kscans

Chapter 297 - Overwhelming Feelings

"—I understand the situation. So it's finally time, huh?"

In the Southern Faction Sotalm's assembly hall for title holders, styled in a deep red, one of the three figures present—the one who was exceptionally large—spoke with a cheerful voice.

"That is correct. This time it is the 'East's' turn, so we expect a valiant fight from you, carrying the momentum from your recent efforts."

Responding in a perfectly flat, cool tone was a black-haired woman in a suit and monocle. Her fearless posture as she faced the magnificent, blond-haired giant might make her seem like a person of great stature to an outsider… but in reality, the two were father and daughter.

"Leave it to me. It's a rematch after a year. Things are different this time."

"I should hope so—assuming 'that thing' hasn't grown even stronger."

"…Don't say such scary things. If it becomes any more of a monster, it'll really be an impossible game."

"Let us pray it is not that unreasonable. In any case, please select your members promptly. We will need to formulate a strategy with the support members from the North and South."

"I don't mind… but is it my imagination, or are you in quite a hurry?"

"That is our own affair."

"Affair, huh…? —And what about the princess with this 'affair,' spacing out with her head in the clouds?"

Where the giant (Goldow) was looking, the 'princess,' who had been silent for some time, was indeed spacing out as he'd said. She twitched in reaction to his voice.

"…………It feels strange."

As if to dispel the indescribable, itchy sensation, she placed a hand on her chest. Her cryptic words, out of place with the conversation, left the other two to do nothing but tilt their heads.

"I feel a buzzing inside."

Literally treating the lady-in-waiting and her guest's reactions as 'someone else's problem,' the girl murmured with a serious expression, her gaze fixed somewhere far away.

"…………I had a feeling, but you're acting a bit odd today, aren't you?"

"…If it were only today, it would have been fine."

Goldow watched Iris, who was different from her usual, merely quiet self, with a mix of concern and curiosity.

And Helena wore an indescribable expression as she looked at her mistress, who had been restless and fidgety since 'the other day.'

As for the [Sword Queen] herself, who was being watched so strangely by her two elders—

"…………?"

—she, too, was tilting her head at her own heart, which was buzzing with a mysterious premonition.

◇◆◇◆◇

They say time flies when you're having fun, right?

I generally agree with that from experience, and I accept that's usually how it is—but I've learned that it also depends on the situation.

The current time is just past six P.M.

Right around sunset, I was exhausted in the corner of a cafe.

It was a long… a very long battle. Constantly being made aware of Nia, who, in her own way, was not her usual self despite a Nora that was probably her effort to 'be that way' for my sake, had left me, I confess, utterly drained.

It's incredibly rude to be exhausted from a date, but in this case, I'll have to ask her to overlook it, as it was mutual.

My date, after all, had spectacularly crashed right in front of me.

I mean, really… I definitely had fun in the end, but time just crawled by. We'd exchange a word or two, then fall silent, take damage just by looking at each other, and occasionally, one of Nia's bold moves would leave me critically wounded.

When a loop like that goes on for several hours, this is what happens.

In any case,

"…Alright, let's get going."

`Mm.`

We successfully completed the 'date'—or so I, a novice, might be allowed to flatter myself into thinking.

At least, I had fun. I hope Nia did, too.

With a brief exchange, we stood up together and left the cafe. As we had decided beforehand to part 'before it gets dark,' today's date was now over.

—And that's fine, but.

The problem is that even without looking, I can clearly picture the expression on the girl's face as we walk side by side.

…And is that a sufficient reason to not shake off the hand clinging to my arm?

Even if it isn't, I hope you'll let it slide for now. I don't care who criticizes me, so just this once, for the sake of the girl who is probably looking lonely beside me.

"Hey."

It's still a little while until the exit gate.

Until we wake up from the dream, in two senses of the word, I chose my words and spoke.

"To be honest, I don't really care much about my real-world self."

I glanced sideways, and my eyes met the green ones looking up at me. Confirming she was listening, I looked forward again.

"It's not that I hate myself or anything… It's just that I don't think I'm a particularly valuable person, or someone who would be seen as special by anyone."

I pretended not to notice the grip on my arm tightening.

"I acted like a people-pleaser on purpose. In my own worthless way—or rather, because I'm not special, I felt I had to do more for others… something like that?"

There are no particularly negative feelings involved in this. It's always been something like my reason for living.

…I wonder if my expression is conveying that? She's staring at me so intently it feels like she's burning a hole through me, so I hope so.

"But since I started spending time in the virtual world, I've achieved things that can't really be called 'normal,' and people have started to see me as 'special'… well, you know."

Even as I said 'people who see me as special,' I didn't have the courage to look at the person beside me.

"For the sake of others, I guess I need to start taking myself into consideration, too… or something like that, uh… is what I've been thinking recently, well, that's what I've been thinking. So—……?"

Wait—who was the one who stopped walking first?

Are those eyes still on me? Giving up on the 'courage' that never seemed to materialize, I looked to my side—

"——————"

The screen of a phone was held up to me.

And the 'voice' written there stole the words from my mouth.

I managed to stop myself from stumbling in shock, but a shiver that ran up my spine seemed to paralyze my brain, erasing all thought.

Just two characters.

A stark contrast to me, who had strung together a long, rambling speech without ever getting to the point.

With just that, the girl who had shaken my heart to its core had a face redder than the distant sunset—and without running or hiding, she had laid her heart bare.

That is—'Suki.' I love you.

As I stood frozen, unable to look away from those words, that face—she took another step closer, from a distance that was already nearly zero.

And then, without any time to think.

Two shadows, beginning to stretch, overlapped without a sound.

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When typing words feels too slow, you just want to convey everything, right now.