Chapter 1037 - A Lullaby for the Angel
And so it went.
The talk about the scabbard, the blade, the new name, and this and that went on for a long time, and the practice session that followed naturally went late into the night.
Helena-san had said it would be brief during the introductions, but Ashe, Tora-kichi, and I... once we enthusiasts who lived for the thrill and momentum of the moment started having fun, it was only natural that we couldn't just brush it off.
As a result... in real time, it was past eleven at night.
Helena-san had left at past eight, saying, "I'll leave the rest to you all to enjoy at your own pace," with a face that was both exasperated and accustomed to it.
Then, Nia had logged out at past nine, letting out a huge yawn and saying, "I'm heading out..." while vanishing into the background.
And finally, I realized how late it was.
"... No, really, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
"... Honestly. I told you, I'm fine."
Realizing the time that had passed in a flash while the angel had been trying her best to stay awake for me, I immediately called it a day and headed home.
The two who had been playing with me also looked apologetic, and I escorted Sora-san, who seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep, back to the clan home.
I did that, but...
"I should have said somethi... No, I should have noticed. I'm sorry."
I was terrified of the actual damage I'd receive in the future... like the Maid giving me a hard time for being late when I had promised to give her a heads-up. But more than that, my own guilt was stabbing at me, and I couldn't stop apologizing.
However, Sora-san herself was...
"..."
She looked at me with sleepy eyes, but she was clearly glaring at me with a dissatisfied face.
... I could read this much. She wasn't upset that I hadn't noticed she was forcing herself to stay awake for me.
I knew. I knew, but...
"Ah... Sora-san. I know what you want to sa... wait, wait, wait!"
I was a bit slow to show my understanding and start my excuse.
As we walked down the hallway and reached the front of Sora's room, I was about to say "Goodnight" and stop. But the girl grabbed my hand and ducked into the room, turning her face away.
And of course, she dragged me in with her.
"Umm... hello?"
"..."
She was blatantly unhappy... no, more like she was pouting.
... I couldn't help but see it in such a cute light, and that too was a major source of dissatisfaction for her. I understood that as well.
And then, without letting go of my hand. Inside the room.
"... ... Please stop treating me like a child."
Sora muttered those words, likely because she recognized that she was indeed a child.
"... Even though you proposed to me and told me to marry you."
She spoke softly, bit by bit.
She had such a pouting face, like a true angel, that I thought I might die from how cute she was. I even checked my own heartbeat with my free hand.
"No, really... you're so cute..."
Who could blame me for letting my heart leak out of my mouth unconsciously?
"Moo... I'm angry! Stop teasing me!"
Yes, except for Sora-san.
I'm truly sorry, so I decided to switch back to serious mode...
"Umm, I know, okay? I know, and personally, I told you before that I don't intend to treat you like a child. You get that, right? Okay?"
"..."
She still looked dissatisfied, but she seemed to have passed the "scolding" judgment for my words. Long live the telepathy between partners. It's wonderful to have your true intentions accepted without doubt.
"But the fact is, Sora-san, you're a growing fifteen-year-old."
"... I'll be sixteen soon."
"You're a growing girl who'll be sixteen soon. This is an important time in many ways. I don't intend to act like a guardian myself, but I am in a position where the actual guardian has asked me to look after you and be considerate."
"Are you on Itsuki-san's side instead of mine? I see how it is."
It was wonderful, but that alone wasn't enough to solve the complex heart of a girl who was almost sixteen.
There was no doubt that her being right at her sleepy limit also played a big part. The subtle distance we had maintained lately had suddenly vanished, which was proof of that.
For example... like this.
"I don't want to be treated like a child by Haru anymore!"
"That's why I'm not treating you like a chi... wait, wait, wait!"
See, it's obvious.
The recent Sora-san would never have acted so spoiled as to rub her cheek against my chest like a high-speed straight ball.
"... Sora-san?"
"..."
"Sora?"
"..."
"Wait, did she fall asleep?"
The answer came in the form of my cheek being pinched by a small hand.
"... ... ..."
Sora, who was holding me with both hands... one on my hand and one on my cheek... looked up at me. Her eyes were glazed with sleep... but she seemed to be somewhat conscious.
In the dim light of the room, she looked at me.
"... It's okay if I stay up a little late."
The amber eyes that were looking only at me were still a bit innocent.
Seeing good girl Sora saying something that sounded like she was trying to convince herself, I couldn't help but let a smile escape... and as a price, my cheek was pinched a bit harder.
"You caught a cold or something the other day, didn't you? I'm just worried about you."
"Exaggeration..."
"It's only because I care about you so much that it becomes an exaggeration."
"... Haru, too."
"Of course. I'd even be willing to stand up to the Maid and have a direct confrontation."
"... Can I tell that to Itsuki-san now?"
"... That is exactly what I want."
"... ... ... Fufu."
Only true feelings. Only the truth. Not a single lie, excuse, or pretense was needed. Once I laid my heart bare, her dissatisfied face finally softened.
"Your voice is shaking."
"Facing a final boss is bound to give me the shakes..."
With a soft laugh, her head dropped against my chest again.
And it stayed there for several seconds. Then for ten or more seconds.
"... ... Umm. Sora-san."
"Yes...?"
I was truly sorry that I couldn't keep reading the gentle atmosphere.
"Many things are getting pretty dangerous for me. Is it okay if I hug you?"
I honestly gave up.
Naturally, Sora-san looked dazed with her sleepy eyes. I understood that she was so sleepy her head wasn't working properly, but I wanted her to understand from the bottom of my heart.
I have no intention of holding back anymore.
If she gets this close to me, I don't know what will happen.
"Eh, ah... D..."
"I guess it's a bit late for that."
Before she could finish her sentence, I scooped up her slender, feather-light body. I didn't just hug her... that would be too much without permission.
I couldn't just take what I wanted without getting an answer.
"... ... Honestly..."
"I thought this would be within the realm of what's allowed... or so I thought."
It was our usual thing.
I lifted her up in a princess carry, and her cute face glared at me from the close distance. It wasn't scary at all... so I decided to fire another shot without flinching.
"Sora."
"... What is it?"
"If you're ever worried about being treated like a child, tell me anytime. Come at me anytime... and I'll keep treating you like a girl and proposing to you, without ever getting tired of it."
And so, I observed the impact... was that a near-miss?
Her cheeks turned red, and my partner went silent as I carried her to the bed. Was she just frozen, was she too sleepy to resist, or was it something else? I laid the girl down as if she were made of glass.
I covered her with a blanket as if she were a treasure.
"Now then... which would you prefer right now, a 'Goodnight' or something else?"
I whispered while gently moving the thin gold strands of hair that were hiding her cute face.
As I whispered while looking into the amber eyes that continued to watch me, she spoke softly with her trembling small lips.
"... Goodnight, Haru."
"Ah, goodnight, Sora."
I couldn't take it anymore and retreated.
I watched my partner leave the virtual world in that state...
"... ... ... Phew... ! Keeping up that cool act is not something I'm used to!!!"
I, who had suddenly performed a full-force seduction routine, was now alone.
I fell over and spent quite a while writhing as I looked back on my life-or-death moment.
Isn't this enough to get him arrested?