Didn’t I Tell You?

They sold the remaining armor too, split the reward in two, and Kikori parted ways with Kuon.

Feeling an oddly ticklish sensation at the promise to meet again tomorrow, Kikori looked up at the sky.

There was still time before sunset.

More specifically, it would still be a while before Aria’s shift ended.

“…What is this? No—this is on me for just going along with it, but…”

He was already starting to lose his resistance to living with Aria.

If he had to say whether he liked it or hated it, he liked it.

He didn’t want her to dislike him.

Because she was the first person in his life who had kept him warm.

‘I’ll learn. Not just hide it. I’ll learn, and fill myself with new knowledge until old memories don’t even surface.’

Back in that village, he couldn’t do that.

There was no need to read, and in the first place, no one lived a life that involved letters.

There was something like a holy scripture in the temple, but that was something the priest kept carefully stored away.

There was no way he’d ever have a chance to read it.

No—maybe that was just an excuse too. Had he been so focused on only one thing—leaving that village—that he’d failed to see everything else?

The swirling self-loathing suddenly dissipated at the sensation of a finger poking his cheek.

“What are you doing, Kikori?”

“…Aria-san. Huh?”

This wasn’t in front of the Adventurers’ Guild, and it wasn’t near Mirgu Weapon Shop either.

Why was Aria here?

“I was going to shop and head home, and there you were looking all moody. Did something happen?”

“…No, nothing. Ah—no.”

“Hm?”

“I made a companion.”

“A girl?”

“A guy. A cat beastman… named Kuon.”

“Ah, I know that kid. I think Irene was keeping an eye on him.”

Nodding as if it all made sense, Aria held out her hand to Kikori.

“Well, tell me about that later too. Let’s shop and go home.”

The offered hand. He hesitated slightly, but when he took it, Aria squeezed his hand tight.

As if being pulled along, Kikori started walking.

The warmth he felt, and Aria’s cheerful smile… all of it filled in “something” inside Kikori.

And that was exactly why he grew anxious at the same time—about the possibility of losing it.

“Aria-san.”

“Mmm?”

“Why are you being this nice to me?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

At Kikori’s question, Aria stopped and tilted her head.

“Because you’re kind of my type, so I figured I’d mark my territory early.”

“No, that’s a joke, right?”

“Mmhmhm—yeah, sure.”

Under the sky that was beginning to darken, Aria smiled.

“I like you quite a bit, you know? Kikori.”

Was that a joke too?

He didn’t know. Kikori didn’t know.

But… Aria didn’t say, “Just kidding.”

Still holding hands, Kikori and Aria headed off to go shopping.