As they walked from the meeting place to the beach, the God of the
world, Shallow Vernal, glanced at Alice. Thereupon, sensing the
significance of her glance, Alice moved a few distance away so as not to
be noticed by Kaito and the others, who were chatting with each other,
and spoke in a voice small enough for only Shallow Vernal to hear.
[Oya? What can I do for you, Shallow Vernal-sama?]
[I was just a little unsure of your intentions. How is not allowing me to
prepare lunch a form of payback?]
[…Hmmm, that's actually more of a bonus. Well, let's just cut the crap
and get straight to the point. I have to admit, I was surprised by Shallow
Vernal-sama's growth at the housewarming party back then… that I
thought I'll be the one surprising Shallow Vernal-sama this time.]
[…Surprise me? Although your actions did displease me, I'm not really
surprised though?]
Seeing Shallow Vernal tilt her head, unconvinced of her answer, a
fearless smile appeared on Alice's lips again.
[…Hmmm, I thought I'd save it for lunch… but I think it might be a good
idea to reveal some spoilers first. Then, here's what's happening,
Shallow Vernal-sama… If you can prepare something better than this
ingredient, I can retract my previous statement and leave lunch to
Shallow Vernal-sama, you know?]
Seeing the small lump of meat that appeared on Alice's hand out of
nowhere as she said this, Shallow Vernal spontaneously stopped
walking.
[Ohh, two blinks in a short interval… It's the gesture of surprise that
Kaito-san was talking about. Which means, I guess the surprise was a
success huh?]
[…Yes, I certainly am surprised. No, I still am surprised… How in the
world… did you manage to persuade "her"?]
Looking at the lump of meat in Alice's hand, Shallow Vernal instantly
understood who Alice had gotten it from. However, it was because she
understood who it's from… that she couldn't understand.
Seeing Shallow Vernal reacting just as she expected, Alice smiled,
looking somewhat satisfied.
It was the day before they went swimming. It happened while they
were taking a break in training.
Even for Alice, training with Makina, an omniscient and omnipotent
God, is exhausting. After all, if she doesn't keep her willpower up to the
very limit, she won't be able to even move properly in front of Makina.
In a sense, taking frequent breaks was a must.
[Whamm… Hmm~~ This is happiness!]
[Ahh, Makina. There are also drinks here.]
[Thanks! However… Why did you bring "provisions" today? Well, I'm
happy with this though.]
While eating the burger that Alice handed to her, Makina tilted her head
and asked. She has helped Alice train several times before, but this is
the first time Alice has ever brought provisions.
As Makina was thinking that Alice was probably going to ask for
something strange, Alice gracefully smiled and spoke.
[Well, I've been indebted to Makina for many things after all. I really am
just expressing my thanks.]
[Is that so… You don't really have to mind it all that much though… but
thanks!]
[No, no.]
Although Alice's phrasing was obviously suspicious, Makina believed
Alice's words without any particular doubt and continued eating with a
smile on her face.
In the first place, the Affection Meter for Alice in Makina's heart was
extremely high. She basically doesn't use her omniscience against Alice,
and she takes most of her words in stride… After all, Makina is very
sweet to her best friend Alice.
In the end, not asking any more questions, Makina finished the food
Alice brought and spoke with a satisfied expression on her face.
[…Thanks for the food! What now? Should we resume our training right
away?]
[Ahh~~ No, let's finish up things here today. I'm okay in regards to
time, but I don't want to leave your place tired since I will be swimming
with Kaito-san tomorrow.]
[I see… That sounds nice, swimming with my beloved child. I want to go
too.]
[Please give up on that. If you intrude while he's spending time with his
lovers, it'd become the pattern of a mother who is completely disliked,
you know?]
[…I know that. That's why I didn't say anything.]
[Hmmm. Well, I guess you're right. It's hard to notice because you, going
out of control, just had that strong of an impression, but Makina does
think things through huh.]
Even as she was envious of Alice who would be swimming with Kaito,
Makina didn't try to force her to allow her to come along. Yes, the times
that she was out of control may have had a strong impression, and she
may appear overbearing among most people… She's actually thinking
about the timing of things rather carefully.
This is because, "when Kaito is with his lovers or has some business he
needs to attend to"… Makina basically doesn't appear before Kaito. She
makes sure to take Kaito's convenience as a priority before her desires.
In fact, during the Six Kings Festival, even as she received the badge
signifying that she is his companion, she went separately so as not to
cause trouble to Kaito.
In fact, aside from when he encounters her by chance, she basically only
appears before Kaito at a party where a large number of people
participate, when Kaito himself calls her, or when "Kaito is bored at
home and has nothing to do".
[That's obvious. Even when I want to love my child, I want to make sure
I won't trouble him. I'm properly considering my child's circumstances.]
[…Seriously, if you just don't go out of control, you would have been
pretty decent.]
[…It's not I mean to do it intentionally either… but my child is just so
cute that I can't stop loving him, and before I knew it, all sense of reason
in my mind disappeared.]
Yes… If "her too big of a love for Kaito" and "her thought process that
everyone except her children as talking lumps of flesh" was removed,
she would have been someone with proper common sense.
…But then, those two peculiarities of hers are so strong that her other
traits get overshadowed, making her look like a lunatic…
After smiling at her troubled best friend, Alice changed the subject.
[Well, regarding our swimming tomorrow… I actually have a favor to
ask Makina.]
[…I don't have a good feeling about that, so I refuse. I mean, even if it's
easy for Alice to say it, if I interfere with the other world in any way, I
would need to explain everything to Shallow Vernal later on. The only
reason I'm helping you train is that this is a loophole in our contract…
What we're doing here is already in the gray area, you know?]
[Fumu fumu… Ahh, I'm changing the subject… but "were the burgers
delicious?"]
[......… Eh?]
Makina was about to dismiss Alice's request, but hearing what Alice
said right after, Makina stiffened.
[No, I was just curious… So, how was it? The burgers "whose
ingredients I carefully selected and prepared", "hand-made with all my
heart" for my "best friend Makina"… Were they delicious?]
[…Eh? N- No, ummm, they were delicious but… Eh? D- Does that mean…
Is this what I think it is?]
[I wonder? I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm glad you
found it delicious. Ahh, I'm sorry for digressing, I was just curious…
Now then, let's get back to the topic at hand, I actually have a favor to
ask Makina.]
[...…]
When she heard the words Alice said with a refreshing smile on her
face, Makina looked up to the heavens, looking as if she had given up on
so many things.
Remembering the exchange she had with Makina, Alice asked Shallow
Vernal.
[Oya? Wouldn't Shallow Vernal-sama, who can read minds, be able to
know the answer right away?]
[…What a nasty question. I know that one of "tens of thousands of
methods" in your mind was the right answer, but I don't know which
one it is. I see, so a countermeasure like this exists huh.]
[It's more like a practical use of "Thought Division". It's like hiding a tree
in a forest… Well, anyhow, I win this time, right?]
[I guess so… that makes it 1 win and 1 loss… I see, you're interesting.]
[I'll take that as a compliment.]
[Yes, I hope we get a chance to talk again. I'm sure I can learn a lot from
you.]
[I don't really mind, but please make sure you prepare the best tea and
sweets available as a teaching fee.]
[I understand.]
Seeing the fearless smile on Alice's lips, Shallow Vernal also slightly
smiled. Just like that, unexpectedly, but in the best way possible for the
purpose of this day… The friendship between Alice and Shallow Vernal
deepened.
~ ~ Extra : Why is Makina-chan such a no good scrap? ~ ~
① (Haahhh… I went out of control and troubled my child… I'll have to
be patient here and not scare my child…)
② (Fuwaaaaaa, my child really is just the cutest. Hah!? T- This won't
do! Be patient… Be patient…)
③ (Nuwaaaahhh!? I can't take it anymoooooore! My child is so cute and
I can't hold back anymoooooooore!!!)
④ Blown away by Kuro → Return to ①
※ In some cases, ② is skipped.
It's easy to be fooled by her outrageous behavior and deep personality,
but "she's been repeating the above no good scrap of a loop since her
first appearance".
…I'm reflecting upon my deeds everytime, every single time… but
standing before my child… I wasn't able to restrain the overflowing love
in my heart.