Chapter 50
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Anon’s story comes to an end.
My mouth feels unusually dry. I was so engrossed in his tales of the Holy Knight and the Hero’s party that I forgot to touch the tea he had served me.
The once steaming tea has long since turned cold. I gulp it down in one go.
Having heard the stories I wanted and with the time well past noon, I inform him that I should be heading home soon.
As I do so, Anon, like a smooth-talking playboy, says, 「Since we’ve finally met,」 and invites me to hit the town with him and Milan.
However, I politely decline his invitation, using the excuse that I have people waiting for me (Sena).
Though I used my waiting companions as a reason to refuse his invitation, it wasn’t the fundamental reason for my rejection.
I simply couldn’t bring myself to be in the mood for hanging out.
───I wonder how you’ll act from here.
I couldn’t give Anon a clear answer to his question.
Yet, I couldn’t get his question out of my mind.
I couldn’t figure out what I truly wanted to do.
○○○
As I take my leave from Anon’s residence, he prepares a gift for me.
「You said they looked delicious,」 he says, handing me the biscuits he had set aside, now wrapped in a stylish cloth.
Receiving the package from him, I reflect on our earlier exchange.
When I had taken my seat, he had eagerly brought out tea and homemade biscuits, saying, 「This might be a long conversation.」
The biscuits placed on the table were shaped like various animals.
「Is this a pig?」
「It’s a cat.」
「Then, is this a cow?」
「It’s a dog.」
「So, is this a bird?」
「… It’s a sheep.」
「Hey, hey, hey! Why are you putting them away?!」
「It’s fine, you don’t have to force yourself to eat them…」
Anon mutters in a voice tinged with melancholy. Feeling bad, I start spouting random praises like, 「They look delicious!」 「I’m starving!」 「They smell great!」 Finally, he relents and places the biscuits he had tried to put away back on the table.
He had wrapped up the remaining biscuits from that time.
Despite their questionable appearance, the mystery animal-shaped biscuits tasted good, so I gratefully accept them and head out.
「Thanks for telling me so much.」
I express my gratitude to him as he sees me out.
Anon waves his hand dismissively and chuckles,
「No, no, I should be thanking you. It was a pleasure talking with you and learning various things.」
As I turn my back to him, bidding, 「See you around,」 Anon’s voice reaches me.
「Low! If you decide to take action regarding this matter, give me a shout! I’ll lend you my strength then!」
「I’ll be counting on you when the time comes!」
I wave back at him.
○○○
From there, it was a race against time.
I had to get back home as quickly as possible.
I’m sure everyone understands the reason for my hurry.
Breakfast time had ended, and even lunchtime had passed.
In fact, even snack time was about to slip by.
Feeling a sense of urgency, I frantically run through the town, pass the highway, and dash up the mountain with unprecedented vigor.
In my mind, I had completely become Melos.
In my head, Selinuntius, wearing Sena’s face, was crying out, 「Ichiro, hurry and come back!」
Panting heavily, I arrive home to find no sign of the two.
In response to my 「I’m home,」 the mountain of futons stirs with a rustle.
There was no Selinuntius to greet Melos (me) with a smile.
All that existed were two small mounds of futons.
What are they doing, not just Sena, but Sensei too…?
「Hey!」
No response.
「I’m back!」
The futons squirm and rustle.
「And just when I got both cheese and honey too.」
Twitch! Rustle rustle!
「Maybe I should bake a pizza with cheese and honey.」
Rustle rustle! Squirm squirm!
「Come to think of it, we have yogurt too.」
Squirm squirm! Squirm squirm squirm!
「Yogurt with honey drizzled on top is also delicious.」
Rustle rustle! Flip! The two poke their heads out from the mountain of futons in unison.
「Ichiro, you’re late. Anything to say for yourself?」
Sena speaks.
She was right, of course.
「Sorry. I made you worry. Please forgive me.」
I lower my head and apologize to them.
Just like last time, I had set out into town promising to return before breakfast, but here I was, well past my promise, strolling in at lunchtime.
By the world’s standards, Sena might be considered overprotective.
However, she knows the broken state I was in when I first arrived here.
That’s why she was genuinely worried about me from the bottom of her heart.
「Hurry up and come out of the futons.」
「Sena, son-in-law is saying this much, so why don’t you forgive him already?」
An unexpected backup shot from Sensei, who pokes her head out from the futon next to Sena.
Sensei, you’ll be getting extra honey for today’s dessert.
I was well aware that Sensei had a deep love for honey without needing to be told.
「Hmph.」
「Come now, son-in-law says he’ll make us a delicious pizza.」
Sena ponders for a moment, swayed by Sensei’s persuasion, then slowly opens one eye and glances at me, letting out a sigh.
Finally, she says, 「Okay, Ichiro. Let’s make up,」 and sluggishly emerges from the futon, extending her hand.
○○○
It pained me to disappoint their expectations, but I informed them that pizza takes time, so it wouldn’t be possible today.
Unable to resist their silent pleas with puppy-dog eyes, I found myself promising to make it for them another day.
As a substitute for today, I swiftly prepare sliced hard bread, topped with toasted melted cheese and a generous drizzle of honey.
「I want you to listen while eating, if that’s okay.」
I wanted them to hear about what was happening right now and how I couldn’t give Anon a clear answer to his question.
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