Chapter 1102 - 弟子の宣誓
────And then, after some more time had passed.
"............Um, to state the conclusion first."
"Yes."
"It's not the kind of talk where I can offer any particular opinion..."
"Well, yes. If there's anything, it's perfectly fine for you to say this or that, though."
"Um, I think we've entered an era that is tolerant in various ways..."
"Well, yes. Even so, I think it's an act of recklessness by domestic standards."
"Recklessness... it is, but............ even so, when I think about whether that... the 'answer' Haru-kun chose, is a bad thing... as my personal impression from having watched Haru-kun and the others."
"Yes."
"........................I don't want to say (・・・・・・) it's a bad thing."
────And so, at this stage.
Master's reached impression was one filled with such mercy.
"There is a sense of aversion, isn't there? After all."
"............"
"Me too. People might think, 'What is the person who came up with that answer even saying?' but I really don't think it's a 'decent conclusion' myself."
'I don't want to say.'
In other words, there was... certainly, a part of her that felt that way. I thought it was only natural, and I was even grateful that she told me the natural thing honestly.
Including the fact that her eyes, looking at me as I showed foolish agreement, were filled with nothing but concern for me, it was truly so helpful I was grateful────That's why,
"But well, I've decided to seriously stick to that stupid conclusion."
Because I already knew she was that kind of person.
I didn't want to interact with this person while keeping this hidden.
Because she had shown me an uncharacteristic, greatly flustered side during this incident, my own guilt and other feelings had reached their limit.
"............Is it enough to say you're betting your life?"
"It is. Or rather, it's more (・・・・・・) than enough to say that."
"More than that...?"
"Look. A single 'lifetime' of mine wouldn't be enough to match those three, right? So well, at least in terms of spirit, I'm prepared to serve them for about three lifetimes' worth."
Even though her head must be exhausted, she tilted it to ask me again and again, staying by my side as if she were my own flesh and blood... Only in the case of my irreplaceable Master.
"────I can't let go of any of them. I want to take responsibility for making them fall for me, and with gratitude for them letting me fall for them, I want to make each and every one of them happier than anyone else in the world."
"────............"
Just as she cherished me, I wanted to cherish her────
In short, it was selfishness upon selfishness.
All of it was my selfishness. The reason I troubled her by suddenly confessing my secret was that I didn't want to hold back from her... or rather, I hated the idea of interacting with her while maintaining a distance appropriate for a man who had 'proposed to three women' while hiding the truth.
Really, it was just that. At least regarding the intentions on my side.
────And so, from here on,
"............Somewhat."
"Yes."
"...Embarrassingly, I've been overwhelmed."
"Haha. Same here, it's embarrassing."
Even more selfishness (・・・・・・・) was already on standby within my heart.
"Ui-san."
"Y-yes...?"
A massive selfish suicide charge that could result in instant death if I played it wrong.
However, if I'm a man who must do what needs to be done. In order to avoid mistakenly carrying a 'sin' I can no longer bear, this is a necessary ritual that I must absolutely finish.
As long as Ui-san is a member of the opposite sex I want to cherish (・・・・・・・・・), absolutely.
"From me (・・・・), absolutely (・・), I will never (・・) harbor (・・) romantic (・・) feelings (・・) for you (・・)."
"────────……………………Eh? A... eh............"
A blank face. Naturally.
I'm the one who's suddenly declaring something crazy again.
"Even so, I will cherish you immensely. You're someone I can respect tremendously, someone who has looked after me incredibly, someone who is truly irreplaceable."
"A, um... um............?"
"I think of this as a 'person of destiny' in its own way. It's no exaggeration to say that the current me was born because I met Ui-san, no joke."
"Um, what is this talk..."
What kind of talk? That's obvious.
"It's a talk about how I love you very much."
"────......Ha, e............"
Ui-san was completely white, left behind by the intensity.
However, I hope my Master forgives my rudeness. I'm firing off all sorts of things without hesitation, but even for me, a 'confession of love' is something I can only do by relying on momentum.
And, of course, that is────
"I'll state it clearly: romantic feelings are currently zero. I declare it."
"────......"
Without forgetting to convey that it is a 'love' that is not THAT.
"And I'll state it clearly again: Ui-san is deathly attractive."
"────! A, um...! Um...!? W-wait, Haru-kun! Really wait, really, I have no idea what you're talking about or where this is going────"
"That was just some extra selfishness like, 'I'm saying whatever I want, but please don't lose your awareness as an incredibly attractive woman.'"
"Ha, e!?"
"Well, that's not related to the main point, so let's set it aside."
"Set aside, o, e."
"Anyway. What I want to say is────"
I won't stop my words. For a disciple to preach such idiotic content to their Master with such idiotic seriousness is a senile act; if I don't run through it without stopping, I'll be choked by shame.
And so...
"────I won't hold back either, so please don't hold back, Ui-san."
I thrust the conclusion at the lovely [Sword Saint]-sama, whose eyes were literally spinning in circles and whose mouth was wavering as she was tossed about by my rampage.
"I will cherish Ui-san immensely and depend on you without hesitation, but all of that is as a 'disciple.' As a man, I will never turn an indecent eye toward you."
"............"
"So, Ui-san, too. Please cherish me immensely and spoil me without hesitation. Because as a man, I will never misunderstand."
...And with that, it was finished.
I had said everything I wanted to say, or rather, everything I thought I should declare. Of course, I am aware of the fact that I spoke a lot of crazy things with crazy momentum.
Therefore, the reaction of my Master, who had frozen with a hardness that easily updated today's record, was as expected.
It can't be helped. If she said, "Please say it again," because she couldn't keep up with her understanding, I am prepared to repeat it with a perfect reenactment using the 'Memory' gift.
I might cry because I lack the resolve, but if I think of it as the price for doing something so crazy... ────I kept my eyes fixed on hers to show my unyielding will,
"………………………………………………, ……"
Her gray eyes, which had barely escaped the whirlpool, softly gazed at me.
"...W-what you want to say, yes. The intent, yes... um............"
She gazed and spoke bit by bit.
"S-............ I can perceive your sincerity... um, yes. I have recei............"
Bit by bit... then, silence.
Then, after another long yet short time.
"...Haru-kun is an outrageous boy."
I had seen similar expressions before, but this was definitely a different face.
Her half-lidded eyes were at their peak. While feeling an intensity in her eyes that looked as if she might cut me down with a single blink if I made one more mistake from here on.
"I've recently realized that I'm a disciple who suits Ui-san, in my own way."
With the spirit of 'a disciple needs guts,' I gave her a smile along with a joke (true feelings). What was returned was────
"............You are expelled. My disciple."
"Please wait, my Master. I'm seriously sorry."
It was a single joke accompanied by a smile mixed with resignation, like a mother looking at a troubled child.
As you know, this guy is an idiot.