Chapter 22 (1/2)

「What happened? Is there something that worries you?」

「Yeah I got em. Tis plentiful.」

Am I perhaps being doubted?

I thought they had opened their hearts but maybe that was wishful thinking.

「Yuuto or whatever your name is… what the h.e.l.l art thou?」

Tamamo said so and glared at me. She was ascertaining me out of the corner of her eye while staring pointedly.

Her wariness was raised and she sent a sharp gaze towards me.

「We art terribly ugly, you say we art cute? I understand Inaba's Demon Eye shows your true feelings but…」

They are vigilant towards me who can embrace them without ill feelings.

My act of love is suspicious. Even though this is my responsibility, I completely forgot about it.

「Certainly my values are weird. But, I haven't thought about hurting you girls. Is there any problems?」

「Tis so, there is no problem but… tis abnormal. Tis my intuition.」

「Intuition, you say…?」

As expected it is her intuition, even if you say that, it is troubling.

I didn't answer anything back but apart from that Tamamo threw away my words from earlier.

「You-, art thou hiding something from us?」

The words she suddenly threw at me gave me a fright.

I grasp those pounding, piercing arrows of words tightly and I pretend to be calm as I begin to speak.

「I am only a merchant. I am not hiding anything.」1

I try to answer as if there was nothing wrong to the best of my ability. Because I think this is the most important thing.

But… it's heavy. I am keenly feeling the weight of lying to my loved ones.

「…You're lying.」

At that time I tried my best to just not show my face.

Aa, I see. It is because Inaba is here.

It is an ability that is much higher in performance than Nina's observing eye.

I click my tongue in my innermost thoughts. I ended up clicking my tongue without feeling shy.

The instant the lie was found out, Tamamo's doubt changed to conviction.

「Why didst thou lie just now? Thou being a merchant tis doubtful… What art thou in reality?」

What should I do… Would they believe I am a person from a different world?

The problem is after that.

They won't do something like believe I am strange in the head, right?

I don't understand that so I don't want to say anything foolish.

「…」

To tell the truth, I am scared. I am scared I will lose everything.

But is that really true? Is there proof that they won't find a single particle weird?

Rather than saying something absurd like I come from a different world, I thought it would be better to deceive her by being a merchant pa.s.sing by.

I was afraid that the girls would get scared of my mysterious existence.

「…What happened? Why aren't thou saying anything?」

I continued to be silent. I closed my mouth, I could only think of excuses.

Tamamo and Inaba's gaze became completely pointed.

But.

「You two, please wait.」

Nina stopped the two.

When we did so, Nina talked with a sweet smile.

「…I already knew Yuuto was lying.」

「Eh?」

I don't understand what Nina said.

Since when? And then, knowing that, what does she think of me?

Right now, I don't understand what Nina is thinking. I, don't understand.

「FuFuu, your clothes gave you away. At first I also didn't realize but Yuuto was surprisingly careless there.」

The smiling Nina said that. Her usual smiling face was radiant.

When I stayed silent, Nina continued.

「I couldn't believe that someone like Yuuto who would accept me that much could be a bad person.

『Nina is prettier than anyone else.』… even though you were almost killed, you protected me.

That's why I thought I wanted to believe Yuuto.」

「…」

Nina's words made me relieved and very happy.

Surely, my feelings of ugliness and self-deprecation are the same as hers in the past.

Aira faced towards the cowardly me, and the silent Aira opened her mouth.

「If you say that, then it is like that for me too.

Yuuto showed my ugly self compa.s.sion and embraced me with my s.e.xual desire as it was.

It made me super happy… Honestly-, it saved me.」

「Aira…」

Inaba looked like she wanted to completely cling to them at once.

But, I still felt like a serious coward.

I no longer wanted to lie to these girls that told me they love me.

That's why I continue to look downwards and open my mouth. This time, I will show you my resolution.

「I am… not someone from this world.」

A commotion spreads between the girls.

But Nina and Aira for some reason didn't look that surprised.

「I am a person from a different world. It's weird, huh.

But, I love everyone, you're lovely, and I want to embrace you all.

Also you may not be able to believe such an absurd thing.

I'm sorry… even if you believe me, I'm so sorry.」

Tamamo looks at Inaba to get a confirmation.

Inaba opened her mouth—but Nina stopped her.

「It's alright you two… it's not a lie.

Even though I can't see things like feelings, I understand this much. After all—-」