In the end, I danced a lot (While getting big laughs just from appearing on the stage).
I, who danced with Tsukiori and Rei by turns, held a vase in the corner of the dance hall and danced with it to reset the legend 『People who danced together in the recreation camp will be together forever』.
“S-Sanjou Hiiro is dancing with a vase…”
“…”
“He is dancing with a vase!! (fear)”
“What is it? Don’t disturb me. I’m serious about being together forever with a vase.”
“Stop doing stupid things and come here.”
Hizumi, who was wearing a red dress, nervously held my hand and headed for the dance hall, pretending to dance.
“Are you okay staying in this place? It’s about time for the attack, you know?”
“That’s why I am here. So I can do something if something bad happens.”
“That said, you… surprisingly suck at dancing… well, of course you would want to dance with a vase if that’s the case…”
“You humans should learn from Vase-san who doesn’t step on someone’s feet as you please. This is what you call a true expert. It doesn’t even have to put its feet on the ground.”
Hizumi and I whispered whilst dancing around.
“So you aren’t going to escape?”
“Never.”
“You kind idiot.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you not scared?”
When I raise my hand, she spins her body beautifully, puts her hand on my shoulders, and moves her feet left and right again.
“If you’re unlucky, you might die… have you never thought about that?
“Rather than that, it is more scary for me if those girls died.”
“I can’t understand.”
“You’re fine as you are. You don’t need to understand. Just live as you like. Or rather, go love someone. I’d be happy if you catch a cute girl and send me a photo of your first date. And go marry that girl (overflowing desire).”
“When the attack begins,”
Hizumi released her hand from me.
“I will become your enemy.”
“Izzat so?”
“You’re underestimating me… let me tell you, I will seriously beat you. As for you saving my life once, I already repaid it when I told you about the attack. It was your own decision not to escape. I have decided to be on Arshariya-sama’s side. So if you intend to be hostile toward her, as a member of the devil religion, I will eliminate you.”
“Then, I will do my best to save you.”
With a light smile, I stared at Hizumi.
“Because, in my mind, you’re already determined to die happily in the sun while holding hands with your spouse… Don’t go against your destiny, Hizumi… As expected, you must bloom your own Yuri… so, shall we go see the world of Yuri together…?”
“Gross!! (Straight)”
The Hizumi who screamed suddenly laughed and reached out her hand to me.
“Let’s meet each other again if we are alive. As enemies, though.”
“You are being targeted, so behave well.”
“There is someone I can trust among the retainers, so I’ll ask that girl to protect me. Don’t worry.”
“Well, I hope you do well there.”
After shaking her hand with me, Hizumi disappeared from the dance hall.
Now, what should I– as I looked around the dance hall, I realized that the girl who should be there wasn’t here, so I hurriedly went to Tsukiori.
“Tsu-tsukitsukiki!!”
“Eh? Ophelia isn’t in the dance hall?”
Tsukiori, who is enjoying her meal with Rei and the others, tilted her neck.
“Oritsukitsukiitsustsutsukikitsutsutsukiori?!”
“No, I haven’t seen her either.”
“Tsukiori?! Tsukiori?! Tsukioriii!!”
“Alright. Leave Lapis and the others to me. Go look for her.”
“Sakura, how the heck did you do that?! Unfair!! Teach me!! Teach mee!!”
“Sakura-san, please teach me too. That’s unfair.”
“Well, I just guessed from his complexion and facial expression, though? (Cheat)”
Panicked, I ran and pulled out Kuki Masamune that I hid. I then activated Tenebrae and jumped out of the dance hall. And while running around the cruise, I was desperately looking for Ojou.
How could my 『Ojou’s protecting system』 not work?! Isn’t that supposed to be a must-have skill that is always activated as long as you are an Esco fan?!
I am vigorously looking for Ojou to every corner of the cruise and– suddenly, I came across A-class exclusive staff, 『A』-san.
“Good evening, Sanjou-sama. Are you looking for someone?”
“T-that’s right!! Ano!! Did you see her?! A girl with a human body attached to a blonde vertical roll?! She might be crying somewhere after being defeated by someone?! A fucking small fry who can lose to anyone in seconds?!”
“Do you mean Ophelia von Margeline-sama?”
This woman… Did she just insult Ojou…? (Twitching)
“In fact, I saw her. It seems that she was on the Tanzanite deck, feeling the evening breeze.”
“Thank God!! Thank you very much–”
Suddenly, she blocked my road.
“I am very sorry, but there is something I’d like to ask you.”
Her jet black eyes stared into mine.
“The other day, you seemed to give the six girls your emergency boat and let them go from the cruise… why didn’t you go with them at that time?”
So she saw the scene where I let those retainers go, huh.
There is no need to lie here. If I poorly tried to deceive her here, it may be troublesome later.
That is why, I will tell the truth.
“To save the Yuri.”
“Yuri…”
She smiled with her index finger on her chin.
“This is the first time I hear that word. If possible, I would like to ask you to tell me what it means.”
“Then, can I have some of your time? About 365 days–”
“I’m sorry (quick answer). Please be brief.”
I tilted my neck… and answered.
“I guess, it is love.”
“Love?”
“I know you might laugh at me with how simple the answer, but… if you can’t give 365 days of your time, then I have no choice but to answer with one word, 『Love』. (Cool voice)”
“I see.”
After hearing my answer, she opened the way for me.
“I’m sorry to have taken your precious time. Please pass by.”
“Thanks.”
As I’m trying to get past her from the side–
“… ful.”
Hearing her mutters, I looked back at her.
“Did you say something?”
“Yes? Do you mean me?”
Her expression doesn’t seem to be lying.
But, I, who stopped, remembered the urgent matter (Ojou) that I have to solve, and rushed to the Tanzanite deck.
“Well then, thanks for the information!!”
“Please be careful.”
After being sent off by such a deep courtesy, I ran up to the Tanzanite Deck and– found Ojou who somehow coolly bathed in the evening breeze. And she, who was leaning on the fence and exhaling, seemed to think of herself as 『Cool』.
“Ah, I’m really cool…”
She really thought she was cool… amazing… (impressed)
Perhaps sensing my presence, she turned her body and met my eyes head-on.
“Y-you?! Slave?! S-since when did you see it?!”
“From 『To think the daughter of Margeline Family sabotages a dance party… fuu… I wonder if being too noble leads to loneliness…』. (Guessing)”
“F-from that long?!”
As expected of me, I can seriously take the first rank if it’s a test about Ojou.
Ojou whose face turned bright red with shame then combed up her proud blonde vertical roll.
“T-then? What do you slave need me for?”
“Since this is a great opportunity, let’s talk a little.”
“Oohohoho!! Know your place!! This Ophelia von Margeline!! Doesn’t have a mouth to interact with a commoner man!!”
“Well, well, don’t say that. There is no way the daughter of the Margeline Family who has a keen sense of duty won’t reward her benefactor who saved her from a crisis when she was brilliantly tripped and injured, right?”
“Ugh… t-that’s right… c-cannot be helped!! Fun! I’ll talk with you just a bit!”
This easiness surely already belongs to a treasure of mankind (ecstasy).
Since Ojou will dislike it if I am too close, I took a little distance and leaned on the fence next to her.
The cold sea breeze assaulted her whole body, and Ojou grabbed her necklace.
“That necklace is a magic device, isn’t it?”
“Ee, that’s right. This is a treasure of Ophelia’s family.”
"
"
A necklace illuminated by the starlight… Ojou smiled happily as she stared at her shining necklace under the light.
“This is a wonderful treasure I got from my best friend when I was young.”
“Eh… t-that friend is… a girl, right…? (Caution and expectation)”
“Of course, right? Although she had short hair, she is definitely a girl.”
At that moment, my body couldn’t stop trembling. I covered my mouth with my hands so that my voice wouldn’t leak out.
N-no way… Ojou’s necklace, magic device, 『Ophelia’s indulgence』 is just garbage… to think it was actually a gift from a girl, there is no such thing written in the setting… if there is such an episode, there is no way I will call it 『Garbage (LOL)』 even if I die…!!
“U…ugh…!!”
Realizing further possibilities, I covered my mouth with both hands.
W-wait a minute… even if you enter Ophelia’s route, Ojou will never fall in love with Tsukiori… Until now, I’ve always thought that’s just how the developer made it… B-but, if Ojou already fell in love with the girl she met in the past… then everything finally comes together… and my body can’t stand that wholesomeness…!!
“Ugh… ug… ugh…!!”
The corner of my mouth raised automatically.
I-I want to ask!! I want to ask if she likes that girl!! No, don’t ask!! I!! I can’t die here!! I can’t allow myself to die here!!
“Y-you like her, right? D-don’t be shy. Y-you like her, right? Nn? You like her, right?”
“I-I don’t know!! I-I don’t even remember her face anymore.”
Ah… (abbreviated, ascended again)
“What is the color of her hair?”
“W-what’s wrong with you, suddenly becoming excited… i-it was gold!! Beautiful golden color!”
“W-what kind of relationship did you two have?”
“I-I heard from my father… that person is my fiance… s-someone who will become my family… a-and we will eventually get married…”
Ha?? What was that??? Are you fucking kidding me??? So wholesome, though??? (Rage)
“She was a very kind person, like a princess in a picture book. She also looks good in short despite being a girl. She always played with me, who was alone.”
Saying that, she stared at her beautiful necklace full of love.
“I’ve heard that I will be able to meet that girl soon… she may not remember… but, I hope when she looks at me wearing this necklace, she will remember about the days we spent together when we were young…”
With her eyes closed, Ojou hugged her necklace tightly.
“That’s why, until that day comes… I’ll keep wearing this treasure… so that that person can find me… so that she can remember the days we spent together… and I will continue to be the lady of the Margeline family who is suitable for that person… wait, eh?!”
Seeing me crying, Ojou is startled. And I looked back at her and opened my mouth with tears flowing from my eyes.
“I will!!”
I screamed while crying.
“I will protect it!! That necklace!! And Ojou too!! Until the day when you can meet that girl again!! So don’t worry!! I will!! Absolutely!! Protect Ojou and that necklace!! And also that beautiful love!! Absolutely!!”
Looking at me, who kept crying, Ojou smiled.
“This necklace is a treasure that I value more than my life. There is no way I can feel bad about you if you told me you will protect that treasure. You sure have potential despite being a man. Oohohoho!! Does that mean my lady-ness even attracted someone from the bottom position like you?!”
“That’s ri~ght!”! Thank you very much!! I will do my best!! Please don’t hesitate to use me as a shield!!”
“Ohohoho!! What a wonderful intention!!”
As expected!! Ojou is the best!! (tearful voice)
Once again, I confirmed my determination to protect Yuri– killing intent– at the same moment, I can hear screaming and fighting sounds from somewhere.
They came, huh.
Immediately, I quietly pulled Kuki Masamune.
“Ojou, stay behind me–”
“The presence of great evil!! Let’s go, slave!! It’s time to show the courage and elegance of the Margeline family!!”
“Ojou?!”
With ridiculous speed, Ojou rushed into the cruise, and I followed her rushing– however, at the next moment.
“Throw your weapon.”
Ojou was captured by the retainers of the Devil Religion with a blade placed on her neck.
“Otherwise, I will kill this girl.”
“H-hii… H-help me…!!”
A-amazing… S-she doesn’t even feel like fighting… O-ojou, you… how far are you going with your underdogness…!! (honestly impressed)
“Throw your weapon, fast.”
“H-help… I-I don’t want to die…!! (tears tattered)”
“I’ll throw it away. So, don’t be too violent with her. Look.”
I threw Kuki Masamune and– hooked my fingertips there and pulled the trigger– activating Tenebrae, and jumped onto the retainer who was petrified in shock.