Chapter 238 (2/2)

「Paula is… important to me. So much so that I don't want anyone else to have her.」

「That's not love?」

「It's a little different. It's like… Uhm… Nah, you might hate me for saying it.」

「I would never hate you. Just be honest with me.」

「Um, yes. Let's see… It's more like I want to monopolize her. I'd be furious if a girl who likes me was taken by someone else, even though I'll never answer her feelings. I know I'm just being selfish.」

Hikaru was disgusted with himself, at how self-centered he was.

「No, you're not being selfish, and I'm sure Paula would be happy to hear that. I'm not asking you to do anything. Since we never stay in one place, I just figured it would be better if we had Paula with us. If things stayed the way they are, she would've fell apart.」

Wow, Hikaru thought. Lavia was more focused on the future than he was and she had a firm grasp of their situation. She even tried to find a solution. It was hard to believe she was the youngest of the three.

「I'm kinda selfish too. I was glad to find out she kissed you, but I also feel a little jealous.」Lavia said as she forced a smile.

「Hikaru-sama? What's the matter?」

『His mind is somewhere else, obviously.』

「No, it's not. The jar of dried fruits we just bought is in there somewhere. You can ahead and eat them.」

『Really?! You say some pretty good things once in a while!』

Drake jumped from Paula's neck and scuttled into the next room.

「All right. That's the nuisance gone.」

「You've been treating Drake roughly lately.」

「You look like an evil villain right now, Hikaru-sama.」

Wow, rude. I just don't feel the need to be reserved around him anymore. I mean, Drake's the one who was pretty blunt right from the start, Hikaru thought as he took out a bag made of smooth cloth. Inside were small bracelets about two centimeters wide. The words “New Moon Star” was etched into them, their party name.

「Ah…」

Paula was surprised. She knew where they bought these, in a jewelry store in Scholarzard. She saw Hikaru and Lavia in there looking at bracelets. But Hikaru took out three of them from the bag.

「Our birthdays are one month apart. I figured they'd be perfect for birthday presents.」

「I-Is this for me?」Paula asked.

「Yup. For all three members of our party.」

Tears welled up in her eyes as Paula received the bracelet. She thought they would buy two and wear them as a couple. But she was wrong.

「Thank you! Thank you sho much!」Paula said, choking back tears.

Hikaru gave a wry smile.「Let's try them on. If they don't fit, we'll have to make some adjustments.」

「I'll adjust the size of my arm for it!」

「You know that's impossible…」

Fortunately, they all fit. Hikaru felt somewhat embarra.s.sed. Lavia was ecstatic, while Paula stared at the bracelet, wiping tears off with a handkerchief.

「All right. Let's check the city out.」

「Yeah, let's go.」

「Okay!」

『W-Wait for me!』Drake came rus.h.i.+ng from the next room.

「Oops. Forgot about you.」

『Meanie!』

「Just kidding. Let's go.」

And so three people and one small creature headed out to the festive streets of the capital.

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