Vol 5 Chapter 2 (2/2)
I answered after thinking briefly Indeed, that would not be classified as a couple
”Unless we can act natural while staying conscious of each other, on't look like a couple Please get used to this”
”Aren't you setting the bar too high?”
I doubted if there was a need to be so thorough, but Lisa shook her head in disagreement
”No, o that far So let us do our best I-I feel embarrassed too”
Perhaps due to nervousness, Lisa's ar faintly
Indeed, since Lisa was pushi+ng her so much already, I must not lose to her
”—Got it, then let's do our best”
To cal Lisa, I smiled at her
”Oh V-Very well”
Lisa paused for a reed
In thisthe road that followed the island's outline
The shore becaradually went uphill
Before long, we had gotten quite far fro cliffs
Since I had uess fro distance, we had probably circled halfway around the island
Fros The inland side consisted of a dense jungle
”—Here it is”
However, Lisa stopped walking in this place where there was nothing
”Huh? I don't suppose we're entering the jungle?”
”No, look down the cliff”
Lisa approached an unfenced part of the cliff side and urged me to look down
I did as she instructed, leaned over the fencing and looked down the cliff
The fringing reef jutted high above the sea surface These rocks enclosed a portion of the sea to fore of the inlet was a beach where gentle waves broke over it
”Wow That kind of place is normally quite difficult to find”
”And that is why it is a specially treasured location Come, ill descend”
”Descend But there's no path?”
Seeingaround in puzzlement, Lisa smiled wryly
”If there's no path, just fly down It is within our power as Ds Could you please hold this for a moment?”
Lisa handed , then pushed her empty hand forward
”—Gungnir!”
Accompanied by a stern shout, Lisa's fictional arolden spear composed of dark matter, she point at the basket in my hand
”Do not drop that basket no o”
Lisa took ether, By trans dark matter into air, she created air currents to fly
Due tocapacity, I could not achieve such a skill, hence I still had not gotten used to this floating feeling yet
I hugged the basket tightly to prevent it fro journey to end
”There—We have arrived”
The feeling of sand underfoot was accoh of relief
Then I looked across the inlet
This place ider than reatly inwards near the bottom, which hy this place was hard to see from above
”It feels like a secret base”
”Well, that is true indeed, because this is a secret location that only Ds capable of flight may enter”
”You can't get here by boat?”
”No, there areDue to turbulent waves outside of the inlet, swierous”
Lisa answeredher fictional armament to transmute a vinyl sheet to spread on the beach Then she snatched the basket from my hand
”What's inside the basket?”
”I' yet You'll find out later Please focus on the special training right now Since there is no fear of being seen by others here, we can do e as much as required”
”E-Es?”
Lisa's wording caused o wild My face involuntarily heated up
”I et the wrong idea!”
”I-I know Then what kind of special training is next?”
Hearing me ask that, Lisa placed the basket on the vinyl sheet and took off her hat
”Speaking of what could be done here, there's only one thing, right?”
Blushi+ng intensely, Lisa untied the shoulder strap of her dress
As she pulled the neckline of her dress open, pale skin and her cleavage instantly entered my view
”Huh? W-What are you doing—”
”Do you even need to ask? Y-You too, strip now”
”Strip!?”
Lisa kept stealing glances at me Shyly, she clutched the heradually lifted up her skirt
Seeing those very soft-looking thighs gradually exposed, I could not help but gulp
”Q-Quit staring atslowly feels evenIn that case, I'll simply do it in one fell swoop!”
”Wait—”
Then Lisa re swimsuit look before my eyes
”Huh?”
I involuntarily made a stupid sound while Lisa stared at me in amazement
”Why are you so surprised? Iyou to put on sear before coht?”
”Oh Now that you mention it, that's true”
My brain was totally sluggish due to nervousness, even to the point of forgetting I had couess Lisa was occupying soelse
Hence, I hastily took offout Lisa's swimsuit look
Her black swimsuit was extremely skimpy Her voluptuous breasts al to pop out
”That swiood on you I can't described it very well—Anyway, it's very attractive”
Before I got reminded this time, I hastily took initiative and stammered in praise of Lisa's swimsuit
”T-Thank you for the compliment”
Even so, I suppose Iher chest with her arms, Lisa thanked me
Thus, we stared at each other's sear
Due to Lisa fidgeting aardly, her boso intensely
It looked extraordinarily sexy, ree
”Next coht?”
Since Lisa did not speak for a long time, I took initiative to ask
If this continued, with us face to face in our sear, et abnormal
”N-No, swi We need to frolic on the beach like a couple Hence—This comes first”
Saying that, Lisa handed a small tube to me
”Sunscreen?”
An idea occurred to me as I read out the words on the tube, then I looked at Lisa
”—You seem to understand S-So, please do the honors”
Lisa nodded with a blush then lay down forward on the vinyl sheet
The beautiful lines fro sunscreen in my hand, I froze
”What's the matter? Hurry, no need to be shy I have prepared myself already”
”O-Okay”
Hurried by Lisa, I nervously knelt down beside her
Seeing the pale and flawless skin before ulped involuntarily
”You only need to apply it on my back I've done the rest of my body already”
”—Got it”
Squeezing sunscreen onto my palm I cautiously touched Lisa's back
”Hyah!”
Lisa cried out and her body shook
”What's wrong?”
”N-Nothing, I simply cried out reflexively”
”Then I'll keep going”
Touching Lisa's back, I smoothed out the sunscreen
My heart accelerated on its ohile I was feeling Lisa's warm and smooth skin directly
”Mmm Ah I-It tickles a bit”
Lisa e it impossible for me to calm down
Perhaps because of that, I applied too much force andLisa's wonderfully shaped bottom I breasts
”Hyau!? W-Where do you think you're groping!?”
Lisa julared at me, her face red to her ears
”S-Sorry, my hand slipped”
”Honestly?”
”I', please believe me”
I explained desperately then Lisa exhaled deeply
”I understand—I shall assume it is so And if ere a couple, that level of skin contact is only nore”
Lisa grabbed my arm and went towards the sea
Acco sounds, we entered the shallows to ankle depth, then Lisa released me and said:
”I've heard that couples would play around on the beach by splashi+ng each other We will put that into action right now Mononobe Yuu, please get ready”
”Huh? O-Okay”
Urged by Lisa, I bent down and dipped my hands into the water
”—Let us begin, take that!”
Scooping up seawater, Lisa threater at me
”T-Take that”
I imitated Lisa and splashed water at her
However, after repeating the sahly five times, Lisa cocked her head incredulously
”It does not feel particularly fun Is there so?”
”No, but if you ask that, I'd feel very troubled too”
I looked away and changed the subject
I could not bringher boso in a trance
”Hmm~ Perhaps we need to think outside the box a little But even so, what other ways are there?”
Saying that, Lisa crossed her arms and contemplated
Seeing Lisa ponder silently, always treating everything so seriously without exception, I could not help but smile wryly
”—Have you been here many times, Lisa?”
”Huh? Y-Yes, I coe of pace”
”Then can you tell me what do you usually do for fun where you're here, Lisa? Couples pretty ht?”
Hearingiained her senses and pointed at er
”I-I know that too! However Surely you cannot understand my manner of entertainment”
”How can we knoe don't try it? What needs to be done? Tell me”
After I asked her repeatedly, Lisa spoke hesitantly
”Just floating, that's all”
”Floating?”
”Relaxing on the sea, just floating on your back, doing nothing Since the waters are cal washed out to sea”
”—Got it, let's do it together”
Taking Lisa by the arm, I headed for the sea
”A-Are you really fine with it? Are you really fine with floating on the water until you're tired of it?”
”Don't worry, I don't dislike doing nothing”
Going slightly farther, our feet could no longer reach the bottom, so Lisa and I swam to the center of the inlet
”I always float around here, but I still don't think it feels couple-like”
”Then let's hold hands That on't drift apart and it's more couple-like”
I held Lisa's hand and floated onthe balance properly, I wouldn't sink
”F-For a suggestion from you, this is pretty smart”
Lisa cluripped my hand in return and floated beside me
What entered my eyes was a clear blue color
The sky dominated my entire view
I could see clouds drift by, slowly changing shape
Holding hands with Lisa, I felt her body warmth pass to me
”Oh—So this is the kind of feeling you enjoy, Lisa”
Completely relaxed, I remarked
Due to the water's high te soaked in ater
”To think you are capable of understanding the ”
Lisa's reply did not sound as stiff as before
Without any particular reason, I looked in Lisa's direction, only to see her facing me as well
Our gazes met She chuckled ”fufu” then smiled faintly
A smile surfaced naturally on my face too
—What joy
It was clearly nothing , but that hat I truly felt
This was the first time ever that I felt so close to Lisa
In this e of time
But before either of us got bored or exhausted, the end came
Rumble, a cute stomach sound reached my ears amidst the sound of waves
I looked to the side and saw Lisa holding her stoone red
”T-Time for lunch In fact, I made sandwiches”
Lisa spoke rapidly to s up
”—So that's what the basket contained”
”Indeed that it is the case You should gratefully try out ”
Part 6
”Come, bon appetit”
Sitting on the vinyl sheet, Lisa nervously opened the basket
Inside were crooked looking sandwiches and a small water bottle
”How should I put this? The sandwiches look really handmade”
”No need to force yourself to search for words of praise I'ood I've never cooked before so this cannot be helped Come—This is black tea”
Lisa spoke sulkily then poured black tea from the water bottle into a cup
”Thanks, then I'll begin”
Taking a crooked looking sandwich, I brought it to my mouth”
”How is the taste?”
Lisa gulped and observed my reaction
I had picked a tuna salad sandwich The instant I took a bite, the fresh juices of vegetables and the savory richness of tuna expanded in my mouth
”It's good”
I said my words almost subconsciously, then stuffed the entire sandwich in my mouth
”You're not just being polite?”
”No, it really does taste good If it's this kind of food, I can eat an unlimited amount of it”
I replied while picking up a second and a third sandwich
”Really? Then my efforts are rewarded”
Lisa see a sandwich too
”It tastes so good even though you're clearly a beginner I think you're a”
”Because it's just ordinary sandwiches Anyone cana recipe”
Lisa turned the head away coldly and replied, but I could sense her joy vaguely from the mood
Having spent soether on the sea just now, it seerown much closer than before
There were also egg sandwiches, fruit sandwiches and others While we tried out all sorts of flavors, the basket soon became empty before we knew it
”Hoo~ I'reat stuff”
Finishi+ng Lisa's sandwiches, I thanked her
”I'lad you're satisfied”
”Now all you need to improve is the appearance”
”—I will hone my culinary skills from now on Seriously, could you keep that comment to yourself?”
Lisa poutedup
Putting the water bottle and the cups back into the basket, she closed the lid Watching her, I asked about as next
”Then what's next? Want to go for a brief swiestion?”
Ie and said solemnly:
”We could do that—But personally, I'd like to hear about your matter now”
Lisaher knees up to her chest, she stared at , I felt my heart speed up
”My matter?”
”Indeed, I would like to knohat is troubling you”
Hearing her say that, I understood she wanted me to explain what I wanted to discuss with her
”It's better to save it for later If I brought it up now, it'll probably ruin the ”
Since what I wanted to discuss was quite a grave matter, it would surely disrupt the current atmosphere if I told her
However, Lisa shook her head
”No—Since it is troubling you that seriously, then I must ask you to tell me now all the more I will listen to your troubles as if I were your lover”
Lisa urged me in a sincere tone of voice
From her words, I could hear that she truly cared aboutinside
Most likely fro this as part of the special training, intending to hear my troubles
I had said earlier that we had to share joys to look like a couple, then as a couple, it was only natural to share each other's troubles as well
If Lisa believed that this was a necessary process in order to act more like a couple, I probably should not be too apprehensive
”So, a lot of the storyto you But please hear me out”
”Very well, leave it to me I shall take on all of your troubles”
Lisa thu that massive boso to confess my secret to her
Three years ago, I had drasil in order to repel Hekatonkheir that was invadingdata on pre-civilization weapons, on armaments
But in exchange, I lost a portion of my memories
Then during the respective battles against Leviathan and Hrasvelegr, I had sought neer in the sa more of my memories—
I recounted everything in order
Lisa's face went pale initially and asked le word
The expression on her face rese at me, she listened silently to me
”—And this is how I can no longer recall any of the past beyond three years ago”
I told her the current state of affairs then voiced s
”Initially, I thought it was a price I had to pay to obtain power, so previously, I had already given up on the memories But Iris, the only one who knows about this, vowed to help me recover myI can, so—”
”So that is why you sought me to discuss this”
Lisa finished my sentence
Her voice was clearly filled with anger
Despite feeling myself cower for an instant, I still nodded and admitted it
”That's right”
—Smack!
I felt an impact on my left cheek Lisa had slapped me
Nored reflexively
But seeing the tears flowing of Lisa's eyes, I could not move at all
”In any case—whether as lovers or classed this as the appropriate response”
Holding the hand that had slapped ainst her chest, Lisa quietly told me
”Yeah, I think you're right”
Feeling the nureed with Lisa
”Although Mitsuki-san, who shoulders many mental burdens alone, is also quite a nuisance—Your proble on your own to pay a price, deciding on your own to protect us, deciding on your own to suffer alone How can you be so selfish!+?”
Lisa scoldedfrom her eyes
”—Sorry”
”Rather than apologize, why didn't you ask for my advice earlier!? At least if you had confessed to ht have been another solution, more or less”
Lisa showed chagrin on her face while her shoulders kept shaking
”Sorry, it's not that I don't trust you, Lisa, but I absolutely don't want Mitsuki to know That's why I couldn't speak out lightly”
I apologized to her again
”If Mitsuki-san learns of this, she will surely be ry and saddened than me—and hurt far deeper But even so, I would think that she still hopes you will confess everything to her”
Lisa spoke bitterly then glared at me
”—Lisa, you think that I should tell Mitsuki too?”
”If I had accepted your request for a discussion as your classht have insisted on that already However, I airlfriend Hence, I will respect your wishes”
Although Lisa did not sees, she still said that to me
”Thank you, Lisa”
”It is too early for thanks I still haven't offered any suggestions about what you ca, I never expected such a difficult problem”
Lisa exhaled as though to calm down her turbulent emotions and wiped her tears aith the back of her hand
I felt sincerely grateful to Lisa whose eyes had reddened slightly fro
”Goodness gracious It would be troubling if you were satisfied with this Since you are relying on ht not be possible immediately, I will try to find clues to help recover yourall possibilities”
After declaring that, Lisa changed postures, fro formally in seiza
”So—In any case, you should lie down on my lap”
'Huh? W-Why do I have to do that?”
I was troubled to hear such a sudden suggestion I kept looking back and forth between her pale thighs and her face
”Just noas scolding you as your lover, so next, I will console you Now then, hurry and lie down”
Lisa pulled round with my head on her lap
The soft feeling of her thighs and the bodily fragrance fro my heart pound intensely
Looking up, the htly squeezed by her swimsuit
”Uh L-Lisa?”
I called her naently on my forehead
”Even at the cost of sacrificing precious things, you decided to protect us—I ah it is iht have lost precious family already”
Lisa stroked entle tone of voice
”YouBecause you've worked so hard from the past all the way to the present, so even if it's just for now, please allow your body and mind to rest I will stay here by your side”
”Oh”
Her words permeated into the depths ofto the bottoradually disappear
Lisa strokedme so comfortable that I had to close my eyes
”You can sleep if you wish Right now, there is no one in this world who treasures you more thanto me”
Guiding entle words made me fall asleep naturally
Thus, I slept peacefully on her lap By the time I woke up, it was already dusk
”—Sorry, I slept too soundly Your legsfor you”
Along the way back, I apologized to Lisa alking by my side
Back when I ca” with a size to her
”I switched postures several tiet nus to contemplate, so I didn't feel bored either”
Back to her hat and white sundress getup, Lisa replied while facing forward And of course, I was back inin sear
”Were you thinking of what I discussed with you?”
”Yes, and there was also watching your sleeping face I don't think I can ever tire of it, you know?”
While walking arm in arm with me as e started the day, Lisa s the empty basket
”Does my face look that weird?”
”Rather than weird, it would be more apt to call it childish It's al afternoon naps, very adorable”
”Urgh”
I felt extreht that I had shown such a vulnerable expression
”Fufu, perhaps I should take a photo if there is a chance next time”
”Please, anything but that”
While ere chatting like that, we reached the spot where we met up by the time we realized
Lisa swiftly released my arm and separated from me
I felt a little unsettled that Lisa's body warmth, which had accompanied me for the whole day, had left me
”—This ends today's special training Thank you for acco me”
”Oh no, I'm the one who needs to thank you”
Seeing Lisa thank me solemnly, I scratchedfor the second half, I felt quite bad about that
”On rasp on behavior expected of couples How about you?”
”Well, le arress”
Hearing my reply, Lisa nodded with satisfaction
”Judging fros look, there shouldn't be a proble We will continue to practice”
”Huh? More practice?”
”Naturally, we et complacent before the real event Nevertheless, ill probably be using pockets of free ti for the school festival to revise a bit of e did today, so it won't take up your time”
Lisa replied confidently with her head high then said with a serious expression:
”In fact, I originally intended to have ht now, your matter is ether all known inforon still holds the key”
”Yeah, I'll review the lecture notes from all the lessons so far”
Indeed, researching the other party would a basic thing to do, yet until now, I never even thought of investigating Yggdrasil
Or rather—For soate
Perhaps just as Iris pointed out, otten to an unnatural extent
—Suspicion, unnecessary
”?”
I seemed to hear a tiny voice, so I looked around but there was no one else along the seashore path or on the beach
”What's the matter?”
Lisa asked curiously
”No, nothing, I guess it was ination”
”Is that so? Then I shall take my leave here See you in school on Monday”
”Yeah, see you”
Lisa turned around and left after I replied
I watched her depart until she vanished on the far end of the road that traced out gentle curves, then started walking to return to Mitsuki's dorm
But in that instant, my vision suddenly shook
—Rectification
”Gah”
A moment's dizziness
I steadiedimmediately and did not allow myself to fall
Was it the result of sleeping outdoors? I shook my head
—Huh? Speaking of which, I think I was planning to do soet back
I seeate, but could not recall what it was
Whatever, it was probably nothing i about it
Part 7
On the Monday after Lisa's special training, Brynhildr Class officially began to work in preparation for the the school festival
That being said, since the ordered supplies had not arrived, costuin yet
Hence, the first thing to do was cooking practice—
”I-I' to cut it now? Can I cut it like this?”
Holding a kitchen knife unsteadily, Iris asked Mitsuki as supervising everyone
”Ahhh, wait! Did I notthe food stationary needs to be closed, held like a cat's paw!?”
Mitsuki corrected Iris with great alarm on her face
”Tia will add the seaweed!”
”Stop! Too much! It expands suddenly in hot water, so just a little is enough!”
This ti Tia's actions
What could I say? Watching the girls was radually unsure of the outcome
We were gathered in the home economics classroo out siredients or equipment we lacked was taken from Mitsuki's dorm<>