The conditions for receiving the claw from the Marquis of Gramp were to end his dispute with the Marquis of Full-Flat and inspect the academy and guild.
Although their argument was still up for debate, it appeared to be settled for now, and I had given my report about the guild and academy to Crane. As things stood, the claw was now mine. The only thing left to peacefully do was to wait for the adventurers to return with the liver.
— that’s what I should be doing…. However, the next day, I was sulking in the Marquis of Gramp’s guest room.
“Sophia…. Sophia hasn’t spoken to me since yesterday!”
“That seems only natural after what happened.”
Alice was as merciless as always.
She’s been in a bad mood ever since she found out I told Crane and Owen that Sophia was the cutest girl.
Of course, I just meant she was the cutest among other young girls. That doesn’t mean she’s the cutest in every other sense.
But…I didn’t expect Alice to be so jealous.
I gently stroked Alice’s head to reassure her.
“Why did you even have to say anything? You know there’s no point in arguing with people about stuff like that.”
“I’m sorry, but I was stuck listening to those two arguing for so long. I held back for as long as I could, but I just couldn’t stop myself.”
“I can understand that. But I still think it was wrong for you to bring up Sophia’s childhood.”
“I just wanted them to understand why I thought she was cute.”
“Oh, is that all? So you’d be okay with it if I brought up something from your childhood that I think is cute?”
“There’s…. There’s nothing I would hate if you brought up.”
“Not even a story from Yuya’s childhood? I remember all your grand delusions. There was a time when you kept telling me of a great and powerful spirit sealed away in your eye –”
“I’m very sorry!”
I was wrong and had no excuse for what I did.
“If you realize you were wrong you should be apologizing to her not me.”
“I want to apologize to her, but she won’t speak to me!”
“Hmm~, that’s true. Sophia is interested in the local cuisine, you could try inviting her out to eat.”
“…that might work. Then the three of us –”
Before I was able to finish, Alice shook her head.
“I need to start searching for a hot spring for the Marquis of Gramp. You two can just go on your own. Also, there are other things you need to say to her, right?
“…you noticed?”
“After all, we’re lovers.”
Even though she was jealous just a moment ago, she’s still as kind as ever.
Alice’s smiling face, framed by her cherry blossom hair was as cute as always, but it still made me feel bad.
However, Sophia is my focus now.
“Thank you, Alice. I’m indebted to you once again. And if you have to go up into the mountains, please take an escort with you.”
“Of course~”
A bright smile appeared on her face.
“…why are you so happy?”
“Fufu, it’s nothing~”
“It doesn’t seem like it’s nothing.”
“It’s absolutely nothing. Even though you’re so worried about Sophia, you’re still worried about my safety. I’m just happy that you’re thinking about me.”
Her cheeks were dyed a colour resembling her hair.
The fact that she’s happy over something so simple is really cute to me. I’d like to go with her but right now Sophia takes precedence.
I thanked Alice and left to find Sophia.
I arrived at Sophia’s room and knocked on her door.
“…Sophia, it’s Leon. Can I come in?”
There was no reply.
Well, even when I came here for breakfast this morning she completely ignored me. I’m guessing she’s still mad.
“Sophia, I’m really sorry about yesterday. I was annoyed after listening to them argue for…. No, I’m not going to make any excuses. I was wrong.”
But there was no reply. I’ll at least try to convey my honest feelings to her.
“It’s true that I think you’re cute and you’re an important person to me and that’s why I hate fighting like this. It may just be me being selfish, but…I want you to forgive me.”
I thought she was cute when we first met, but back then, I thought of her as my sister and never once looked at her as anything more.
But more recently, Sophia has matured and become even cuter. She’s growing into a beautiful woman and there’s no way I can purely look at her as a sister figure anymore.
Alice forgave me once when she was ignoring me. If I acknowledge Sophia as more than just a sister, she might forgive me.
I hate fighting like this. I absolutely can’t have this fight continue and have one of us die like with Saya.
“Would you like to go out to dinner this afternoon? It will be just the two of us.”
I waited for her response but heard nothing back. I turned to walk away from her door after saying, “You can give me your answer later.”
After leaving her room, I went to the dining room to get something to drink but was met with something I was surprised to see.
Seated at one of the tables in the corner, Sophia and Milli were happily talking to each other.
By the way, there’s only a single hallway connecting Sophia’s room to the dining room. In other words, it would be impossible for Sophia to leave her room from the entry door and make it here without passing me. So this must mean….
She jumped out of her window and ran ahead of me to get here first.
…of course not.
I just have to admit it. Sophia was never in her room. All I managed to do was convey my feelings to a door.
…uwaaa~! That’s so embarrassing! I want to die!
“…Leon onii-chan, what are you doing?”
At some point, Sophia had walked up next to me as I was hiding my face out of embarrassment.
“I-it’s nothing! Rather, if you’re having tea, can I join you?”
“…you can do whatever you like.”
Sophia turned away from me with a, “Hmph,” and walked back to her table. I was just glad she didn’t reject me. I sat down opposite her.
“Sophia, you know, I really am sorry about yesterday –”
“–Milli okaa-san.”
As I tried to apologize, Sophia cut me off to speak with Milli.
“Is it okay if I go out to eat dinner in the town today?”[Sophia]
“Of course.”[Milli]
As usual, those two are on really good terms. Do they go out to eat dinner often? As I thought about this, Sophia turned to me.
“I’m interested in the local restaurants.”
Eh? Oh…you are? So are you planning to go out to eat with Milli?”
I thought this was her plan but she looked unhappy.
“…Leon onii-chan, are you properly reflecting on your actions yesterday?”
“Eh? Oh, of course.”
“If you go out with me, I’ll forgive you.”
“…eh? Are you sure?”
“Are you saying you don’t want to go out with me?”
“Of course not. I’d love to.”
“–I-If you want to go so bad, I guess I have no choice.”
Sophia suddenly stood up from her seat.
“…Sophia?”
“I have to go get ready. We’ll be leaving in an hour.”
Sophia walked around the table and ran out of the room. Why did it look like her face was red?
“Milli…is Sophia still mad at me?”
“Hmm, who knows. I wouldn’t say she’s angry, but I can give you advice on one thing….”
Milli’s expression resembled the same one she had made countless times during my childhood; her purple eyes shimmering. Then, she said something while trying not to laugh.
“When apologizing to someone through a door, it might be best to make sure they’re actually inside.”
“…….umm, why do you know about that, Milli?”
I’ve got a bad feeling. There’s cold sweat running down my back.
“I was walking down the hallway with Sophia when we saw you. She wanted to follow you.”
“And that’s when….”
“Sophia was standing not far from you as you gave your apology.”
“Nwaaoooooo!?”
They both saw me apologizing to a door! What kind of shame play is this!? I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look Sophia in the face again!
“Is that why Sophia asked me out to eat a little while ago?”
“She made up her mind after hearing your apology. Originally, she chased after you to apologize because she felt bad for ignoring you all day yesterday. But it seems that you apologized before she could.”
“So it was like that.”
In other words, just now, Sophia couldn’t be honest so she made up an excuse to end our fight and get a date with me. Isn’t that the cutest thing!?
I wonder if it was obvious what I was thinking. When I looked over at Milli, she was staring at me with a faint smile on her face.
“…Leon, I’ve noticed Sophia has been acting strange recently. Have you noticed?”
“Yeah, I have. I’ve noticed but…as long as she’s not hurting herself, I think it’s cute that she’s trying so hard.”
“It’s fine as long as you know…. Just make sure you never talk about how she used to pout and how shy she was when she was a kid.”
“Of course, I can show at least that much self-restraint.”
— probably.
