chapter 79

Why do we have to talk outside… and, I walked with Sakaguchi a bit from the house and brought her to a hill .

This is a landscape park where the rich live and there is one large tree .

And then, we climbed up the tree and then we sat on a thick branch and we looked below .

Looking both up and down there are torrents of lights .

Basically, the sky is filled with an ocean of stars and below scenes of human activity— The stars so named electric lights in the streets .

And, I brought Sakaguchi-san to this place for that reason .

“It’s pretty, isn’t it? This has been my favourite place since childhood . ”

「……」

“That time in the other world, you… You said the sky was beautiful . Humans are dirty, nature is only beautiful…”

“Such a thing might’ve happened . ”

“That’s why I wanted to show this to you . ”

「……」

I put my hand on Sakaguchi-san’s shoulder .

“The human’s activity is beautiful, too . You’ve only seen the dirty parts of humans that’s why I wanted to show this . I couldn’t do it at that time . ”

Sakaguchi-san sighed like she was astonished .

“Aren’t you an idiot?”

“…Eh?”

“I’m saying that I know that even if you didn’t have to teach me something like that, now . Showing me such a silly thing, aren’t you an idiot?”

I’m getting slightly irritated at her speaking style like she’s pushing it aside .

“Can you not speak like that? This is my favourite place . ”

“You… The princess and then Anastasia taught me . All of you clearly taught me . That humanity shouldn’t be discarded . That time I spent with all of you is a million times more persuasive than this display…”

「……」

“And then, I met Serafina and the others . Thanks to meeting you I was able to trust in Seraphina and the others . Thanks to you, I didn’t have to worry, so I’m happy . ”

“Is that so, I’m glad then . ”

No, I believe that I’m really glad .

I understand what you’re saying and if you think like that then I’m really glad .

But, as I expected I’m irritated by her speaking style .

And, I pretended to be pouting .

“Well, it’s a bit shocking being told my favourite place is silly . ”

“…Eh?”

When she opened her eyes wide, I sighed .

“Was this scene that bad? I was moved extremely as a child…”

“… . Eh?”

I sighed again and then made a gloomy expression .

Then, Sakaguchi-san drooped down .

“Aa…”

She began thinking and muttering something in a small voice .

“Mu…”

Rather, why are you troubled over not knowing what to do towards my response .

Sakaguchi-san nodded like she resolved herself .

“Look here… Thank you . ”

“Hm?”

“I’m really grateful to you saving me at that time in the other world when I didn’t have strength to live and I had fallen to the very bottom . ”

“Yeah . ”

“And, and, you know . ”

“Hm?”

While saying she was suspiciously averting her eyes from me .

“Leaving that aside, I do think this scene is genuinely pretty . Besides… Y-You showing your special place to me is… I am… That’s all . ”

「……」

“I’m happy . ”

I spurted then .

“Haha, Sakaguchi-san really isn’t honest with herself . You can’t thank somebody when at the start you complained to them . ”

“Stop with calling me Sakaguchi-san already . You’ve remembered so it’s very weird . ”

“Well, you’re right . ”

“Lela is okay . So, returning back to the topic… Wait, you . ”

Lela puffed up her cheeks .

“I’m not obedient… You wanted to say I’m not cute . ”

“No, I don’t dislike you . There are times when I think that you’re cute . ”

“Eh, cute… Wha, wha, what are you saying!? Aren’t you an idiot!?”

Lela dyed her cheeks red .

“Well, isn’t Lela giving off feelings like a tsundere?”

“Un, I’m fine with that . But, you know? You’re not good . ”

“About?”

“You’ve returned to Japan and then laying low, not having a lot of MP, and you’re a pervert, you can’t talk back to Abeno Kaguya, you’ve forgotten about me and haven’t noticed me . ”

“I can’t respond back to that due to being true . ”

“And top of it your grades are also in the lower-middle and you have no fashion style and also you’ve forgotten about me and not notice me . ”

「……」

“Besides it’s not just Abeno Kaguya, you also ogle the class president, if there’s a big breasted woman then you’ll definitely turn your gaze to her chest, and then you have forgotten about me and not notice me . ”

It seems she has a lot of resentment from not being noticed .

Rather, for most part I have nothing to say back .

“In the end you didn’t even notice my feelings, not even a little bit, you’re really and truly good-for-nothing . ”

I asked Sakaguchi-san .

“I haven’t noticed your feelings, what exactly?”

Haaa… Sakaguchi-san sighed deeply .

“Do I have to say everything!? What’s up with you! I don’t like the you who has bad grades! I don’t like the you who has no fashion style! I despise you when you look at other girls with perverted eyes! I hate that you’re getting along with Abeno Kaguya! I really hate you for forgetting about me!”

Sakaguchi-san took deep breaths .

“I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I hate you! But, I like the kind you! I like the you who is nice with people! You’re truly the worst! Why are you like this! Why, why! You…”

“You… What?”

“You… I lo, lo, lo…”

“Su?” (TN: She was stuttering on the　す su which is followed by　き ki and it becomes　好き which means like/ love . But he dense so can’t follow it up *shrug*, so he asks instead . ”)

To my question her face was blushing that even I could understand and then she shook her head left and right .

“Nope! I can’t say it! Hey, look here! From here on just for a bit… I as Ariel have things to talk with you about… In that case I feel like I’ll be able to talk more honestly! That’s why… The words I’ll speak from now absolutely don’t think of them as Lela Sakaguchi’s words . ”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember the parting at that time in the different world?”

Really, what is she going on about?

Well, here I have to answer honestly .

“Aah, I do remember . ”

“That time, I did say to make me your bride, right?”

“That is…”

“I get it . I get it that it was a lie so that the parting would be happy . That’s why, I’m fine with it . But, I was forgotten, it was very lonely, and very difficult . It was really hard, I can assure you . ”

Sakaguchi-san… No, Lela is whining honestly…?

No, is it different?

This is her expressing her true feelings without any lies .

She had to lead the Guardians till now so she needed to be a strong commander .

Even until now she didn’t whine to anybody .

And then, within herself there’s also resistance in not being strong .

That’s why she’s deceiving herself by talking as Ariel…

No, she’s making excuses for herself .

She really can’t be honest…

But, she conveying her honest feelings with a face that’s about to cry, and her weak appearance of quivering slightly with tears looked like a normal 16 year old you would find .

That’s why, I should respond to her feelings with honesty, too .

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t noticing you…”

I put my hand on her and began patting her .

“…Un”

“I’m really sorry . ”

Then I looked at my watch .

Soon it’s going to be 11 o’clock and it’s becoming time to go .

“It’s about time we get off the tree . ”

We came down from the tree and headed home .

And then, we walked for 10 minutes and we arrived in front of my house .

I spoke to Lela .

“Then, good-bye for today . ”

Lela shook her head left and right .

“Wrong . ”

“Wrong?”

“Instead of “good-bye” you should say “See you, again . ” when we part . ”

Now that I remember, that time in the other world those were the last words I said to her .

I see, she clearly remembered from back then .

For some reason something hot was flowing in my chest .

“Rather, it’s a really high time . Well then, see you at school!”

Lela spread her hands and then hugged me as hard as she could .

“Oi… Lela?”

“I will never leave you, anymore . Definitely, I won’t!”

It seems she’s still continuing as Ariel…

Her speech, her looks, too… They’ve become much softer from the earlier usual severeness… Well, that’s fine .

“Aaa, I’m relieved that we don’t have to part away like that time anymore . ”

While hugging me tightly she looked up at me .

Her height is short so the current situation is she’s looking upwards at me from my chest’s height .

“Hey, you know? That time, you told me that you’ll grant me any request, right?”

“Un . ”

She stretched her hands to my neck and then stood on her tiptoes—

That was a surprise attack .

That’s right, the feeling of soft lips was conveyed to my lips .

It’s a mutual first kiss .

The feeling is light but, it should be a important experience mutually .

Lela laughed impishly to the me who’s flustered .

“I revoked the promise about making me your bride! I’m tired of lying! That’s why, even if I do this much I won’t be punished! I’m not at fault!”

“Oi, you…”

Lela parted from me and went to her home .

“Just a moment!”

And then, she turned around in front of her house .

“See ya tomorrow!”

While waving her hands she said with a bright smile like a sunflower blooming .

“That time, this time, and from now on! I’ve always liked you— Niini!”

“Like, you…”

Rather, saying Niini here is foul play .

Her waving her hands while having a abysmally cute smile that only angels can express, at that time I thought that my heart was surely captivated by that .