Chapter 43: Pulled by the hand and Sharing
“…Thanking you was…not really an excuse, but I thought that I would be able to meet you again if I had a reason…” (Rifreya)
“W-Wa…What are you saying?” (Hikaru)
“Rifreya. Call me that please.” (Rifreya)
She goes ‘ehehe’ and laughs as if she were embarrassed. It was as if she could only see me.
The black market old man was looking at me with a grin on his face, as if it were an amusing watch.
“W-Wait, let’s change locations.” (Hikaru)
“Ahn!” (Rifreya)
“Don’t let out a weird voice.” (Hikaru)
I pull her arm forcefully and move to an unpopulated location.
I didn’t expect a beautiful person like this would fall so easily in love.
Or is she making fun of me here?
…No, I find it hard to believe that this is an act.
“And so…the reason why you were chasing me around was because, uhm…you fell in love with me…?” (Hikaru)
“I wanted to meet you no matter what. I myself understand that I am being weird here, but…I couldn’t stop myself.” (Rifreya)
The sight of her stealing glances at me was really like that of a girl in love, and my heart was shaken.
If I were asked whether I am happy or not about being loved, I would say I am happy.
I have never been loved by someone as beautiful as this…no, I have never had a person of the opposite sex fall in love with me.
It would be a lie to say I am not happy.
I was disgusted by that simple minded side of me.
But I have no intentions of accepting her.
“I don’t know why you are so interested in me, but…I am like the mold sticking to this dungeon city. It is true that I saved you there at that time, but that was just on the spur of the moment. You shouldn’t make a strange misunderstanding just because of that… Also, you are a way too dazzling person for me.” (Hikaru)
We are polar opposites in every sense of the word, so just like how I view her with admiration, she might have begun to take interest in me as someone that’s so different from her.
But there’s no doubt that’s just an illusion of the moment.
Her brain is misrepresenting things temporarily because I saved her.
“It is not a misunderstanding. This is the first time I have felt like this… Also…I have to leave this city already, so I simply wanted to give you my thanks at the end, at the very least.” (Rifreya)
“R-Really?” (Hikaru)
“…Yes.” (Rifreya)
I was jumping to conclusions here.
She probably was thinking about thanking me without having to tell me about her feelings. I was the one who was stubborn here and made her speak it out.
This is not a romance manga, so it is not like it will always be a development where you have to go out with them if you fall in love. I just ended up imagining that.
I am instead embarrassed at myself.
“…Got it. Then, I just have to accept that reward for your gratitude, right?” (Hikaru)
“Are you going to receive it?” (Rifreya)
“…Yeah, I was being strangely stubborn here too. I am sorry.” (Hikaru)
“Then, first…let’s go eat! Do you have anything you don’t like?” (Rifreya)
“Eat?!” (Hikaru)
It was an unexpected invitation.
She was talking about thanking me, so I thought she would be giving me something, but it looks like that isn’t the case.
If it is just a meal, then it should be done with soon.
It is already evening. We shouldn’t be standing out with this much darkness.
Also, denying her feelings more than this would pain my heart.
I may have my circumstances, but it is also true that she has been waiting the whole time in front of the dungeon and in the black market.
I don’t know much about the common sense of this world. There might be a custom that you must return a debt of gratitude no matter what. Rifreya has been postponing her leaving the city because of this, so her plans must have been delayed because of my stubbornness.
I suddenly think about the viewers.
However, no matter how beautiful Rifreya is, there’s no way viewers will increase just because we had a meal together. Even if it increases slightly, thinking about it as a temporary increase will make me feel more at ease.
“If you don’t have anything you hate, please leave it to me. I know a great place.” (Rifreya)
She pushed her chest out proudly and pulled my hand cheerfully.
I walk as if being dragged by this.
◇◆◆◆◇
I was watching that platinum blonde hair of hers, which I have only seen in TV or photos before, diagonally behind her.
I have black hair, cheap black clothes, dirty boots, and I am not that tall. We were completely mismatched.
(We look like a princess and her servant.) (Hikaru)
She had such trascendental beauty it made me think that way.
No, it might be compounded even more because I am japanese. How many men are there that wouldn’t feel a sense of inferiority when by the side of someone like her that’s like a main character in a fantasy game?
There’s no way I would feel a sense of superiority by walking by the side of a beauty.
The only thing I felt was discomfort.
(She said she loved me… Is that really true…?) (Hikaru)
I faintly thought that while watching the waving hair of Rifreya.
As someone whose years without a girlfriend are equal to how old I am, this really is a shocking revelation.
This situation feels as unrealistic as coming to a parallel world.
…Leaving aside the situation, she is saying she will be leaving the city.
In that case, this connection with her will only last for today.
The establishment Rifreya brought me to wasn’t a fancy restaurant but a normal one.
A building made of stone, rustic wooden tables, a snugly diner that feels as if it were run by only a husband and wife.
Rifreya, who I thought was some sort of princess, was bringing me to an establishment, so I thought she would be bringing me to a fancy restaurant. I am honestly relieved by this.
“Please sit there… Don’t go running away anymore, okay?” (Rifreya)
“I won’t be running away after coming this far.” (Hikaru)
Rifreya finally released my hand.
I rub my hand that still has her warmth remaining and take a seat.
Rifreya begins ordering a lot of things in a familiar manner from the lady that came to take our orders.
(Now that I think about it, this is my first time entering an eatery.) (Hikaru)
I ate only fruits in the forest, and I have been dealing with all my food necessities from food carts.
The inn doesn’t provide meals, but I didn’t have the courage to enter a diner in a parallel world on my own.
The inside of the store was only illuminated by the light of candles, so it was pretty dark, and the customers were looking at me and Rifreya…no, mostly at Rifreya, and then they would look at me, but I could take those kinds of gazes.
After a while, the drinks were brought over.
I didn’t really tell her what I liked, but it looks like she ordered for me regardless.
Well, I did tell her I would leave it to her, and this must be how it works in this world.
“Now then, once again, thanks for saving me. Cheers!” (Rifreya)
“C-Cheers.” (Hikaru)
I clink glasses awkwardly with her, and drink what looks like orange juice.
(Hm?!) (Hikaru)
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