The night had fallen, and it can be said that it was already midnight.
Normally, I would already be asleep by now, but I was lying in bed,
staring at the dark ceiling.
It isn't that… I can't fall asleep. But right now, I still couldn't bring
myself to sleep.
Ryze-san told me that I should prioritize what I think about how I feel
about Isis-san and think about what kind of relationship I want to have
with her in the future… and I've been thinking about that for a long
time.
When I irst met Isis-san… I was scared of her.
A mysterious and frightening being that is beyond my common sense…
I may have realized that it was because of her magic power of death, but
I was almost caught off guard at that time, and I shuddered from fear I
couldn't comprehend.
However, I fortunately have the power of my Sympathy Magic, and
thanks to that, the loneliness deep within Isis-san's heart… I was able to
slightly sense it.
Perhaps, if I hadn't met Kuro and saved me… I probably wouldn't have
reached out my hand to her. I would probably be shamefully running in
fear.
However, what actually happened was that I met Kuro and was saved by
her, and because I regained my courage to step forward, I was able to
reach out to Isis-san's hand in spite of my fear.
…Looking back at it, Isis-san may be the irst person I've ever tried to
get involved with on my own.
And, when I held Isis-san's hand and introduced myself to her… She
confessed to me.
Because it was the irst time in my life that I had ever been confessed to,
I was half-confused at that time and to be honest, I didn't really take her
confession seriously.
After that, Isis-san and I became friends, and afterwards, I learned that
Isis-san is the Death King and that she possesses the magic power of
death.
But at that time, Isis-san was no longer a scary person to me, so I
couldn't see why Lilia-san and the others were so scared of her.
On the contrary, I was even inwardly mad at Chronois-san when she
evaluated Isis-san as someone with a bad nature.
That's because the real Isis-san was… lonely and quiet, reserved and
gentle, a really lovely lady…
The pain that Isis-san has been going through, I still feel like I can't
completely understand it even now that we've become so close.
However, I'm conident that a smile is much more suitable for Isis-san
than a sad one.
Since the irst time we met, Isis-san has been straightforwardly
directing her love and affection to me, and even though I felt shy from it,
felt delighted from it, and remembered feeling strangely nervous when
I'm talking to Isis-san.
She really always, always takes care of me… and when I was injured, she
was really angry and sincerely worried about me.
No matter how insensitive I am, I understand that the affection Isis-san
for me is very strong.
However, that affection isn't something that is forced on me.
When I asked her to hold off on responding to her confession, or when I
asked where Isis-san's castle is, she always paid attention and
respected my circumstances.
Being thought about that much… there's no way I wouldn't be happy.
Yeah, that's right… I'm feeling glad that I'm receiving Isis-san's affection.
I've never had any experience of being popular, so I had no idea how to
respond to her confession, and because I strongly felt that I love Kuro,
I've kept it ambiguous for a long time.
It may be as Ryze-san told me… The answer may have been in me right
from the start.
If this was the world I was in… If I really had to choose only one person,
I think I would have chosen Kuro.
I would have been heartbroken at the thought of Isis-san feeling
sorrowful, and I may even cry, but even if it's painful, I would still make
a choice.
However, the world I'm in now is different.
This is a world where I could choose to like both of them… a world
where I could make such a gentle choice… And just as Orchid said, in
this world, there's no need to for me to have any differences in my love
for them.
Then, the only thing left is my feelings… but even that has already been
answered.
I'm not averse to Isis-san's love… I enjoy spending time with Isis-san… I
felt my heart beat for Isis-san's gestures.
How I feel about Isis-san has long since appeared in my heart before I
could even think about it in my mind.
[…I see… I love Isis-san.]
Feeling as if I've found the answer within the darkness, I felt as if I
instantly felt better.
Yes, there's no need for me to be puzzled. I love Isis-san, I want Isis-san
to have a smile on her face, I want her to be happy… I want to make her
happy.
Slowly, I raise my upper body and move my eyes to the faint light of the
stars.
Feeling sincerely relieved and thankful that I don't have to give up on
Isis-san…
Dawn, at a time when it was still early in the morning, I went to visit
where Sieg-san usually is.
Sieg-san had worked the night shift last night, so she was still up at this
time as well, and I was able to ind her quietly drinking tea in the dining
room.
[Good morning, Sieg-san.]
[Good morning. You're very early, aren't you?]
[Yes. Errr, there's actually something I wanted to request of you, Siegsan…]
[Request?]
Sieg-san tilted her head after hearing what I said, but after she looks
straight at me, she smiles.
[…It looks like you've made up your mind. You have a good look in your
eyes right now.]
[…Yes.]
[I understand. I'll help you in any way I can.]
[Thank you!]
Thanking Sieg-san for her gracious words of approval, I once again told
her what I'm asking for.
Sieg-san quietly listened to what I said, and then, nodding in agreement
and spoke.
[…I see. I understand. Well then, let's go get what we need today.]
[Yes… Wait, Sieg-san, don't you need to sleep at all?]
[There's no problem. Even if we elves don't sleep for a few days, we
would still be perfectly ine.]
Feeling my heartfelt gratitude as I saw Sieg-san's gentle smile, I decided
to get ready to go out with Isis-san.
Thinking about the promise I made previously at the Sacred Tree
Festival… I thought that it would also be the appropriate time to give
her my response…
Dear Mom, Dad——- Thanks to the advice of many people, I have been
able to rethink and realize my feelings for Isis-san. Gathering my
courage, and making preparations—— All that's left is to convey these
feelings of mine.
[…B- By the way, Kaito-san? I'm just asking for r- reference but…]
[Yes? What is it?]
[K- Kaito-san, for example… Errr, can you also see Elves as a l- l- love
interest?]
[…You mean someone like Sieg-san?]
[T- T- That's right. A pure-blooded elf like me.]
I tilted my head at Sieg-san, who seemed somewhat lustered while
asking me that while her eyes were restlessly moving about.
I've seen lots of elves at the Sacred Tree Festival, but if I think about
elves, the one I could think of the most would be Sieg-san… I don't
know why she's asking such a question, but with Sieg-san in my mind, I
thought about it.
[…To be honest, I've never really paid much attention to things like a
person's species… For example, regardless of whether you're an elf or
not, Sieg-san is beautiful and kind, and you're also very capable when it
comes to housework, so I guess I would be happy if I could date you?]
[!? I- I- Is that so!]
[By the way, does that question mean anything?]
[N- N- N- No… Errr, errrmm… I- It's for that! It's for future reference.
You see, with Lili's circumstances, I haven't seen many people around
me in love until now, so I thought I'd ask what Kaito-san, a man, thinks
about it.]
For some reason, Sieg-san is more lustered than before… and her long
wiggling ears look really cute.
[…Errr, was my response helpful?]
[Yes, thank you… I'm relieved that I also have a chance.]
[Eh? Your voice sounded smaller on the latter part of what you said so I
couldn't hear it…]
[I- I said nothing!!!]