425 # 406 Trial of the fox.txt (1/2)

When I open my eyes, it looks like the same place I came from in my previous ordeal. However, there is a love fire next to it.

''I'm anxious to know what kind of ordeal I'm going to go through...''

You'll be fine, Koibito... let's go.

Yes!

As I walked with Koibito, I saw Kutenkusama.

It's good to see you. It's been a long time.

''Long time no see. Long time no see, Lord Kutenzu.

”Oh, Mr. Sky Skylark.

Love Fire is too jumpy. I wonder if he's okay. Then Kutenmu-sama laughed.

You don't need to be that nervous. It's just a matter of drinking this, even if you say it's an ordeal.

I was served a sake cup filled with clear water. It's not alcohol, is it?

It's a special type of water called sensui water. In order to become a hermit, you have to drink this water.

Are you sure you want to just drink this?

Yes.

Okay, okay!　I'll take it.

When Love Fire drinks all at once, Love Fire falls over. It's still alcohol!

However, something happens to the fallen love-fire. The black miasma overflows from her body and her hair turns black. And even the miko's clothes turned black.

What is this? It doesn't look like it's a runaway... but the blackened love fire gets up.

'I'm finally out. Totally...it's a tangled mess of playing nice.

Ren... love fire?

Hmm?　What the hell are you looking at? You can't pat me on the head if you don't have time to look.

Um... well... what do you want me to do, pet him?

Mmm... and the tail as well.

No, if you asked me to pet you, I would.

”...

”Oh, love fire?　It's about time I got tired, okay?

Permission for someone to take a break? Just keep going.

Don't be ridiculous.

No, that's just not possible.

You've got guts, don't you?

You couldn't do it even if you had the guts. What's more, what's this? Love Fire's use of language is weird...

You are the shadow of love, the hidden side of love that you don't usually show.

Is that what you really think? I wanted to, but I couldn't...

What is this old hag trying to explain to me? It's dumb.

Love fire...I don't think that's a good word to say.

I'm sure you wouldn't understand, but it's part of our job...bear with me, please. You can't be a little girl, but this is my job. Your ordeal is to keep her from going out of control.

What if we don't let this kid run wild? Then it's easy. I sit down on my haunches.

”What the hell are you sitting on? Stand up and stroke me, sir.

I told you I was tired.　Now come on over here.

What do you plan to do? Are you s*xually harassing me?

You know the hard word. But you're worried about s*xual harassment when you're begging me to pet your tail.

I force a wary love fire to kneel down and stroke his head.

''Oh...this...this...is...that...is...who told you to do the knee pillow?''

Or would you rather not?

...... I didn't tell you to stop.

Somehow I think I know how to handle this love fire. It's a bit of a mouthful, but I guess it's basically love fire.

Love Fire's pampered character is also found in the naming, Black Love Fire. It's just that she can't be spoiled honestly, but still feels like she's going to say it out loud.

When she says it out loud, she'll spoil it honestly, but sometimes she'll be hesitant. As a result, Black Love Fire must have become this kind of personality. If the essence is a pampered child, if you let her be pampered, she won't go out of control. The rest is up to Love Fire.

On the other hand, Love Fire was watching the whole thing with his other self.

''Hey, what are you doing!　It's not fair to have your brother Takuto petting your head and tail like that!

That's not true. That's what my brother Tact did to me. If you want me to do it, you shouldn't say it out loud.

Well, that may be true, but...

It's time to stop worrying about the people around you. The important thing is to be honest... you can't protect your brother Tact with this kind of situation. If you can't protect it, how will you take responsibility for it?

Love Fire can't say anything back. It's because Love Fire knows her own weakness. I'm afraid of others...I don't want everyone to hate me. That may be an emotion that everyone has.

But that's a weakness, Black Love Fire told him clearly. And he told her that that weakness would hurt him one day. That's what Koibito also thought, and it was something he had always turned his back on.

''If you want to be strong, you should throw away that weakness here and now. If you can't do that, then from today I'll protect your brother Takuto.