Chapter 39 (1/2)
…… stop…… why…… ouch……
What? Who's talking…… uun, that's Iris's voice. What's going on, I wonder.
When I come to myself, I notice Iris drenched in sweat…… this must surely be because of the threat from a little while ago.
「Iris, wake up. It's all right, no one is hurting you」
I have to wake her up. She should understand now. She's not a little anymore. She doesn't have to struggle by herself.
「Iris, Iris wake up. It's all right」
Iris opens her eyes in a startle. She hasn't settled yet, her eyes are going all over the place.
「Iris, are you all right? You had a nightmare……」
It appears she finally recognized me.
I wipe the sweat from her forehead.
「I'm all right. I just had a slightly bad dream……」
「You sweat a lot. We have to wipe it」
I take out a towel from the carry-on and hand it to Iris. She still looks unwell. Something to drink…… no hot water unless I go out, huh.
I quietly lift the curtain and peek outside. Ara, s.h.i.+en is awake.
「s.h.i.+en, excuse me for a bit. I have a request」
When I call him in a quiet voice, he immediately notices me and approaches.
「Baasan, you are still awake?」
「Uun. It looks like I bullied Iris a little too much. She just woke up from a nightmare. Can you bring me hot water?」
「You went too far? Can't be helped…… is one cup alright?」
「Ah, can you bring two? I want to drink as well」
It sounds like he grasped the situation right away.
「Wait a moment. I will bring it inside」
「Thank you. I will wait」
Now then, let's look at Iris. Ara, she's still absentminded.
「Baasan, here」
A voice appears from outside. s.h.i.+en brought the hot water.
「Thank you. I'm sorry for taking up your time」
I say my grat.i.tude first and receive the cups.
「How's Iris?」
「She's fine since she woke up. I will let her drink to calm down, then we will talk」
「Don't go too far this time」
「Yes. I will be careful」
As expected, it's unreasonable to push Iris in such condition.
When I sit next to Iris with cups in my hands…… I could feel Iris s.h.i.+ver in a startle……
「Here, Iris」