Chapter 747: As a Retainer, As a Family, As a Lover......

Her really strong emotions…… Her words of confession seem to hold everything she's gained so far since being reincarnated from a Black Bear to a Beastman.

Before I could respond to her words, Anima continued.

[……If it wasn't for my own ego, even though I may not fully understand it, I think I would have been aware of this feeling for a long time. I think Master may have become aware of it already, but waited for me to become aware of it myself……]

[…………………..]

Ahh, she really has grown a lot. She has thought not only of herself, but other people's feelings as well.

Anima's words are correct. The feelings she had for me were beyond that of a servant to her master, but different from the affection one had for family…… I've been aware of the fact that she has been harboring, if I had to describe it, a faint love for me since a little before the Six Kings Festival, thanks in part to my Sympathy Magic.

And when I realized her feelings…… I felt happy.

[I was…… the one who didn't understand my own feelings the most. As Master's retainer, I respect Master…… and as someone of the opposite gender, I'm infatuated to Master. I couldn't answer how much was respect and how much was infatuation…… but I began to question myself if it would be alright if I don't convey it.]

[……Anima.]

[This may be selfish of me. Perhaps, I should be reprimanded for being indecisive…… However, I think that such unclear feelings were "just like me". The me who respects Master as a retainer, and the woman me who loves Master as a man…… both of these are definitely my emotions.]

In the words that she said as if she was also reflecting upon each of her words, I felt that I could sense something that could be called the trajectory of Anima's own growth. Thinking about it, she had been troubled by many things, and had grown by getting one answer after another to her questions.

There were changes in her sense of values due to her transformation from a Black Bear to a Beastman.

Due to the change in her position as a result of having her own subordinate, she had to deal with the inferiority she felt towards others. Including the feelings she has for the person she's supposedly calling her master……

[……It may be embarrassing for me to have made Master wait for so long, only to hear that my feelings were still unclear to me. However, please…… Please allow me to express my foolish and selfish wish.]

The words she said were short, but I'm sure that Anima thought a lot about it, and learned as much or even more than that.

And the words that she is about to say now…… was the answer to the questions she had grown up with.

[Master…… Even as I continue being your retainer…… would you allow…… me to love you as someone of the opposite gender?]

Hearing Anima's words filled with such strong feelings, a smile naturally appeared on my face.

Thereupon, I slowly got up the sofa and walking towards Anima who was anxiously looking at me, I gently hugged her body.

[Fuaahhh!? M- M- M- Master!?]

[……It's not being selfish.]

[……Eh?]

[The you who help me as my retainer, the you who take care of me as my family, the you who show me how cute you are as a girl…… This isn't something you question whether it's fake or true. All of those sides make up the Anima that I really like.]

[ ! ? ! ? ]

After smiling once more at the surprised expression Anima had in my embrace, I continued speaking while patting her head with one of my hands.

[……To be honest, I was having trouble thinking about how to deal with Anima at first. I felt worried about lots of things in mind, like how I thought I didn't really need a retainer.]

[M- My apolo———— [ However. ] ————Eh?]

[But that was really only at the beginning. Anima's straightforward and hard-working attitude encouraged me over and over again. Anima's heartfelt concern for me healed me over and over again…… and before I knew it, taking Anima being by my side for granted, I felt at ease when I'm with you.]

As if in proportion to Anima's growth, her existence in my mind seemed to grow as well. At first, she was my troubling retainer, then my dependable family, before she became the cute girl who was soothing to be with…… and now, she has become someone so irreplaceable that I can't imagine without her by my side.

[……But well, there's no point in trying to explain all those things now, right? Let's just keep things simple…… I love you too, Anima.]

[Ahh……]

As I told her how I felt while tightening my hug, I could see tears in Anima's eyes. However, they weren't tears of sadness.

Speaking of which, my answer to her had already been on my mind a long time ago…… When I thought she was irreplaceable to me and "decided to wait for Anima to arrive at her answer", I guess I had already made up my mind.

[I want you to continue being by my side. As my retainer, as my family…… and as my lover……]

[……Yes……]

[……Errr, well, what should I say now…… I guess I'll just ask you this again. I will continue to be in your care, Anima.]

[……Yes! My body, my mind, my everything exists for Master!]

They were vigorous…… and most of all, nostalgic words.

If I remember correctly, I remember Anima saying something like that too when we first met. What I felt at that time was confusion. But now, it's different.

The emotions budding within my heart…… were happiness…… and inexplicable love.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [……It seems like Kaito's ikemen power increases when he is with Anima. Moreover, I quite like Anima now and think that she's a good heroine, possessing an increasing amount of heroine power, which is something I didn't expect when she first appeared…… Ueeeggghhh, I'm getting a heartburn.]