Chapter 107: The Melancholy of a Certain Hero Girl (1)

Lily’s perspective.

「It doesn’t matter if you’re real or not. The only person I know is you, Lily. That’s why you’re my friend, Lily. 」

I was shocked when I heard those words.

At that time, I was determined to give up on everything. So, I turned against him in order to atone for the crime of killing my friend.

However, that guy scolded me without hesitation and held out his hand.

Even if he didn’t know my true identity and the crime I committed.

It was the first time I felt, from the bottom of my heart, that I wanted to be next to another person other than Lily.

—

「Ah…」

After the party at the Emperor’s Castle ended, I let out a melancholy sigh in the guest room of his residence.

It was about the mistake I made at the party yesterday.

In the first place, yesterday’s party was simply a get-together party for Mina and Kyou to become friends like before. I felt it was too uncool for them to be at odds with each other.

On the contrary, I turned it into an incomprehensible commotion with people fighting over Kyou for a silly dance…

Oh, that was strange.

If it was before, I wouldn’t have been particularly impressed with what Kyou and Mina were doing, and I would’ve been rooting for Mina’s actions.

Just hearing that those two were together now made my…heart feel uneasy.

「C’mon! Why am I so conscious of him now? 」

Without thinking, I opened the window and threw my head on the windowsill, screaming into the clear sky.

Seriously, when did I start to care so much about him?

No, I actually knew the reason.

Even though I tried to make him hate me, he didn’t hate me or even reject me, but instead accepted me as a friend.

In the first place, he stated that the fight wasn’t to defeat me, but to take me back.

Even though he knew that I was a fake Lily, he didn’t change his attitude, and in fact, he was angry that I would abandon him over something like that.

It was the first time I had seen someone so angry.

Just thinking about that time gave me a strange feeling, and at the same time, I couldn’t forget the words he said at that time. Those words had always been echoing in my heart.

Before I knew it, I was thinking about him all the time. Imagining him getting along with other girls made me feel confused.

If it happened…

「Ah, am I in love with that guy…? 」

As soon as I said that question, I could feel my face turning red.

「No! No, no, no way! 」

I panicked and covered my face while shaking my arms!

No, no! No, there was no way that could happen no matter what!

Was I a “choroin” * as I heard before!?

I didn’t really understand what it meant, but I knew it didn’t sound good…

But it would be strange to not feel any emotion after what happened between us…

So, even though it wasn’t trivial…it wasn’t that special, right?

That’s right.

Or, even if I was in love with him, it would be for a valid reason, and I would never accept the dishonorable title of “choroin” …

「Your fantasies have been getting more sexual since this morning, Lily. Are you looking forward to having steamy scenes with the Cultivation Hero? 」

「Whaaaaaa…!!! 」

Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind and I instinctively threw that person towards the wall.

A human-shaped dent formed in the wall, and when the person fell to the ground and stumbled back up, I realized the person’s true identity.

「Hu, huh, you’ve been quite extreme since this morning, Lily. 」

「Why are you walking into someone’s room without permission, Amines? 」

While wiping the blood flowing from her nose from the impact of hitting the wall, Amines continued to speak.

「Lily, I can imagine what you’re worried about, but even if you worry about it alone, it’ll be hard to find an answer. Then, why don’t you have a frank talk with the culprit? 」

「What do you mean? 」

「To put it simply. 」

Amines explained and took out something from behind her back.

It was a white dress and a straw hat to protect from the summer sun.

「Invite Kyou out on a date. 」

…Eh.

「Whatttttttttttttttttttt!? 」

My scream echoed through the open window and into the blue sky once again.

—

Kyou’s perspective.

「But, why on earth is Lily suddenly asking me to accompany her for a walk around town? 」

I clutched the letter that had fallen in front of my door during the day and muttered to myself.

Fortunately, I had planned to walk around this town later on, so it was convenient.

After a quick walk through the streets of the city, I sat down on a chair in the park where we were supposed to meet.

Even so, the security and atmosphere of this city had become much brighter than before.

When I first came here, it was a city with a strong military atmosphere, but now that military security had faded.

If the purpose of the Emperor Hero was to prioritize skirmishes with other countries for the sake of world growth, then I could understand the atmosphere of the city. But now that that goal had been achieved, they could release that heavy atmosphere from the city and its citizens. It would be a natural thing to do.

As I could see, the number of merchants on the street had increased, and the city was attracting a variety of people, including tourists from outside and traveling entertainers.

Last night, the Emperor himself said that from now on, it would be necessary to evolve through art and culture rather than military force, and that was exactly what was happening.

Just as I was thinking that this country was becoming such a comfortable place to live, a shadow suddenly fell in front of me.

「…Ah, uh…I…I’m sorry I’m late…」

When I looked, I saw a pretty girl wearing a white dress and a straw hat.

She literally looked like a summer fairy, and the sight of the girl bowing her head while twisting her body in embarrassment was extremely adorable.

Therefore, for a moment I couldn’t tell who the girl was.

「…Huh? Li…Lily? 」

「Yeah, that’s right…Who else would I be…? 」

I felt an unexpected gap between the girl I knew and the girl in front of me, who was wearing a straw hat on her head while blushing slightly.

It was true that she usually had a strong image of being strong-willed, but considering her appearance, Lily was a very pretty girl.

There was no way she wouldn’t look good dressed like this, but I hadn’t expected that she would dress like that herself, so I couldn’t help but be taken aback.

No, it suited her. It really suited her. It suited her so well that she was super cute.

As I was thinking about this in agony, Lily couldn’t bear the intense stare I was giving her, so she put her straw hat back on her head again and took my hand in hers.

「How long are you going to sit like this…! Le…Let’s go quickly! I…I’ve come all the way to this town, so there’s some things I want to buy, so come with me shopping…! 」

「Ah…yeah, I see. 」

Swallowing Lily’s hurried suggestion as if she wanted to leave this place in a hurry, I grabbed her hand and left the park.

When I realized this, my hands and Lily’s were holding each other, and when I realized that I felt embarrassed, but when I glanced to the side, the expression on Lily’s face was completely red and she was panicking. So I thought about taking it off, but for some reason Lily’s grip on my hand was strong and wouldn’t let go.

Hu…huh, I guessed she was panicking because she was embarrassed…?

Was it okay?

Even though I thought that way, I held hands with Lily and headed towards the main street where the peddlers were doing business.

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*A slang term that joins the words ちょろい (choroi = simple-minded) and ヒロイン (hiroin = heroine). Therefore, a simple-minded heroine.