"Well, Rinhua-san's first love...?
Misaki-san reacts.
I'm glad you didn't react there!
Hetare and Morning Fei are nibbling, Misaki-san, Lotus and the flying birds look amazed, and the vegetables hold their heads.
Yeah. Let's change the course of the conversation here.
That's right. That's good. Even for me.
"It was a long time ago. It's a good memory now. More than that, Mr. Morning Fi, Master Lotus, Mr. Flying Bird, isn't it time to go to work for the student council?
"Ah. Right. It's time. Strawberries, vegetables. I'm just gonna go."
"I know. I'm having a good time, so you can go."
"Oh. Be careful and go home."
"I know. I'm not a kid."
The vegetables and Mr. Morning Fi seem to get along better than anything.
And the operation to change the course of my story seems to have succeeded.
I pressed Mr. Morning Fi and Lotus and the back of a flying bird and hurried away from the spot.
"Back in the day..."
Kate was crushing something, but I prioritized getting off this scene over it.
Dropped off besides student council officers, we headed for student council activities.
"That's it... I wonder"
"Oh, that sounds like it"
Me, Lotus and Flying Birds were cleaning up the cultural festival for three.
I'm just finishing cleaning now. Yeah, you're prettier than before, aren't you?
I want sweet food after work! Let's even eat secretly bought muffins.
In the meantime, we decided to head to the student council room.
There's nobody in the student club room, and it looks like we're the first ones to finish cleaning up.
I guess if I go to Fi in the morning, he'll let me go home, but I don't know where Fi is that morning.
Should I e-mail you?
I take out my phone and send an email to Fei in the morning asking her if I can go home because I'm done cleaning up.
All you have to do is wait for a reply. Let's eat muffins in the meantime.
The flying bird was gone a little while before I took the muffin out of my bag.
I wonder where he went.
"If it's a flying bird, I went to see how my class was."
"Was it..."
Uh, I mean, right now, Lotus and I are alone. So.
Kick, awkward.
I didn't have to be conscious when someone was with me, but when I'm alone, I become conscious.
When I looked at Chirali and Lotus Seeing, Lotus Seeing was facing a different person.
I feel a little sorry for that, and I tilt my neck.
Is that it? Why are you sorry? It would be more convenient if they hadn't seen me.
No, no, no.
Anyway, more about the topic than that, I thought, and I saw a muffin in my hand. Here it is!
"Master Lotus, muffins, do you want some?
"... I think I'll take it"
"Go ahead."
"Thanks"
And we eat muffins.
Oh, delicious. I knew it was sweet when I was tired.
We eat muffins in silence.
And I realized.
Oh, I failed.
Well, then, yes. If I give you food, you'll be silent!
My idiot! Think more!
You'd be extra aware if you were silent!
There's nothing you can do about cursing yourself in your heart.
I thought it was barren, so I stopped cursing.
I give up and eat silently with muffins.
Oh, I'm almost done eating muffins.
I was working on 'eating muffins' now, but when I'm done eating muffins, I'm really just going to be silent.
Thinking about it, I can't really eat muffins.
Finally, it's the last bite, and I'm ready and include a bite in my mouth at the end.
And when I tried to swallow it, Lotus Seeing, who had finished eating muffins first, asked me before.
"Is Yabuki's first love true?
Buha. Oh, no. Muffins in my throat......!
So, someone get a drink...!
As I was peeling, Lotus brought me water.
I thank you and drink water.
Oh, thank God!
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you for your help. Uh, so, what was it?
"Is Yabuki's first love true?
"Oh... that was the story."
Oh, that's hard to say.
But it's nothing to hide...
"It's true. Kai is my first love."
"That's right..."
"As I said earlier, that was a long time ago. I don't really think about Kai right now. I'm just a kid."
"... really?
"... Kai is a terrible person. When I was young enough to know that Kai was moving to Italy, I made a big decision and confessed, but he didn't respond."
…………
"So at the time I was sure this first love would be something I would never forget... but now it's just a good memory. I really don't think so right now."
Is that it? Why am I so desperate?
Why, do you hate being misunderstood by Lotus Watch?
How could you?
"... yes. I thought I'd have to give up again."
Lotus smiled weakly, as relieved.
I was sexually angry at such a lotus-minded attitude for some reason.
"... if anyone likes me, will you give up?
Surprisingly, even myself, I got a low voice.
Lotus is looking at me as surprised, too.
I was unnecessarily angry at the way Lotus looked at me.
"Was Lotus Seeing's feelings for me enough to give up if anyone liked me?
"Kaguraki...?
Oh, no.
I'm not angry. It's sad.
"Master Lotus told me, didn't he? 'Even if you can do whatever you want, you're not willing to give up,' he said. Was that a lie?
I was glad.
I'm glad you said that.
But if that was a lie, too, I hope you didn't say that.
Don't confuse me.
Oh, why?
Why, you're about to cry so much. Why are you so sad?
My face distorts.
No, I don't want to be seen with a face like this.
I stand up to get out of the student council room and head to the door.
But before I could get to the door, Lotus grabbed my arm.
"Wait."
"Let go, please"
"I'm not lying. I'm not lying."
If you're not lying, why would you give up?
I turn to Lotus.
Lotus View's face was closer than I imagined.
"I'm not lying to you that I'm not willing to give up, even if I can have someone I like. But I don't want to push my feelings until I take away your happiness. If you still like Yabuki, and Yabuki likes you, I'll give you up."
What, that.
Now it's really time, I got angry.
"Don't decide my happiness on your own! It's not up to you to decide if I'm happy or not. It's my call. Decide on your own, don't give up! Yours is not kindness. It's just an escape. If you really like me, force me to take it..."
Oh, no. I have tear glands today.
I leaned my face down so that I could not see a face with zero tears.
"... sorry"
"Don't apologize..."
Lotus looked at me softly.
Fluffy and citrus aromas spread
I'm totally used to the smell of lotus-seeing.
As much as I get used to it, I got too close to Lotus View.
Maybe we should keep our distance.
Little by little, don't know.
"It's hard... Lord Lotus, it's hard"
"... yes"
Lotus looks gently at my back.
That was comforting, and I pressed my face against Lotus' chest.
Only now. Only now, I want to be like this.
Starting tomorrow, I'll make sure you keep your distance.
So only now, let me stay like this.