After my date with Isis-san, I normally would have gone straight back to
the Central Tower for dinner. However, I have promised to eat with
Lilia-san and the others tonight, so I will head there after letting Kuro
and the others know.
As I walked out of the Central Tower, I saw someone familiar who had
probably come to pick me up.
[…Arehh? Lunamaria-san. Did you come all the way here to pick me
up?]
[Yes, popular restaurants tend to get crowded, so I've told My Lady and
the others that I would fetch you first.]
[Ahh, I see. Thank you.]
[No… By the way, Miyama-sama?]
[Yes?]
When I thanked her, Lunamaria-san smiled as if to say not to worry
about it, before her expression changed to something serious and
spoke.
[…I've been meaning to ask you something for a long time…]
[What is it?]
[…Why is it that you still call me "Lunamaria-san"?]
[…Huh?]
The words that she seriously said weren't something that I had
expected. With a puzzled expression on her face, I waited for
Lunamaria-san's next words.
[In the six months since Miyama-sama came to this world, I have been
treating you as an important guest and have been "devoting my
everything" to you.]
[…No, I don't remember you doing that.]
[After all these times, Miyama-sama and I should have been closer!]
[......]
…Oi, don't ignore what I'm saying, you useless maid. Putting aside
whether we have become closer or not, I don't remember you devoting
anything to me, you know!? If anything, you were the one who was
trying to tease me every chance you got! I mean, you even set me up a
couple of times already!!!
[And yet… I still feel as if a barrier within Miyama-sama's heart was
blocking me!]
[…Right now, more walls are forming around my heart, you know? It's
even getting taller, you know?]
["I have supported Miyama-sama in many situations", if I may say so
myself. We have taken on many challenges together, and I am even
proud to say that we are comrades-in-arms.]
[No, like I said, why the heck are you all brazenly putting yourself in
such a position… Seriously, you're the only one who thinks like that,
okay?]
[But! However! There's still a big wall between us.]
[......]
She's not listening to me at all!? Why the heck were our conversations
not connecting with each other at all!? This useless maid is freaking
evading everything I'm saying!
This is really astounding, but from the looks of it, she probably wouldn't
listen to me even when I deny things.
Letting out a big sigh, I then told Lunamaria-san what I think she
wanted me to say.
[…So, in the end, what are you trying to say?]
[I'm glad you asked! All I wanted from Miyama-sama is that… putting it
simply, to talk about your way of calling me!]
[…Huhh.]
[Even though Kusunoki-sama and Yuzuki-sama affectionately call me
"Luna-san", Miyama-san still calls me "Lunamaria-san"…Isn't this
something that should be corrected immediately?]
[…No, I mean… I don't feel like I'm affectionate enough with you that I
would call you by your nickname…]
[Wait right there, Miyama-sama? I've been trying to ignore it for a while
now, but you've only been throwing a lot of insults at me though? It's
not like I wouldn't get hurt no matter what you say, you know!?]
In short, what Lunamaria-san is trying to say is that she wants me to
call her Luna-san? No, well, I did reflexively complain… but it's not that
I don't like Lunamaria-san.
She is a hopeless person who does everything to tease others… but
she's dependable, and on the times when it seriously matters, she will
be cordial and give you advice.
[I understand. Well then, I'll call you Luna-san from now on.]
[…Y- Yes, that's what I wanted.]
[…Why are you looking away?]
[N- No, it's just that actually hearing you call me that… m- makes me a
little embarrassed.]
Even though she was the one who requested it herself, when I called
Luna-san as such, she turned away with a slight blush on her cheeks,
seemingly feeling embarrassed.
Fumu, I've been thinking about this for a while… But could it be that
Luna-san is actually a shy person?
[…Well, I've certainly been saying mean things to you… but I've always
been relying on you, Luna-san.]
[I- Is that so…]
[I felt so close with you that I couldn't help acting unreserved. I'm sorry
about that. I hope that we will continue to get along.]
[…N- No, well, I know that you're just joking, but there's no need to
apologize. I- It's not that I don't like Miyama-sama either… No, ermm, I
rather have high praise in your personality instead… m- making me feel
favorable towards you…]
[......]
[…Why are you smiling?]
When I straightforwardly conveyed my favorable feelings for her, it was
just as I expected, or rather, even more than I expected… Luna-san
flusteredly told me that she didn't dislike me.
Amused by her reaction, a smile appeared on my face, to which Lunasan frowned upon.
[…Could it be… that was on purpose?]
[No, well, how should I say this… Luna-san has a pretty cute side in you
huh?]
[Y- You… You're just playing with me!? You're just playing with my
innocent heart!? Since when have you become a bad man like this!!!?]
[It's just payback for your usual teasing… Well, what I said about me
relying on Luna-san is true though.]
[G- Gununu…]
After chuckling at Luna-san's unusually vexed expression, I slowly
started walking.
[…Come on, Lilia-san and the others were waiting for us, right? Let's
quickly go.]
[Kuhh… I- I will definitely… pay you back for these humiliations
someday.]
[I'm looking forward to it.]
[Kuhhhhhhh…]
Biting her lower lip with her face bright red, Luna-san started walking
after me. It was kind of fun to see a different side of her than usual.
Well, I'm kinda scared of her counterattack that's waiting for me later…
Dear Mom, Dad————– She likes to play pranks, and has a lot of bad
qualities… Even with all these things, I consider Luna-san to be an
important and dependable friend. Well, I'm worried about the
retaliation that will come someday because of this, but well————– I
guess a relationship like this isn't so bad.