Then, she stared at Hajime with eyes that were hot enough to burn someone.
"It was the first time I'd snuggled up to someone like that, and it was really comfortable. And thank you."
"...Didn't you threaten me a little bit?"
"Well... because if I don't do that, you definitely won't want to hug me..."
Shizuku's cheeks grew redder, even her neck and ears blushing. Her heart pounded like a taiko drum.
The contrast between Shizuku's current appearance and her usual heroic demeanor was stark. At some point, she even reached out a hand and touched Hajime's left arm. She didn't even hold it, just a touch. This gesture only served to highlight Shizuku's desire to touch Hajime, but she was so shy that even just that was a strain. Her expression was truly endearing.
Shizuku's heart nearly exploded from the focused gaze and her own emotions. Even so, her eyes still concealed determination, and her trembling lips desperately conveyed the thoughts in her heart.
"A-Anyway, I'm filled with gratitude. This thank-you gift is proof of what I said back then. No, I wasn't joking!"
Shizuku stood on her heels, straightened her back, and then tightly grasped Hajime's arm.
Just in case, Shizuku moved directly towards the immobilized Hajime without any preparation, and then pressed her delicate lips, which she had never allowed anyone to touch, against Hajime’s cheek.
An incredibly soft touch reached Hajime's cheek. The slight wetness and burning, hot breath made not only her cheeks but her heart tighten. Though the contact lasted only a brief moment, that kiss truly conveyed Shizuku's burning feelings.
"Bang!" The sound of a heavy object falling to the ground was heard behind Shizuku.
The culprit was Ryutaro. In his shock, he accidentally dropped the Glory he was carrying. But no one turned to look at him, a testament to their shock.
Shizuku staggered back slightly and lowered her head, as if steam was about to come out.
It seems that her shame has exceeded the limit.
Then Shizuku patted her cheeks with both hands and regained her spirits.
Witnessing her expression, Hajime couldn't help but hold his head in his hands, wondering, "How could this have happened?" He already had a sense of the need to respond. He couldn't even accept Kaori's affection, so naturally, he couldn't reciprocate Shizuku's feelings. Even so, he felt he needed to choose his words carefully. If Kaori showed any sign of unease, Hajime would have firmly rejected her, but she would have instead smiled brightly. It seemed that rejecting Shizuku's feelings outright would undoubtedly lead to trouble.
But Hajime didn't even have time to think. Unaware of Hajime's inner struggles, Shizuku regrouped and, as if finding an opening, launched her attack.
"Tsuki, Shia, Tio... Kaori. I've realized a lot through this trial. Including my bad habits and my current mood. He already has you, Tsuki, and is the person his best friend likes, so this is really bad. But..."
Shizuku paused for a moment, trying to gather her resolve. Kaori gave her a loving push.
"Shizuku-chan, it's okay. You're not bad at all. After all, this is emotion, and no one can control it. Besides, seeing Shizuku expressing her feelings so openly like this makes me happier than seeing Shizuku always putting others first."
"Kaori..."
Perhaps Kaori would dislike her, perhaps she would make her sad—even though Shizuku knew her personality well, she couldn't help but harbor these doubts. And Kaori's words, without a trace of gloom, finally relaxed Shizuku's stiff shoulders.
Yue shrugged, then smiled arrogantly. Just like Kaori had done then, it seemed she was ready to accept the challenge head-on.
Shia also shook her rabbit tail and said, "There's really nothing I can do~" Tio responded with a wink.
Shizuku couldn't help but smile. She completely relaxed her body, returning to her most natural state, and then, with her head held high and her chest puffed out, she expressed her feelings and determination.
"I like Nanyun. So I will work hard for myself."
After she finished speaking, Shizukuhan smiled, and her expression was like...
The blue sky after the storm was so endearing and moving, enough to captivate everyone present. True to her name—like a dew-soaked Shizuku bathed in the morning light, or like dewdrops spilling from fruit, she sparkled and exuded a sweet fragrance.
"Shizuku-chan is so cute! Okay! From now on, we, the childhood friends, will form a front against Tsukiya's team! We'll definitely win this time!"
"Eh? Kaori, really. But... hehe, this is indeed a good idea. Kaori and I will occupy both sides of Nagumo."
"...Shizuku, I knew it would turn out like this. I'll send you and Kaori to hell together."
"Miss Yue, we can't send them to hell. But since I've declared exclusivity, I can't back down! I accept the challenge, Miss Shizuku!"
The Tsukiya group and the Kaori Shizuku group started arguing.
Still held tightly, unable to move, Hajime stared off into the distance, for they had no intention of listening to his 'reply'. "Hey, I—" Just as he was about to forcefully interrupt, Kaori shouted, "Wake up, Hajime-kun!" She interrupted him with a powerful voice.
What bothered him was that Shia and Tio were also giving him looks that said, "Are you going to refuse anyway? Okay, okay, we get it, but please shut up now."
Why… Unable to let go, Hajime half-closed his eyes. However, Hajime wasn't so desperate as to ignore the pressure they were releasing, so he quickly changed his mind.
"...Master, how should I react to being ignored and ostracized by them? They are already completely engrossed in the group battle..."
"Wouldn't it be fine if you just panted like normal?"
Then Tio started panting.
Hajime couldn't help but think that, no matter what, he hoped that they would quickly stop putting him in the middle and arguing about "who Hajime likes more".
After seeing the state of Hajime and the others, Ryuutarou sighed deeply with both helplessness and emotion.
“…Even Shizuku is involved. What the hell is wrong with that Nagumo guy? Seriously.”
“Wow, even Shizuku-chan has fallen for her. Nagumo-kun is a complete Don Juan! What should I do? What if even Suzu gets seduced without realizing it? Doing this and that with Onee-sama! ……………Hmm, doesn’t it sound good?”
"Hey, come to your senses, Suzu. Don't leave me alone in this alien space."
Seeing Ling with her hand on her forehead, lost in thought, Ryuutarou thought to himself, "Please spare me," and sighed again.
Finally realizing the weight had vanished from his back, he quickly carried Kouki on his back again. He glanced around at his best friend, Hajime, and the others, then muttered with a wry smile:
"Hey, Kouki. It's not that I don't understand how you feel. But with the way you are now, even if everything is taken away from you, you have no right to complain."
Even though he knew that these words would not reach his best friend's ears, Ryutaro still couldn't help but say them.
What kind of actions will Guanghui take after waking up...
Ryutaro imagined the future and made a firm decision. If anything were to happen, he, as a close friend, would be the one to beat up Kouki and stop him.
Volume 10, Chapter 4: The Key to the World
"I see. By the way, Yue, were you... so polite in your speech before?"
「!?」
A staircase led underground from the trunk of the ice tree in the trial hall. As the group descended the stairs, following the only path forward, Yue recounted stories of the past, including her quarrel with Shia. Hajime's first reaction after hearing all this was that sentence.
Princess Yue gave an expression that said, "Huh, is that the point!?"
"Should I say, the name before Yue was too long, right?"
「!?」
Princess Yue made a second expression of "Huh, is that the point!?"
Shia and the others who followed behind and listened to Yue's story also gave Hajime the same expression.
But, Hajime being Hajime, he didn't care about that at all.
"Hey, Yue. Say a few words using your old way of speaking."
“…W-why?”
"I want to hear the tone of the moon-watching princess."
This wish is really direct.
"Your Majesty, you're welcome to speak so kindly. Let me think about it. I'll just say 'Gentlemen, thank you for your hard work.'"
"...Mmmmm. This is too embarrassing. I don't want it."
Yue was extremely shy for some reason.
“—‘Hajime-san, you’ve successfully overcome the trial. I believed in you, and I’m very pleased. I’ll grant you your reward. Do you have a wish?’ Is that even possible?”
"...That's too long. I absolutely won't say that."
Princess Yue turned away and ignored him. It was a rare occasion for Yue to refuse Hajime's request, which also showed how strong Yue's sense of shame was.
If it were Hajime's position, it would probably be the same as being asked to "talk to the person you love the way you did back in your Chuuji era."
That's truly cruel. It's like your spirit will die. Thinking this, Hajime said, "Sorry, sorry," with a wry smile, and stroked Yue's hair in apology.
However, Kaori slipped behind Yue.
"Come on, come on, Yue♪ What's the big deal?! Speak to me like a queen! Come on, come on—"
"...Go to hell, Kaori!"
"Hey poof!"
Light exerted all his might, launching a golden leaping, twisting right straight punch into Kaori's cheek. Kaori spiraled downward, then, with a perfectly ordinary display of extraordinary skill, recovered her normal form, raising her voice in protest, "What are you doing?"
Yue ignored Kaori and gave Hajime a sour look.
“…I was talking about this seriously. Hajime is an idiot.”
Maybe I'm a more peculiar existence than I thought, and there might be a reason for me to be sealed away again in the future.
Yue thought so. Although he was no longer worried about Toshia's fortune, Hajime was speaking seriously about this matter.
Seeing Yue being upset, Shi couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"I'm sorry. But, how should I put it... why bring up something I already knew? I'm actually more curious about Moon during the Queen's era."
Yue's expression changed drastically. She blinked and asked tentatively:
“… Could it be that Hajime already figured it out?”
"Of course. The effectiveness of automatic regeneration is a matter of life and death for lovers. There are many ways to exhaust mana, so why can those people only seal the moon? It's natural to be puzzled by this, right?"
If Yue's immortality is absolute, then I can feel more at ease... Hajime sighed. A warm feeling welled up in Yue's heart, and his eyes reddened.
"However, from what I heard at the bottom of the abyss, it seems Yue doesn't remember anything about this. You were stunned by the sudden betrayal, and by the time you realized it, you were already sealed."
"……Um."
"In that case, rather than forcing Yue to dig up memories that were perhaps automatically erased due to pain, to resolve the current issue, it would be better for me to find a way to solve it. Because no matter what Yue's existence is, my conclusion will not change."
In other words, Hajime will not hand Yue over to anyone, and he will do whatever it takes to protect Yue.
Even if the world or God forbid Yue's existence, even if there were any hardship, Hajime would declare it openly—
A world where Yue must suffer is not worth existing. Such a world, along with such suffering, should be destroyed—
Hajime stared straight ahead as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with the ferocity of a ferocious beast. His overflowing spirit was enough to convey his unwavering resolve—even if it meant sacrificing the entire world, he would unhesitatingly prioritize the moon.
Yue felt the intense and heavy love from Hajime, and sighed as if unable to hold it back any longer. The sigh was scorching and seductive, and heat welled up in her eyes, and her cheeks turned rosy.
Yue obeyed the urge in her heart and hugged Shi, wrapping her arms around his neck. Then, she leaned close to Shi's face, trying to claim his lips...
"...Shizuku. What does this mean?"
A jet-black scabbard stood before him. The scabbard blocked Hajime and Yue's faces, preventing Yue from kissing him.
Yue followed the black knife and then glared at the source, questioning the culprit, Shizuku.
Shizuku looked around with a look that seemed more unconscious than intentional, her eyes wandering from side to side.
"Uh, uh... Think about it, we're still unsure whether the Great Labyrinth Trial is over, right? So, it's better to leave that kind of thing for later... something like that?"
“…What’s the truth?”
"So envious... No, that's not right. I'm also... not right. Pay attention to the ※TPO, that's what it means. Hmm."
Shizuku's gaze shifted more erratically than a migratory fish, her cover-up completely failing to deceive. Kaori, sitting next to her, exclaimed in admiration, "You were able to stop Yue's attack... You're truly worthy of being my little Shizuku!"
"Having said that, it feels like I was kissed just like a normal person?"
Hajime turned around and said this to Shizuku teasingly.
Shizuku's cheeks instantly turned a bright maple red.
"Well! That's because I'm the only one who hasn't been kissed, and it's very... lonely."
Shizuku couldn't help but whisper something in a defensive tone.
Tio further teased:
"It was just a kiss on the cheek, though. Since you're a swordsman, how can you not attack decisively? You can't take the master's lips without being tough, you know?"
"I-I actually want to seize it... that's not proper. I think that kind of thing should be done under appropriate circumstances and with mutual consent. Um, if possible, it would be best if Nagumo took the initiative... I would be very happy."
Shizuku's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head slightly, shyly expressing her inner thoughts. As if to express her wish to do the same to herself, she clutched the now-reclaimed black sword—the gift from Hajime—tightly to her chest.
Then, as if premeditated, Shizuku walked three steps diagonally behind Hajime. She followed quietly, like a Yamato Nadeshiko. And Hajime's second gift—a hair accessory—gleamed brightly at the base of Shizuku's trademark ponytail.
"..."
Hajime looked at Shizuku as if he were looking at a rare and exotic animal.
Basically, the girls around Hajime are all very aggressive, a bunch of carnivorous girls who can't wait to eat him up. Therefore, when Shizuku calls him "unbecoming" just because of a kiss, Hajime's eyes widen in surprise. This shows how carnivorous Yue and the others are.
Seeing Hajime's reaction, Yue trembled and said in a trembling voice:
"...Such an astonishing feminine charm. Is Yaegashi Shizuku a monster?"
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