Story 4-3:『The First Couple』

Story 4-3:『The First Couple』

“Fuwah…” (Daichi)

“… You seem awful sleepy, Katsuragi-kun.” (Shuri)

“… I guess. I didn’t get to sleep till late from hearing those things yesterday.” (Daichi)

“… Hmm.” (Shuri)

I’ll just pretend to be convinced. Katsuragi-kun may be skilled at deception but I can tell when he’s lying.

Katsuragi-kun’s lack of sleep, and Hayase-san’s skin shining one and a half times more than normal.

There can only be one conclusion drawn from these.

Those two cross that line last night.

Katsuragi-kun lacked sleep because of the act.

… Uuu… this is bad… Even though it was just me I had almost completely finished besieging Katsuragi-kun.

A substantial three people became Katsuragi-kun’s brides. Nanamin also said she was interested in Katsuragi-kun…

… No. Losing your nerves is no good. Because we are now alone together at last.

To search efficiently, we divided the Forest of the Demonic Dragon into north, south, east, and west. We decided to search one direction each day.

Additionally, we partitioned it into four segments to search for the entrance faster. Since it can only be discovered by demons (since Katsuragi-kun is the hero of demons, he’s an exception), we put together four teams in total. The members were evenly distributed into『Katsuragi-kun, me』『Leadred-san, Arianne-san, Hayase-san』『Miare-san, Yui-chan, Nanamin』『Lily-san, Yuuma-san, Selen-san』. The person who finds the entrance would inform the others by launching a red smoke bomb into the sky.

This layout was created by Yui-chan considering the power balance of the members… Although I say that, demons won’t come to attack us…

This fact was legitimized by us encountering demons several times and us passing through them without stopping. Nevertheless that doesn’t mean that we should lower our guard.

“There’s no reaction here… It would be good if the other three teams found it though.” (Daichi)

Katsuragi-kun shrugged and shook his head.

Although he said that, he didn’t seem to expect much. Each team was divided approximately evenly. Given that we finished examining the area we were in charge of today, it would be reasonable to think that the other teams have already finished as well.

The first day was a failure huh… Unfortunate. There isn’t much time left. We have to unfasten the seal on the goddess while Claria is preoccupied with replenishing her forces.

We needed to carefully and quickly handle this. It was nerve-wracking. Actually Katsuragi-kun seemed tired as well, so we sat down and took a break.

“Are you alright, Katsuragi-kun?” (Shuri)

“Yeah, I’m just a little tired. We’ll rest for a moment and return to the house.” (Daichi)

“I see… Then, I’ll also…” (Shuri)

I laid down next to Katsuragi-kun. Therefore, the conversation paused.

It’s not that I couldn’t speak exactly.

My heart was broken by Lily’s trial in the【Scorching Execution Ground】, but Katsuragi-kun still knew that we were advancing closer together. At that time, I wonder just how much was I saved.

Several days have passed since then. As a friend to Katsuragi-kun, I could only be in contact with him as a friend. I stopped using keigo to start with. Although until now I could simply tell him my feelings in my usual tone, I stopped that as well.

After that I had lost the housework to someone else.

It became a rotation system, so that I could also have days off.

Or more precisely, Arianne-san is amazing. She has many dishes in her repertoire, her skill is… although it’s frustrating, better than mine. He other housekeeping abilities were also amazing. She even cleaned the rooms that weren’t being used, finishing so that there wasn’t even a speck of dust. I thought that I would ask for her to teach me her skills, but was too embarrassed to ask.

So then I asked Selen-san who was together with Arianne-san from the start and it seemed she was the daughter of a high-class family. However, she didn’t know any more than that. Although she was a perfect superwoman, it felt wasted because of her personality. A disappointing beautiful girl.

Be that as it may, thanks to her I could relax and spend that time mingling with Katsuragi-kun. Thanks to that, I could even notice the small changes. For example, that he dislikes that foodstuff that looks like a tomato or that he has a chuunibyou-ish side to him. That, once in a while, he unconsciously mutters “… How cool, those eyes” when looking at Hayase-san’s red eyes is my well-kept secret.

Even on the way to Gandarosu, I thought now that we had a base I would be sure to find out more about him. I was genuinely happy.

I thought that it was good to try over again from as a friend. Because I understood that I failed that time.

… However, I felt that this relationship is frustrating as well.

“… Hey, Katsuragi-kun.” (Shuri)

“What’s up?” (Daichi)

“If you’re tired… do you want… a lap pillow?” (Shuri)

“… An attractive offer, but we should wait a bit more.” (Daichi)

Ever since that day, it turned into me being evaded like this. According to him, that is, there would be no point if he gets spoiled… So he says.

I understood what he wanted to say. Although I understood… is it selfish for me to think this isn’t good? Girls would be anxious at all times after all.

Especially Yui-chan’s recent amazing ‘dere’ style. She even called Katsuragi-kun『Daichi』.

I’m a little bit envious. I told myself sorry excuses like that we also had a special connection… Excuses notwithstanding, since they exude a happy aura, it made me clench my fists a bit, though.

“… Haah.” (Shuri)

There are many rivals around me.

I was just the first… they’ve increased.

… Thinking about it, maybe Katsuragi-kun is a womanizer… But the weird thing is that seeing everyone’s attentions only makes me feel happy.

… I thought about the small things too much. My emotions were welling up endlessly.

… Let’s calm down. I closed my eyes as I thought so.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“Uu… n…?” (Shuri)

The scenery had changed when I opened my eyes. I was looking up at the open sky, not the numerous lush trees that were spread throughout my vision. My viewpoint was higher than usual as well, and I was swaying back and forth.

“Ah, you woke up, Shuri.” (Daichi)

I understood what kind of situation I was in without words. I am… on Katsuragi-kun… a piggyback ride.

“Eh…. What, why…?” (Shuri)

“Oh. Since Shuri looked too comfortable sleeping there, I carried you without waking you up.” (Daichi)

Suddenly waking up, I was embarrassed.

Though since I can snuggle with his body, I can endure it. Because I have the experience from up till now.

My sleeping face was seen by the boy I love. Both when we had our love affairs and when we were inside 【Rigal’s Den】, I went to sleep later than Katsuragi-kun and woke up earlier. This is very embarrassing.

You might say so what. But I don’t like it. My untidy side was seen.

Even though I had been careful until now… I was even seen in such a place…

“Uwah…” (Shuri)

I was embarrassed and reflexively buried my face into his neck to hide.

“… What’s wrong?” (Daichi)

“… I don’t want you to know, probably.” (Shuri)

“… Now I want to know. But… well, it’s fine. I was even able to see Shuri’s cute sleeping face again.” (Daichi)

“Eh…? Again?” (Shuri)

“Yeah. The day before yesterday, when you celebrated with everyone. At that time you were drooling.”

“—-!?” (Shuri)

My face turned bright red from it coming out.

D-drool…!? Something like that was seen…!

I want to a hole and bury myself in it right now. I want to go hide. I can’t make eye contact with Katsuragi-kun for at least three days.

“Uuu… uuu….” (Shuri)

“… What are you moaning about, Shuri-san?” (Daichi)

“I-if you see drool wake me up! Even if a gentleman saw it they wouldn’t say it!” (Shuri)

“… Perhaps, are you worried that I saw your sleeping face?” (Daichi)

“Uuu…” (Shuri)

I felt my response was straightforward. Bulls-eye. Katsuragi-kun had on a wry smile looking at me with such a face.

“You shouldn’t mind something like your sleeping face you know?” (Daichi)

“I mind!” (Shuri)

My beloved person saw my goofy drooling face. He saw an uncool image. Katsuragi-kun wouldn’t understand how embarrassing it was. Of all the things that he could say, he said that. I’m sure only girls would understand.

“I’ve seen more embarrassing things. We both have.” (Daichi)

“Wha-!? T-that’s a different issue! In the first place, Katsuragi-kun should have more decen—“ (Shuri)

“But such a careless Shuri is also cute, I like her.” (Daichi)

—My heart thumped with a great *Dokun*. At the same time, my chest felt as though it were suddenly attacked by a cold feeling. There’s none of the heat from before. Instead, this time was different from before… What came was a heat that had a warmness that gently spread throughout my body.

… In spite of having placed a prohibition for things like that on myself, that surprise attack was sly, me.

Thanks to that, the anger I felt from my sleeping face flew away somewhere.

… Come on. I have to hide my face for a different reason now. Do you believe that if you say that you like me everything will be forgiven, Katsuragi-kun?

Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiotic Katsuragi-kun.

I love you.