Author: Suisei
Translator: Rinkage
Character page: Here
Chapter 221 – I listened to what my former subordinates had to say
“Ow—hey! Who the hell was that!?”
The two flashy men grumbled as they rubbed their heads. If they asked who I was, I supposed I’d say I was her former boss, and she was my former subordinate. No, that wasn’t quite right. She was closer to family. In that case, given the gap in our ages, perhaps that made me…
“I’m something like her guardian.” [Youki]
“Huh? That makes zero sense.”
“Then back off, old man. We’ve got business with your daughter.”
The two of them burst out laughing.
Yeah… that really pissed me off. I could just beat them senseless and, if the knight order showed up, claim it was self-defence while protecting Happiness. All I’d be doing was driving off a couple of persistent pick-up artists.
Just as I was about to put that plan into motion, I heard Happiness’s voice.
“…Captain. You’re in the way.” [Happiness]
I had a bad feeling about that, so I immediately jumped back. The next moment, the two pick-up artists were sent flying through the air in perfect arcs. Even without seeing her launch the attack, I knew without a doubt that Happiness was the one who did it. She must have struck them with her fan. That said, it had been a close call. If I’d reacted any slower, I would have gone flying right along with them.
“Hey, Happiness. You almost sent me flying too, you know?” [Youki]
“…Warning given.” [Happiness]
“You only said I was in the way! You could’ve… No, forget it.” [Youki]
I had more to say, but something about her expression stopped me. At first glance, she looked the same as always, yet not quite. It was subtle, but she seemed irritated. Or perhaps displeased. Those two obnoxious pick-up artists were probably part of the reason, but there was likely something else bothering her, too.
“…Did something happen?” [Youki]
When I cautiously asked, she stared straight at me. I couldn’t quite read her expression, and I had no idea what she was trying to convey. She looked annoyed. No, dissatisfied. Considering how dressed up she was, she had probably been meant to go on a date with Raven. In other words, she was upset because her long-awaited date had been interrupted. In that case, the simplest solution would be to have Raven calm her down.
…Wait a second. A date with Raven?
“Happiness, what are your plans for today?” [Youki]
“…Going out. Alone.” [Happiness]
“Oh…” [Youki]
Apparently, she was in the same boat as me.
As we made our way to the park, I asked her about it. She had been supposed to go on a date with Raven today. Between Yuuga and Mikana’s wedding, Raven and Happiness had barely had any chance to see each other lately. Raven, as a knight commander, had been tied up with venue security and the like. Happiness had managed to slip into the venue as part of the staff, sure, but the preparations leading up to the wedding had kept her busy as well. They had originally planned to spend the whole day together after Yuuga and Mikana’s wedding was over. However, that plan had been thoroughly ruined after a certain king opened his big mouth.
Yeah. This was not the sort of story to tell while sitting on a park bench. It looked as though we were licking each other’s wounds while surrounded by couples.
That annoyed me.
“Well, I’m kind of in the same situation as you, so I get how you feel.” [Youki]
“…Captain.” [Happiness]
“But even so, that doesn’t mean you should be wearing the outfit you picked out for your date with Raven and waiting around for a date who isn’t going to sho—ow!” [Youki]
She jabbed me in the side with a spear-hand strike.
“…Shopping.” [Happiness]
“Ah—o-oh, right. Shopping. Going out alone, huh. Sorry, my bad. I misunderstood.” [Youki]
I laughed it off, but inwardly I was thinking, Yeah, right. If she were really just going shopping alone, she wouldn’t have put that much effort into her outfit. More than anyone, she should know that drawing attention to herself only invited trouble. She had always been careful about that sort of thing.
…Then again, I didn’t exactly understand a woman’s heart, so who knew. Still, it was obvious she was feeling down. After all the years we’d known each other, that much was easy to tell.
“…Bored.” [Happiness]
“Hey, don’t make that face and say that line here.” [Youki]
Don’t prop your cheek on your hand, look all melancholic, and mutter bored. And don’t look at me while you do it. People were going to start thinking I was some dull man who couldn’t even cheer up the girl he was with.
Actually… it was probably already too late. A few couples nearby were pointing at us and whispering.
For the record, we were not a couple.
“We’re moving.” [Youki]
“…Retreat.” [Happiness]
“This is your fault, you know!?” [Youki]
I dragged Happiness along with me as we moved away. Maybe because I’d grabbed her hand a little too forcefully, people started whispering again, but I ignored them this time.
This wasn’t some lovers’ quarrel, and we were not a spectacle.
“…Dissatisfied.” [Happiness]
“I’m the one who should be complaining here.” [Youki]
“…We’re not, couple.” [Happiness]
“That’s what you’re hung up on!?” [Youki]
“…Top priority.” [Happiness]
“Sorry for existing next to you, then!” [Youki]
The two of us quickened our pace, step for step, yet neither pulled ahead nor fell behind. From somewhere nearby, I heard someone murmur, “They really do get along, don’t they?” Happiness’s displeasure became painfully obvious, so I tried patting her on the head.
As expected, she immediately swatted my hand away.
“…Hey. Why are we eating lunch together like this, anyway?” [Youki]
“…Together?” [Happiness]
“Don’t nitpick that part.” [Youki]
We ducked into a random place and sat down for lunch. I ordered coffee and a sandwich, and Happiness did the same. But every time she took a sip of her coffee, she made a bitter face. It made me wonder why she had ordered coffee in the first place.
“…Raven, drinks it just fine.” [Happiness]
“Well, it’s still a little early for you, Happiness.” [Youki]
“…Adult!” [Happiness]
“You can keep saying that, but you’ve still got a long way to go.” [Youki]
Puffing out her cheeks and insisting she was an adult wasn’t going to make it so. If she wanted to be seen as one, she’d need to show a little more composure. Getting mad at me just because I was nodding with my arms crossed, as I knew better? Yeah, she still had a long way to go.
“…Geh!”
As I casually watched people pass by while maintaining my composure, I spotted the one person I absolutely should not have seen right then.
It was Raven… walking beside a beautiful woman.
It was probably the same sort of situation as before. Just like what had happened with Soleil, Raven might have been in a position where he simply couldn’t refuse. He was probably being forced to show her around Minerva, the same way Cecilia had done before. Since Raven wasn’t smiling genuinely, and wasn’t linking arms with her either, my guess was probably right. His clothes were plain too. Nothing about them suggested he’d put any effort into dressing up.
So, Happiness… could you stop staring at them so sadly? Your half-eaten sandwich just slipped from your hand and fell back onto your plate. Don’t zone out like that. It wasn’t as though Raven was cheating on you.
“Listen, Happiness. That’s just—” [Youki]
I explained that, given Raven’s position, he probably had no choice but to guide her around Minerva. I even told her I’d been in similar situations myself.
While I spoke, Raven and the beautiful woman kept walking until they disappeared from view.
“…Enduring.” [Happiness]
“Yeah. Good job, Happiness.” [Youki]
Even so, I couldn’t help wondering what she was really feeling. The boyfriend who was supposed to go on a date with her ended up walking around with another woman instead. Of course, it hurt.
Even now, she was still staring off into the distance, looking utterly dazed.
Yeah… this was pretty bad.
“I’ll treat you to cake at our usual place. Come on, cheer up.” [Youki]
A macho pastry chef would serve her delicious cake. That ought to lift her spirits… probably.
“…One hand.” [Happiness]
She said that while holding up one hand.
Hey, don’t tell me she was planning to eat five cakes!? Well, I suppose I could let her stress-eat for today. It might be a little much, but it was only one day. She’d be fine.
“Just for today, alright? Let’s go.” [Youki]
I paid the bill, and we left the shop.
“Oh, Captain! And isn’t that Happiness?”
“Oh, hey. Duke.” [Youki]
On the way to the macho pastry chef’s place, we ran into Duke. He was probably out on patrol. However, his usual partner, Irene, was nowhere to be seen.
“It’s rare to see the two of you going out together like—ah!” [Duke]
He had been about to tease us, then suddenly noticed something and quickly averted his gaze. That half-baked perceptiveness of his was not helping matters at all.
“…Duke.” [Happiness]
See? Now, Happiness was giving off that ominous black aura.
“S-Sorry about that, Happiness. I should’ve realized sooner.” [Duke]
Her aura left Duke flustered. It was proof enough of the overwhelming darkness radiating from her. In her current state, she had to be handled with care. She was no different from fragile goods at the moment.
“Well, Duke, you get the picture by now, right? I’m taking Happiness out for cake. My treat. Apparently, she plans to eat five of them.” [Youki]
“…Add, two more.” [Happiness]
“Hey, the number’s going up. Duke, this is your fault. Pay up.” [Youki]
“No, no, that’s completely unreasonable, isn’t it? Captain, you make good money, so what’s two extra slices of cake?” [Duke]
“I’m not being stingy. It’s just… I’m in a similar situation to Happiness right now. So I figured I’d take a little of it out on you.” [Youki]
“You’re really saying that out loud!?” [Duke]
“…Scoundrel.” [Happiness]
“That’s not bad enough to call me that, is it?” [Youki]
It was the same casual exchange we always had. It improved my mood. Even Happiness’s expression softened somewhat. If only Sheik had been here too, it would have been perfect. Since neither Happiness nor I would be able to see our lovers for a while, the four of us going out together might not have been such a bad idea.
“Hey, if you’re up for it—” [Youki]
“Ah, Duke-san. There you are.”
Just as I was about to make the suggestion, a third voice cut in, and I saw someone running towards Duke. So they really had been together after all.
“Ah, looks like she caught up to me.” [Duke]
“Why did you leave me behind and go on ahead, Duke-san? Did you forget that patrols are supposed to be done in pairs?” [Irene]
“No, no, you’ve got it wrong. I didn’t leave you behind. We just got separated. The patrol routes changed a little starting today, right?” [Duke]
“Eh… ah, right. They did.” [Irene]
“Honestly, you need to be more careful. Since we’ve regrouped, let’s get back to our assigned area. And remember, we can’t hold hands while we’re on duty, so stay close behind me.” [Duke]
“Uu… I’m sorry.” [Irene]
“Come on, there’s no time to mope. Alright then, Captain, Happiness. See you around… What’s with those looks, you two?” [Duke]
Happiness and I were both giving Duke the same look. A look that said: So you’re not suffering at all, huh.
“…Both hands.” [Happiness]
“Alright. I’ll allow it!” [Youki]
“Captain, Happiness, aren’t you being kind of cold all of a sud—hey, wait, you’re fast! Hold on, you two!” [Duke]
Duke’s voice echoed behind us, but neither of us turned around or slowed down. This might have been the first time Happiness and I had ever been so perfectly in sync.
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