Even though this place couldn't exactly be said as my home, when I
stepped into Lilia-san's mansion where I spent a year in, the thought
that came to my mind… was that I'm back home.
With how nostalgic I'm feeling returning back to the mansion, how
should I say this… knowing that I've finally returned makes me feel
relaxed.
[It's been a while… No, I guess it's better to say "Welcome back", right?
Welcome back, Kaito-san. Seeing you again like this feels my heart with
glee.]
[Yes, it's been a while, Lilia-san.]
With a gentle smile on her face, Lilia-san happily welcomed me. Liliasan has Chronois-san's blessing, so she should be immortal… but
perhaps, the past two years had made her grow mentally, as she feels
more mature than before.
[Well, I had faith that you would come back, and since I had received
information from Phantasmal King-sama beforehand, I may not be too
surprised with your arrival, but seeing you return makes me very
happy.]
[...…]
It seems like Lilia-san is starting to become more of a noble than before,
as she seemed to be very calm and relaxed.
But somehow, knowing the Lilia-san of the past, I feel a little sad seeing
her like this… but I'm happy that she has grown a lot.
As I was thinking that…
[…Well, I guess I can't say "How dare you" in a situation like this, eh?]
[Unnn?]
[L- Luna!? W- What are you suddenly saying now?]
Luna-san, who was standing by Lilia-san's side, dumbfoundedly
muttered, looking away from Lilia-san, but upon hearing her, Lilia-san
suddenly became flustered.
[In the past two years, how many times has Milady lonelily muttered "Is
Kaito-san still not coming back?" Should I tell you the specific number
of times you had said such a thing?]
[Luna… Please wait. I beg you, please don't say anything unnecessary.]
[Ahh, speaking of which… While Miyama-sama was away, Milady was
often "listening on that music box" in her room, wasn't she? Milady
being such a music lover, this incompetent Lunamaria apologizes for
not knowing until now. Oya? However, I don't know if it's my
imagination or not, but why is it that that music box is "always playing
the same song"?]
[U- Ummm, Luna… Stop already, I'm begging you… I have, you know, the
dignity of a noble and all that…]
Arehh? What is this? Rather than the clouds looking menacing, it seems
like the clouds parted ways and the truth had revealed itself.
That music box Lilia-san was listening to… It's probably that music box
I gave her, right? Which means…
[Dignity? Oh my? That dignified noble that you were talking about… Did
you mean that noble that has been pacing back and forth in her room
after being contacted by Phantasmal King-sama, completely unable to
get any work done?]
[…Aaaaahhhhhhh… No, that's, ummm, that's not it, okay!?]
[…Errr, Luna-san? In short, what do you mean?]
Hearing Luna-san's words, Lilia-san covered her blushing face with her
hands and slumped down on the desk. As if it was all a lie, the relaxed
demeanor she had until a few minutes ago completely changed, and
when I curiously looked at her… before finally, letting out another big
sigh, Luna-san dealt the finishing blow.
[No, it's quite simple. Milady was just trying to appear all ladylike and
elegant to her beloved lover, whom she hadn't seen in two years… It's
not that she have become more mature in the past two years or
anything like that. I guess the only thing that changed would be that she
had become even more powerful.]
[ ~ ~ ~ ! ? ]
Ahh, unnn. I see… Let me retract my previous statement. How should I
say this… I feel relieved to see that Lilia-san is still as cute as before,
someone who is unlike a noble.
It's just like Lilia-san to be concerned about being ladylike… and seeing
her like this, I couldn't help but leak out a smile.
Well, it seems that Lilia-san, who had been exposed, doesn't seem to be
too happy about it, as she seemed to be half-crying with a face as red as
a boiled octopus.
When Luna-san saw this, she let out a light sigh once more… and
started leaving the room. As she opened the door a bit, she turned
around and spoke to Lilia-san.
[…Well, such being the case, how long are you going to keep up that
useless pretense, stupid Lili… Miyama-sama also doesn't have much
time to spare today, so just please be honest and fawn upon him.]
After telling her this, not as her maid, but as Lilia-san's best friend,
Luna-san went out of the room… leaving Lilia-san and I alone in the
room. Luna-san is being thoughtful of her friends huh…
[Errr… Lilia-san.]
[…Ugghhh… I- It can't be helped, you know? Even though I've become
immortal thanks to Chronois-sama's blessing, compared to the other
long-lived beings… I felt like those two years had been a really long
time.]
[...…]
[…I- I felt… lonely.]
A- Arehh? I may have to retract my previous statement once again.
Doesn't it seem like Lilia-san became cuter than before!?
When I saw Lilia-san with tears in her eyes, telling me how she felt
lonely, I felt a surge of love burst from within me.
As if my actions were being guided, I approached Lilia-san and as if I'm
covering her body while she sat on her chair, I hugged her body.
[Uhyaaahhh!? K- K- K- Kaito-san!?]
[…I'm sorry I made you feel lonely.]
[…Auuu… Auuu…]
[Knowing that my beloved Lilia-san was still the same as she was two
years ago… makes me feel so happy.]
[ ! ? ]
[…Lilia-san?]
[…Kyuuu.]
[Eh? Wait!? Lilia-san!?]
I'm not sure if Lilia-san's embarrassment has exceeded her tolerance
limit or not, but with her eyes upturned, she had fainted in my arms. HHmmm… What is this? I kinda feel relieved that this part of hers
remained unchanged too… but I also feel somewhat disappointed…
what a complicated feeling, this is.