“What’s wrong? You’re not drinking?”
“How can I drink in this kind of situation?”
Shouta asks me if I will drink or not which I immediately turn down. Even if I am sitting on a table in a tavern full of drinking people, the first sip of the liquor for me tasted bad.
Shouta is drinking a glass of cocktail specially made order. Beside him is Shouko peacefully drinking a milk base alcohol. Lastly, Mana is in our middle, chugging down a mug of beer bigger than her head.
As for me, I am just fiddling with my drink and grilled horned fish. I tasted both but turns out to be tasteless for me. No, my sense of taste is kind of dull today and I can’t work up an appetite. I don’t know how they can drink leisurely like this after hearing that Kouta was killed by Shun.
Also, Diyu…to think that she will be here of all places…
When we arrived here at morning, I immediately became aware of Diyu’s presence and got excited. However, when I actually saw her and as our eyes met, shivers ran down my spine because of how she looks lifeless and tired.
I got cold feet and lost the courage to talk to her for the rest of the day before we had that argument. It was too much for me and the news about Kouta’s death left me in a daze. It’s heavy and my heart feels weary that I don’t think I can drink anything for tonight…
It’s crazy though how this tavern got a lot of liquor to serve…
“How can you guys drink like that when we have a lot of things to fix?”
I nonchalantly ask as I pick up the glass of alcohol and started playing it by sliding the ice inside it left and right.
“How? Are you thinking about earlier?”
“Of course…how will I not think about it? Bacarra just said that Kouta died in hands of Shun, our friends, our comrades, our companions. We’ve trained and learned together in the castle and not only that, we have desired to fight alongside each other…”
“…That’s only your wishful thinking. None of us really thought or said that. Also, you don’t have any rights to say that now. Ichirou…you’ve changed drastically…”
“What do you mean, Shouta?!”
“Are you disillusioned or something? My only concern is Shouko and none other else. Asagao may be a secondary to my priorities, however, none of you will really matter to me when Shouko herself is in danger.”
“What are you saying? Hey, are you really that cold?”
“This is my true nature. If what you said about us wanting to fight side by side, then I shouldn’t have attacked you in the first place back in the fairy forest. I have actually no qualms in murdering you at that time.”
“Even you, huh…”
“Laughable…”
I look down with sullen face from Shouta’s words. I cannot deny everything he said. The reason he is going to help us is that he needs to save this world too to save Shouko and get her soul back. Anything else is insignificant for him.
I took a quick peek at Shouko to see if she is making any emotions. Her face is unchanging as there’s only a mask of a faint smile plastered on her face. I feel like I am going to get the same response as Shouta.
With that, I glance at Mana who is chugging on the mug of beer wildly.
“Say, Mana, long time no see.”
“Aaahhh…yeah…”
“How do you feel after what transpired earlier?”
“……”
“……”
“Nothing. I feel sad about hearing about people’s death…but…it is something in our lives that are inevitable. Look, like this beer! Eventually, it will run out and I will feel sad again unless I order a new one!”
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
I feel horrible asking them and my mood is falling to pit even more. It’s futile to talk anything reasonable to Mana but overall, I already get how she actually feels about it. I wonder how Susanoo thought of it…
But, Asagao…she was clearly hurt by the news. I want to check up on her to see how she is doing now. I wonder though if I can see her now…
I heard she is in Merissa’s ship.
“I don’t really feel well. I think I’ll go now.”
“Right. Bring your depressing mood somewhere else.”
I stand up from my seat and head to the tavern’s exit. As a little payback, I hope Shouta didn’t notice that I haven’t paid yet.
.
.
.
The three of them, they could have at least showed a little concern. Is it really that damn insignificant for them?
However, even if I shout at them or get angry, it will not go to make everything else better, more like it will make everything worse. They have given a sound argument, especially Shouta but, did he really not care about Kouta?
Are Mana and Shouko the same as him? How about Susanoo? I can no longer discern…all of them are unreadable now for me. But, how is Bacarra felt painful the most?
Did she really like Kouta?
I walk along the lengthy pier while in a daze of thinking. The nighttime’s coldness cannot penetrate my temperature threshold so I neither can easily feel cold or hot unless I put my mind into it.
Whatever…I can’t think straight. I don’t think I can enter the girl’s room in the ship anyway so I am going to find a place to stay.
“Ichirou, there you are! I’ve been looking for you!”
Suddenly, a sweet and young voice shouted my name. Because I was deep in thought, I didn’t notice Asagao’s approach and now, she is standing in front of me while breathing roughly and sweat building up on her nape.
I didn’t expect for Asagao’s approach so I got a little flabbergasted by her sudden appearance. I really thought she’ll hole up in the room while her friends are there for her. I was wrong…
She was strong…stronger than I…in heart…and mind. This is the sole reason every single one of us trusts and believes in her. Her decisions are not the best but she is stubborn enough to find a way through everything. But Asagao herself cannot see such quality on her own self.
But, as I stare at Asagao in front of me, for some reason, her flushed sweaty face started giving me goosebumps as her countenance is illuminated by the moon. Her youthful beauty stops my heart from beating for a while.
There’s something different about her tonight and I am uncertain of what it is.
Her white luxurious hair, blue tantalizing eyes that will naively enchant anyone regardless of gender, lips that are more delicate than a flower that not even a gemstone can hope to match, and most of all, if you get to know Asagao, all the said appearance will pale in comparison to her sweet, caring and most of all, her unwavering selflessness that comes even at the most dangerous situation.
“I…wanted to tell you something. It has to be now…”
She said with flushed face but her eyesight never parted away from me. She looks at me with conviction. She’s clenching her fists to the point it trembles.
She walks towards me with hasten strides and stops exactly in front of me.
“Give me your hand!”
“Eh…?! H-Here…”
Asagao demand my hand and I reach out my left hand since. I just think that giving my right hand which is mechanical will be stupid of me. She grabs it and clasps it in her own hands. I can feel her soft and squishy palm touching mine.
“Ichirou, please, I want you to feel my heartbeat!”
“Uwaah!”
She suddenly pulls my hand towards her chest which startled the hell out of me!!
I thought of resisting but my hand won’t heed my command so I just let her drags it to her chest. I can feel my heart racing from all of her actions for tonight.
“Here…can you…feel my heart…going…thump…thump…thump…?”
“That’s…ah…”
I got flustered too but her face is beet red as she forces herself. Because of that, I calmed down and clear my mind. Her chest, where the scar is, is in contact with my palm. I can feel her softness, I can feel her warmth directly transmitted to my own palm and mostly, I can feel her heart…
It was pounding like a drum.
“This may sound weird for you because you are aware that I am a man inside…”
Absolutely not!
“It may feel unpleasant too…”
If anything, I can only feel your soft undeveloped breasts. Everything else is hazy for me and I can’t think straight.
“But…I have to say it! I have to! I don’t want to have any regrets too!”
What could it be? I am expecting a little something from her so I myself is extremely upbeat and my mood from earlier was blown away.
“Whenever I am in contact with you nowadays, I feel like my heart will burst. Whenever you randomly pop up in my mind, I oddly become embarrassed but find myself grinning. Most of all, I feel happy by your side.”
“Asagao…”
“Ichirou…I…”
Her hands clench mine strongly. Her eyes look directly at my soul. Her heart started pounding even more and her face even becomes redder that her ears have become visibly reddish too.
My heart started pounding that it resonated with hers. I can also feel my cheeks burning and I found myself intently staring at her.
THUMP
THUMP
THUMP
I can feel the coldness of the night and I’ve become unaware of everything around me. My only focus is on Asagao and Asagao alone. No one else can take me from this closed world that we created right now.
THUMP
THUMP
THUMP
She, from the start, has always been supporting me. Back in the castle and even when we met again. She didn’t stop from being my support. How do I feel for Asagao?
THUMP
THUMP
Asagao has always been reckless and stubborn but I know I am the same. We don’t have much in comparison but I am certain that we can get along well.
THUMP
So, what do I feel for Asagao?
THUMP…
“Ichirou…I love you!”
The words escape from her lips.
She didn’t falter and her eyes didn’t look away from me. At this very moment, at this very night, Asagao confesses her love to me but at the same time, I just realized something very important.
“I see…”
I kneel down in front of her as I pull my left hand from her grasp and put it on her right cheek. In response to me gently and lightly rubbing her cheek, her hand slowly hold my wrist and her head started swaying with the movement of my hand.
She is cute…truly adorable. Anyone would love such girl. I bet almost all of people who Asagao would confess to will immediately say yes. I too am compelled to accept her love. I want to accept her love. I know that it will turn out great.
“Asagao…”
Accept her. Say yes, say you love her too!
“I…”
She is the very description of the perfect girl. She can make everyone happy but, if I started dating her, I bet I could be the happiest man alive…literally.
.
.
.
“I love Diyu.”
What came out from my mouth.