After having lunch at Lillywood-san’s place, since I was here anyway, I decided to go have a little tour around the streets of Yggfresis before going back to the Human Realm.
Since I took my time before I came back, the time was approaching evening, and I think the time was about right for me to go towards that place.
[Fwamff, whamm, mushyaamm…… Excuse meee. I’ll have everything from here to there on this menu!]
[………………….]
And now, I move my gaze to this idiot…… namely Alice, who is currently wholeheartedly devouring yakiniku.
Alice is eating the meat so fast that I really began to wonder where she was putting all that meat in her small body.
After watching the scene over a cup of tea, I handed the music box to Alice, who is resting her chopsticks until the next set of meat arrives.
As for the music box that I had given Alice, she obviously knows the details. It is made with a purple Amethyst in the center. I had the song made to be fun and somewhat mysterious.
[Alice, here. Thanks for all the help.]
[Thank you…… wait, isn’t that too lighthearted!? What’s with that lightheartedness!? Isn’t it weird that I’m the only one who you lightheartedly gave this music box!? Can’t you give it to me with some words that have a heart-pounding, bittersweet feeling behind it!?]
[……I mean, I’m giving it to Alice anyway.]
[What cold words!? Kaito-san, aren’t you treating me a little too roughly!?]
Hmmm. Even if she said that though, I don’t know if treating Alice respectfully feels unusual for me or not but…… I wonder why though? To me, Alice might be someone like a close friend or that friend of mine who is a bad influence to me.
I can talk to her with great ease and I don’t have to choose my words…… Could you call it confidence? I’m feeling a strange sense of relief around her.
But well, my feelings of gratefulness to her isn’t a lie at all.
I couldn’t have done it without Alice’s help in making this music box…… Songwriting, design consultation and drafting…… I honestly think that she was the one who helped me the most.
[My bad, sorry, I’m just a little embarrassed…… but I’m feeling really thankful to you. Thank you, Alice…… I’m glad you were there with me.]
[……W- What’s with you, suddenly saying that……]
[……Unnn?]
When I lightly scratched my head and thanked her, I received an unexpectedly brusque response.
Tilting my head as I look at such an Alice…… For some reason, she looked away.
[……Alice? What’s the matter?]
[N- No, it’s nothing……]
[No, but why are you turning your face away……]
[Ahhh~~! Is the next set of meat not ready yet~~!!!?]
……Something feels kind of wrong with Alice. What’s going on?
Just as I was wondering what’s with Alice, who was clearly trying to get off the topic, when a new plate of meat was brought in right at that moment, and just when I was about to reach out to the meat…… My hand touched Alice’s hand, which happened to be reaching out at the same time.
[Wahyaahhh!?]
[……Eh?]
Thereupon, for some reason, Alice let out a scream and leaped away, and the eyes that were visible beneath her mask were violently trembling.
Arehh? Could it be…..
.
[……Alice, are you perhaps…… embarrassed?]
[!? I- I- I wonder what you’re talking about now…… M- M- Me, being embarrassed by j- j- just being straightforwardly praised for a bit…… Kaito-san, are you really that tired!?]
[……Then, turn towards her for a second.]
[……No, that’s kinda……]
It seems that Alice’s behavior became strange because she felt embarrassed by my honest praise.
Alice’s ears are slightly cherry-red as her face was turned away. and the way she was somewhat flustered looked amusing that I can’t help but smile.
[Haha…… I guess there’s something pretty cute about you, Alice.]
[Nyaahhh!? W- What are you talking about? Alice-chan is clearly always cute. I- I guess Kaito-san has also noticed my charm huh.]
[Unnn, that might be so.]
[Can you please throw your tsukkomi like you always do right there!!!? I can’t properly look directly at your face now, you know!!!?]
Speaking of which, when I really think back on it, Alice was that side of hers that is embarrassed when her unmasked face is seen, so she may actually be a shy one.
She has been hiding it behind her usual antics…… but perhaps, she was deliberately lifting herself up, calling herself a beautiful girl or something like that, so that she wouldn’t be praised in a strange way……
This is……. Unnn…… I felt like I had found an amusing weakness.
[……Uwaahhh, Kaito-san. That’s an evil smile you had there.]
[……That’s rude.]
[……Haahhh…… I’ll just say this now…… but I’m only like this when it’s Kaito-san who’s saying that, okay? Geez, seriously, it’s really troubling for me too.]
After saying that and letting out a sigh, Alice grilled the meat and started eating it.
In a somewhat unexpected place, I felt like I was able to hear Alice’s true feelings hidden beneath her heart, and even though I felt strange…… I felt slightly happy.
The sun had set, and I was lying down…… not on my bed, but on the sofa.
[Mhmm…… It kinda feels like this had turned into a fixed position for us……]
[Unnn? I’m happy like this though.]
While I was lying down on her lap, Kuro smiles as she gently pats my head.
Along with the feeling of embarrassment and happiness rushing into my heart, I can hear the gentle sound of the music box in my ears.
The music box presented to Kuro is decorated with yellow Diamonds in the image of her beautiful eyes.
And as for the song, it’s the only one I had Alice rework once.
At first, Alice wrote a bright and fun song with the image of the sun. It was a great song, and it also fits Kuro’s image…… but I asked her if she could recreate it again, with the image of the beautiful and gentle moonlight.
The song turned out to be just what I envisioned Kuro to be, a song that gently illuminates the darkness.
[……Thank you. Kaito-kun, I feel really happy.]
[……If Kuro’s happy with it, then I’m happy too.]
Kuro knew I was making a music box, but she accepted the music box I gave her with a really happy smile, and still lovingly gazed at it as it played on the desk.
Kuro may not be showing it in front of me, but I think she’s been very busy as one of the Six Kings.
That’s evident from the fact that Kuro basically only comes here at night, and she’s been especially busy lately.
[Well, we have the Festival of Heroes this year. I have more time in the years that it isn’t celebrated but…… only the years with the Festival of Heroes would there be all these various troublesome coordinations.]
[I see…… Lillywood-san also seems to be quite busy.]
[Ahh~~ Errr, well, she has also been busy lately because of another matter though……]
[Another matter?]
[It’s still a sec~~ ret~~ now~~.]
Seeing Kuro with a smile that looks like a child who was planning a prank, I can’t help but chuckle.
[Well, once the Light month passes, I will be able to be a bit more carefree…… If it’s okay with you, Kaito-kun, we can go somewhere together.]
[Yeah, that sounds like fun…… Unnn, I’d love to have that.]
[Unnn!]
The gentle moonlight shining through the window, the kind smile in her eyes when I look up at her, the warmth of her caress on my head…… As I was surrounded by such happiness, I slowly closed my eyelids.
Dear Mom, Dad———- There was so much going on today. I’ve seen a new side of Lillywood and Alice, seen how cute Isis-san is, and I’ve seen again how gentle Kuro is…… Anyway, with this———- I finished giving the music boxes.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai: [……You’re being spoiled by a little girl again…… Go explode.]
<I’m starting to hesitate whether I should bring out the Mysterious Goddess S-Senpai in the Hydra Kingdom Arc.>
Serious-senpai: [ ! ? ]
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