As the light of the setting sun drifted in through the window, Fate and
Alice were confronting each other.
[…Haahhh… Haahhh…]
[…Haahhh… Kuhhh…]
[Uwooohhhh!]
[Haahhhhhh!]
As both of them breathed heavily, they exchanged glances before the
both of them ran as if a signal rang out.
The shadows stretching across the room overlapped and their
outstretched fists crossed with each other… striking right into each
other's faces.
[Kuh… Good job… Shall-tan.]
[Fate… -san… too.]
As both of them collapsed to the ground at exactly the same time, a
brief moment of silence fell over the area.
The two clashed with each other with their fists, having radiant
expressions on their faces…
[…Hmmm. This doesn't feel right.]
[…Eh?]
Quickly raising her body, Fate looked at the window where the light of
the setting sun with a troubled expression on her face.
[The sun is setting over here, so… as expected, the angle should be…
Shall-tan, wouldn't it be better if you come from that side? Alright,
Shall-tan, let's retake this scene again!]
[Eeehhhh!? Wait, Fate-san! This is already the 8th time Fate-san said
that "we should end this scene in a double knockout", you know!?
Seriously, isn't it about time we stop?]
[…I want to be a woman who won't compromise with things and will
always seek for the supreme.]
[Please get rid of that obsession immediately.]
Hearing Fate's words, which she said with a smug look on her face
while staring at the window, Alice sits down at the counter after letting
out a big sigh.
Seeing Alice like that, Fate slightly smiles.
[How is it? Have you felt better now?]
[…I wonder? I'm not really sure. Fate-san… I…]
[Are you feeling guilty about putting Kai-chan in the role of your dead
best friend, treating him like he's a replacement?]
[ ! ? ]
Hearing the words Fate lazily announced, as if she were making small
talk, Alice's expression became stiffer.
That was the best proof that Fate's words hit the bull's eye.
[Or perhaps, are you afraid that people will know that you came to this
world to "look for a place to die"?]
[...]
[Hey, Shall-tan? For Shall-tan, is Kai-chan… still a replacement for that
best friend of yours?]
[H- He's not! Kaito-san is… Kaito-san is…]
[Then, isn't that good enough?]
[…Eh?]
Fate was the only one in this world who knew about Alice's past that
even Kuromueina didn't know, and that's why she understood the pain
she was feeling.
On top of that, Fate said it. How stupid her worries are…
[If Shall-tan loves and cares for Kai-chan… Then, why don't you just tell
him everything? Kai-chan will surely take it all in and still smile by your
side.]
[...…]
[Shall-tan, you're putting a little too much on your shoulders~~ If you
wrinkle your brows that much, you're just driving yourself to the
corner… You have to be like me~~ Relax in moderation too~~]
[…I think Fate-san is having too much relaxation though…]
[Ahaha, that might be so~~]
Hearing Fate's words, which are loose even at a time like this, Alice
slightly smiles.
Seeing Alice like that, Fate nodded once, turned on her heel and starts
walking towards the door, as if to say that the conversation is over.
[…Don't act too spoiled, okay? To Kai-chan, I mean… That's all I can say
to you.]
[…Fate-san… Ummm… Thank you.]
[Fufufu, well, Shall-tan and I are soul friends after all…"That's why you
can use my power with your Hekatonkeyres"…right?]
[…Yes.]
[See you next~~ time~~ then~~]
Leaving words that seemed to tell her that she had seen through
everything in the end, Fate lightly waved her hand and left.
After returning from the God Realm, I dropped by Lilia-san's mansion
once before going to Alice's miscellaneous goods store, but it was
already a bit late. The night has completely fallen.
[…Well, with her clone acting as my guard, she should know that I'm
coming…]
When I put my hand on the door, I felt that it wasn't locked and it
seemed like she knew I was coming.
As proof of this, I walked in and was able to quickly find Alice sitting at
the counter but…
[Why do you look so battered?]
[…I was letting the power of youth explode.]
[Unnn?]
When I asked Alice, who looked so ragged as if she had been in a
fistfight for some reason, she responded with words that were
incomprehensible as usual.
Well, it doesn't seem like the atmosphere around her was as tense as
before, so I guess that's okay…
[Alice, I'm sorry to bother you on such short notice, but can I go inside?]
[Yes, Kaito-san you're always welcome. Come in~~]
Hearing my words, Alice replies to me with a bright smile on her face
but… As expected, it was still somewhere in there huh. It looks like
she's forcing a smile.
I'd like to pursue it, but now isn't the time for that, so I firmly held back
and moved behind the counter… where her workshops and living
spaces can be found.
The workshop and living space that looked unimaginably large
compared to the exterior of the store… is according to Alice, an
application of Space-Time Magic.
Well, since magic boxes exist, maybe it isn't that surprising that they
could use the magic they used on that thing to expand a room.
I moved to the living room, which is located one room away from the
workshop, and sat down after Alice's suggestion. She then made me a
cup of tea even though I hadn't asked her for one.
After thanking her for the tea, I took a sip of the delicious tea and slowly
spoke.
[Hey, Alice…]
[Yes? What is it?]
[…I want to know about you.]
[…A- Ahaha… Are you giving me a pick-up line because you have been
taken away by Alice-chan's cuteness? That's a classic one you said, but
that certainly leaves quite the impression~~ Ahaha…]
[...]
[…Ugghhh…]
When I stopped being so roundabout and just directly told her what I
felt, as I thought, Alice tried to fool around and divert away from the
topic… I can see the tension in her eyes. It looked really unusual, but
she seemed to be really shaken.
[…K- Kaito-san… but that is…]
[Unnn. I know it's hard to say. Therefore, I'm not going to force you to
ask… And that isn't the only thing I wanted to know.]
[…Eh?]
[As for Alice's past, I don't know much about you in the first place. It's
one thing to hear about Alice from Alice herself, but I think it's also
important to try to know about Alice for myself…]
Yes, it's not just about her past. I don't know Alice well… because I
didn't try to get to know her properly until now.
Thanks to Chronois-san's advice, I realized that it isn't like me to go
around asking people. And so, I decided to not just wait for Alice to tell
me about it, I will also make an effort to try to learn about Alice myself.
[…By the way, Alice. This living space is quite wide, isn't it?]
[Eh? Yes, well, Alice-chan is the type of person who cares about where
she lives after all… Ummm… Kaito-san?]
[I see… Then, I'll be "staying" here for a while.]
[Eeeeehhhhh!?]
Declaring so, I take a change of clothes and a toothbrush out of my
magic box.
[P- Please wait a minute! Kaito-san, y- you'll make Duchess Lilia
worry…]
[Ahh, I already talked to Lilia-san about this, and asked her permission.]
[…Ugghhh… B- But, you see. Staying in the same room with a youthful
maiden like me is… A- Also, I only have one futon…]
[It's fine, I brought my futon with me. I'm fine sleeping on the floor of
the living room.]
[Auuuu…]
I've already made preparations for that area. When I explained the
situation to Lilia-san, she said "That's really typical of you, Kaito-san"
and gave me permission, and it seems like Lilia-san knows very well
that I don't think about the future.
Hearing my response, Alice is clearly troubled and was panicking,
which looked kind of cute.
[…Well, of course, if Alice refuses, it can't be helped. At that time, I'll just
go to a nearby inn and "come everyday early in the morning"…]
[S- Seriously… Uuuuuu… I understand. I'll get you a proper room.]
[Really? Thanks.]
[…Ugghhh.]
For the time being, it seems like the first step is a success huh? Alice
seems to be the type of person who would slyly mislead me if I keep on
getting reserved after all…
[…Somehow, it feels like Kaito-san is becoming more of a carnivore…
No, well, I guess that's also…]
Dear Mom, Dad——- I've decided to stay at Alice's miscellaneous goods
store as a first step to learn more about Alice. Knowing more about
Alice on a regular basis makes me feel like it would give me another
good idea. Anyway, this time—— I'm going to push her as hard as I can.