“Don’t look at me with those eyes like I’m some kind of weirdo.”
“It’s impossible not to. You are weird.”
“Aha, haha…”
She receives a simple counter.
“I won’t say you thank too much, but it’s something to think about, right? Because it can be perceived as weightless gratitude.”
“Ah, so there’s that problem too…”
If the impression of “a person who apologizes too much” is attached, it may be perceived as having a shallow apology. Is this a similar phenomenon?
“So I have to become a person who won’t be misunderstood.”
“I think changing is the best.”
“I can’t change this one. So I’ll try not to be misunderstood.”
“Hehe, those words don’t seem to belong to someone who is misunderstood.”
“Well, well…”
Byleth stubbornly persists, and Elena looks at him with a bewildered expression.
“…The kind of woman who would like you is really something, definitely.”
“Aha, if Elena says so, maybe.”
“It’s not a joke…”
There were no words more credible than these for Berette.
Just as the conversation came to a halt.
“…?”
“…?”
“…………”
“…………”
A long silence ensues.
It was Elena who broke this quiet atmosphere…
“Hey, is it okay if I sit next to you now?”
“Next?”
The two are currently sitting face to face, talking while sitting. It is a word that seems to intentionally change the situation where there is no inconvenience.
“Are you planning something weird?”
“You say such rude things… I’m not going to do anything. It’s just more convenient that way.”
“Is that so? Then it’s fine. It’s not like I mind.”
“Oh really? Then I’ll do that.”
Elena, who gave a casual response, stands up and sits back next to Byleth, emitting the scent of perfume.
This is the second time today that this composition has been made. The first time was on the way here.
“What’s up with that? You’re not the type to say something like that without a reason, Elena, right?”
“It’s not like that…?”
“Is that so?”
“Well, this time there is a reason…”
“See, I knew it.”
Byleth continues the conversation while looking at Elena’s beautiful profile.
“I haven’t asked you yet, right? I promised to answer two things as a punishment for being mean. This is the second thing.”
“Oh, right…”
Because of that incident, the last thing had been skipped. The final thing.
Elena’s reason for prompting again was one. This second thing was the real issue.
“Um, the banquet that will be held in two weeks… You’re also going to attend, right?”
“Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“So, I’ll be straightforward… ”
Despite her straight words, she glances at me sideways and tells me with her face red like on fire.
“During the banquet, I want you to make time to slip away with me.”
“Huh…?”
As soon as their eyes met, Byleth’s mind went blank, seeing her turn away.
Slipping away from the evening party. Many of the reasons for this were to be alone together.
“Wait a minute, why is that so bold… Why did that happen all of a sudden?”
“T-That reaction… You’re thinking something weird, aren’t you?!”
“I mean, I did think it was strange, but…”
“Idiot. I’m one of the organizers. There’s no way I could slip away until dawn!”
The topic was indeed the topic.
While changing color like a boiled octopus, Elena adds an explanation to the missing part.
“Even if I say ‘slip away’, it’s obviously just going outside for a bit! Really, what are you thinking, you…!”
“Sorry about that. I understand everything now.”
Seeing Elena visibly flustered, Byleth couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. All he could do was fake composure with a wry smile.
“If you understand, then what’s your answer? Will you slip away with me? You promised to answer properly, as promised…”
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Elena urged, grabbing his hem.
Despite the pressure she was putting on, she contradicted herself with a faint, whispered voice.
“Even if you make that face, I’ll happily go along with it. There’s no reason to refuse, right?”
“Don’t lie. You better take responsibility for what you said, okay?”
“Haha, if you’re that suspicious, want to make it a promise? The one who breaks it will receive a punishment like ‘obey whatever I say’.”
“Huh, is that punishment okay? Even if you regret it later, you won’t know, right?”
“Elena, you too.”
“Fine, I understand. What I just said is a promise.”
“Of course.”
Because neither intended to break it, this promise was quickly made.
And the one who reacted the most to this joyful result was Elena herself.
“Ha…”
Exhaling such a deep sigh of relief, Elena relaxed as if a tense string had been cut.
She summoned her courage and made this promise.
Byleth, who remained calm, just hadn’t noticed yet. It wasn’t just an invitation to a night out, it was something more.
“Hey, are you tired, Elena?”
“It’s all your fault. Everything.”
“Did I do something to tire you out?”
“You did. A lot.”
“Hmm?”
“If you don’t have any idea what I’m talking about, I’ll give you time to think. …During that time, I’ll rest my head on your shoulder.”
“Then I’ll take you up on that offer. Wait, huh!?”
As soon as he chewed on the words and understood their meaning, Elena moved without hesitation.
As if to say, “Take responsibility for tiring me out,” she rested her head on Byleth’s shoulder, leaning her slender, soft body against him.
“W-wait a minute? Even if you tell me to think in this situation, I can’t gather my thoughts at all…”
“It’s fine if you give up. But in exchange, things will stay exactly like this until we get to your house.”
“Wh-what does that mean?”
“Are you unsatisfied?”
“Unsatisfied.”
“…Though you don’t really think that way. Being kind to everyone isn’t something to be praised for. It just means you allow yourself to be taken advantage of like this.”
“I-I’ll keep that in mind, so I don’t need to force myself to put it into practice…right?”
“Shut up.”
She snapped back forcefully. After regaining some calm,
I thought about the incredibly embarrassing thing I was doing.
Elena, squirming in embarrassment, used her long hair to create a barrier to avoid having her flushed face peeked at.
****
(…Sigh. There’s no way I’d do something like this to just anyone. Please notice at least…)
Her thoughts in response to the words “[You don’t have to force yourself to do it]”.
Pressing her face against his shoulder, Elena muttered her dissatisfaction in her mind while her face was buried.
To be thought of as doing such things indiscriminately was irritating and unpleasant.
“Sorry if I’ve tired you out.”
“Should I just give up already, even though I don’t understand the reason?”
“If you’re going to rest like this, then do it properly, okay? I’m enduring the tension here.”
“Hmm.”
“And I can’t take responsibility if any strange misunderstandings occur.”
“I won’t mind. That doesn’t bother me.”
“Haha, that’s so typical of you, Elena…”
(Rather, I’d like rumors to spread. I want to reduce rivals even a little…)
Elena, who had been proposed to numerous times before, found Byleth’s charm so formidable that it revealed her anxieties.
Of course, compatibility was essential, but there were few noble aristocrats who interacted without regard for status like him.
Criticism would likely be received for not acting like a noble, but such people were enjoyable companions for Elena.
“…Your shoulder feels a little comforting.”
“I-Is that good? Is it okay?”
“…I’ll just say it just in case, but please don’t tell anyone about this.”
“I won’t.”
(While I don’t mind rumors spreading, it would be embarrassing if it were known that I relied on him…)
If such rumors spread, nobles who didn’t want to antagonize the Leclerc family would be unable to touch Byleth.
It was a stroke of luck, but she couldn’t discard her embarrassment.
“Well, even if it were to spread, they might think, ‘[He forced her into it],’ right?”
“Hehe, I feel relieved knowing it’s so credible.”
“Bad reputations can be convenient at times, huh… Haha…”
She seemed to be joking, but her laughter sounded a bit sad and dry.
“…Since there’s someone here who doesn’t misunderstand you, cheer up, okay?”
“To be precise, the misunderstanding has been cleared up, you know?”
“Y-You don’t need to say more… You really do talk too much sometimes. Mean…”
“We’re both being mean. I’m just trying to make sure you don’t think too much about why I did this.”
Perhaps because he was gradually relaxing, he placed his hand on the head he had entrusted to his shoulder.
──Just for a moment.
“Ah…”
Thinking he had done something rash, a voice tinged with implications leaked from Byleth.
Touching a young lady’s head was taboo unless the relationship was very close.
(But, if it’s you… I don’t really…)
That was what she thought.
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