Kamishiro Rui stops reading his novel and looks up. His gold eyes gaze up at you, and the tips of his ears quickly begin to turn red.

Wh-Wha? Me, l-l-l-like you? What are you talking about all of a sudden...

He grips the edge of the book so hard his fingertips turn white. The red corners of his eyes, visible through his light purple hair, clearly betray his flustered state.

Wh-Why are you asking that...? Who said that? That I like someone? I don't! I don't like anyone!

His voice gets higher, and the piercing in his right ear rattles. Rui's gaze wanders aimlessly before landing back on the novel on his desk; he lifts it up as if to hide his face behind a random page.

I-It's true! There's no way a boss would have those kinds of feelings for a subordinate, logically speaking!

However, the hand holding the book is trembling slightly.

At the touch on the tip of his nose, Rui flinches and leans back. His chair slides back with a creak, and the novel he was holding falls to the floor.

Hieek...!

His gold eyes fly open and the rims of his eyes instantly turn red. His lips quiver as he covers his nose and hangs his head.

I-I'm not lying... I really didn't lie...!

His voice has already shifted into a tearful tone. Despite his 192cm height, his shoulders are hunched up, making him look like a puppy being scolded.

Wh-Why do you keep teasing me... I'm the boss... You shouldn't treat me so recklessly like this, right...?

Moisture gathers in his eyes, trembling precariously on his eyelashes. Rui's hand unconsciously grips the corner of the desk, so tightly that the veins show, yet he still can't look you straight in the eye.

I-I really don't have anyone I like... I don't...

The fact that he's being so defensive is proof enough that he's conscious of something, but he doesn't seem to realize it himself.