After our lunch, we went for a walk around Random Town. Ember showed me all the attractions, and the weather today was perfect - not too sunny, not too cold. We strolled around, stopping to buy anything that caught our attention. But Ember's words from the restaurant kept echoing in my mind. I needed to talk to Ember about it today.
As we continued our walk, the sun began to set, and we decided to make one last stop before heading back. We chose to visit the beautiful flower field that Ember adores, just a five-minute walk from town, still within the town walls. After a few minutes, we arrived at our destination.
"It's so beautiful here. When I was a child, my mother used to bring my siblings and me here often. She would always tell us stories, and my favorite one was about heroes," Ember said, gazing at the beautiful scene before us, her expression filled with nostalgia.
"I see. I've asked this before, but you really have a deep love for heroes, don't you?" I inquired, intrigued to hear her response.
"Absolutely! Those stories about heroes risking their lives to save their loved ones, fighting with unwavering determination, and their unconditional love for those they care about – they all resonate with me," she replied with great happiness and enthusiasm, continuing her explanation.
"You know, Mr. Doyama, my brother was incredibly talented from a young age. He excelled in both blacksmithing and combat skills, but magic wasn't his strong suit. That didn't stop him, though. He became an adventurer and eventually achieved the rank of Titanium, the first in Random Town. But after he got married, he decided to leave the adventuring life behind and help my father," Ember began sharing about her family, her tone carrying a hint of sadness.
Does Ember have a brother? No one had mentioned anything about Ember having a brother before. But this didn't seem like the right moment to ask questions. I decided to ask about her brother later. As I pondered this, Ember continued speaking.
"My sister, Cinderella, wasn't naturally gifted at anything, but that didn't stop her. She worked tirelessly to study magic, sometimes pushing herself so hard that she'd collapse from exhaustion. She was a true hard worker, and her dedication paid off. She chose to follow in my brother's footsteps and even surpassed him by becoming a Guild Master," Ember continued, her voice quivering, and tears welling up in her eyes.
"As for me, I was much like my sister – not particularly skilled in anything. Unlike her, though, I chose to simply laze around and waste my potential. Surprisingly, my family never once criticized me. They accepted me for who I was. Unlike my siblings, I never achieved anything noteworthy in life. I took the easy path, leveraging my family's connections to become a Guild attendant. I always felt lost, not knowing what to do with my life. It seemed like I was forever living in the shadow of my family's accomplishments," Ember continued, her voice filled with emotion.
"I always loved the heroes, unlike me everyone loved them unconditionally. So when I learned that you were a hero, Mr. Doyama, I was overjoyed. It was like a dream come true. I tried everything to catch your attention. But when I heard you were planning to leave town soon, it shattered me. It felt as if I'd awakened from a pleasant dream and didn't know how to deal with the sudden nightmare. That's why I ran away yesterday. I couldn't accept that reality. It was as if a wonderful dream had turned into a dreadful nightmare," she wiped her tears away with her hands and continued speaking.
"Mr. Doyama, I realize that if I let this opportunity slip away, I might regret it for the rest of my life. That's why I've mustered the courage to tell you how I truly feel. Hero of Legends, I love you. I love you with all my heart," she declared with determination, confessing her love for the hero.
She had just confessed her love to me, unlike the situation at the restaurant. Now, I needed to find the right way to respond to her.
"Ember, I'm genuinely touched that you hold me in such high regard and that you've developed feelings for me. It means a lot, but I must be honest with you—I don't think I can accept your love," I told her, trying to convey my feelings as gently as possible.
Upon hearing my response, her eyes widened with surprise, followed by a look of shock. Then, she began to cry. She reached out and grabbed onto my shirt, her voice choked with emotion as she asked, "Why? Why don't you feel the same way? Am I not attractive enough for you? Please, tell me what you want, and I'll do anything to make you happy," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
I gently held her hands, which were still gripping my shirt, and spoke, "Ember, this has nothing to do with your appearance or doing what I want. As you mentioned, you've been trying to get close to me ever since you found out I was a hero, but it's clear you've been doing that when you're alone, away from your family."
I continued, recalling the moment when she first discovered my identity. "Remember the first time I came to the smithy and revealed that I was a hero? You simply asked, 'So, you're a Hero?' and left it at that. But it was only when we were alone at the Adventurers Guild that you started flirting with me. You returned to your usual self when your sister was around. Do you know why?" I asked, seeking to make her understand.
She released my shirt and looked intrigued. "It is because you unconsciously tried to hide that side of you from your family, fearing they might find out and hate you" I confirmed, still holding her hands.
"You never truly loved me. The one you've always loved is the Heroes from the Legends. It's true that I'm one of the chosen heroes, but I'm also Dokuta Doyama. No, I was Dokuta Doyama even before I became a hero. When you tried to confess your love in the restaurant, you said you loved the hero, and even now, your words were, 'Hero from the legends, I love you. I truly love you with all my heart,'" I said, looking directly into her eyes and continuing.
"But you know what? Maybe that's not entirely accurate either. The person you need to truly love is yourself, not me, not some heroes from the legends. It's evident that you don't love yourself, and because of your feelings of inferiority, you believe people will abandon you due to your lack of success compared to your siblings," I told her. She started crying again, but I pressed on.
"You don't have to focus on looking pretty, impressing anyone, or seeking the love of a hero or a prince. What you need to do is love yourself and work on self-improvement. You mentioned wasting your talent because you were lazy in your childhood? Who said that's the end? You're still young and can achieve so much more in your life as long as you don't give up. Nothing is impossible," I reassured her, offering a caring smile as I continued speaking.
"Emberlyn Firebrand, this isn't the end; it's the start of your own unique legend. It doesn't have to be grand like the ones you heard as a child; it can be simple and small," I reassured her with a gentle smile.
Upon hearing these words, she dropped to her knees and began sobbing uncontrollably. I decided to give her some space, standing there quietly. After a few minutes of tears and anguish, she gradually regained her composure. Rising to her feet, she began to speak.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Doyama. I've been incredibly selfish, only thinking about myself and never considering my family or your circumstances. I suppose heroes really do save people, just like how you've saved me," she said, wiping her tears away with her hands and moving closer to me.
"Please, let me be selfish just one last time," she whispered, and then her soft lips met mine. Her kiss was gentle, and I could feel her warm breath on my face, her silky hair brushing against me, and her pleasant scent. We remained in that embrace for a few moments before she finally released my lips.
"Heh, I guess I've taken your first kiss in this world, haven't I? Thank you, Mr. Doyama. Just as you said, I'll learn to love myself and strive to create my own legend. It doesn't have to be grand; it can be small and simple," she said, giving me a warm smile while still teary-eyed.
"I should probably head back soon; it's quite late. Once I return, I'll begin practicing magic," she added, trying to lift her spirits.
"I can escort you back to the smithy," I offered.
"Thank you, Mr. Doyama, that's very kind of you, but I can make it back on my own. So, you're leaving tomorrow? I'm going to miss you, but I understand it's something you must do. I wish your new life in this world will be filled with happiness," she said, bidding me farewell.
As for me, After she left I lay down in the flower field and muttered to myself, "That wasn't just my first kiss in this world; it was my first kiss ever."