Chapter 5 Post-Clear
How many years have passed since I last saw Claire? How many times have I rewound the three-year Loop? Three times? Four? Adding two years from there, that’s eleven or fourteen years?
It’s enough time for people’s feelings to change, but Claire seems to be holding onto the emotions from back then more than I thought.
I know many couples who drifted apart after going to different universities from high school, or who broke up because they couldn’t find time to meet after graduating and starting work. When lovers can’t see each other, it’s easy for things to fizzle out. I thought that after more than ten years, Claire and I might be like that too, but maybe it’s still going on.
Could this be because of the Loop? Or is it because our last parting was so memorable, suddenly going back three years?
In any case, this situation is extremely bad.
I’m just an innocent, unrelated civilian who fled to avoid being caught up in the futile war between Millie’s army and Shell’s army.
But if a third force, Claire’s army, appears on that horrific battlefield, all the armies will somehow turn their attention to me, the refugee. If that happens, I’ll have no choice but to surrender immediately.
“No way…”
This is getting ahead of myself. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I’m getting conceited. Getting carried away is normal for me, but this is a bit much.
Maybe Claire just saw her ex-boyfriend after a long time and was so moved by nostalgia that she hugged me, or something like that.
“Senpai… I’ve always, always wanted to see you.”
…How about this? It feels like that’s what’s happening after all.
“Senpai, you know? I thought you might be at the Fighting Tournament, so I entered a lot.”
“…Ah.”
“I wanted to catch up to you, Senpai, so I kept trying and trying… and then, and then…”
Damn it. If she says things like that while clinging to me and crying, I can’t just brush Claire off.
I can’t help but want to cherish this cute junior who went through so much because of me, and still looks up to me like this.
“If I ever found you, Senpai, even if you forgot about me, I wanted to be your junior again…”
“Claire…”
“But you came to see me, and you, you remembered everything… I…”
This is just a wail of grief. She’s pouring out all the feelings she’s been holding in while repeating the Loop alone, clumsily but emotionally.
I couldn’t help but feel moved. I think I understand how hard the Loop is. I, who caused this, have to accept Claire’s feelings.
I wonder how much time passed as I continued to comfort Claire. Suddenly, I felt a faint presence outside the window of this infirmary.
Such skillful concealment that even I almost didn’t notice, but it was starting to break down, with glimpses of presence leaking out…
Like someone who had been watching me and Claire hugging, and finally couldn’t hide their agitation…
I have an idea who this presence belongs to. It seems I was being played.
“…Ah…”
My escape was too forceful, and I knew there was a high chance I’d be found, but even then, I thought they’d just charge at me immediately. I thought anything related to me would be met with reckless abandon, but to think they’d hide their presence and tail me…
Can I cry with Claire? I’ve been caught red-handed in a compromising situation, so there’s absolutely no way to explain it away.
Still, I desperately wanted to make excuses to minimize the damage, but I can’t just abandon Claire in this state. I was at a loss.
As I escaped reality and let my mind wander to the distant sky, and eventually to the far reaches of the universe, I heard the voice announcing the closing of the venue from afar. Someone seemed to be shouting with all their might.
“Claire, we should get going soon.”
“…Okay. I’m sorry, Senpai.”
“No, it’s fine. I was the same way, I understand how you feel.”
“I see… That’s right. You’re in this together with me, Senpai.”
Claire seems to have regained her composure somehow, and even has the余裕 to smile shyly. It’s in stark contrast to me, who’s gradually losing it.
Claire is still clinging to my arm and won’t let go, so I resign myself and leave the venue as is. I feel like a condemned prisoner heading to the guillotine. In that case, Claire is like a prison guard.
“What were you doing at school, Senpai? You never came to Royal Ukyak Academy once.”
“I went to Desroah. After all, magic is more suited to me than barbaric swords.”
“Ehh. You’re not smart at all, Senpai, so swords suit you better.”
As I walked and talked with Claire, who might be my last farewell, I saw a girl standing guard in the distance. Is my life going to end there?
As we got closer, I could see her expression and gestures. The girl had her arms crossed, her brow furrowed, and her eyes narrowed. It seemed like she was pondering and groaning rather than being angry…?
“Ah, that’s right. Could it be that the reason you rejected me so many times, Senpai, was because you knew that time would rewind and it wouldn’t matter…?”
“Yeah. I think you know it too, Claire, but that’s really tough.”
“I see… But I understand now. I thought you’d fall for boobs easily, Senpai, but it didn’t work at all, so that’s why.”
“True. I have a weakness for boobs.”
“Eh? I know that well, but you always pretended to be a tough guy and never said things like that… Senpai?”
As we got close enough to the girl for our voices to reach, I became distracted and my conversation with Claire became absentminded. Seeing my state, Claire seemed to sense something was wrong.
The girl is staring only at me, and I am staring only back at the girl.
“Geld-kun.”
“…Yes.”
Finally, the girl, Millie, opened her mouth.
Is it just Millie who came? If Shino was here, we could somehow smooth things over… No, Shino is my Maid, so she can’t go far without permission. She needs Father’s or my instructions.
“That person is the last one, okay?”
“…Huh?”
What? The last one? As I tilted my head, not understanding the meaning, Millie added an explanation, as if she understood.
“I really want to be angry, but that person is unavoidable. So, that person is the last one.”
Millie frowned and looked dissatisfied, but it seemed she had reluctantly accepted Claire.
Come to think of it, being outside the infirmary means she heard everything Claire said. It’s not surprising that the kind-hearted Archangel Millie would come to this conclusion.
“Millie…”
Besides, Millie and I have spent a long time together, with a level of closeness that’s almost constant. So I often have a rough idea of what Millie is thinking.
Right now, Millie seems to be more filled with anxiety, fear, and trepidation than anger, at least on the surface. What’s different from Shell’s case is… I rejected Shell, but she saw me accepting Claire. So she’s worried about being abandoned and can’t be tough with me?
Perhaps she’s even realized that, in chronological order, she’s the one having an affair.
This is worse than being scolded. The most important thing right now is to reassure Millie that she’s the most important… No, Claire is still mentally unstable, and I don’t know what will happen if I tell her that.
“…Hey, Senpai. There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Do you happen to have a girlfriend besides me, Senpai?”
Come to think of it, we haven’t talked about that.
So, I have to gently tell Claire about Millie and Shino without hurting her, while also relieving Millie’s anxiety, which means… um… what should I do?