Chapter 1013 - Protagonist x Heroine
"…I wonder if Sora is all right."
That was the first thing she said after coming inside.
The concern in her voice was genuine, with no hint of falsehood or deception. She was, as always… how should I put it? She showed such deep affection.
My cheeks relaxed naturally.
"She's fine. Didn't she say so in the group chat?"
"At times like these, she's likely to put on a brave face so as not to worry anyone."
"I can see that."
As we talked, I headed back to the kitchen where my preparations were half-finished. Ashe took a seat at the nearby dining table. It was our usual routine right after she arrived, as I always started by making coffee.
"Though, I also suspect she'd honestly confide in her partner."
"Heheh, that's true too. But this time, my partner's 'no secrets' ability didn't need to be used. Her maid said 'not to worry,' after all."
"Such absolute trust."
"She's in the top three of my 'Can't Win Against' rankings, along with you."
"…Isn't it Sora, Nia, and myself for three?"
"This is a different category of 'can't win against.'"
"I see. …Fufu. Then I hold two crowns."
"It's more than just two crowns. You──────… are…………"
Our conversation flowed, quiet yet lively.
To finish the dinner preparations that had been interrupted, I opened the cupboard and reached for a plate, but then I stopped. I slowly pulled my hand back.
Why?
"Mm…"
Because it was dangerous.
Someone had risen from her chair without a sound, approached my back without a sound, and wrapped her arms around me from behind, still without a sound.
"……………………Mm…"
A satisfied sigh traveled through my back, making my senses tingle.
"…Aren't you starving? You little glutton."
"I'm not a glutton. …I am hungry, but…"
Ashe's honest reply drew a small smile from me, and then,
"────My heart is hungry, too."
The next, overly honest confession from my 'princess' dragged out a torrent of emotions from me. …The old me would probably have flustered, struggled, and resisted.
"…If you do something too powerful, I might break my vow, so please go easy on me."
But the me of today is the me of today.
"…A vow?"
"Yes, a vow. I was made to promise Sora-san and Nia-chan, 'You damn well better not make a move on her, even if she comes on to you.'"
"…………Fufu, how dreadful."
Accepting the warmth seeping into my back, I placed my hands over the arms wrapped around my stomach. She laughed at my predicament as if it were someone else's problem and tightened her embrace even more.
"I don't want them to hate me, so I'll try not to attack you either."
"Just hearing that you need to 'try' is an 'attack' on the current me, so seriously, please spare me."
Ashe, of course, won the opening bout with ease, and then,
"Mmm…"
She purred, as if she were nuzzling up to me.
◇◆◇◆◇
"Haru."
"Yes, this is Haru."
"That was delicious. Thank you for the meal."
"It was by no means a humble meal."
"…………Fufu. What's that?"
"I put my all into making it. My best work is not humble."
"…Good self-assessment. I'm proud of you."
"When you praise me like that, it makes me feel like a little kid, so could you please stop?"
Sometime after finishing the dinner, which was filled from end to end with all of Ashe's favorite foods I knew of.
We quickly finished cleaning up and settled onto the sofa. The conversation that began with another 'thank you for the meal'… felt a little floaty, for both of us.
──Poke.
"What?"
"…………Fufu, it's nothing."
Not clinging, not pressing close, but leaving just a tiny bit of space between us. Ashe, sitting next to me and poking my cheek with her fingertip, seemed even more out of sorts than I was.
It wasn't just rare, she seemed positively giddy.
I know the reason. It's not just because it's her birthday. Beneath her shimmering white hair, when my eyes met her clear garnets, the princess had a slightly sleepy look on her face.
"…I missed you."
She whispered it like a declaration of love, shaking my heart from up close.
"We've seen each other here and there, haven't we?"
"…Only at meals. That's not nearly enough."
Her words were absolutely right. Since the beginning of December, for nearly a month, I hadn't seen Ashe like this.
Between the Starry Paradise event, the Four Pillar War, and the plan to conquer the 100th floor of the Key Tree in the new year, the [Sword Queen] was as busy as ever, but…
The biggest reason was that Ashe herself had said she 'didn't want to see me for a while.'
It wasn't that she'd dumped me, of course. In fact, it was the exact opposite—
"…Being apart made me realize. I'm no good with anyone but you anymore."
She said she felt like something was going to happen… or rather, that she was going to make something happen. She had asked for a little time and distance to calm her heart.
And that's why—remembering the expression and tone of voice she had when she said it, I knew just how much of a killer line that was.
""…………""
We gazed at each other. The heat in her eyes was intense.
I suppose her attempt to calm her heart had been successful.
Although she was exuding an air of sweetness so intense it was about to drive me crazy, her garnet eyes were calm and clear, reflecting my face.
Her self-control was truly astounding. I had no choice but to be impressed… Ah, that's right.
"…Huh…? Ha—"
I couldn't pull off something like that.
"────ru…"
I caught the finger poking my cheek and, in the same motion, pulled her slender body to me in less than a second.
Side by side on the sofa. Unable to hold back any longer, I embraced her. Ashe's body felt nothing like the invincible strength I imagined, but was instead incredibly light.
Light, soft, and very warm.
"…………I'd like to have a bit of a discussion."
"…………About what?"
I'm not aware of losing control, nor do I intend to. My heart rate, not the virtual kind, is surprisingly calm. …Well, surprisingly, but still a little fast.
Even so, the thought of letting her go…
"…Does 'making a move' count as an out, even just up to this point…?"
"……………………"
…doesn't even cross my mind for a second.
"…………The guilt."
"…Yes?"
"I thought you'd feel at least a little…"
And then, instead of hugging me back, Ashe let her body go limp, letting me support her as she was, and nuzzled her cheek against my chest.
"────I can't. My mind… is completely filled with you…"
Her killer lines were really just too much.
"…It might be weird for me to say it, but I'm absolutely drowning in guilt right now. We're talking catastrophic flood levels, a disaster on the verge of wiping out a city."
"Fufu… That is…"
We exchanged words in mutually relaxed voices.
"…quite the predicament, isn't it…"
"You say that like it has nothing to do with you…"
We stayed like that for a while.
Neither of us felt like letting go.
I'll take on the hero's role, so you're free to be the heroine.