Chapter 1002 - Invincibility
“—————”
A sound. A song was playing.
As always, a stylish tune. The doorbell, signaling a visitor calling for me in my room at the Yotsuya dormitory in the real world—well, it was just as I expected.
She was probably waiting for me to log out… for my little chat with the second-in-command, or rather, my conversation with Sora, to conclude. I could tell.
So.
I stepped down from my mechanical bed, the [Arcadia], left the bedroom, walked down the hall, and steeled myself for the palpable presence I could clearly sense beyond the front door—
I opened it.
“……………………………………………………Huh? What are you doing?”
I opened the door, and…
I’d misjudged the number of visitors, and a dumbfounded sound escaped my lips.
Before me were…
“—Nn… Nia wouldn’t let me come alo—”
“Of course not. An incident would absolutely happen.”
Two people. As if to say she had already digested my once-in-a-lifetime moment at lightning speed and filed it away as the ‘past,’ there stood Ashe with a perfectly straight face, and with her, Nia.
…If I were to add more information about the latter, it would be that Nia-chan was holding Ashe in a death grip, as if to declare with firm resolve that no solo actions would be permitted.
Well, what can I say.
“Nia.”
“……”
“You’re a lifesaver. Nice call.”
“……”
Given the extremely high probability that an incident would indeed occur, just as the word implied, all I could do for now was offer my gratitude.
Nia, whose cheeks were already flushed, blushed an even deeper red as our eyes met and she took in my words. She averted her gaze bashfully, but gave a small nod, not looking entirely displeased.
Seriously, she’s so cute. I love her—
“……You two have some nerve. You’d best not think you can win with a mere two-on-one.”
“Hey, she’s started saying scary things.”
“Please, I’m begging you, just hold back for a little while! At least until your heart calms down, okay, Princess? Please, or else Nia-chan might get dragged into causing an incident too!”
“Don’t start a chain reaction of terrifying remarks.”
As I was genuinely fawning over her, the ‘Princess,’ miffed at having her meddling thwarted and then being left out while we had our moment, became quite cross. Before she could drag Nia further into this and say something even crazier, before I was forced to witness the ultra-rare sight of her puffing out her cheeks, I figured I should face her.
“Ashe—”
“Haru.”
Just a split second before I could switch gears, she cut me off, calling my name as I called hers…—Ashe also changed her expression, revealing a wonderfully gentle face.
“…I’m relieved. For now, it seems to have gone well.”
There was no need to ask what she meant. In the last hour or two, the one thing I had wanted to go well more than anything else in my entire life had just reached its best possible conclusion.
Therefore, the question to ask was ‘how.’
“Fufu… I can tell, just by looking at your face.”
But it seemed there was no need to ask that either. As if she didn't need a report, she seemed to understand exactly what had transpired in my ‘conversation’ with Nia and Sora.
“Of course. It’s simple. —The heart of my future husband, at least.”
As if to prove to Nia, who thought she was restraining her with that hug, that it was ‘futile,’ she smiled with endless allure. In response, I…
“…………Oh, uh…—Ow.”
…was just genuinely happy, got genuinely flustered, and got my shin genuinely kicked by Nia-chan.
And after that little scene.
“An order from your future wife. Keep it a secret for a while.”
“Are you done yet?”
“Is it not supremely unfair that I get instantly punished for something Ashe says???”
Since standing around talking wouldn’t do, I invited them into the living room. After we all settled into our seats, Ashe, still captured by Nia in the adjacent chair, brought up the main topic.
“…You weren’t planning on telling everyone right away either, Haru. Am I right?”
“Well, yeah, that’s right.”
Regarding those close to us, I’d hold off for now. I’ve steeled myself for the day I’ll have to tell them, but that will be after Sora, Nia, and Ashe… well, including Ashe…
I don’t mind whatever happens to me—it’s my own fault—but not until the three of them have found some semblance of peace.
As for the public, I already have an idea, but that requires a whole lot of other things and is currently impossible to realize. Even if I were to execute the plan, it would take years.
So, she was absolutely right, but…
“Mm. In that case…—I want you to entrust that timing to me.”
Not only did she guess correctly, but Ashe was now asking for that responsibility. …Perhaps, in that instant, I reflexively showed a hint of hesitation on my face.
“Haru.”
But she spoke with a gentle, yet resolute voice.
“Now that I’ve answered you, I’m your accomplice. Don’t take the right to bear this burden from me.”
She says things that could make you cry as if they were the most natural thing in the world.
“No matter what anyone says from now on, from the moment you voiced your ‘choice,’ there is one thing that will never change, no matter what the future holds.”
“……”
It was something I had been thinking for a very, very long time.
“You are my partner for life. —Nozomi.”
Calling her a ‘Princess’ was an understatement.
“…………I understand. …Ashe.”
“Mm.”
“Thank you.”
“…Mm.”
Just one smile.
No, a radiant smile that bloomed like a flower. This couldn't be vanity or wishful thinking; for the second time, my ‘Princess’ wore a look of pure happiness and satisfaction as she…
“…………Hey, what are you doing?”
“Shut it.”
—had that very expression hidden from me by the indigo-haired girl beside her.
I was quite displeased, but since Ashe didn’t seem to mind being held in her best friend’s arms… I guess I’d let it slide. Besides, you see.
“Nia.”
“What is it?”
“I love the Nia who spoils me more than anything in the world, but…”
“Wh-!? …ッ, …!?”
“I also love the Nia who gets spoiled by Ashe, and sometimes even Sora, more than anything in the world. You’re so cute.”
“ッ…!!? ———ッッッ!!!!!”
That, in and of itself, was nothing short of a reward for the current me.
A counterattack from the invincible fool. As the scene drew to a close with Nia’s infinitely adorable display of getting flustered into a rage, I gratefully burned the sight into my memory.
Truly, truly, gratefully.
This protagonist seems like he's not thinking about anything, but he's thinking about everything.
Seriously, this man is thinking about something outrageous.