CH 80

Dense trees, a refreshing breeze, and a villa with a pool.

Presently, I am at a summer retreat that looks like it came out of a painting. However, it’s not property of the Tempest family. My mother and father didn’t come. This villa is privately owned by the eldest son of the Juliano family, Rave–it’s not property of the Juliano family.

It all started a couple of days ago when a letter for me from Neriel arrived.

There were a lot of pleasantries in the letter, but to summarize, it was an invitation to come to this villa to play.

His siblings were worried that if their parents were there, they would just wear out Neriel’s mind. Apparently, during this season, Rave shelters his little brother in his villa. I don’t know what happened that made him say he is “sheltering Neriel from his parents,” but he invited me without informing me of the location to avoid being noticed by his parents. So, I understand what he means by “shelter.”

The only other people at the villa are an attendant and escort that Neriel trusts, to ease their parents’ mind and keep them happy.

Since Keito and I both finally got to return from dorm life, they invited us to go together. He also said that they would prepare everything we’d need over there so just “bring yourselves.” Isn’t Rave-sama pulling too many strings for his little brother’s sake… Ah, but he was the type of person to create false charges for the sake of his little brother. It was Mariabell getting her just desserts but I wonder if that’s just how nobles drive someone away?

After this and that, Keito and I arrived at the villa.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen Neriel, huh… Once I started preparing to enter the academy, I was so busy that we stopped having tea parties.

“Both of you, Welcome…..!”

“…… Neriel?”

“Ah…. Yes, it’s been a while.”

Yep, that smile that emits a healing aura is Neriel’s. But, the impression of Neriel in my memory is very, very different.

His hair, which had been heavy before, was now quite a bit shorter, though it still covered his eyes a little. It wasn’t as much of a problem as before. Actually, Keito’s hair is longer now. Before, the combination of his glasses and long hair made him look gloomy but now his ambience has changed quite a lot.

“You cut your hair; it suits you.”

“T… Thank you. It’s just a little shorter but has my impression changed?”

“Yes, I can see your eyes more than before. It makes me happy!”

This is like a girls’ conversation… Well, Neriel’s eyes are cute so it doesn’t feel out of place.

Ultimately, I’d like to cut his hair so it’s not covering his eyes at all but… he still hasn’t entered middle school yet so maybe it’s too soon for an image change.

“You two, if you’re going to talk then do it inside. If we leave the door open, bugs will get in.”

“Ah… You’re right. Come in, your luggage is in your room already.”

Nature is heaven for insects, after all.

At Neriel’s encouraging we entered. It was just one step in but I felt a pleasant cool breeze wrapping my body.

Even if there was a breeze outside, the sun was still bright, so of course being inside was much cooler.

“I’ll wait in the living room, okay?”

Keito and I followed the attendant to the rooms they prepared for us. Getting a room separately doesn’t surprise me anymore but… being next door neighbors with Keito is a little fresh. After all, we are in different dorms and different years. We don’t even attend the same events.

“I’ll wait for you, so get changed.”

“Okay, thanks.”

My traveling clothes are cute but I don’t feel relaxed in them. As I entered the room, it wasn’t its size but its closet that I reacted most strongly to.

It was crammed full of clothes. I could live here as long as I wanted and never run out. I was completely provided for on one wall and of course complete with anything a women could need.

The Juliano house was supposed to only have sons…. What did they do to get this many feminine products?

“….O-oh well.”

There not even an ounce in trouble over money. If I think too hard then I’ll probably be tormented by guilty feelings. Thinking about this situation can wait. Sorry for keeping you, Keito.

I carelessly chose an elegant dress with little accessories and a long cardigan then left my room.

×　×　×　×

“Neriel, thanks for waiting.”

“Not at all. Ah, the clothes… did they suite your tastes?”

“Yes, there were so many choices that I didn’t know what to pick.”

“There aren’t any women in our house besides mother so…. My brothers were very enthusiastic.”

“All of them were very cute.”

“Ah… you can take the ones you like home, if you’d like… We can’t use them at home and my brothers will be pleased.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Then, later I’ll have to examine them carefully.”

Is it better if I restrain myself a little? Women’s clothes are useless in a house of men, and even if they gave the clothes to their lover, she wouldn’t be pleased to receive something picked out for another woman, right? No matter how old she was, even if she were a girl in her teens, women are naturally women.

“We also prepared a lot of clothes for you, Keito-kun. So if you’d like, come look later.”

“For me?”

“You have a different style than me so… It seemed like it’d be fun.”

“Aa… Well I guess.”

It seemed like Neriel has become someone else’s little brother. I knew girls liked to play dress up with children, but it looks like boys aren’t so different either.

In Neriel’s case, he’s always been someone’s precious little brother. Keito is older than us so if Neriel views him as an older brother he’ll still be a child. Since Keito has become friends with Neriel, he wants to spoil him… maybe? I’ve never had siblings so I don’t understand this sort of topic.

“I also want to see later. Keito only ever wears things like overalls.”

“Because it’s easier to work in.”

“Boring.”

“Even if you want me to be interested in men’s clothes, it’s bothersome for me.”

“Ahaha, you’ll be compared to women, huh.”

Neriel’s expression was bright and not particularly perplexed. Good, his impression had changed, but he was fundamentally afraid of strangers… I thought we were getting along well but what if in half a year his suspicious behavior returned? What would I do?

But, it looks like my worries were needless anxiety. When we met, I thought I saw a shred of nervousness but it looks like it was just my imagination.

I say it’s worrying, but I simply wasn’t able to trust Neriel… I should do some reflection. While I’ve just been a worrywart, Neriel has been pulling himself together, probably.

“But, when I heard Keito-kun was also going to the academy, I was surprised.”

“That… Me too.”

“Me too, you know. Even though I just wanted to make him come see me off no matter what, I never thought we’d be going together.”

Even if Keito had stayed behind, he would have had training so he wouldn’t be able to have tea parties with Neriel anyway. There’s no way he thought his training would be interrupted because he had to go to the academy with me… Really, you never know what will happen in life. There’s definitely no one who can say this remark with more persuasiveness than me!

“I’ll be entering next year but… when I think that you two will be there, my unease turns into anticipation!”

“Oh, that makes me happy. I’ve been looking forward to you coming.”

From the bottom of my heart, I’m anticipating it. Because even though we’ll be in different years, it’s a friend attending the same school.

However… I do have some mixed feelings. The capture targets will be on the same grounds in full force. Grey-sensei being in the high school section was my only relief.

Well, at this point, even if Neriel joins, I don’t think my dangers will change. As long as Tuvalu is around, regardless of whether the others are gathered or not, there are landmines scattered everywhere.

“Neriel, when you enter the school, I’ll introduce you to my friends. They also know Keito too.”

“Aah, Eru-chan and Primella-chan?”

“Yes. It’s best if we have some common acquaintances right?”

For me, if my friends knew each other, it would be convenient if something happened… Though if you ask me what, it’s difficult to say concretely. Like maybe an emergency contact? Even if they don’t become friends, there’s no harm in being acquaintances.

I introduced Keito to them when they came to visit. Hopefully I’ll get an opportunity to introduce Neriel too.

“Come to think of it, I’ve never met any of your friends before, Keito.”

“Are you implying I have none?”

“Well, whenever I see you, you’re always alone.”

“Cause you’re coming during my club. I talk normally with others in class.”

Is that so? I thought he’d be alone by choice… Now that I think about it, Keito has experienced elementary school so he’s far more used to making friends than me.

“Well, I don’t deny that I do things alone often.”

“I know. Veeery well.”

How many years do you think we’ve been together? And I can’t talk about other people being alone… Could it be, did I influence Keito? No, he originally had the makings of a loner.

“Even so, I have to say, when there are a lot of boys around, they’re really noisy.”

I don’t have anything I can comment on about the differences between men and women but… For me, Keito’s year is full of evil spirits, so if I can get through the years without getting involved with them, I’ll be happy. Having Eru and Primella is enough for me.

“It looks like the two of you made new friends.”

“Yes. Primella is from a baron house so you might meet her at a party.”

I heard from Rave-sama that Neriel has been skipping parties less lately. I had received an incredibly formal letter from him. Don’t tell him I was troubled from receiving so many intense and overly formal thanks in one letter.

However, it seems that Neriel can’t talk actively yet, the most he can handle now is a little bit of basic conversation when he’s talked to. He is a former social recluse so this is plenty of progress.

“Yea, but….”

“..….?”

“Your friends, what kind of people are they?”

“…. They’re, really good girls.”

For a split second, it looked like Neriel’s face was cloudy but… his smile immediately returned. I could feel his growth for being able to let a topic drop.

Maybe the dark aura I felt was my misunderstanding.

Neriel continued to listen to me brag about Primella and Eru without making an unhappy face. Eventually I noticed the view outside had become pitch black.

…. It wasn’t just me talking like a machine gun, okay? Keito and Neriel also talked properly. It wasn’t a one-sided conversation. I’m reiterating just in case, got it?