Chapter 454: Let's Keep it a Secret that I Thought She was Cute

After quarreling with Luna-san, we were walking together to the restaurant where Lilia-san and the others were…… But it seems like not everything is settled yet.

[……Ummm, Luna-san? Isn't it about time you cheer up already?]

[……Huh? What in the world could you be talking about? Doesn't that make it sound like I'm mad at you?]

[……No, I mean, you had been looking away all this while…… Rather than mad, aren't you sulking?]

As if she was really frustrated that I had teased her earlier, Luna-san kept her head away and her words were somewhat sharp.

Moreover, the person herself was adamantly not admitting it…… The situation was becoming quite troublesome.

[Huh? I'm sulking? You're really saying strange things, aren't you, Miyama-sama? Are you implying that I'm being played with by a youngster who's only been alive for about 20 years, and I wasn't able to refute him? There's no way that could happen. That's quite conceited of you!]

[……N- No, I mean, that's the truth.]

[Listen here, "only sulking people call people sulking". In other words, isn't it you who is actually feeling defeated, Miyama-sama?]

[……I- I guess so.]

Are you a child!? Isn't that totally a child's "only stupid people call people stupid theory"!? I've always known that she was childish, especially with her fondness for pranks…… You're childish even when you're angry huh, Luna-san?

However, I give up. With the way she was sulking, it didn't like she was going to be in a good mood anytime soon. If possible, I'd like it if she were to somehow cheer up before we meet up with Lilia-san and the others……

[L- Luna-san, it's my fault, so could you chee…… Arehh?]

[…………………..]

I turned to angry Luna-san, trying to calm her down as much as I could…… but there was no sign of Luna-san in sight.

And right after that, for some reason, I could feel hands clinging on my shoulders from behind.

[Eh? Wait, Luna-san!? Is something the matter?]

[……Help me……]

[……Huh?]

[……Please help me, Kaito-san……]

[A- Are you alright? Are you hurt somewhere……]

I don't have any idea what was going on, but Luna-san's hands were shaking as she clung on my shoulders, and when I turned my head towards her, Luna-san's pale face was tightly clinging on my back.

She was clearly acting strangely, calling me "Kaito-san" in a voice weaker than usual. I called out to her, wondering if she might not be feeling very well, but with her head held down, Luna-san shook her head.

When I tilted my head at her reaction, Luna-san pointed somewhere with her shaking hand.

[……T- T- T- That……]

[……Unnn? That is…… "a caterpillar"?]

[Hyyiiiihhh!?]

What Luna-san was pointing at was a tiny…… a really tiny caterpillar.

Could it be that she was scared of that caterpillar? I mean, she let out a shriek and was clinging on my back…… wait, if I remember correctly, Lilia-san told me that Luna-san isn't good with bugs.

[……I don't like bugs…… I don't like buuugsss…… I don't like "wooooooorrrrrms"!]

[L- Luna-san, please calm down! I- It's alright! I'm here, okay? I'll remove it now……]

[Uuuu, Kaito-shan…… Q- Quickly…… Crush it already……]

[A- Alright. That's why let go of your hands for a moment……]

[Don't wanna! Don't go!!!]

[………………]

What the heck am I supposed to do then!? Luna-san has completely turned into a big baby! How am I supposed to get that caterpillar out of the way when you're still clinging to my shoulders? Should I use my feet? Should I move it away with my feet?

No, but doing that would require me to get close to it, and I don't know what would happen if I put Luna-san, who is in such a state, near the caterpillar.

[……Alice, help.]

[No, no, seriously, Kaito-san? You can't just ask a "maiden whose beauty makes flowers blush" to deal with caterpillars……]

[It's alright. You're not categorized as a maiden whose beauty makes flowers blush after all.]

[You're saying mean things to me again…… No, well, I'm actually fine with doing this.]

Even though she was complaining, Alice plucked up the caterpillar and threw it far away before disappearing. Unnn, she really is very dependable. I'll treat her to something next time.

[L- Look now, Luna-san. There are no bugs anymore! It's alright already, okay?]

[Uuuuuu…… R- Really?]

[Yes, it's alright already! Even if bugs appeared again, I'll be here to protect you, okay!? I won't let them touch Luna-san, so please be relieved!!!]

[K- Kaito-san……]

As I frantically called out to the trembling Luna-san, she finally looked up and looked at me with her moist eyes.

Seeing her expression made my heart unconsciously skip a beat. Even though she had such a personality, Luna-san was an incredibly beautiful woman, and the gap between how she usually acts and her current vulnerable appearance made her look like an ephemeral beauty.

Luna-san stared at me for a few moments, before looking surprised, she hurriedly moved away from me.

[……I- I'm sorry you had to see that.]

[N- No…… Everyone has their weakness……]

While moving her hands to dust off her maid uniform, Luna-san turned her face away, blushing red to her ears. I never expected that she would be this bad with bugs.

She was uncharacteristically frightened, saying things like she didn't like worms…… I wonder if she is particularly bad at worm-type bugs? She might have some kind of childhood trauma regarding them or something like that.

[L- Let's go!]

[Y- Yes……]

I hurriedly chased after Luna-san, who, perhaps too embarrassed to look on me, said a few words without looking at me and quickly started walking away.

Then, Luna-san, who was walking a little ahead of me at a fast pace, turned her red face down and muttered in a voice that was barely audible to my ears.

[……M- Miyama-sama.]

[Eh? Yes?]

[……T- Thank you…… f- for protecting me. Errr, ummm…… You l- look slightly cool……]

[……Ehh?]

[I- It's nothing! Let's not keep My Lady and the others waiting! Let's hurry!!!]

[Wait, Luna-san. Wai…… You're too fast!]

Dear Mom, Dad————- I had hated that Luna-san hated bugs, but I didn't expect that it was so bad that she would regress to a baby. Well, I don't mean to be rude…… Looking at Luna-san, looking so vulnerable and frightened by bugs, unlike her usual self———– Let's keep it a secret that I thought she was cute.

Serious-senpai Act3 (Delusion): [Kuhh, an unexpected foreshadowing appeared here huh…… That's a good move…… I guess it can't be helped. I didn't want to use this because of the strain it would put on my body, but it looks like this isn't the time to hold back anymore. Rejoice, for you can be proud in the afterlife that you had made me take you seriously…… Here I go! Seriousken times teeeeeeeeeeen!!!]

Serious-senpai Act3: [……It would be great if I could do something like that……]

? ? ? : [Even if you can do that kaioken rip-off and multiply your power by 10 times, your Serious Power would still just be "10".]

Serious-senpai Act3: [………………….]

T/N: 32/270