. Her heart thudded faster, her body growing warmer, and she could feel herself faltering again and again.

’Come on, Fauna!’ She told herself desperately. ’You can do it. Don’t let him win this time. Don’t let this bully push you around again. Show him that you’re strong, that you can stay angry no matter what.’

But her little pep talk did absolutely nothing.

The more she looked at him, the faster her heart raced, until it was practically pounding in her ears.

She could feel herself melting under his gaze, her mind going hazy. Every part of her screamed to just run into his arms again, to hold him tight and tell him how much she’d missed him.

And when Mika gave her that confident, knowing smile, the one that said he already knew he’d won...she realized it was useless.

She could fight monsters, she could save the world...but she could never win against him.

Her cheeks puffed up again as tears welled in her eyes, and she looked at him with a trembling lip.

"I-I admit defeat, Mika..." She muttered pitifully. "You win. I really am...a weak woman when it comes to you." Her voice quivered like that of a child accepting their loss. "I thought if I used my willpower, I could resist you. I thought I could act strong. But just one smile from you, and my heart completely melts. I really can’t do anything against you."

"Good." Mika laughed softly, a little smug but still fond. "It’s nice that you know your place, Fauna. You should probably think twice before making such bold claims in the future."

"How rude!" She pouted again, glaring at him weakly.

He couldn’t help but chuckle at how bad she was taking her loss, thinking that it was rather adorable. But he knew this wasn’t the past where he always played her and used her to his advantage and decided to open up a little bit.

So, before she could retort, Mika’s tone softened.

He reached out, gently pulling her closer and wrapping his arms around her in a tender hug. His hand then rose to the back of her head, stroking her hair as he whispered.

"But don’t you ever call yourself weak, Fauna."

Her breath caught as she blinked up at him in surprise.

"I’ve never seen you as someone weak." He said quietly, his voice steady and sincere now. "Not even once." He gave her a small, reassuring smile as his thumb brushed against her cheek. "Rather than weak...I’ve always seen you as something else entirely."

"Something else?" Fauna’s heart fluttered as she whispered.

He looked at her with that same deep, grounding warmth in his eyes and said softly, "A safe place...That’s what I think of you as."

"A s-safe place?" Her breath hitched, and she blinked again, wide-eyed. "What do you mean by that, Mika...?"

A nostalgic smile slowly crept across Mika’s face as he gazed at her.

"Remember back when we were all living in the same house? When I’d always end up causing some trouble and make one of your sisters, especially Yelena, angry?"

He chuckled, continuing. "I’d always end up doing something wrong, and they’d chase me halfway across the house. But in the end, I’d always run to you. Do you remember that?"

"Oh, Mika...of course I remember. I could never forget."

Her shoulders shook with laughter.

"Every single time you caused some kind of mess, I’d hear yelling echoing through the halls—your name, always your name—and then the next second, you’d come bolting straight toward me."

She mimed the motion of him running with a laugh.

"You’d throw yourself behind me like a terrified little boy, clutching at my clothes, while one, or sometimes two—or even all four, of my sisters came charging in after you. Not to mention the little ones joining in because they wanted to help ’catch the troublemaker.’"

Mika grinned sheepishly. "Yeah...exactly like that." Then his tone softened. "But tell me, Fauna, did you ever wonder why I always came to you?"

"Why I think you came to me?" She blinked in surprise before giving a wry smile. "Well, it’s probably because it was convenient."

"All you had to do was hide behind me and make me your shield. And, of course, the moment you did—that motherly instinct of mine would kick in, and I’d throw myself into battle for your sake."

"I’d defend you with everything I had, even though it was always you who started the mess to begin with."

Her eyes softened, and she chuckled as she admitted, "It’s just like you said, you really did make me weak. Every time, without fail."

Mika laughed quietly. "Yeah...that part’s mostly true." He paused for a moment before adding, his voice lower, gentler. "But that wasn’t the only reason."

Fauna blinked, curiosity flickering in her gaze as she tilted her head again.

"Then what was the other reason?"

He met her eyes, his expression earnest.

"Because whenever I got into trouble, whenever I didn’t know what to do...I knew that if I came to you, I’d be safe."

Her eyes widened slightly, the laughter fading from her lips.

"I knew..." He continued softly. "...that no matter what happened, no matter how bad things got, you’d help me. You’d protect me. Even if I was the one at fault, even if I didn’t deserve it—you never cared about that. You’d still stand by me. And I could always trust that."

He smiled faintly, looking at her with a warmth that reached his eyes.

"That’s why I called you my safe space, Fauna. Because no matter what I did or said, you always accepted me. You loved me. You cherished me. You’d protect me from anything in the world."

"And when I was with you..." He paused, taking a quiet breath. "I felt like I could take on anything. Like I was untouchable, because you were there."

Fauna’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at him, completely speechless.

Mika never said things like this. Not since he’d grown older.

As a boy, he’d tell her he loved her, he’d hold her hand and fall asleep beside her. But as he matured, he’d grown colder, distant, buried beneath his feelings she couldn’t understand. He’d become sharp and calculating, careful with his emotions.

So, hearing him speak now, so openly, so vulnerably, completely shattered her composure.

Her heart felt like it was being filled with light and bursting all at once.

And before she could recover, Mika added another blow, his smile turning gentle.

"Do you remember, back when you were building this hospital, you asked me what name you should give it? And I told you, ’Little Haven.’"

Fauna’s voice trembled. "I...I do."

"And do you want to know why exactly I gave it that name?"

"W-Why, Mika?" She said slowly. "Why did you tell me that name?"

He looked at her with a tender smile.

"Because you were my little haven, Fauna."

She gasped quietly, her hands flying to her mouth as tears filled her eyes.

"You were my safe space." He continued, his voice low and sincere. "You were where I ran when I was scared or hurt, when the world felt too heavy. You were the place where I could hide and breathe again."

"So when you built this hospital, I wanted everyone else to feel that too...to have a place where they could come and feel safe. I wanted the world to experience what I did."

"That’s why I called it Little Haven. So everyone could have a piece of you, the kindness, the comfort, the love you give so naturally."

He smiled softly, tilting his head.

"It’s not that bad of an idea, is it?"

For a moment, Fauna just stared at him, utterly stunned. Her lips trembled, her eyes wide and overflowing with tears.

Then, before Mika could even blink—she lunged forward, throwing herself into his arms, hugging him so tightly that he nearly stumbled.

"Mika!" She cried, her voice breaking with pure emotion. "Mika, I love you! I love you so much, my precious baby boy!"

She cupped his face in her hands and began kissing him everywhere, his cheeks, his forehead, the bridge of his nose, her tears wetting his skin as she showered him with affection.

"I love you, I love you, I love you! You’re my Mika—my everything! I love you more than anyone in this world!"

Mika blinked rapidly, startled but smiling as she continued to pamper him.

"Uh, so I guess you’re not mad at me anymore, huh?"

"Mad at you?" Fauna laughed through her tears, clutching him even tighter. "How could I possibly be mad at you after that?!"

"There’s no way, Mika. There’s no way I could ever be angry at you, not after hearing something so precious."

She kissed him again, her voice trembling with joy.

"You have no idea how happy you’ve made me. You’ve given me the greatest gift I could ever ask for!"

And Mika, caught between laughter and exasperation as she smothered him with love, could only hold her close, letting her cry into his shoulder.

But deep down, behind his faint smile, he couldn’t help thinking to himself with a wry glint in his eyes

’This was a little too easy.’