Chapter 59 - Volume 4 (1/2)

Request: Wolf’s POV and Lovey-Dovey

I realized with a start that Lycoris, who was walking forward, was walking slower than her usual. When I studied her carefully, I saw she had furrowed her brows slightly the instant her right foot touched the ground.

「Lycoris？」

Hearing the firm tone in my voice, her expression looked liked a child caught doing mischief. She had an anxious expression on her face that seemed to say 『what if he gets really angry?』.

If she knows I can’t act stern when she was making that expression, then I think I’ll be just a little vexed.

「What happened to your right foot？」

「Ah, uhm, it’s not a big deal or anything……」

As Lycoris said that, her gaze roamed to the sides. An action that seemed to unconsciously ask someone for help, but unfortunately, it was just the two of us right now. Because of an errand we were tasked to do by the teachers, we had headed to a place that didn’t have many of the regular students on our way back home. It was out of the way of the area of activity of many of the students, so there weren’t any pedestrian traffic.

Having remembered this as well, Lycoris looked resigned.

「It seems my new shoes don’t quite fit. The size should have been just right but it’s a little tight on the heel……」

I knitted my brows. Though I’d like to have a word with the person who made her shoes, there was a bigger problem than that. It was the fact that she’d tried to hide it from me.

「……for now, why don’t you take off your shoe」

When I kneeled down and said this, so that she’d hold onto my shoulder for support, Lycoris reached out her hand shyly.

Once I got her to remove her shoe, I saw that her heel had certainly swollen red, it wasn’t enough to turn into a wound, but it was warm to the touch.

「Sorry, Wolf. I was thinking I’d just bear with it a little until we get back to the dorm. … I mean, even if I ask you to leave me here and bring back another pair–」

「I’ll firmly object」

「See?」

「It can be settled if I carry you」

I thought it was quite a reasonable suggestion, but she immediately shook her head.

「No, that would be too much. I’d feel too guilty. To put it bluntly, I don’t think my weight is something that can be easily picked up.……And I’ve been gaining weight recently. Even if you say you’ve been training, I’m also pretty tall. Frankly, I am a big woman, after all. So……」

「Lycoris. I’ll be straight with you, I want to hold you in my arms and carry you. …That’s why, your response should just be whether you’ll『 allow』 or 『refuse』 it」

She turned red and mumbled a tiny 「Uu……」 .

There was another little dispute over whether to carry her on my back or in front, but it was easy to persuade her who felt obliged to 『receiving assistance』 .

Held up in my arms, Lycoris appeared to be troubled over what to do with her arms that were moving freely while she was stiff with nervousness.

「……Lycoris. It’s easier if you put as much of your weight on me」

Having nothing to lose, I went ahead and said it.

Surprisingly, she quickly nodded, and leaned a bit of her weight to lean on my shoulder. It seemed I might end up saying something unnecessary if I opened my mouth, so I wordlessly carried her and started walking.

When we made a bit of progress, she spoke to me at a position close to my ear.

「Hey, Wolf, uhm… so what do you think of this?」

「Hm?　……Let’s see. I feel this moment is much more satisfying than having the world in my hand」

「A-a magnificent answer like that wasn’t what I expected ……aren’t I heavy？」

Aah, so she was concerned over that.

「Let’s see, I doubt I could run very long if you tell me to dash with all my might while holding you in my arms… but if I’m simply walking with some rest in between, I could probably climb a mountain like this」

Upon my honest reply, Lycoris looked pleased and she let out a small breath of relief.

「I don’t think you’re heavy at all, though」