Chapter 165: Intermission / Dragonlike Like a Dragon (2/2)

「Heyyy」

Youran suddenly opened her mouth. This was unusual for her……It was a graceful tone unlike that of Youran or New Moon Director.

The question of what had happened to her was soon cleared.

「So you’re going to make Letii your bride？」

It was the kind of tone for the sake of one’s friend.

Understanding that, Taiyou faced her question with earnestness.

「……」

「Why did you just stop talking? You’re not going to seriously tell me you don’t intend to take responsibility, right」

「Ahh no, I was just hesitating about which way I should answer」

「Which way？」

「You should have been there」

He gave a preface, bringing up a topic out of the blue.

「There？」

「Yes, the time when you infiltrated the research institute to steal data, those were the words that I said to Kohaku-san when she was next to you」

「……Ah」

Thinking a bit, she then gave a start.

She had indeed remembered that time.

「Henceforth, whenever I increase my women……my brides, I’d like to do so with the consensus of everyone. That’s what I said to Kohaku, and I had her wait there for the time being」

「You certainly……did say that」

「Those feelings have still not changed. With Aoba there were circumstances and it ended up being a bit different, but even from now on……No, always from now on, I’m thinking to maintain that principle」

「……」

「So if it were only up to my feelings then I could actually say I’ll take responsibility, but I don’t know what the three sisters Kotone, Suzune, and Kazane as well as Kohaku-san; what all of them would say, as they’re not here. In that sense I can’t give an immediate answer. Which is why I’ve stopped talking」

「I see, so you were trying to protect that」

Still with her back to him, Youran’s voice became even softer.

Her reaction was due to her understanding that that he was at the very least not irresponsibly thinking about her best friend that way.

Taiyou took it as that, so as a matter of course, even though she immediately grew silent after that together with him, the environment wasn’t unpleasant in the slightest.

She was at the very least content, and would not be jumping to any conclusions anytime soon.

With that, the air had become peaceful.

In that atmosphere, Taiyou continued to touch the twintails, and she continued to allow that.

While tugging on her twintails, he continued to stare at her from behind.

Even at a time like this, her posture was straight like she had swallowed a pole.

Taiyou confirmed once again that he liked that.

「Heyyy」

「What？」

「What can I do for you」

「Whaaat？」

Looking over her shoulders, her eyes were asking「The heck are you saying？」.

「I came to this island for Pochi’s……or as you call her, Adashino’s sake. The objective was to make it so that she could live a life under Kohaku-san’s care. But I was wrapped up in various things, did various things, and now here I am」

「Yes, there really was a lot」

「But if I think carefully about it, your problem is more serious. I mean, I still don’t have the full picture but……Ever since I was awake a lot has happened……I don’t know everything, but I can at least tell that your problem is more severe. What can I do for you in a situation like that？」

「You’re talking about lending me your aid？」

「Frankly speaking」

「Why？」

「……」

Various things rushed about the back of Taiyou’s head.

The girls who weren’t here.

The man he had just seen off.

And the girl in front of him.

「I might just like looking at you from behind」

「……」

It was a phrase like a confession, but Youran listened carefull to his words without losing her composure.

「I pointed it out the first time I met you, your back――Your pin-like straightened-out spine, I like the posture you make with that. It became this way because you were at that place, right」

「Yeah」

「If that’s the case, I want to do something for the sake of that」

「You’ll go through peril」

「Something like that isn’t even worth mentioning」

The image of that man went across the back of his mind.

「……Are you being serious when you say that？」

「Yeah」

Taiyou clearly nodded. When he did so, Youran nodded as well, softly brushing away Taiyou’s hands. Her twintails slipped through the palms of his hands. Right after, she had undone her hair.

Spreading out, the long hair enveloped her entire body.

The atmosphere had changed.

Shortly afterward, she spoke with her back facing him.

「My name is Juunishima New Moon Director Youran」

She said.

「……I thank you for your support」

While still noble, the air that had shifted had left a tinge of softness, which was something he had never felt before.