Chapter 236 (2/2)

「You're needed. If you weren't around, Claude might've not survived.」

No. This is not what she wants to hear. What does she want? I don't know.

「So I'm of use to you…?」

「Of course.」

「I see… I'm glad, then.」Paula smiled. But it was clear that she was forcing it.

「…Paula.」

I get it. Now's the time to tell her.

「It's too cold here. Let's go somewhere else.」

「Huh? Hikaru-sama?!」

Hikaru dragged Paula into a nearby room. Dim, orange light filled the entire room as he turned on the magic lamp. It was just as cold here as the hallways, but the room was equipped with a heater. By the wall beside the window was a metal board with oil inside that warmed up when the handlebar was turned.

Hikaru brought two chairs in front of the metal board. He offered the other one to Paula while he himself sat down.

「Hikaru-sama…?」Paula was confused. She didn't why they moved here.

「Paula, I'm not from this world.」

She stiffened at the sudden confession.「H-Hikaru-sama, you—」

「It's true. This body belonged to a boy from this world, but my soul is from another. You saw the notes in Zubura left by Oota Masaki, right? He's j.a.panese and he came from a different world. I came from the same place as him.」

「No! You can't!」Paula rose from her seat.「Don't… Please don't tell me your secret!」

「Paula.」

Hikaru wrapped his hands around hers, as if to calm her down. She sat back down with a thump.

「I've been meaning to tell you… Um, I'm really awful at expressing emotions, but…」he said, turning his face away, and cast a glance at Paula.「I really need you… Not just that, you're important to me. So much so that I don't want others to have you.」

He didn't love her like he did Lavia, but the feelings he had for Paula was more than that of a friend's. When did I start feeling like this about her? he wondered. He just happened to save her once at first. Later on, she became a member of his party. He believed she would never betray him. His heart raced when she got a makeover.

Hikaru needed to think it over. What did he think of her? How should he face her? He had his answer now.

Paula sat there with her mouth open, tears streaming down her face.

「Do you really have to cry?」

「O-Of course… I'm just… so happy…」Paula wiped the tears off with her forefinger.「Can I really stay by your side?」she asked in a sweet, nasally voice.

「Yes.」

「Forever?」

「Sure.」

「Forever and ever and ever?」

「Of course. I'm prepared for it.」

Tears began welling up in her eyes again, but with a red face, she flashed a bright smile.

「Hikaru-sama!」

「Whoa!」

She embraced Hikaru all of a sudden. They almost fell over, but he managed to hang on.

「I-I'm so glad… I always wondered… how long I can stay… can I even stay… I never really thought about it that much before, but recently…」

「…I see.」

It was easy to imagine that Paula felt worried when she saw Claude and Luka. I urged Claude to talk to Luka, when I should've done the same to Paula, Hikaru thought as he gently tapped Paula's back.

He was simply delaying the matter by “trying to find the perfect opportunity” or “tell her once things settled down”. He felt awful as he imagined her suffering all the while.

「I'm so, so happy… I want to be by your side forever…」

「Sure, that's fine by me. You can stay for as long as you like.」

Wait. This sounds like a proposal. Eh, whatever.

「Paula, would you listen to my story? It won't take long. Although it might leave you shocked.」

「I'd be glad to.」Paula pulled herself away slowly then kissed Hikaru on the lips, catching him off guard.

「P-Paula?!」

「Ehehe… This is to make my oath. That I will offer my body and soul to you. Ehehe…」

「B-But you can't just—」

「Ehehehe…」

Hikaru couldn't stop his face from turning red. He was aware of Paula's feelings for him, but she had never expressed it directly as she did now.

「I actually got permission from Lavia… Ehehe…」

「What do you mean?!」

Paula blushed, fidgeting as she held her hands between her thighs.

「Hikaru-sama got my first kiss… Ehehe…」she said, covering her face with both hands this time and flailing her feet about.

Her expression was becoming softer and softer. Hikaru would need a little bit more time before he could tell her the truth.

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