Chapter 132: Thanks
When we slipped out of Twelfth Street while holding hands with Aurora, the crowd eased.
If one were to say the vicinity of the royal castle, we were in the central part of the royal capital.
The time was about to pass 11 o’clock.
When I asked Aurora if she was hungry, she smiled and shook her head.
With the hand not holding mine she was gently gripping the necklace I had given her.
She was moving her hand and touching the gemstone many times as if confirming the sensation.
When she is that happy I also become happy that it was good I gave it.
"Will Aurora stay by my side for the day? From now I also want to stop by First Street."
"I’m sorry, I have plans from noon so I cannot go together. But a substitute will come."
"...Substitute?"
Aurora looked at my blank expression, smiled enjoyably, and nodded.
In that case, do I have to return to the inn once?
I wanted to head to First Street just like this...
Thinking that, Aurora pulled my hand with a kui.
Tilting my head and looking at Aurora’s face, she stopped touching the necklace and pointed with a small finger.
Turning my face as if chasing the tip of the finger, among the sparse people a girl dancing red twin-tails.
I found the figure of Rain looking around restlessly.
No, how did she know the location?
Certainly I told Erika and Nimi I was heading to Twelfth Street, but can the location be specified this finely?
Finding it questionable I turned my face to Aurora; Aurora’s face was right in front and I was surprised.
When I tried to lower my face the linked hand was pulled, and just like that I was kissed.
Aurora released her face, bashfully dyed her cheeks red, and smiled at me who had a blank expression while speaking.
"Fufu, it’s a secret. Please wait; I’ll call Rain."
"...Yeah, please."
Aurora smiled like a mischievous child, released the linked hand, and ran at a light trot toward Rain.
I who had been looking at Aurora’s back with a blank expression immediately smiled troubledly.
I cannot say things about others either, but the momentum of youth, or rather women are strong.
Just by the relationship changing I did not think I would be toyed with this much.
Aurora visible in the distance joined with Rain, talked a little, and nodded to each other.
Then Aurora waved a small hand this way and left; instead Rain ran up at a light trot.
Rain came in front of me, breathing with her shoulders, grinned, and looked up.
"Next I’m the surveillance role."
"A~, thanks. For now, shall we calm the breathing."
"It’s fine, this much."
"We’re not in a hurry, so calm down."
"...Understood."
I calmed Rain who seemed to be in a hurry and looked at Rain’s clothing.
A one-piece based on light blue with white embroidery.
The one-piece with a length a little higher than the knees suited Rain’s image well.
Because she said she likes rain, she may have chosen light blue.
While calming her breathing I smiled at Rain who was looking around and spoke.
"It suits you. Cute."
"...Thanks."
"Kuhah, hahaha."
"What."
She looked up with a surprised expression at my words, but immediately averted her face while flushing her cheeks red as if embarrassed.
That reaction was so cute that when I ended up laughing, she slapped my arm with a peshi while still red-cheeked.
I grasped the hand Rain had slapped with, confirmed that her breathing had settled, then linked hands and began walking.
From the reaction I thought she might try to shake it off, but Rain gripped back.
Looking at Rain’s expression out of the corner of my eye, she was looking a little happy and I was relieved.
Or rather Rain’s hand is small.
I had thought it would be a little larger for Rain’s size.
When I moved the hand with a nigi nigi as if confirming, Rain looked up at me bashfully and spoke.
"Hey, Instructor."
"No... I just thought it’s a cute hand."
"Seducing a student is an improper Instructor."
"...Is it no good?"
"Eh? Um, it’s not... no good, but..."
Rain made the ending small and at the end spoke in a murmuring voice.
Bashful but not disliking it, I pulled Rain’s hand and headed toward First Street.
From Twelfth Street to First Street is right next door, so it did not take much time.
While craftsmen were walking we walked toward the blacksmith.
I am going to receive the item I had ordered previously.
Even though I was told it would be finished in seven days, going to receive it became a little late.
This might get me a scolding from Bodok.
Looking at Rain walking beside me, she was surveying the factory district as if finding it novel.
"You don’t come to First Street much, do you?"
"Yeah, no business either."
"There are glass workshops and such, so it’s surprisingly interesting. Look, over there."
When I pointed at the glass workshop near the blacksmith, Rain’s eyes sparkled.
I smiled, pulled Rain’s hand, and headed in front of the glass workshop.
They also sell for the time being, so glass products are lined up at the front.
But because they are glass, the prices are a little high.
The reason the tavern’s cups are not made glass products is because they often break when the adventurers riot.
If one kept replacing glass products every time one would go bankrupt.
At a bar or the like there are few rioting customers, so they may handle glass products.
Rain released the linked hand, sat down, and looked at a glass cup.
What she was looking at was cups that complete a flower when three are lined up.
Rain’s tone is like that, but she is the type who thinks of friends and treasures them.
Probably she is imagining the place of using them with Aurora and Win.
I called out to the shopkeeper, conveyed the intent of purchasing the cups Rain was looking at, and handed over money.
Then the shopkeeper at the front smiled, took the cups, and began wrapping them.
With a surprised expression Rain looked up at my face while still sitting.
Immediately the shopkeeper put the wrapped cups into a box and brought them; I received that.
Then holding it out to Rain beside me, she made a blank expression and received it with both hands.
"Instructor, this..."
"Use them with the three of you."
"...Yeah, thanks."
Rain hugged the box as if hugging something important and immediately put it away into a pouch-type magic bag with slow movements.
Glad that she seemed happy, I began walking toward the blacksmith.
Then a small hand grasped one of my hands; turning my face, red-cheeked Rain had linked hands.
I deliberately said nothing, smiled, gently gripped Rain’s hand back, and entered the blacksmith.
Entering the blacksmith I went in front of Bodok who had a stern face.
Bodok who found my figure sighed and placed a magic bag on the counter.
"Late."
"Sorry. Is this it?"
"Yeah, return the magic bag later."
"In other words, as usual."
"...I’ll say it, but it’s only you who has me make this many for an individual."
To Bodok who spoke with an exasperated look I thanked him with a wry smile and received the magic bag.
Leaving the blacksmith I began walking toward the Suzuya inn.
But suddenly becoming curious I turned my face to the neighboring Rain and asked.
"Is Rain not hungry?"
"Eh? Uu~n, a little."
"...You’re eating properly, right?"
"I’m eating, but why?"
No, why.
Because the staying power is too good, and that thinness of the body is the reason.
Hearing Rain’s words I crossed my arms and rubbed my chin with one hand.
Then while looking at the end of First Street and considering what to do, I recalled.
I looked at Rain’s face and grinned; she made a suspicious expression and tilted her head.
Grasping Rain’s hand I began walking toward the destination.
Without even asking me the destination, at the edge of my vision she was reflected looking at me with half-lidded eyes.
I will list the newly considered order of breast sizes below.
I may use other expressions, but please use it as a quick reference table.
[Small hill → Mandarin → Apple → Grapefruit → Pear → Melon → Watermelon]
Character Profiles
＊Aurora
Height: 165 cm
Age: 16
Red hair — semi-long a little longer than the shoulders.
The semi-long is cut straight and arranged horizontally.
Expression is sharp. Red pupils. Serious and straightforward personality.
Body type is slender. Breasts are apples.
Leader of the three songstress girls whose popularity is beginning to rise.
Basically she never shows weakness.
But to Win and Rain whom she has opened her heart to she shows weakness and acts spoiled.
By being saved by Raide, recently she has also begun showing weakness to him.
Because of her serious personality she seems to be conflicted about whether it is all right to act spoiled straightforwardly.
From the stampede incident she learned the fear of Raide disappearing.
She harbors romantic feelings toward Raide and, though embarrassed, wants to be sought.
Currently Raide’s lover.