Chapter 284: Because We Are Close…

It was past eight. I was walking 1st Street toward the academy.

I had gone to pick up the parts I asked Bodok for and was on the way back. Getting what was promised made me a little excited.

Un. No matter how old you get, thinking you can see something new lifts your mood.

After that I ate breakfast, murmured "Tiburiera" to Hiero and Pafa to recover their power, told Nimi and Elysia and Micon and Scon I was going, and left Nifa Inn.

The twins were still clinging to Nimi and Elysia, sniffing like they were crying, sun sun, but Nimi and Elysia had calm faces so it should be fine.

Today is Rude Tavern’s regular day off, so just knowing Nimi will always be beside the two of them gives a sense of ease.

At times like that I do not know what to do, so I get stuck... shall I buy sweets on the way home.

I cannot hold my head up to my lovers. They are reliable... truly.

From the twins’ look their eyes might be swollen from crying, so maybe they should rest from the academy today.

...I will leave that to Nimi and Elysia. I am not enough. Sad, but...

I was walking with that wry smile when my eyes suddenly went to a clock shop and I stopped.

Maybe because Pafa showed me the time book this morning, I was paying attention.

Clocks of all kinds of designs lined up in front of the shop.

Antique ones, novel ones, even pocket watches. All sorts.

When I tried to move my feet a familiar person came out of the clock shop. She found me, smiled, and came up.

A white long-sleeve blouse and a brown long skirt. Same as how she looks in the shop, so Dine-san was probably on her way to work too.

Dine-san stopped in front of me, kept smiling, and opened her mouth.

"Good morning, Raide-san. Rare, is it not. Being on 1st Street this early in the morning."

"Good morning, Dine-san. Yes. I had business at the smithy. This is the way back. Do you come to the clock shop often, Dine-san?"

"No. This pocket watch was not working well so I came to have it looked at. Thanks to that they fixed it to ’normal.’"

"That is good."

She looked at an empty place for an instant again... I want her to stop. It is scary.

We started walking. Dine-san took a gold-colored pocket watch from her skirt pocket and showed it.

The watch held up in one hand had years on it. You could tell she had treasured it a long time.

Clocks are precision machines. They can break from a small thing...

Only, every time I look at a clock I wonder... they have the technique to make clocks, so why has the Overworld world not developed that far?

With this much technique and magic I think it would develop outrageously.

I was thinking that facing forward when Dine-san walking beside me started laughing happily, kus kusu. I tilted my head and turned.

"No. I only understood a little of what Erika-sama said."

"Nn...? Erika? ...Hmm. I cannot help being curious what she said."

"Fufufu. She said when Raide-san makes a hard face it is a sign he will do something sudden."

"That is not... is what I want to say, but I have an idea."

I smiled wryly and rubbed the back of my neck with one hand. Dine-san brought one hand to her mouth, bent her index finger as if hiding it, and laughed.

Talking about Dine-san and the shoe shop’s situation and recent topics, we reached the front of the academy at once.

I promised Dine-san I would show my face at the shoe shop again and went into the academy.

Even so, Dine-san. Is it not hot in long sleeves?

I headed to the principal’s office, handed Croana the parts, then headed to my own instructor’s office.

Croana likes new things too. When I handed her the parts her eyes sparkled. Cute. I held her without meaning to.

I wanted to greet Fia and Lea too, but today they were making clothes and were inside Croana’s house so I could not meet them.

I am curious how they make dresses with magic, so if there is a chance I will have them let me peek once.

So now I am at the desk in the instructor’s office putting documents together.

Today’s guard is Hurlin, who has become two-winged. She is sitting between my open legs now.

When I touch her belly with my left hand she makes a happy voice, "Nfu~," so now and then I stop the hand putting documents together and bury my face in her hair.

A spring-breeze scent mixed with flower scent relaxes my mood so the putting-together work moves.

Hurlin’s left hand laced fingers over the left hand touching her belly. She rubbed the back of her head against my left shoulder, gui gui, and smiled happily.

While working I asked Hurlin how Furlin and Ru were. She laughed happily and told me.

"Are Furlin and Ru all right? Um... I know they are meeting a maiden’s day, but is it all right if I do not go visit? I am worried..."

"Rest easy. Furlin and Ru are fine. Only, being seen would be embarrassing so wait for them. Aha. Listen, Raide-sama. They usually snipe at each other, but now they are holding hands nicely. And in the same bed."

"Understood... um. Do Furlin and Ru not get along?"

"No. They get along. Because they get along they can snipe. That kind of thing?"

"Aah... haha. Un. I get it."

"Right?" Hurlin tilted her body a little left, turned her face, looked up at me, and laughed happily.

The closer you get the more you say what you want to say. That is common, even more when the distance gets as close as best friends.

...Wanting to see the two of them holding hands nicely in bed. Is that selfish?

I asked Hurlin to pass word that I want them to come show me they are well together. She accepted with a full smile.

Around when it was about to pass eleven someone knocked on the instructor’s office door. Hurlin and I looked at each other and tilted our heads.

Lately a lot of people visit. It is a glad thing, but I brace a little thinking it might be event-related. That myself is sad...

Hurlin left me at once and waited beside the door. After I watched that I answered. The door opened slowly.

And before it opened all the way the one who peeked only her face was Maya. I stood from my seat with a blank face.

Maya found me, went from a tense look to a smile like relief, and came into the room.

Maya in a nun’s habit closed the door, walked toward me, pata pata. I came up to Maya too and held her gently.

"Raide-san, good day. I had business nearby and got curious and came to peek. I greeted Croana-san and got permission, so rest easy."

"Good day, Maya. I am glad you came to see me. You can come anytime... ah~. Only, I might be working..."

"I do not mind," Maya said with a kind smile and kissed only my lips.

She stopped the kiss, eased her face away, turned and greeted Hurlin too. Hurlin waved both hands in front of her chest, furi furi, with a happy smile.

An embracing power I almost did not want to let go of, and the feel of her chest mashed against mine, munyu, changing shape large.

And from her hair without a sister veil a slightly sweet waterside scent drifted, bringing me ease and coolness.

I do go to see them, but one way or another Maya and the others seem busy too, and we had not spent time together. I was honestly glad.

I took Maya’s one hand, led her to the nearby sofa, sat first, and had her sit between my open legs.

Maya’s faintly flushed reaction was cute. I put a little strength in both arms around her belly.

"Fuun nuun..." Maya leaked in a beautiful voice like a bell. When I brought my face to her right cheek and kissed only touching, she smiled in that troubled way. "Honestly..."

"Thank you for the matter of Pope Milish. Nfufufu. I had never seen a face that happy so I was surprised."

"Milish? Aah, no I... nnumu?"

"You will say again you did not do anything, will you not? That is wrong. It is thanks to you, Raide-san. Kus. Please accept it."

"Muu... understood."

Maya sealed my mouth with the tip of her right hand and spoke as if admonishing. I nodded with a troubled smile and answered.

Maya turned her face, looked at my expression, and laughed happily. Hurlin sitting on the sofa across laughed the same way.

At the two of them’s reactions I felt something I could not name, like embarrassment, and buried my face in Maya’s neck as if hiding.