CH ss - 19

[Alfine: Regret and the Road to Maturity]

※Alfine’s POV

“Yeah~, sorry about this. Having to ride the carriage of Al-san and co… It is unthinkable that my partner, Mirren, would oversleep.”

“I-is it my fault!? Isn’t it because Dick didn’t come to wake me up!?”

“Haa!? I’ve always said that I’m not your caretaker, stop being careless and at least get up on your own in the morning.”

When we left the Adventurer’s Guild to head to the Demon Forest, I saw the two adventurers, who I had got along with in the past week, in a rush.

It seems that the reason they were in a hurry was that they have missed the carriage to their destination that they had ordered the day before.

But since they have missed their carriage and our direction was coincidentally the same, I decided to offer them a ride.

It seems that the two were childhood friends who grew up together in a village near Youg Hannotes, and I heard that they recently became adventurers with Mirren as a mage and Dick as a swordsman.

When I saw the exchange between them, I recollected the first time Finn and I became adventurers.

I wonder if I also was behaving like a spoiled child to Finn, just like how Mirren was behaving like a spoiled child to Dick…

At that time, I didn’t think so at all, but when I objectively look at the two people who have the same relationship as me from the outsider perspective, I feel like my selfishness was thrusted in front of me.

Mirren was like the me not long ago…

She believes and doesn’t doubt that their world will naturally continue forever, just like me when I was a child.

However, that world doesn’t last forever, and if she doesn’t change herself, that world will disappear.

Thinking so, I unconsciously called out to Mirren,

“Mirren, if you say “I’m sorry” in such a time, I think Dick will forgive you.”

“Al-san?”

“Ahh, this is an advice from me. Men surprisingly like straightforward girl you know.”

Mirren looked at me and tilted her head at my advice.

Dick nodded with his arms crossed, saying, “That’s right”.

“I-is that so? Does Al-san also like that kind of girl?”

Mirren took my hand and looked at me.

“Perhaps… No, I don’t know. But at least I think Dick thinks so. Right? Dick?”

I didn’t want Millen to make the same mistakes as I did, so I spoke, though perhaps I was being meddlesome.

“Eh? Ah, un. That’s right. If Mirren is a little more honest, I won’t get angry either.”

“I-is that so?”

“Why are you staring at me?”

Mirren’s gaze was concentrated onto Dick.

I suppose she really likes him.

But maybe she still doesn’t understand the difference between fawning on him and liking him.

It was also true for me.

I have already lost the qualification to like the person I like though…

“Mirren, if you like Dick, you better be honest about it. Otherwise—”

“Wai-!? Al-san!? What are you—!?”

Mirren’s face turned bright red, and she tried to close my mouth with her hand.

“Yes, yes~! The pointless talk ends here~. We’re parting with Mirren and Dick here, right? We’ll get into the Demon Forest for a while, so see you later, kay?”

When I thought why the wagon had stopped, Meila looked this way from the coachman’s seat.

Apparently, we have reached the crossroads to the outskirt of the forest where Mirren and co are heading.

“M-Mirren. Let’s go. Al-san, Meila-san, thank you for the ride. When you come back, we’ll treat you to a meal.”

“W-wait, Dick!? Well, we’re off!”

Dick who blushed bowed to us, took Mirren’s hand, and got off the wagon.

Having saw them off, dull pain along with relief spread in the depths of my heart.

Being reminded of the time when I felt bliss is very hurtful…

Looking at Dick and Millen made me about to sink into a swamp of self-loathing.

Perhaps she saw through me, Meila, who was in the coachman’s seat, sat down in front of me.

“You remembered about Finn and advised them, didn’t you?”

“Well, yeah.”

“So, you also thought ‘If I had been more honest’ or something along that line, right?”

My view became a little blurred as I was staring at Meila’s eyes, which seemed able to see through anything in my mind.

Why do I became easily moved to tears I wonder…

It’s as if…

I was desperately wiping the tears that were about to overflow.

Just because Finn had gone, I was broken like a lie, and what came out was the part of me who was a very fragile, effeminate, and detestable woman.

“Al is really foolish, isn’t she~? But she’s already decided to apologize when she meets Finn-kun, right?”

I nodded to Meila’s question while wiping my tears.

“Then, the rest is Finn’s problem y’know. What I said might be harsh, but from that point on is not something that Al has to think about. You know that to love is something that can do because the other person exists, right?”

“Un…”

I understood how annoying it is to the other party if you selfishly push your feelings toward them.

I know that it is too convenient for me to ask him to restore our relationship that was broken because of me.

Perhaps because I know it and feel strangled by it, I became this weak, fragile, and effeminate.

If I meet Finn in this kind of state, he might be more disillusioned.

It is my responsibility to show him that I’ve grown up even a little bit, apologize for what I’ve done so far, and bids farewell.

So, I roused myself, then I wiped away the tears running down my cheeks.

“Meila, I don’t have time to cry in a place like this, right? Now, let’s go—wait, why are you hugging me I wonder?”

“Haaaaa, I also love the crying Al-kuuuuuun!!”

Meila was hugging me before I knew it, so when I regained my composure, I throw a knife-hand to her forehead.

“Aguu! Al’s face that looks so serious is at fault okay~. Having listened to Al, Finn-kun seems to be a good man, in the worst-case scenario, I’ll push him down and seal the deal—au!”

I throw another knife-hand to Meila’s forehead.

Even I think that is the worst move to do, I definitely didn’t want to use it even if I die.

“Meila, I’ll definitely never going to use that kind of move…”

“I know. I know Al is a serious, virgin, and pure-hearted girl after all.”

Having said that, Meila stood up while rubbing her forehead.

“Now then, should I help Al to tread on the road to maturity~. Ah~, it hurts.”

“…Thank you. Meila Nee-san.”

After hearing my mutter, Meila silently waved her hand, she returned to the coachman’s seat, and started to drive the wagon again.

Glad that Meila was encouraging their relationship and not hogging Al for herself.