At a corner of the capital of the Symphonia Kingdom. There exists a church/infirmary near the residential area beyond the main streets.
In the resting area at the back of the examination room there, a woman with black hair and black-colored eyes, a rarity in this world, was sitting on a chair, talking with Fear, the head of the infirmary.
[……I think we’ve exchanged a lot of sentences by now, and I think we’re getting to know each other better, so I think it’s time for me to move on to the next stage…… What do you think?]
[Unnn, I’ve said it a million times already, but I’ll say it again. “Hikari”…… This is an infirmary. This isn’t a place where you ask relationship advice, okay? Could you go somewhere else for that?]
[No way…… Other than Fear, I have no one else to turn to anymore!]
[……No, I think you have made a terrible mistake in selecting the person to ask here. Seriously……]
Looking at her with an astounded expression on her face, Hikari…… Neun, who had her helmet off, looked at her with a relying expression on her face.
They had been best friends for a long time, and Neun visited Fear a fair amount of times, and she has come to discuss with Fear about her latest troubles, her love life…… It’s a nice nuisance for Fear though.
In the first place, although she is much older than Neun, Fear has no experience in love, and there’s not much that she can advise her.
Still, Neun was looking at Fear as if she was really relying on her closest friend…… with a gaze that seems to ask her for help.
When she did that, the good-natured Fear couldn’t refuse her anymore, and letting out a loud sigh, she spoke.
[……Haahhh…… So, talking about this next level, what exactly do you want to do with him?]
[L- Let’s see…… I kinda want us to go see the “opera”……]
[……Errr, I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that before. You said opera, didn’t you? That doesn’t exist in this world, right?]
[Or perhaps, see one of those “moving pictures”……]
[That also doesn’t exist here, you know?]
[W- What about “Noh plays”?]
[No, I don’t even know what that is.]
[U- Ugghhhh……]
Any of the things Neun had spoken about were things from Earth…… that were popular in the time she lived in, and Fear, a resident of this world, had no idea about it.
Still, she could understand most of what she was trying to say.
[……That means, you want that? In short, what you’re saying is that you want to go on a date.]
[D- D- D- Date!?]
[No, you don’t have to be that surprised…… However, isn’t it fine? Why don’t you try inviting him out?]
[……Won’t Fear “invite him for me instead”?]
[Why!?]
Apparently, Neun’s problem is that she wants to get closer to her current penpal, Kaito.
Since Fear understood that they frequently exchanged letters, she agreed that it was a good idea to go out together, but she was startled by her pathetic response.
And then, Neun, the person in question, turns her face down in embarrassment while her index fingers were poking at each other.
[You’re exchanging letters with him right? Then, why don’t you ask him out with that?]
[……B- But…… I- I’m…… embarrassed……]
[………………..]
Hearing the words Neun quietly muttered, Fear was speechless, looking at her with a dumbfounded look on her face.
[……Haahhh…… No matter how much I was mentally troubled at that time…… I wonder how I could have “lost to someone like this”……]
[Like this!?]
[Yes, someone like this. Seriously…… How can the former Hero be this pathetic?]
[Uuuu, that’s mean, Fear.]
[I’m not being mean…… The one who’s really mean here is the person who just barges in just when I thought I’ve already finished treating anyone and can have my really precious break, and forcibly asks me for relationship advice.]
[Aaauuu……]
With her eyes looking in the distance, as if she was thinking of her past self, Fear turns her glare towards the shameless First Hero in front of her.
[……Well, stop fidgeting and worrying about it, and go invite him already. If it’s Miyama-kun, he wouldn’t turn you down, and end it all with something like a stroll with your shoulders and elbows touching with each other.]
[……Y- Yes. I’ll do my best.]
[Unnn. Good.]
The only role that Fear has in this relationship counseling, so to say, is just pushing her back…… And when she heard her cheer for her, Neun nodded, a little relieved.
Seeing Neun responding like that, Fear also smiled and brought the tea that was at hand to her mouth.
Just when the relationship advice is settled and the conversation begins to shift to idle chatter, Neun turns serious and asks.
[……Fear. For the Six Kings Festival, what are you going to do?]
[………………..]
Hearing the words quietly, yet clearly announced, Fear moves her gaze to the table…… to the invitation that Neun had brought to her today.
After remaining silent for a little while, Fear lowered her head and let out a feeble voice, unlike the voice she had before.
[……I’m not going…… I can’t go.]
[……Kuromu-sama wanted to meet Fear. Even Fear is……]
[I miss her! Of course I want to see her!!! However…… For all these times I haven’t met her…… I don’t even know…… what kind of face I should have when I face her now.]
[……………….]
Neun quietly listens without saying a word as Fear tells her in a voice that sounds like she’s about to cry.
Fear is an important family member to Kuromueina, and Fear also adores Kuromueina very much…… However, she hadn’t seen Kuromueina for over a thousand years now
[Kuromu-sama picked me up and raised me when I had nothing…… she’s like a mother to me, the most important person in the world…… However, even though Kuromu-sama was the most important person to me, I “betrayed” her……]
[You’re mistaken, you di——- [ I’m not mistaken ! ] ———!?]
Just as Neun wanted to make a follow up, Fear interrupted her with a grieving expression on her face.
[It’s because I… I was an idiot…… I made Kuromu-sama cry. Even though I never wanted her to look like that…… but because of me…… I don’t have the face to meet her anymore.]
[……But still, if it’s Kuromu-sama……]
[I know that…… I know. I’m sure that Kuromu-sama will greet me with a smile. She will forgive me…… However, I…… To myself……]
[……Sorry. That was imprudent of me.]
[No. I’m the one who should apologize. I’m sorry that I became emotional…… Anyhow, I won’t be attending the Six Kings Festival…… You should have fun there, Hikari.]
[……Yes.]
They were once enemies who had crossed blades against each other, and now, they were best friends who spoke of their troubles. Neun understands the pain that Fear had suffered over the years, so much that it also hurts Neun.
That’s why she didn’t know what to say…… She didn’t even know if it’s alright to say anything.
Then, as if to regain her composure, Fear moved the conversation to an unrelated topic, while Neun didn’t say anything else other than idle chatter.
After talking for a while, Neun left and Fear, who remained alone in the room, stared at the invitation that was given to her…… focusing on the words “Underworld King: Kuromueina” written on it.
[……I’m sorry…… Kuromu-sama…… I’m sorry……]
An apology that no one can hear…… As she spoke those words that she had been repeating for over a thousand years over and over again, some words surfaced within Fear’s mind.
——–Even if I knew about Dr. Fear’s past sins, I wouldn’t lose my respect for “the current you.”
It was only a short time since she got to know him. The words of that slightly unusual otherworlder…… They weren’t blaming her for her sins, nor does he intend to pry into her past, just very kind and warm words of respect for the person she currently is.
[……Honestly…… I was happy when I heard those words…… Ahaha, what kind of stupidity am I talking about…… That’s not supposed to happen……]
Muttering quietly, Fear slowly looks up and shifts her gaze to the view outside the window.
[……A large amount of time has already passed. For a boy I just met…… just like he did to others…… that he might also change me…… That’s too selfish for me to hope for……]
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai: [Kuwaahhh!?]
T/N: 4/146