I had succeeded in obtaining the new combat skill, which had great effects that could be increased by accomplishing specific tasks. However, I also discovered that the effects of this skill will be shared to both of us thanks to our party ability.
Yeah, basically I went out of my way to do all that for nothing. But, I also noticed having another passive skill: Engaged Strength. That was a nice skill that increased by two all my stats, I was gradually getting stronger.
One thing was still bothering me, why would Junichi smile in that way if he wasn't the winner? That was something I just couldn't figure out.
"Say, Junichi. In the end I finished the task, as I said. But something's been on my mind, why were you smiling idiotically earlier?"
In the end I said it, I couldn't keep thinking about this so it was better to face it directly. I could see a slight moment of hesitation in Junichi but then, after taking a deep breath, he spoke.
"Uhm... well... you see... it was... cuz I received a message to confirm your proposal."
At the beginning he was nearly speaking and at the end he went full speed, like a diesel engine. But, still I don't get it, why would he smile to something like that? Was it humiliation, or has it got a hidden meaning?
ThumpThumpThumpThump
We heard people falling on the ground, we looked down the ladder and found a group of people, who probably came back from their task, laying on the ground. T-t-t-they had p-p-probably heard us.
It was time to confirm it.
"Uhm, everyone, what are you doing on the ground, and why are there other people on the ladder?"
The same boy answered to me.
"Well, we were all coming back from what you had us to do, and each of us was climbing the ladder when we noticed what was going-"
I abruptly interrupted him.
"Oh so you have brought what I asked of you?"
The impudent boy decided to ignore my question and spoke from where he left.
"And we noticed you proposing to our king. Oh and actually, yes, we have the materials."
That kid, he went on speaking his mouth and eventually decided to answer, he'll need to be educated later. Even though I wanted to die from embarrassment it wasn't the time to do so.
If I was marrying the king I would have been a queen, thus I needed to maintain a high dignity.
Hum
I cleared my voice, focusing the attention of all the people down there on me. The with my right arm I drew Junichi closer, so that he could be seen by the ladder hole.
"Alright everyone, it wasn't my intention to let you all know our engagement this early, but now it's done. If you are wondering, yes, we are now officially engaged, this means that I'll become your queen, but I'll keep my role as the first counsellor, too."
Then I turned to Junichi and whispered to him.
"You too, say something."
I couldn't be the only one to say all this, plus he was the king, the most important person, so he had to have his say in it. This wasn't a mere event, it was his engagement.
"Everyone, as my loved one already told you, I'm pleased to announce that we have happily engaged. We were meant to lay low for a while, yet this will be an official announcement. My people warmly welcome my yet-to-be bride!"
ClapClapClapClap
Uh, I could never expect that. That same man, who was always gloomy and unfriendly at work, had such a charisma. He managed successfully to fire up everybody, the people down there just forgot what happened and were now focus on this announcement.
In some seconds, he was able to have a speech, which had a kingish tone.
Before even knowing I was being pulled away, gently but firmly. We were going on the upper floor.
Then entered his room, this was a great strategy. He was creating more mystery thus increase people's expectations and high spirits. At least that's what I thought before he spoke.
"Aaa, what a tiring moment. You really had me say something. Plus I exaggerated with it, and used a regal tone. I can't believe this happened again... I feel sick."
He added something that I couldn't hear, but he was the same coworker I had, still socially anxious. Yet, he had such a great speech that nobody would have expected.
"Why do you think so? You were great back there, I don't even know if I could be as good as you in charisma. You could see that directly in people who were so excited."
Junichi was turned around and I couldn't see him in the face, maybe because he was embarrassed. I didn't want to bother him in a situation like this, so I turned around and started exiting.
Then something stopped me, I felt his arms around my body, he was holding me, hugging me.
"Please, stay here for a while longer."
He whispered to me, with a very faint voice. I couldn't just leave him alone. But standing still like this was uncomfortable in my opinion.
"Why don't we seat a little bit on the bed?"
He didn't answer but I could feel his head nodding on my back. I moved slowly and when we were on the bed I told him to lay on my legs. He didn't argue and just did what I asked him to do.
It was a weird situation, he was a loner man but he usually had a strong indipentend character. Nonetheless, now here we were, with him in a bad condition, after just having a speech.
"I feel bad"
I could hear him mumble this time after time. He wouldn't stop, while trembling a little, I couldn't bear this sight. I preferred him to be the same one who teased me a little.
"Can I ask you what's the reason why you are feeling this bad?"
"I won't say it… I feel bad. I feel bad. I feel bad. I feel bad."
He was still somehow firm in his decisions, but I wanted to help.
"I can't force you on telling me what you feel, what happened and all. But I can do one thing. I'll be there for you, when you need, when you have a look on your face that you can't show to nobody, when you need to be supported, I'll be there. So just lay down now, and let everything tormenting you get out."
We stayed like that for a while not saying a word, and slowly but steadily Junichi calmed down. It came out from an apparently irrelevant event, yet it was so big.
Maybe that was because of a trauma or something like that.
"Thank you, Akari. I have showed you a very pathetic side of me."
"Everybody has their own demons they have to fight."
I was still giving him a pat every now and then. Then he rose up, his eyes still read, probably from crying for a long time. His face wasn't in the best conditions but he was confident now.
"You know, I really have to thank you, you were of great support."
I felt a warmth on my cheek, something was on it: his hand. It was gently cuddling my cheek, then he strengthened his grip and hold my face still. He was getting closer and closer. And before I knew it he kissed me, unlike the other times this wasn't on the cheek, it was a French kiss.
It left me speechless, he straightly kissed me. I had my eyes closed since he was getting closer, when I no longer felt the presence of his hand on my cheek I opened my eyes.
His face was completely blushing, probably he wasn't sure about what he had done.
He stood up and turned around, I could see his blushing also on his ears; after he got a little away he started to speak.
"I love you… I love you not because of any skill, it's just because I truly and deep-heartedly love you."
I was kind of bewildered, all that time I had been thinking that he was just forced in some way by the "GAME". But was this his actual feeling?
KyuKyun
I felt a weigh on my heart, it was in a kind of tight grasp. I didn't get that feeling. It was my first time having such a stroke to my heart.
But he was leaving, I had a feeling that if I left him going away then, it would have just been like all that never happened, it would have just been a dream.
I went right in front of the door and stopped him in his way out. I was going to seize this chance, I couldn't afford to lose it.
For the first time in my life I felt something different, I needed to get this now.
I could see Junichi's face completely red, he was looking at the ground. I grabbed his face with both my hands and lifted it up. I fiercely stared him in the eyes-
"About that, were you serious?"
...