Chapter 78 - It's Still Okay
Sora looked away, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
And I, out of a sheer sense of duty, dropped to my knees without a moment's hesitation.
"...W-what are you doing?!"
As I, a complete fool, attempted to transition smoothly from a formal kneel to a full prostration, a still-blushing Sora frantically stopped me. She grabbed my shoulders mid-bow, and my forehead was unfortunately spared from meeting the ground.
"My rashness was born of ignorance! I humbly beg your forgiveness..."
"N-no, um! I was surprised, but...!"
Sora insisted it wasn't something that required such a grand apology and pulled her hands away, prompting me to stand. Honestly, now I'm not even sure why I was about to prostrate myself. Perhaps I was just as flustered as she was.
"Um... could you explain? If you don't mind."
When I asked timidly, Sora, whose blush was finally starting to fade, began to explain the inner workings of this so-called 'contract'.
In short, I had completely misunderstood the nuance of the name 'Partner System'—in Arcadia, a 'partner' didn't mean a 'buddy,' but a 'spouse.'
In other words, this game's 'Partner System' was the equivalent of a 'Marriage System' in other games.
No wonder proposing it was treated like a marriage proposal. However, it was only a marriage-like system, not an official designation. The detailed specifications led many players to feel that it was more of a spouse than a buddy, and now it's an unspoken common understanding that that's just what it is.
"A completely shared inventory, huh... So it's like a married couple's joint bank account."
Even our currency would be combined, meaning we would literally be in it together for better or worse.
"And since it's a lifelong commitment, well... it requires the resolve to spend your life with someone you can trust from the bottom of your heart, you know."
"Yeah, the fact that you can't break the contract is pretty insane..."
That was the most crucial point. Apparently, once both parties agree and the contract is formed, there is no way to break it—in other words, no means of divorce.
Normally, a feature like this would be bombarded with complaints. In Arcadia, where you can't create multiple accounts or sub-characters, an irreversible element like this carries far too much weight.
"...Hmm."
My head, now cooled down, started to churn as I glanced over at Sora.
It was certainly a heavy commitment. But... was there any chance that I would ever find another partner I could get along with and trust more than her?
She's honest, hardworking, kind, and considerate. She even does her best to keep up with my often over-the-top energy. Could I really be lucky enough to meet someone like that twice?
No way. And on top of that, she's a cute girl whose avatar and personality are a perfect match for my tastes. That's not just a once-in-a-lifetime thing; it's a miracle I couldn't hope to grasp even if I lived a dozen lives.
...Setting aside Sora's feelings, is there even an option for me to back down?
It's just an unspoken understanding. If you boil it down, it's just a game system. It's not like we'd be stepping into a real-life romance.
People might get the wrong idea about our relationship, but... if I can accept a minor demerit like that, and in return, our vague connection gets a clear form and a name—
"Uh... Sora-san."
"Yes?"
It might be too dramatic to call it resolve, but with a decision made in my heart, I began.
"Taking all of that into account, I'd like to propose it again... If you're okay with it, will you be my partner?"
This was the second time, now with a proper understanding.
This time, my words could undeniably be taken as that kind of confession, but after all the time we've spent together, Sora should have some understanding of who I am.
She's smart. She should be able to read my true intentions.
"Ah—that... um."
Sora managed to stop herself from boiling over again. She looked thoughtful, gently massaging her cheeks with both hands as if to cool them.
"You mean... not in a romantic sense, but as a purely platonic partnership... right?"
"Yeah. If people get the wrong idea, we can just explain it to them."
Sora mulled it over. That's true...
Of course, the fact that it's almost all pros is limited to my perspective. How much merit she sees in a partnership with me is entirely up to her to decide.
I'm confident we've built a great deal of trust in the time we've spent together, but if you were to ask me if I'm a 'good catch,' the answer would be a resounding no... So, as I said before, it's a proposal made on the condition that "Sora is okay with it."
"...There are a lot of restrictions, but the benefits are significant, too."
"Definitely. The permanent buff during co-op battles is huge, and the exclusive skills for partners are pretty broken. If we're going to keep pairing up, I think the benefits would be substantial."
Whether we continue as a pair is also up to Sora. Because, honestly, I can't even imagine a situation where I would be the one to end our partnership.
"Um, Haru-san and I... we're, uh, compatible, right? Thanks to [Cradle of Sword-Craft], I have a ton of extra inventory space, so we could really make the sharing feature work."
Ah, that's true. If I could borrow the space Sora doesn't need from our combined inventory, my own storage problems would be greatly alleviated.
"And..."
Sora's words trailed off as she muttered something, not for me to hear. I was a little nervous myself, so I didn't have the guts to press her to continue.
After a brief silence—
"Could you... give me some time to think about it?"
With an expression that suggested she wasn't entirely against the idea—at least, that's how it seemed to me—Sora asked for more time.
◇◆◇◆◇
—Natsume Itsuki was a maid.
In modern Japan, declaring oneself a professional maid would inevitably draw curious stares, to varying degrees. So, on the surface, she presented herself as a housekeeper or a secretary, but in her heart, Itsuki was a maid.
If asked why, she could only answer that it was a personal preference. The fact that she wore a maid uniform in the mansion, even when told it was unnecessary, was one hundred percent a hobby.
Itsuki had been given just one duty... well, not just one, but in her mind, it was the one and only mission that took precedence over all other tasks, one that had become her calling.
To be the caretaker of a single girl.
She had first met her three years ago, when the girl was a little younger than she is now.
Simply put, Itsuki fell in love with her at first sight. It was her stunning looks, of course, but also her demeanor. The earnest gaze of one so young, always trying her best to be considerate of everyone around her—it had pierced Itsuki's heart.
Ever since then, Itsuki had been the girl's maid, her friend, and at times her sister or even her mother, dedicating herself to her more than anyone else.
Perhaps because of her efforts, the girl had grown very fond of Itsuki, and they now shared a bond so close that her employer, the 'Master,' would enviously remark, "You two are like real sisters."
And this 'Young Mistress' of hers—who was a dear friend, a younger sister, and almost like a daughter to Itsuki—had recently become completely engrossed in a certain game... and a certain gentleman.
Despite her innate physical weakness, she had always been a mentally resilient girl. But lately, her emotions had been especially vibrant.
At first, Itsuki had to coax the stories out of her, but now, the tales of adventure she shared daily were rich with a kaleidoscope of colors.
Especially when she spoke of the exploits of her so-called partner, seeing the look on her face, it was only natural for Itsuki to have her suspicions.
It was a bit worrying that she couldn't see it with her own eyes, since it all took place in a virtual world, but the 'Young Mistress' was an excellent judge of character.
If she placed such pure trust in someone, he couldn't possibly be a scoundrel.
With that in mind, Itsuki had been watching over the girl's budding affection—not quite love yet—with a gentle smile. That was, until one particular day.
"I was proposed to."
"Propo—"
Her 'Young Mistress' (Sora) appeared in the living room, stumbling slightly, and muttered those words with a face as red as a beet. Itsuki dropped her ladle into the pot.
Ignoring the stunned Itsuki, Sora sank into the sofa, her mind completely elsewhere. Seeing her in a state she had never witnessed in their years together, Itsuki immediately slammed the lid on the pot and turned off the heat.
Preparing the soup stock was a trifle compared to her beloved Young Mistress's major crisis.
Coming around the counter from the kitchen, Itsuki went straight to Sora and sat down right beside her.
"Sora?"
She called out while peering into Sora's eyes, which were staring blankly into space. Beautiful sky-blue orbs turned to meet Itsuki's gaze. Those eyes, moist with heat, combined with her flushed cheeks... well, it was... you know...
"...Have you fallen for him?"
"Wh—?!"
She looked exactly like a young girl swept up by her first 'love'—in response to Itsuki's cautious question, Sora jumped so hard her shoulders shot up, then flailed about in a panic.
"N-n-no, you're wrong! I'm fine! It's still okay! Haru-san said he didn't mean it that way, and I'm not misunderstanding anything either!"
"S-Sora? Let's just calm down a little, okay?"
As she held her flailing Young Mistress's shoulders and pressed her back into the sofa, Itsuki secretly revised her assessment. This might be more serious than I thought.
It's still okay. For now.