Chapter 260: CH 259

Feb 17 2021

“W-who…? Manaria-sama, that’s a joke, right?”

Forcing a strained smile, I asked Manaria-sama.

Because, I mean, there was no way that Manaria-sama would forget about Claire-sama.

To her, Claire-sama should be her important… important…?

“Nothing of the sort, I really don’t know. Rather than that, the first name out of your mouth after waking up isn’t that of Lily’s or my own, but another woman’s?”

“Ah… uhm…”

“Well, it’s fine. So? That Claire, who is she?”

Claire-sama is… Claire-sama is…

“I wonder…?”

As though it was a phrase I’d use on a daily basis, my mouth seemed to remember something.

Though everything had been connected in my head just moments before, it felt as though it had all suddenly vanished.

Even though I was certain… I was certain that the name was important to me.

“You can’t remember?”

“Yes… However, I do get the feeling that it’s the name of someone very precious.”

“I’m quite jealous. If even I feel that way, I’m sure things would get messy if Lily were to hear that, so I think it’s best if you don’t say the same thing in front of her.”

“Why?”

What did she mean that things would get messy if I said the same thing in front of Lily-sama?

“… Are you sure you’re okay, Rei? Isn’t Lily your lover?”

Manaria-sama spoke with clear worry.

Lover…?

Lily-sama is…?

Was that really how things were?

“Lily-sama and I…?”

“… Your condition seems quite severe. Perhaps it’s best you don’t meet with Lily until you settle down a bit. If she were to see you in this state, I’m sure she’d lose herself.”

Manaria-sama doubled down on her concern.

“Manaria-sama, do you happen to know how my relationship with Lily-sama began?”

“Of course. I’ve heard it more than enough, it’s quite the famous tale actually. Isn’t that right, Revolutionary Maiden?”

“It seems my memories are vague, could I ask you to recount the events?”

“Of course. Though I never feel great talking about my rival in love.”

Slipping in such a jest, she told me the story of how Lily-sama and I started our relationship.

Though I listened, I was having trouble internalizing the story. It honestly felt as though the story was about someone else.

I was a commoner that attended Bauer’s Royal Academy and I had been quite critical about the gap in wealth between nobles and commoners.

I thought that I could use the Spirit Church’s operations as a reference in finding better ways to redistribute wealth. It was during that time that I had met Lily-sama.

As Lily-sama and I were both homosexual, we quickly hit it off and began acting together.

Our bond continued to deepen as we resolved one of the secrets that burdened the Royal Palace, Yuu-sama’s gender dysphoria. Then, accepting an order from the late king, Rousseau, we went on to expose corrupt nobles.

With some discrete help from a prominent noble, Dor François, we were able to expose many misdeeds. After the eruption of Mount Sassal, we threw ourselves into the revolution.

There were many times where Lily-sama faced danger in the revolution, but we overcame those together, and finally, were united… It seemed that was the gist of things.

“Have you remembered?”

“Y-yes…”

It seems those events had really happened.

Those memories were certainly inside me.

However, for some reason, those memories just didn’t seem like my own.

They felt off, as though someone had somehow forced them onto me.

“Make sure you sort things out before you meet with Lily, okay? If you don’t you’ll make her cry again.”

“You really worry for her…”

“Of course I would, she’s something of a little sister to me after all.”

Manaria-sama offered an affectionate smile.

Manaria-sama’s… little sister.

―Onee-sama…!

Something seemed to flash through the back of my mind.

However, when I tried to take a hold of it, it disappeared as though it were a mirage.

What was that?

Something is… wrong.

“Well, if you did happen to forget, that would mean I’d get another chance. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad thing―”

“I-I won’t forgive such a thing, alright!?”

“Ah, she’s here.”

As Manaria-sama began her usual sweet talk, the one who interrupted her was my beloved Lily-sama.

“R-rei-san! I was so worriedー!”

“Gah, oof!?”

Even as I remained on the bed, she rushed toward me and dove into a hug.

With physical strength that did not match her appearance, she tightened her grasp on me.

“Lily-sama, I give, I give!”

“G-give? Ah, did it mean that you wanted me to give it to you? G-geez… to desire me while the sun is still so high… B-but that’s the Rei-san that Lily―”

“Hey now, what are you two trying to start? It’s still the middle of the day, not to mention I’m right here with you two.”

“M-manaria-sama, please read the mood…”

“It’s because I read the mood that I stopped you though. At this rate, Rei’s going to suffocate.”

“Ah, eh? Wawawa!? I’m so sorry, Rei-san!”

“Phew… I really thought I was going to die…”

Finally able to breathe, I gasped for air.

“Uu… Lily’s gone and done it again.”

“It’s what always happens, isn’t it? I’m not bothered by it.”

“Uu…”

“I’m okay, so come here.”

Just like I always had, I pulled Lily-sama toward me, wrapping my arms around her petite, soft body in an embrace.

“Sorry that I caused you to worry. Good morning, Lily-sama.”

“R-really, I was really worried, you know! I’m so glad that you woke up…”

Burying her face in my chest, she sniffled, fighting her tears.

“Oh my, really flaunting your status aren’t you?”

“It’s not like you’re being forced to look, Manaria-sama.”

“You say that, but we have lots to discuss about what happens from here on.”

“From here on?”

“Yeah. For example, the ceremony.”

“T-that’s right! Rei-san’s woke up, so we can finally have it!”

Lily-sama’s face instantly lit up in response to Manaria-sama’s words.

“Ceremony?”

A ceremony in commemoration of the defeat of the Three Great Archdukes. It seems we’ll be hailed as heroes, Rei.”

“L-lily, Mei-chan, and Alea-chan too!”

Come to think of it, that’s right.

We had been fighting the Demon’s Rulers, the Three Great Archdukes.

It seemed that the age-long conflict between demons and humans had finally come to an end.

“Rei and Lily, you both already have your accolades from the revolution, so this is just doubling down. With this I’m certain that your names will not remain in Bauer’s history books, but in the records of all human history as well.

“I don’t really care for myself, but I’m happy that Lily-sama is receiving recognition.”

“R-rei-san…!”

Lily-sama covered her face in embarrassment.

How cute.

She’s cute but… but what is this, I feel as though something’s missing.

“Where are Mei and Alea?”

When I asked that,

“T-they had been asleep for a really long time as well, but just two weeks ago, they woke up.”

“Didn’t you bring them with you?”

“K-kindergarten has already resumed… Of course they were really worried about Rei-san, but I didn’t think it would be good if all they did was worry.”

It seemed that time moved on mercilessly.

It didn’t cater to the internal workings of the people who lived within it.

Living, to some degree, would require compromise.

“A-are you angry…?”

Lily-sama asked timidly.

Putting on a wry smile,

“There’s no way that I’d be angry. Thank you for protecting our home while I was sleeping.”

Things would be fine as long as we didn’t forget what should not be forgotten.

She had protected that.

Once again pulling Lily-sama into an embrace, I kissed her on the forehead.

However,

“Mmghー…”

Lily-sama seemed dissatisfied.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“W-why the forehead? L-like always, please kiss me on the lips…”

Lily-sama pout.

That part of her was very cute as well.

Our faces approached once more, so Lily-sama and I could kiss.

Her light pink lips drew me in.

However―.

“I’m sorry. It seems I’m still not at my best, could you let me rest for a little more?”

That line was what came out of my mouth.

“Ah… sorry. Yes please, go ahead and rest. Come on, Manaria-sama, we should go!”

“Okay, okay. Then, Rei, we’ll leave the rest to the staff at the treatment facility. Once the date of the ceremony has been decided, we’ll come let you know.”

“Yes, please do.”

Pushed away by Lily-sama, the two left the room.

My surroundings suddenly sank to silence.

Laying down, I covered myself with the blanket.

“I see… so a bunch of things came to an end.”

Having defeated the Three Great Archdukes, the battle with the demons had ended.

The Empire’s aggressive foreign policies had also changed, so it seemed that the world would become quite peaceful.

Though the ceremony or whatever would be annoying, all that was left was to return home with Lily-sama, Mei and Alea and fulfill the promise that we had made.

―Rei, this time, I will fulfill my promise to you.

Suddenly someone’s voice echoed within my head.

However, I couldn’t remember who the voice belonged to.

“It must be Lily-sama’s voice, right?”

I couldn’t think of anyone else who I’d make such an important promise with.

There wasn’t any room for doubt.

I wasn’t at all anxious.

That’s how things should’ve been.

And yet―.

“Something… I feel like I’m forgetting something really important.”

I felt as though a hole had opened within my chest, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t erase that ache.