Great O’Browns ⑪
The Exhibition Match was over.
When I stood up, Emi-san said to me.
“Hey. I’m counting on you with Mineha.”
“Eh, ah, yes.”
For now, should I go to Mineha-san’s place?
But she wasn’t in the arena’s waiting room.
“Oh my, Wof-san.”
Ruriha-san came in. She was in her large form.
She had taken off her armor and was now in a light, white dress.
I hadn’t noticed before, but is her height about the same as mine?
“Ruriha-san. Um, where is Mineha-san?”
“…I don’t know. But you should know.”
“Me?”
“Yes, so please go to her.”
With a soft chuckle, Ruriha-san gave a somewhat lonely smile.
Only I know — could it be?
“I understand. But, um, Ruriha-san, are you alright?”
“Oh my, I’m fine. It’s something I already knew.”
“You’re not fine, are you? You look like you’re about to cry any moment.”
I felt like she was about to break down.
She bravely forced a smile.
“…Oh my, such a thing.”
“I don’t want you to cry. I don’t want to make you cry.”
Ruriha-san looked a little surprised.
I wonder what’s wrong.
“Oh, my, Wof-san. You shouldn’t say such things recklessly.”
“But I… um, why are you so sad, Ruriha-san?”
It was Mineha-san who challenged her. Ruriha-san won and even gave advice.
So why is Ruriha-san sad, as if she were the one who lost?
“Sad… yes, that’s right. I… I wanted to praise that child. Mineha. For becoming a Seeker through special exception. For obtaining the new OOPArts, the Spinner. For becoming so… beautiful. I wanted to praise her a lot, hug her, and praise her.”
“Then why don’t you just praise her?”
Why is she hesitating over something like that?
She’s her mother, right?
“And yet, I fought her and defeated her.”
“That couldn’t be helped.”
“There should have been other ways. There should have been… but I didn’t search for them. Besides, you know I’ve always been called Mother (formal), right?”
“Y-yes.”
“I wanted her to call me ‘Mom.’ She’s never called me that even once… When she was little, Mineha, I wanted her to become a respectable daughter of the Fairial chief, so I was strict with her. That has continued within her even now… What should I do? I don’t know. Besides, ‘Mother (formal)’ creates a sort of wall. That’s why I want her to call me ‘Mom.'”
“Why don’t you tell her that? Mineha-san will say it for you.”
“…Yes, she would surely force herself to say it. Force herself to say ‘Mom,’ you see.”
“—That’s… Ruriha-san.”
Ah, they really are parent and child, these two.
“I’m… no good, am I?”
“Ruriha-san!”
I instinctively grabbed Ruriha-san’s shoulders.
“Hyaah? Ah… mm… Wof-san…?”
“…Even so, even so, Ruriha-san. I think you should convey your feelings. Please tell her everything, your true feelings, all of Ruriha-san’s thoughts.”
“It’s too late for that now.”
“It’s because you don’t say anything, now or ever, that she doesn’t understand. It’s because you don’t say anything that a wall is created. It doesn’t matter if it’s embarrassing or clumsy. You might feel pathetic, or she might be exasperated. But isn’t that fine? The feelings Ruriha-san has for Mineha-san will definitely reach Mineha-san. And Mineha-san isn’t someone who wouldn’t understand that. She will definitely understand.”
“S-such a thing… How can you say that so directly… Why are you…”
Ruriha-san turned her tear-filled eyes, mixed with anxiety and fear, towards me.
It almost looked like she was glaring.
Directly? That’s easy.
“Because I believe in it.”
“…”
While still looking at me, Ruriha-san shed a single tear.
“Ruriha-san?!”
Oh no. Did I make her cry?!
“Unfair.”
Ruriha-san suddenly hugged me. Eh.
“Eh.”
“Unfair… It’s unfair… What is this… What is this. We haven’t even known each other that long… Even though you’re just a kid… your shoulder is surprisingly comfortable… I mean, it’s been a while since I sat on someone other than my husband… You’re close with Mineha… Or rather, you get along well… And yet, The Witch, Shiro, Chive, and even Munieca… I’ve heard about others too… And yet, and yet… Unfair… Unfair, unfair, unfair, unfair… Unfair.”
“Um, Ruriha-san?”
“Unfair… Idiot.”
“Umm.”
“Idiot.”
“Ah, um.”
“Idiot.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Idiot.”
“…My apologies.”
“Idiot.”
What is this?
Ruriha-san is clinging to me, pouting like a child.
No matter what I say, she only says, “Idiot.”
“Umm… If you’d like, shall we go to Mineha-san’s place together?”
“Idiot… Fine, but take me like this.”
“Like this? As expected, like this is… impossible.”
“Then kiss me.”
“Eh? Eh? Wh-what?”
What?!
“Kiss me.”
“Ah, um…”
“Do it.”
“…”
I understand that I’m the one who made her like this.
I must have done something.
I always, always end up doing this.
Why is that? I’m just doing as my uncle told me.
When I was little, my uncle told me.
‘Listen, Wof. Just remember this. You must not make girls cry. You must not make girls sad.’
I strongly agree with that, so I try my best not to do so.
But I feel like there’s something wrong with that.
That said, I can’t just leave a sad girl or a girl on the verge of tears alone.
I mustn’t do that. I want them to be happy. I want them to smile.
So, Ruriha-san’s… lips would be too much, so I pressed my lips to her cheek.
“Nn…”
“Is this alright?”
“A gentle kiss, isn’t it?”
Ruriha-san moved away from me.
When she hugged me, it felt good and she smelled nice, so I was a little reluctant for it to end.
“Let’s go. To Mineha-san’s place.”
“Yes, let’s.”
Ruriha-san kissed my cheek and smiled.
That was too much of a surprise attack.
My house. The Watchtower.
Mineha-san was at its summit.
“Wof… Mother (formal)…”
Mineha-san was sitting down, still in her large form.
She’s surprised to see us. Mineha-san’s gaze stops on Ruriha-san, who is sitting on my shoulder.
Ruriha-san was in her Fairial form.
“Mineha.”
“…”
“Ruriha-san.”
When I urged her, Ruriha-san flew to Mineha-san’s side.
“Mother (formal)…”
“Mineha. Let’s talk. I… I have many things I want to tell you.”
“Mother (formal) has things to tell me?”
“Yes, you see. I… Mineha. I love you very much.”
“Eh… Mother (formal)…?”
Ruriha-san warmly embraces Mineha-san.
So as not to be in the way, I left the scene.
Is it about time? After resting in my room for a while, I head to the Watchtower.
I can hear some voices. Are they still talking?
“You damn old hag! What the hell are you saying at your age!”
“Then you do something about it with that lewdness of yours!”
“What did you say! What are you saying to your own 10-year-old daughter!”
“You! You’re so lewd that even the high-class courtesans of the Royal Capital would be utterly defeated! You being 10 years old must be a total lie!”
“Of course it’s not a lie! Doubting your own daughter’s age, you’re way too senile!”
Umm… What is this… What’s going on?
Ruriha-san and Mineha-san were insulting each other and grappling.
Why.