At Mr. Endless Crimson Rain’s orders, I borrowed one of the capes of the men who were forced to grovel naked on the ground, put it on, and went over by Miss Hasper and the other girls who were trembling in the corner of the clearing.
“Eek!”
They averted their eyes and looked down.
I asked them why they wouldn’t look at me. “Didn’t you say this was my divine punishment? Didn’t you want to watch?”
Miss Hasper said in a shaking voice, her teeth chattering, “...Th-They said they wanted to do it...so we didn’t have a choice...”
I should be very ashamed of this as a Sister, but the next thing I did was raise my leg and kick her in the face.
“Your divine punishment is coming up next! You better watch out!”
I called out to Mr. Endless Crimson Rain and said we should go home.
He looked pretty smug with all those beat-up guys scattered at his feet.
“Huh? Oh no. When I snap, I have this tendency to black out and go nuts. Did I do something again?”
I told him that wasn’t necessary and that we should go, so we left together.
I cast a disparaging look at Mr. Killak and the boyfriends of Miss Hasper and the other girls. It was possible they had been injured in ways they couldn’t recover from, but if the Sisters, who had worked so hard without alcohol to perfect their holy powers, cast a healing spell on them, they would be fine. How handy to have a Sister for a girlfriend.
Miss Hasper and the others kept calling out to me, but I pretended I couldn’t hear them.
Mr. Endless Crimson Rain pushed back his hard, red bangs (they didn’t go back, though) and smiled. “Man, it’s been a while since I got that pissed. I know it was to save you and all, but I didn’t mean to show my true powers. Don’t go getting another crush on me!”
What I had seen was less him trying his hardest and more like his true nature. I really thought the peak of his coolness had been his bow all the way to the ground, but I lowered my head and thanked him.
“You saved me. Thank you very much.”
Mr. Endless Crimson Rain blushed and smiled.
I think that was the first time I’d ever seen him be bashful. His face looked very much his age.
“So you’re that strong if you actually try. Why did you quit the arena?”
“Hm? Did I quit? I guess it’s more like I saw my limit.”
“Limit? You’re still young, so I’m sure you can get stronger.”
“What? I mean, to get stronger I’d have to work.”
“So what about trying to work...?”
“I would never do that. Why should I have to work if I have cheat abilities? No one needs to see that. Isn’t a fun, sexy life and battle events enough?”
I didn’t really get what he was saying, as usual. But even if I could never be his lover, I realized that as an adventure partner, he was the quickest route to going after Miss Haru—I had to have his cooperation.
“...I’ll have to ask Miss Lupe tomorrow.”
“Huh? Did you say something? I’m one of those hard-of-hearing protagonists, so you’ll have to speak up.”
“Nothing.”
“Ah, I’m sure you confessed your love for me. I just know it. I really didn’t hear you, so could you please say it one more time?”
I just accidentally said my plan to ask her to train you into a warrior, that’s all.
Please don’t give it another thought.
＊
Two weeks later, Miss Haru came back to Mr. Sumo’s restaurant.
I just glared at her.
“What? You’re still mad? I told you: I had to go into the woods, but I wasn’t going to take you, and it’s not because I’m trying to be mean or some—”
“I understand that. I would just get in the way, and you didn’t want me to be in danger, right? I understand very well that you can’t go in there without someone you can really trust.”
“Huh? Did something happen?”
“Don’t worry about it. But I’m definitely going after you, so don’t let your guard down.”
“What’s with the wild streak? That’s oddly off from the Kiyori I know. Who are you?”
“Kiyori.”
Just so you know, a bunch of stuff has happened to me while you were gone. But that had nothing to do with Miss Haru.
“Something must have happened. Tell me, tell me. It’s like you got all tough when I wasn’t looking, and Lupe’s driving around dragging Chiba by a nose hook. I have no idea what’s going on!”
I was wondering what was going on too, but I just said, “It’s nothing.”
Next time I see Mr. Endless Crimson Rain, his nose might be a different shape.
“You’re strong, huh, Kiyori?” Miss Haru murmured.
Who was the one who pushed me away because I was weak? Isn’t that a contradiction?
When I said that, Miss Haru said, “No, I didn’t say you were weak. You’re strong. To be blunt, you were a weirdo before, and so serious, always pushing valid arguments, not thinking about anyone’s feelings. At the same time, you have such a cute face, and huge boobs, and all the guys like you best, so I kind of hated you.”
“You’re the first person to say it so clearly...”
Really, I want to snap and black out...
But I felt better, having found out the root of all my interpersonal problems. Going forward, I’ll do what I can to deal with it.
“But Kiyori, you seem hard, but you’re soft. Or like, you’re flexible, but then rigid. Whatever my expectations are, you’ll betray them, so you’re fun to watch.”
“I don’t really think that reaches compliment status, but should I put up with it and keep listening?”
“Huh? Wasn’t I just complimenting you?”
“No. You were saying you observe me like I’m a pet or something.”
“Oh. Hee-hee-hee,” she laughed and said, “Then I’ll try to come up with something by next time.”
It’s not as if I want to be complimented. But I would like it if she would tell me someday what it is about me that makes me strong.
“I just want to be like you, Miss Haru.”
She cocked her head to ask why.
I got a little grouchy and said, “Because you’re strong. Seeing you with the strength to move forward on your own makes me jealous.”
But Miss Haru clammed up and got absorbed in her thoughts.
“...I’m actually the indecisive type that hesitates.”