{Author's Notes}
Thank you for your patience. Actually, since this is the 777th chapter, I wanted to make an extra chapter... but I couldn't think of any particular topic, and was struggling about it.
In the end, I decided on the chapter's topic by submitting a questionnaire on Twitter in the form of "where", "with whom" and "what".
As a result of the voting, the theme was decided to be a story about "Illness" and "kissing" in "Modern Japan", and thus, this chapter appeared.
By the way, the setting is that it's a story of the future, which is actually the standard for the Extra Chapters, and the "events after Kaito and Illness became lovers".
This may be the first time I'm writing a chapter about flirting with Illness.
Also, I feel like there hasn't been enough sweetness lately, and with a mind filled with a mission to drown Senpai with sweetness, I decided to make the whole chapter into "a sugary rain of lemondrops and gumdrops". They'll be flirting all the time.
**********
Feeling the dry winter air, I walked along a path that I have come to feel nostalgic about lately.
I've returned back to Japan after a long time.... I guess you could say this is kind of a homecoming, and walking through the streets makes me feel a little solemn.
[Kaito-samaaaa, for listening to my selfishness todaaaaay, thank youuuuu.]
[No, something like this is no problem.]
Moving my gaze to the voice I heard, there's Illness-san whose hand is grasped in mine, looking up at me with a smile.
Today, Illness-san is wearing a white turtleneck innerwear, a long black skirt, and brown short boots for shoes. Her outerwear is a light-colored... I think the coat she's wearing is called a duffle coat? Anyhow, she was dressed to match the outfits in my world.
Illness-san is quite petite, standing at about 120cm tall, but I think it's amazing that she looks so mature with her dark, but not oppressive winter-colors, calm atmosphere and fine gestures.
The reason why I came to Japan with Illness-san in the first place is... to put it simply, it was because Illness-san wanted to.
When I was discussing the destination of my first few dates with Illness-san, I asked her where she'd like to go... and she said that if it were possible, she'd like to go to the world I used to live in...
Not granting Illness-san's wish, which was something she rarely does, not being a choice, I had come to Japan with her after obtaining permission from Eden-san, the God of this world.
[Illness-san, is there a place you'd like to go... is what I'd like to say, but I guess Illness-san wouldn't know about the establishments here. Errr, do you have any place you would like to go? If not, I'll take you to the most popular places.]
[Let's seeeeee, the scenery heeeeere is so freeeeesh that it's difficult to chooooose, but if I had to piiiiiiiick, there's a place I'd like to take me toooooooo.]
[Of course, I will take you anywhere. Please don't hesitate to tell me.]
[Thank youuuuu.]
I have plenty of money and we have time to spare. As expected, it would be difficult if we'd suddenly go to far places like Hokkaido or a foreign country... but I'll do something about it.
However, contrary to my enthusiasm, the place Illness-san asked me to go... was somewhere slightly unexpected.
Holding hands with Illness-san, we walked through a nondescript residential area. It's not a shopping district, and there are no unusual buildings or famous well-kept-secret shops.
If we walk a few distance further, we can find the big street, where karaokes or game centers can be found, but we weren't aiming for those places.
The place we were in was a path familiar to me... "the path I used to take to commute from my house to the university", I walked leisurely with Illness-san.
The reason why we were walking in a place like this is because Illness-san asked me to "bring her to the streets and places I used to go when I was living in this world".
So, here we are, walking together from the house I used to live in to the university... There was really nothing unusual, so I was worried that Illness-san might be bored.
However, from the emotions conveyed through my Sympathy Magic, Illness-san seemed to be very happy.
[Ahh, it's just around here somewhere. This is the area where I was summoned to Trinia.]
[Is that sooooo... It's this place huuuuuuuh~~]
Illness-san stopped in response to my words, and gazing at the empty road, she looked somewhat happy.
H- Hmmm. I don't really know why, but I guess she's enjoying the walk.
[...Errr, Illness-san?]
[Yeeees?]
[Illness-san is... Ahh, no, I'm sorry. It's nothing.]
Illness-san doesn't really like noisy places, so I thought she'd chosen the quietest place possible, but was this kind of place really alright? I was curious and tried to ask her, but I couldn't think of a good way to ask her. For me, this was just a scenery I had seen enough of, but for Illness-san, a resident of another world, even a normal residential area like this may look unusual.
If she wants to know about the scenes of the life of people in this world, it makes sense why Illness-san seems to be enjoying herself. However, when it comes to the question of where to take her after this... and that is something I'm having a hard time thinking about.
When I lived in this world, the place I went to most often... would definitely be Tokikaze Cemetery, where Mom and Dad's graves were located, but there's no way I could take her to a cemetery far from the urban city for our date.
I also couldn't bring her into the university because I've already voluntarily withdrawn, and other than there, I can't remember a place I'm familiar with... The only place left that comes to my mind would be the convenience stores and restaurant chains.
As I was thinking about this, Illness-san turned to me and spoke with a faint smile on her face.
[Are you curiouuuuuuus about the reason I asked for thiiiiiis?]
[Eh? Ahh, errr... Yes.]
Hearing Illness-san's question whether I was curious about why she asked such a thing or not... I nodded my head, since I really am unsure of her actual intentions.
[It might be a selfiiiiish and inconsiderate wiiiiish... but I wanted to see iiiiiiit.]
[Unnn?]
[The you before we meeeeeeet, the you before we got acquainteeeeeed. The scenery you look at back then tooooooo, those were things I'd like to seeeeeeee.]
[...…..]
[The fact thaaaaaat I didn't meet Kaito-sama back in the paaaaaast was something I regreeeeeet. Being together with Kaito-sama like thiiiiiis makes me really happyyyyyy. I wonder if that's whyyyyy? I wanted to seeeeeeeee the scenery of Kaito-sama looking at this world sooooooo much, that I oculdn't help but be selfiiiiiiiish.]
Illness-san looked somewhat apologetic when she said that but... I don't think what she said was selfishness at all.
If I had to describe it, Illness-san was just indirectly telling me "I want to know more about you", and how should I say this... I was just happy.
[You're not being selfish at all, and in fact, hearing you tell me that makes me happy... Incidentally, errr, when I was in this world, the place I visited the most was the cemetery where my parents' graves were... So I guess that's where we'll go next?]
[Yeeeees, If Kaito-sama allows iiiiiiit, definitelyyyyyyy.]
Tokikaze Cemetery, where Mom and Dad's graves were buried, is located in the same prefecture, just a little far from the urban city. It's more of a commuter town than a rural area, and the area around the nearest train station seems a bit deserted when I visit at noon.
The cemetery was a bit far from the cemetery, a distance where you would take a bus or a cab, but I always walked from the station to visit my parents' graves, so I walked with Illness-san this time as well.
On the way there, there was a slightly large supermarket, and I always bought flowers for offerings at the flower shop in the supermarket. The supermarket and florist were still in business as before, and since I'm passing them by, I decided to check it out.
It's not like I'm visiting a grave today... I mean, Mom and Dad are alive and well in Trinia. So, as I was looking at the various flowers, the kinds that weren't used for grave offerings, I saw Illness-san's gaze move to a certain flower.
[...Speaking of which, do you like roses, Illness-san?]
As I asked that, I looked at the scarf I was wearing around my neck... the scarf that Illness-san once gave me for Valentine's Day and touched it.
There are three red roses embroidered on the lining of this scarf. No, not only this muffler, as the cape and lap blanket that Illness-san hand-knitted and gave to me also had three red roses embroidered on its lining, and I thought about asking her about it someday.
After hearing my words, still staring at the roses, Illness-san calmly told me.
[I guess sooooo, if asked what my favorite flower currently iiiiiis, it would definitely be roseeeeees.]
[I see... Since we're at it, how about we buy some?]
[Nooo~~ I'll have to refuse heeeeeeere. It would just be extra burdeeeeeen, and alsoooo, "it wouldn't be enough".]
After smiling at me, Illness-san moved her gaze to another flower. How should I say this... It sounded a little strange, but seeing how happy Illness-san looked, I didn't feel like asking her any more questions.
After looking at the flowers for a while, Illness-san and I moved towards the supermarket.
[Illness-san, there aren't many restaurants around here, so how about we buy some bentos?]
[I've prepared a bento for uuuuuuus, would you like to have luuuuuunch?]
[Eh? You made bento for us?]
[Yeeeees.]
Thankfully, it seems that Illness-san has prepared bentos for us. To be honest, I'm quite happy about this. Illness-san's home-cooked meals are actually a bit valuable after all.
This is because, although Illness-san is a good housekeeper and a professional cook, she basically leaves the cooking back home to the head chef, and aside from cookies, cakes and other sweets, there are surprisingly few opportunities to taste her homemade cooking.
Also, more than anything, it's nice to know that my girlfriend has prepared a homemade lunch for me.
[Thank you. I'm very happy. Then, I think we should at least buy some drinks... There's a large park a short walk away from here, so we can eat there.]
[Yeeeees.]
After buying a bottle of tea at the supermarket, I went to the park with Illness-san and sat down on a bench. This park was like a nature park, with hardly any play equipment, but instead lots of greenery and nice scenery.
[I hope it's to your tasteeee.]
The bento that Illness-san took out for me wasn't that so-called picnic bento with rice balls and sandwiches... and was more like a side dishes and rice separately packed in a small, two-tiered bento box. How should I say this... It was like a homemade bento.
Since Illness-san is a well-prepared person, she may have consulted Aoi-chan and Hina-chan beforehand and prepared bento in the style of our world.
[Thank you! They looks really delicious.]
[If you're happy with theeeeem, I'm happy toooooo.]
It's not something I've ever dared to say, but as someone who lost both parents early on and was left alone in middle school and high school, I've always had a bit of a yearning for these homely bentos.
Moreover, when it was handmade by my lovely girlfriend, I couldn't help but get excited.
Egg rolls, meatballs, potato salad... Ahh, there are also wieners cut into the shape of octopi. They looked so delicious that eating them felt like a waste.
With that in mind, I turned to Illness-san and saw that she had elegantly laid a handkerchief on her thigh and then, pulled out a bento box that was slightly smaller than mine.
Hmmm, I really think it's amazing how even her smallest gestures give out a mature vibe around her.
[Thank you for the food.]
[Yeeeees. Please enjoy your meeeeeeal.]
Putting my hands together for a moment, I ate my lunch using the chopsticks provided... Unnn, it's insanely delicious. Not only is Illness-san a really good cook, but how should I say this... It's like the foods were exquisitely tailored to my taste.
The sweet egg rolls are cooked in a way that they're only slightly solidified, the meatballs are a little deeply seasoned, and the potato salad is a little lightly seasoned... They're the best.
They were also homemade by my lovely girlfriend, and having our lunch side by side in a scenic spot like this... It was so great that it couldn't be helped if some unknown voice screamed at me to go explode. It's a situation that I'm really longing for... This is happiness.
It would be even more wonderful if we could exchange feeding each other at a time like this, but I guess that would be too greedy of me. No, perhaps, no, definitely, if I ask her, she would do it... but as expected, I was more than a little embarrassed to ask for it.
As I was thinking about that, Illness-san glanced at me, and leaking out a smile, she spoke.
[Kaito-samaaaa.]
[Yes?]
[It seems like I prepared a bit too much for meeee~~ so if you don't miiiiind, could you eat a biiiiiit?]
[Eh? Ahh, yes.]
When I nodded my head, Illness-san dexterously picked up a piece of egg roll from her bento with her chopsticks and held it to me, supporting it with her other hand to keep it from falling.
[Ahhn.]
And with those few words... I wondered if she's actually the Holy Mother everyone should worship.
It seems that Illness-san knew exactly what I was thinking earlier. I felt embarrassed, but more than that, I was filled with happiness.
The egg roll that Illness-san fed me seemed to be strangely much sweeter than the one I had just eaten.
After finishing my lunch, I took a short break while sipping my tea. It was winter, but the weather was fine and there was almost no wind, so it was warm and comfortable.
The only thing I have planned for the rest of the day is to go to Tokikaze Cemetery, so I still have plenty of time to relax here.
[Fuaaahhh———— Ahh, excuse me.]
[Kuhihi, it's a beautiful day after aaaaaall, you can't help but get sleepyyyyyy.]
Now that my stomach is full, I felt a little sleepy and let out a yawn, but Illness-san didn't seem to mind and looked like she was having fun.
After smiling at her peculiar smile, which I now found adorable, Illness-san lightly patted her skirt with her hand before she gently spoke.
[If you waaaaaant, how about getting some reeeeest? I don't know if it's comfortable to sleep ooooon, but I can prepare a simple pillow for youuuuu.]
[That would be...]
[Yeeeeees. That is, if Kaito-san is okay with iiiiiiit.]
Apparently, if I wanted, Illness-san would give me a lap pillow. What a tempting proposal this is... It's too difficult to resist. Rather, I don't see any reason to resist.
The park was empty, with just the two of us, and the benches were large enough for one to lie down. The weather is fine and beside me is my gentle, motherly lover... You could say that the situation is perfect.
[Errr... Then, do you mind if I took you up on your offer?]
[Yeeees, go oooooon.]
In the end, I decided to accept her suggestion and brought my head on her thigh, even though I'm a bit nervous. Her lap has a pleasant aroma and a happy softness to it.
This was a supremely comfortable lap pillow that would make me let go of my consciousness in an instant if I'm not careful... What a luxurious moment this is.
As I laid down, Illness-san gently reached out her hand and softly stroked my head. Well, I've really been thinking about this for a while, but Illness-san feels accepting, or more like, she's quite motherly... As expected, she is the Holy Mother, right?
As I was thinking about this, the pleasantness started making me doze off... when I heard Illness-san's voice.
[Kaito-samaaaa, back in the Six Kings Festivaaaaaal, do you remembeeeer the song I sung back theeeeeen?]
[...It was "A Small Story", right?]
Her voice was so gentle that I wanted to listen to it forever, accelerating my sleepiness, but I managed to hold it in as I asked back.
Without stopping her hand from stroking my head, Illness-san continued.
[It didn't go as well as the song huuuuuh.]
[Unnn? What do you mean...]
[It seems that I, toooooo, have become very greedyyyyy. I thought it would be fine if I could just read your storiiiiiiiiies... but it seemed like it wasn't good enough for me. Right nooooow, I'm thinking that I want to be drawn into your story as weeeeeell, making you smiiiiiile, together with youuuuu.]
[....]
She slightly sounded somewhat self-mocking, but I couldn't find regret in her voice... as if she was enjoying the change, despite the bewilderment she felt, Illness-san spun her words, as if she were singing.
[Compared to the me back theeeeen, I've become selfiiiiiish and greedyyyy... but you still be alright with iiiiiiit?]
[...Isn't that obvious? I mean, I don't know how many times I told you this, but you're not being selfish or greedy at all, Illness-san. In fact, I think you should request of me a bit more.]
[Kuhihi, a bit more huuuuuh... That would be troubliiiiiing. When I'm together with Kaito-samaaaaa, I'm immediately filled with happineeeeess, so I can't think of anything else to ask foooooor.]
[Ahaha, when you say it like that, it also makes me happy. But really, you can ask of me more, okay?]
[Yeeeeeees. Theeeeen, when I think of somethiiiiing, I'll let you knoooooow.]
[Yes.]
[Kuhihi.]
After she said that with a happy smile on her face, Illness-san didn't continue to say anything else and just continued to sofly stroke my head. And I, too, wrapped up her comfortable warmth of happiness, didn't say anything else and let my consciousness sink into slumber.
After taking a short nap, I headed to the Tokikaze Cemetery again with Illness-san. Walking up the stairs to the cemetery on top of a small hill, we entered the cemetery.
Probably because it was a weekday, there were no people at all, and we soon reached our destination after a short walk.
[...This is where Mom and Dad's graves used to be.]
[I seeeeeee.]
[Well, this really wasn't the case anymore... but this is the place I visited the most before I went to Trinia... and this is the view I saw the most.]
Actually, Mom and Dad's graves are no longer here. They themselves asked for them to be removed... They said they felt bad asking Uncle and Aunt to take care of their graves when they had already come back to life, so I asked Eden-san to do something about it after I explained the situation to Uncle and Aunt.
I don't really know the details, but since Eden-san is an omniscient and omnipotent God, she was able to adjust the situation easily and quickly, and the place where Mom and Dad's graves used to be is now vacant. I think someone's grave will be built here soon.
That's not a bad thing. Mom and Dad are living with me in another world, and I don't have any good memories of this place.
[...Embarrassing it may be to say this, but I've spent an astounding amount of time in this place. Looking back on it now, I realize that in the end, I couldn't accept the death of my parents and was just looking for a reminder of them. I didn't realize it for a long time though.]
[.....]
[Well, now that I have... I realized the kindness of the important people around me, and even though I might have walked through an indirect path, I'm glad that it happened.]
Crouching in the empty lot, I lightly clasped my hands together just like back then. I wonder what this feeling is? It's not loneliness, nor is it sadness. It's not that I don't like the fact that my parents' graves were gone either.
But even so, perhaps, I may be feeling a little melancholic at the fact that the scenery I have seen so many times has changed.
As I was staring at the empty space with this inexplicable feeling budding within my heart, a shadow suddenly appeared. When I looked up, I saw Illness-san standing right in front of me, walking nearby before I knew it.
Thereupon, Illness-san bent down a bit and crouching down, she held my head closer... and gently embraced me.
[Illness-san?]
[I'm not trying to be sympathetiiiiiic. I'm also not trying to comfort youuuuu.]
Feeling her soft and comforting touch, her gentle scent tickles my nostrils and her warmth that envelops me... I felt helplessly reassured.
[All I wanted was just to hug youuuuu. You could saaaay that it's just my selfishneeeeess.]
[...I see.]
[Since you've given me permission to ask of you moooooore, can we stay like this for a whiiiiile?]
[...Yes.]
This is a very unfair selfishness. I couldn't fully explain the emotions I was feeling within me. I wasn't feeling lonely, nor am I feeling sad... However, I may just be feeling slightly hungry for human warmth.
Illness-san must have sensed that. That must be why she told me that she wasn't being sympathetic or trying to comfort me. Asking me to go along with her selfishness, she held me within her warmth.
This kind of gentle selfishness is really unfair... and of course, I wouldn't have any choice but let myself be spoiled by her.
How much time had passed? When Illness-san gently let go of my head, the fuzzy feeling in my chest from earlier had completely disappeared.
In fact, when I thought about it after I calmed down, that feeling of security I felt earlier was quite dangerous. Since Illness-san's motherly nature is tremendous, I feel that if I'm not careful, I might get into the habit of getting spoiled by her.
Feeling a little embarrassed, I left the cemetery holding hands with Illness-san again. It was winter now, and even though it isn't night yet, the sky started getting dyed in the reddish tinge of sunset.
The cemetery is located on a hill, so we could see the view of the city just before it changed from day to evening. Seeing such a scene, I couldn't help but stop in the middle of the stairs from the cemetery and take in the view.
I've been to this cemetery countless times before... but I never thought that the scenery here would be so beautiful. No, I wasn't able to notice it.
Just by having a different mindset, the scenery that I was used to seeing looks different. I feel like being able to notice it... was something I consider really fortunate.
Thereupon, at that moment, Illness-san suddenly let go of my hand, and before I could turn around, she walked up the stairs again.
[Illness-san?]
[Speaking of whiiiiich~~ There's something impooooooortant I forgot to tell Kaito-samaaaa.]
[Something important?]
As she moved to a position directly in front of me, Illness-san nodded her head. The difference in height between Illness-san and me is almost 50 cm, so even after she went up the stairs, she was still looking up at me.
[Didn't Kaito-samaaaa ask me earlier if I like roseeeees?]
[Eh? Ah, yes. I did ask you that.]
[I do like roseeeees. Especially red roseeeees... Did you knooooow? Roses have different words depending on their coloooooor, and red roses, in particulaaaaaar, have different meanings depending on the number of roses you give to someoneeeee.]
[So that's how it is. I didn't know that.]
Talking about the conversation we had at the flower shop before coming here, Illness-san gently held out her hand towards me... and saying "Excuse me", she unwrapped the scarf off my neck.
Slowly showing me the three red roses embroidered on the scarf's lining, she calmly explained.
[One rose means "love at first siiiiiight". Two roses means that "there's only you two people in their wooooorld". When you give them to someoneeeeee, depending on the number of pieceeeees, the meanings would chaaaaaange.]
[I see... Err, then, what about three roses?]
The first thing that came to mind when I heard Illness-san's explanation was what giving three roses mean in the flower language. This is because many of the gifts I have received from Illness-san have had three roses embroidered on them...
When I asked her about it, she gently smiled and her eyes clearly focusing on me, she spoke.
[When you give three red roseeeees, in the flower languaaaaaage...]
[Eh? Ahh...]
[...Hnnn.]
Thereupon, Illness-san lightly pulled on my scarf that she was still holding on. She didn't do it very forcefully, but a gentle enough pull that I could resist if I wanted to...
Led by the sensation of being pulled downward and slightly bent over, Illness-san reached closer almost at the same time.
Then, as if drawn together, my lips and Illness-san's overlapped.
The first thing I felt was the amazing softness of her lips and the faint warmth of her body, and the next thing I felt was the strangely sweet taste... and great affection.
In an instant, my head became numb and I couldn't think of anything else. Our kiss continued gently, but deeply.
I don't know how long we had been kissing, but when Illness-san slowly pulled her face away, I thought I could see the silver thread connecting our lips, as if to hold dear upon the last vestige of our connection, illuminated by the setting sun.
As my head gradually regained its composure with a faint feeling of loneliness, wishing that I could have tasted more of that happiness, Illness-san told me with a dazzling smile.
[..."I love you."]
It was the meaning held by three roses in the flower language, and at the same time, they were words filled with the feelings that my reserved girlfriend was conveying to me in a roundabout way.
The expression on Illness-san's face, illuminated by the reddish hue of the setting sun... among the expressions I had seen after being together with her, I think this was the most beautiful I've ever seen.
[...Illness-san, do you mind if I ask something?]
[Yeeees?]
[Why did you say earlier that the flower shop doesn't have enough? I think they had more than three red roses though...]
Hearing my words, with a heartfelt smile on her face, Illness-san responded.
[Until Kaito-sama and I became loveeeeers, three roses would have been enouuuuugh... but nooooow, I feel like I want to give Kaito-sama "101 roses", so they didn't have enough.]
[...101 huh... What does that mean in the flower language?]
[..."I couldn't love you mooooore".]
[I see... In that case, I'd like to give Illness-san 101 roses too.]
[Kuhihi, in that case, shall we exchange roses someday?]
[That sounds great, let's do that.]
When I saw Illness-san looking straight at me and smiling adorably, I felt as if we were sharing happiness with each other... and I felt like I understood why she asked me to come here, and the feeling of "wanting to see the same scenery".
That's why, it might have been inevitable.
After the both of us chuckled... I bent down again, and Illness-san reached closer once more...