Author: Suisei
Translator: Rinkage

Character page: Here

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Chapter 213 – I asked my girlfriend about it

Either way, we ended up at the park and sat down on a bench. The mood between us was… hard to put into words. The only saving grace was that there weren’t many people around, probably because most kids had gone to the church.

“…Well, I had a feeling something was off.”  [Youki]

“When did you start suspecting?”  [Cecilia]

Yuuga’s flashy performance earlier had been the first thing to set off my alarms. There was no way all of that had been pure coincidence, not after everything that had happened throughout the day. Sophie-san’s involvement was what finally sealed it. Couldn’t it have been handled more discreetly? Or had she done it on purpose just to make me notice? Either way, everything had unfolded far too smoothly… and far too quickly.

“Hm… Sophia-san gave me the proof I needed, but yeah, Yuuga’s the first red flag. That guy’s always getting into trouble, and yet he is somehow the one resolving everything now. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something human-made was going on behind the scenes.”  [Youki]

“I didn’t expect so many things to happen along the way. It completely defied my calculations…”  [Cecilia]

Cecilia pressed her hand to her forehead. Once or twice might have been a coincidence, but it kept happening. Over and over again.

Was it my fault? …Yeah, it probably was.

Lately, we’d hardly had any time alone together. There was always someone else around, or some reason we had to split up at the worst possible moment.

I’m a failure.

“They all cooperated, then…”  [Youki]

“Yes. I… I asked them to help because I wanted to spend a peaceful, uneventful day with you, Youki-san. Everyone agreed right away. They said it was because you’ve been so helpful to them.”  [Cecilia]

“I’m not the only one, right?”  [Youki]

Cecilia had helped them countless times as well; listening to their worries and lending a hand whenever she could. Honestly, she was probably more well-liked than I was.

“…Yes. Everyone said they wanted to help not just for your sake, but for mine as well. And that’s why today turned out the way it did…”  [Cecilia]

“Ah, I see.”  [Youki]

Then came silence.

I didn’t know how to take it. I never would’ve imagined Cecilia going to such lengths. Not in a million years.

She was watching my reaction, waiting, so I had to say something.

“Um… I’m sorry.”  [Youki]

“Why are you apologizing?”  [Cecilia]

“It’s just… I feel like I put you through a lot of trouble.”  [Youki]

“No, I should be the one apologizing. I’m sorry for doing all of this behind your back, Youki-san.”  [Cecilia]

“No, it’s on me too. I haven’t been good at making time for just the two of us lately. I made you anxious, or rather… I pushed you into taking measures like this. That’s my fault.”  [Youki]

Cecilia had always been the one supporting me, no matter what. Meanwhile, I’d been acting for everyone else, never once making her the center of my choices.

“No, Youki-san, it’s really my responsibility. It’s not like you were neglecting me. You’ve always acted for people in need. It’s not as though you were trying to push me away.”  [Cecilia]

“Still, I should’ve put you, my girlfriend, first. I should’ve made you my priority.”  [Youki]

“No — you can’t say that.”  [Cecilia]

“What? Why not!?”  [Youki]

Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Put your girlfriend first? Maybe things get complicated once promises and obligations come into play, but still… 

“…I don’t want to see you ignore someone in need just to prioritize me.”  [Cecilia]

“Cecilia…”  [Youki]

“Still… Wanting even one peaceful day together isn’t wrong, is it? I thought about it over and over… even if, it meant relying on everyone else like this…”  [Cecilia]

“I think it’s a good thing. No, scratch that. It’s necessary. I want a day with you where nothing goes wrong too! It’s just that lately, things have been abnormally hectic.”  [Youki]

I’m not the protagonist of some grand adventure story. I don’t need constant trouble in my life. Honestly, I’d be perfectly content just sipping Cecilia’s tea in peace, chatting and laughing together. 

“At one point, I even wondered if you had some kind of… strange magnetic power that draws incidents to you.”  [Cecilia]

“What the heck, that’s terrifying. You’re saying I’m cursed!?”  [Youki]

“If it were a curse, I’d be the one to break it for you.”  [Cecilia]

“Oh, right. You’re a cleric chosen for the Hero’s party, after all.”  [Youki]

“That’s right.”  [Cecilia]

“True.”  [Youki]

We both laughed, and just like that, our conversation slipped back into its usual rhythm. I brought up Yuuga’s pillow incident, and Cecilia could only respond with a wry smile. It seemed she’d decided to tell Mikana that she had borrowed her old clothes without asking. In the end, it wasn’t a cheating incident, more like an overzealous display of affection on Yuuga’s part, so it should be fine… probably.

Apparently, Raven and Happiness were doing well, too. Happiness had been talking about it at the mansion, even bragging about her boyfriend while blushing. I never thought I’d see the day. I guess there really are things only women can share.

It also turns out Quinn-kun has been stopping by the mansion more often lately, usually tagging along just to keep an eye on Fiora-chan. Sheik, on the other hand, has had it rough. His popularity is at an all-time high, caught in a constant tug-of-war between Fiora-chan and Tiel-chan, both vying for his attention.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Duke-san in a while.”  [Cecilia]

“As for Duke, after clearing up that misunderstanding with Misaki-chan, he’s been paired with Irene-san and is working hard within the Knights’ Order.”  [Youki]

I’d been worried about how that whole situation would turn out, but it seems everything resolved itself in the end. How he managed to convince Irene-san, though, remains a mystery.

“Hm… sounds like we’ve been talking for quite a while.”  [Youki]

By the time I noticed, the sky had already begun to darken.

If we don’t get dinner soon, it’d be pretty late by the time we get home.

“Really? Is it that late already…?”  [Cecilia]

“We must’ve lost track of time.”  [Youki]

“I wasn’t really paying attention to it either.”  [Cecilia]

“Funny though. We spent most of it talking about other people, not ourselves.”  [Youki]

“Yes… but I think that’s okay for us.”  [Cecilia]

“With that logic, it sounds like we’re a couple who just gossips about everyone else.”  [Youki]

“That would be… not very good.”  [Cecilia]

“Right. Hey, before dinner, there’s one place I’d like to stop by. Is that okay?”  [Youki]

“Sure, let’s go.”  [Cecilia]

Once Cecilia agreed, we stood up from the bench. The place I had in mind wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. I’d planned this stop from the very beginning. It was a small shop, unassuming at first glance. This was meant to be the final destination.

Wanting to keep it a surprise, I asked Cecilia to wait for a moment and promised I’d be right back. I headed to the shop, paid the shopkeeper, picked up the item, and quickly returned to her.

“What kind of shop did you have to run off to?”   [Cecilia]

“Oh, I just had to pick up something I’d ordered. They told me it would only be ready today, so…”  [Youki]

I held out the item I’d collected.

…Please don’t think it’s weird. Please don’t freak out. 

“…A key?”  [Cecilia]

“My house key. A spare one.”  [Youki]

What I’d given Cecilia was a copy of my house key. The shopkeeper had told me it wouldn’t be ready right away, so it came down to the wire, but thankfully, it was finished just in time for our date.

“I can’t say I approve of handing over a house key so lightly.”  [Cecilia]

“I know, I know, but I trust you. Remember the day we went shopping for furniture together? When I went home afterward, the house felt… unbearably empty. You’ll probably think I’m being childish, but… I wanted you to know you’re welcome anytime. So, please – take it.”  [Youki]

As soon as I finished speaking, I bowed my head. That big house felt suffocating whenever I was alone. Even if she only came over to relax or spend time together, I’d do anything to make her feel comfortable there.

“…In that case, I’ll accept it. For dinner… why don’t we skip eating out and go to your place instead? I’d like to put this key to use right away.”  [Cecilia]

All riiighht—-!!!!

Blurting that out loud would’ve been way too much, so I swallowed my internal scream. Still, I needed to think ahead… did I even have anything edible at home? If not, we’d have to grab something before the shops closed.

“Let’s pick up some groceries. I’m sure there are still places open.”  [Cecilia]

“Wait, you’re going to cook?”  [Youki]

“Of course. You treated me to such a wonderful day, and you even gave me this gift. Leave it to me. I’ll make sure your stomach is well taken care of.”  [Cecilia]

“…I’ll be counting on you, then.”  [Youki]

That night, the homemade meal Cecilia prepared for me was almost dangerously delicious.

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