Kyouichirou and the others are getting things ready.
They’re preparing to beat Keraunos.
In other words, it’s the end of my little vacation.
These last few weeks have been so fun. My life without Keraunos has been full of mystery and excitement. Everyone has been so nice, and I had a really, really lovely time.
I’ve never felt as free as I have these past few weeks. I spent my whole life watching everyone else carefully, making sure they weren’t mad at me. I’ve tried so hard to make sure no one gets upset with me and that I don’t get upset, either. I pushed all my emotions deep down inside… But here… Being with Kyouichirou and the others has been a little different.
Maybe it’s just because Keraunos is sleeping, but it feels like…being alive has gotten easier than before.
I can talk a bit during dinner now.
I can get a little upset when I lose at a game.
I can ask for stuff I want.
It’s kinda scary, and I don’t want anyone to hate me. But I still ask to do the things I want to do, to eat the things I want to eat, and to avoid the things I don’t like. At least a little bit.
Thanks to everyone’s help, my first-ever vacation has been wonderful.
But it was all a mistake. I was never meant to be happy. And yet I tried anyway.
I tried to forget my sins. To be human.
And that’s why I got punished.
Or rather, why my punishment came for me.
That person is my sin, and they came to punish me. Their name is…
“Pardon me.”
She showed up at the door on a rainy day in the early afternoon. It was only two days before we planned to fight Keraunos.
She was dressed as a maid and held an umbrella in one hand as she boldly yet politely rang the doorbell.
“I’ve come to deliver a package.”
“Ah…!”
I recognized her right away. She was the secretary of Rosso and Blu’s clan master and the woman who had served as my attendant. We were finally reunited.
“…It certainly has been some time, Jupiter.”
“E…liza…?”
We were together again.
Eliza Wispard was a beautiful woman. Her hair and eyes were the same color as mine. She looked just as pretty as I remembered. The only difference was the right half of her face was covered in a mask and veil.
And what she kept hidden behind that mask was…
“Ah… Ah…!”
Before I knew it, my mind had gone completely blank.
Eliza, she…she was so kind to me.
She was very strict and particular about the rules. I remember her always watching over me, keeping me safe so that Keraunos wouldn’t come out.
✦ ✦ ✦
“From this day forward, I have been assigned to assist you in your studies. My name is Eliza Wispard. Now, now. You can make as sour a face as you like. But until you have mastered the language spoken in the empire, you and I will be spending much time together. So you had better get used to the idea.”
I should have remembered.
“Jupiter. I recommend you try this dating sim. It should allow you to have fun without feeling any stress. You have my word it will work, or my name isn’t Eliza. Now, let’s play together.”
Remember.
Eliza was tough but kind.
“Why must you only ever eat potatoes? The moment I take my eyes off you, you always rush to eat such junk.”
I need to remember.
“What do you think, Jupiter? This flower garden is Rosso and Blu’s pride and joy. And you and I have it all to ourselves today.”
We planted flowers together in that garden. She helped me out with so many things.
“I remind you of your mother? How rude. I’m not that old, I’ll have you know. Considering our age difference, calling me your sister would make more sense. You understand? Your sister. Call me your sister.”
Eliza was the one who taught me about dating sims and how to live in this city.
She helped me study. She supported me on our adventures. Whenever I felt my emotions begin to run wild, she was always the first to rush to my side.
“Ah… Ahhh…!”
…That’s right. There were so many memories I should have never forgotten. So, so many. A lot of things were hard for me there, but she— No. Not just her. Everyone was so kind to me. So why? Why did I forget all the happy memories I had of my time at Rosso and Blu?
There were people there who shunned me. Some of them hated me. Some of them scared me. But if they had all been like that, I would have been chased out of the clan a long time ago.
I looked at Eliza.
She was beautiful, despite the veil covering her right eye.
But back then, she never used to wear that veil. The reason she needs to cover her face is… It’s my fault…
“Jupiter?”
“Agh!”
I opened the front door. I put on my shoes and rushed outside without an umbrella. I ran as fast as I could through the rain.
Raindrops fell into my eyes. How lucky, I thought. This will hide how I’m feeling.
The wind was cold. The sky was pouring its blessings straight into my body.
I wished the rain would wash me away. And just at that moment—
“Idiot! What are you doing out here?!”
—Kyouichirou grabbed hold of me.