kscans

Chapter 928 - Once Off the Battlefield, Just a Normal Person

"Alright then, good work. See you tomorrow."

We were only halfway to our deadline, and we'd already reached the ninetieth floor.

At this point, we didn't really need to worry about our pace; if anything, we were well past the point where the deadline was a concern. So, our parting was a relaxed one.

Although, aside from our clearing speed, I feel like we've been a laid-back party from the very beginning.

In any case, I watched as the other members logged out or left the Key Tree Maze one by one, exchanging goodbyes. In the now quiet great hall, where the cheerful atmosphere had faded...

"What's up?"

"...N-Nothing's wrong."

Beside me, my partner tugged on my sleeve. I turned to her and placed a hand on her head, and she averted her gaze, giving a reply that was likely the opposite of what she truly felt. It was so predictable I couldn't help but laugh.

The protest against my soft chuckle was a light pinch on the back of my hand.

Yeah, I know. I get it.

"You were pretty quiet today, Sora-san."

"...I don't... intend to be noisy, usually."

"Hmm."

"Wh-What is it...! What do you mean, 'hmm'...!"

Setting aside my personal image of Sora as being on the 'livelier side' thanks to her boundless curiosity and all,

I repeat, how could I not understand?

"There, there."

"...!, ..., .............................................................."

I gently stroked her head... At first, Sora looked surprised, then she looked angry, but that immediately shifted to a conflicted expression. Just when I thought she'd settled on pretending to be angry, her face just—melted.

"...!"

"Oof."

As if to hide her expression, she buried her face in my shoulder with an adorable headbutt.

I know. It's not because you were embarrassed by my antics today, when I was fooling around all day long. It's not that.

I get it. It's just that from the start... you've just been thinking about what happened yesterday.

"...Did you... have fun?"

It sounded like she'd spent a long time agonizing over what to say before finally forcing out the words.

Sensing from her presence that I was smiling again without even having to look up, she began rubbing her head against me as a second reprimand.

So cute.

"I think I succeeded in making sure she had fun."

Well, let's put aside my doting for a moment.

"...That's a sly way to put it."

My angel, who had been conscious of yesterday—the birthday of her dear friend and now love rival, the fairy—responded to my sly reply with a voice that held a hint of something different from mere dissatisfaction.

Deciphering it is my job and, at this moment, my supreme mission. It's agonizing that I have to rack my brain even if the probability of arriving at the correct answer is less than a decimal point.

And so, after about thirty seconds of swimming in an awkward yet calm silence.

"When your birthday comes, I'll be sure to agonize over it to death, too."

To my reply, which once again had no choice but to be sly,

"To borrow Ren-san's words..."

Sora didn't show her face.

And with a voice that continued to feign anger, she delivered a terribly sweet verdict.

---

An honest girl swayed by her heart.

This one's a bit short to end on a good note. More will be added tonight.