Chapter 307 – Dear Master (1/2)

「What are you saying, spouse?!」

「Huh? You don’t want to spend more time with her?」

「That…」

She began to speak, but then seemed to stumble over her words.

THAT’S NOT TRUE! Is what she had started to say, but then realized she wasn’t totally against it.

She moved her lips like a goldfish, unable to find the correct words.

Taiyou sat down next to her, and squished her cheeks with his fingers.

「You know…there’s something I was always wondering.」

「W, what?」

「Why are you calling me spouse all the time?」

「Huh?」

「Like what are you saying, spouse, are you being stupid, spouse, I really HATE YOU SPOUSE, and so on.」

「I’ve never said the last one!」

She denied as strongly as possible.

It was cute, so Taiyou softly smiled at her.

「Really? Well, whatever, that’s not a big a detail as you calling me spouse all the time.」

「But you always call me you, instead.」

「Well, yeah, if you’re right in front of me, I do. Otherwise I always use your name. What do you do? Like if you’re talking to Kohaku and I’m not there and something about me comes into your conversation.」

「Um…」

「Like, do you say, that guy, or something?」

「Well…」

「I mean, it’s no big deal to me, do whatever, but you could be a little more intimate when you talk to me.」

「Well, I don’t know what to say to that.」

Youran puffed out her cheeks a bit and turned her face away.

Her face was flushed red, and where Taiyou touched her was hot.

She must have been quite embarrassed.

「Well, let me give you an example, and you can think it over.」

「Example?」

「For example, I usually call you Youran when you’re not around, but maybe I’ll call you Ran-chan instead from now on?」

「R…Ran-chan?」

「Or maybe Yuri-chan…like Hera calls you.」

「Stop…really, I want you to stop.」

「Or maybe Shingetsu-sama?」

「I don’t like that either.」

「You really are stubborn. Then Ran-tan?」

「Even worse.」

「My lovely angel Ran-tan…」

「Why do you call me Ran-tan?!」

「I guess you don’t like stuff like that, huh?」

Usually Kohaku or Hera would get into conversation like this, Taiyou thought, laughing.

「Well, let’s stop joking then. Just think it over. I just don’t want us talking like some kind of old couple already.」

「…」

Youran stretched out and looked up at Taiyou.

She looked totally changed, with silent eyes.

She must be thinking it over, Taiyou thought as he looked her over.

They looked into each other’s eyes, quietly, for a time.

Finally, Youran opened her mouth to speak.

「If you call me like that, you won’t mind?」

「Hm?」

Taiyou looked at her, confused, wondering what she meant.

「I’m okay with anything.」

「Yeah…」

「What, what is it that you want me to call you?」

「Well…」

「Say it! Say it, and I’ll see how I feel about it.」

「No, nothing…never mind. I’ll think of something else.」

「Yooouran…」

She tried to turn away from him, but he put both arms around her and turned her back.

He looked straight in her eyes and said,

「Tell me.」

「Ya…」

She seemed to squirm, uncomfortably.

She must be extremely embarrassed to say it, and she was genuinely flustered.