As the light of the setting sun drifted in through the window, Fate and Alice were confronting each other.
[……Haahhh…… Haahhh……]
[……Haahhh…… Kuhhh…….]
[Uwooohhhh!]
[Haahhhhhh!]
As both of them breathed heavily, they exchanged glances before the both of them ran as if a signal rang out.
The shadows stretching across the room overlapped and their outstretched fists crossed with each other…… striking right into each other’s faces.
[Kuh…… Good job…… Shall-tan.]
[Fate…… -san…… too.]
As both of them collapsed to the ground at exactly the same time, a brief moment of silence fell over the area.
The two clashed with each other with their fists, having radiant expressions on their faces……
[……Hmmm. This doesn’t feel right.]
[……Eh?]
Quickly raising her body, Fate looked at the window where the light of the setting sun with a troubled expression on her face.
[The sun is setting over here, so…… as expected, the angle should be…… Shall-tan, wouldn’t it be better if you come from that side? Alright, Shall-tan, let’s retake this scene again!]
[Eeehhhh!? Wait, Fate-san! This is already the 8th time Fate-san said that “we should end this scene in a double knockout”, you know!? Seriously, isn’t it about time we stop?]
[……I want to be a woman who won’t compromise with things and will always seek for the supreme.]
[Please get rid of that obsession immediately.]
Hearing Fate’s words, which she said with a smug look on her face while staring at the window, Alice sits down at the counter after letting out a big sigh.
Seeing Alice like that, Fate slightly smiles.
[How is it? Have you felt better now?]
[…….I wonder? I’m not really sure. Fate-san…… I……]
[Are you feeling guilty about putting Kai-chan in the role of your dead best friend, treating him like he’s a replacement?]
[ ! ? ]
Hearing the words Fate lazily announced, as if she were making small talk, Alice’s expression became stiffer.
That was the best proof that Fate’s words hit the bull’s eye.
[Or perhaps, are you afraid that people will know that you came to this world to “look for a place to die”?]
[……………………..]
[Hey, Shall-tan? For Shall-tan, is Kai-chan…… still a replacement for that best friend of yours?]
[H- He’s not! Kaito-san is…… Kaito-san is……]
[Then, isn’t that good enough?]
[…….Eh?]
Fate was the only one in this world who knew about Alice’s past that even Kuromueina didn’t know, and that’s why she understood the pain she was feeling.
On top of that, Fate said it. How stupid her worries are……
[If Shall-tan loves and cares for Kai-chan…… Then, why don’t you just tell him everything? Kai-chan will surely take it all in and still smile by your side.]
[……………….]
[Shall-tan, you’re putting a little too much on your shoulders~~ If you wrinkle your brows that much, you’re just driving yourself to the corner…… You have to be like me~~ Relax in moderation too~~]
[……I think Fate-san is having too much relaxation though……]
[Ahaha, that might be so~~]
Hearing Fate’s words, which are loose even at a time like this, Alice slightly smiles.
Seeing Alice like that, Fate nodded once, turned on her heel and starts walking towards the door, as if to say that the conversation is over.
[……Don’t act too spoiled, okay? To Kai-chan, I mean…… That’s all I can say to you.]
[……Fate-san…… Ummm…… Thank you.]
[Fufufu, well, Shall-tan and I are soul friends after all…… “That’s why you can use my power with your Hekatonkeyres”…… right?]
[……Yes.]
[See you next~~ time~~ then~~]
Leaving words that seemed to tell her that she had seen through everything in the end, Fate lightly waved her hand and left.
After returning from the God Realm, I dropped by Lilia-san’s mansion once before going to Alice’s miscellaneous goods store, but it was already a bit late. The night has completely fallen.
[……Well, with her clone acting as my guard, she should know that I’m coming……]
When I put my hand on the door, I felt that it wasn’t locked and it seemed like she knew I was coming.
As proof of this, I walked in and was able to quickly find Alice sitting at the counter but……
[Why do you look so battered?]
[……I was letting the power of youth explode.]
[Unnn?]
When I asked Alice, who looked so ragged as if she had been in a fistfight for some reason, she responded with words that were incomprehensible as usual.
Well, it doesn’t seem like the atmosphere around her was as tense as before, so I guess that’s okay……
[Alice, I’m sorry to bother you on such short notice, but can I go inside?]
[Yes, Kaito-san you’re always welcome. Come in~~]
Hearing my words, Alice replies to me with a bright smile on her face but…… As expected, it was still somewhere in there huh. It looks like she’s forcing a smile.
I’d like to pursue it, but now isn’t the time for that, so I firmly held back and moved behind the counter…… where her workshops and living spaces can be found.
The workshop and living space that looked unimaginably large compared to the exterior of the store…… is according to Alice, an application of Space-Time Magic.
Well, since magic boxes exist, maybe it isn’t that surprising that they could use the magic they used on that thing to expand a room.
I moved to the living room, which is located one room away from the workshop, and sat down after Alice’s suggestion. She then made me a cup of tea even though I hadn’t asked her for one.
After thanking her for the tea, I took a sip of the delicious tea and slowly spoke.
[Hey, Alice……]
[Yes? What is it?]
[……I want to know about you.]
[……A- Ahaha…… Are you giving me a pick-up line because you have been taken away by Alice-chan’s cuteness? That’s a classic one you said, but that certainly leaves quite the impression~~ Ahaha……]
[…………………]
[……Ugghhh……]
When I stopped being so roundabout and just directly told her what I felt, as I thought, Alice tried to fool around and divert away from the topic…… I can see the tension in her eyes. It looked really unusual, but she seemed to be really shaken.
[……K- Kaito-san…… but that is……]
[Unnn. I know it’s hard to say. Therefore, I’m not going to force you to ask…… And that isn’t the only thing I wanted to know.]
[……Eh?]
[As for Alice’s past, I don’t know much about you in the first place. It’s one thing to hear about Alice from Alice herself, but I think it’s also important to try to know about Alice for myself……]
Yes, it’s not just about her past. I don’t know Alice well…… because I didn’t try to get to know her properly until now.
Thanks to Chronois-san’s advice, I realized that it isn’t like me to go around asking people. And so, I decided to not just wait for Alice to tell me about it, I will also make an effort to try to learn about Alice myself.
[……By the way, Alice. This living space is quite wide, isn’t it?]
[Eh? Yes, well, Alice-chan is the type of person who cares about where she lives after all…… Ummm…… Kaito-san?]
[I see…… Then, I’ll be “staying” here for a while.]
[Eeeeehhhhh!?]
Declaring so, I take a change of clothes and a toothbrush out of my magic box.
[P- Please wait a minute! Kaito-san, y- you’ll make Duchess Lilia worry……]
[Ahh, I already talked to Lilia-san about this, and asked her permission.]
[……Ugghhh…… B- But, you see. Staying in the same room with a youthful maiden like me is…… A- Also, I only have one futon……]
[It’s fine, I brought my futon with me. I’m fine sleeping on the floor of the living room.]
[Auuuu……]
I’ve already made preparations for that area. When I explained the situation to Lilia-san, she said “That’s really typical of you, Kaito-san” and gave me permission, and it seems like Lilia-san knows very well that I don’t think about the future.
Hearing my response, Alice is clearly troubled and was panicking, which looked kind of cute.
[……Well, of course, if Alice refuses, it can’t be helped. At that time, I’ll just go to a nearby inn and “come everyday early in the morning”……]
[S- Seriously…… Uuuuuu…… I understand. I’ll get you a proper room.]
[Really? Thanks.]
[……Ugghhh.]
For the time being, it seems like the first step is a success huh? Alice seems to be the type of person who would slyly mislead me if I keep on getting reserved after all……
[……Somehow, it feels like Kaito-san is becoming more of a carnivore…… No, well, I guess that’s also……]
Dear Mom, Dad———- I’ve decided to stay at Alice’s miscellaneous goods store as a first step to learn more about Alice. Knowing more about Alice on a regular basis makes me feel like it would give me another good idea. Anyway, this time——— I’m going to push her as hard as I can.
<Author’s Notes>
Serious-senpai: [That’s strange…… Somehow, I feel like it’s already starting to get sweeter……]
T/N: I will be translating my other novel, so no bonus chapter for today (or maybe tomorrow too, not sure)