#266: Rurin And The Song (9) — The Archmage's Restaurant

“You know that thing? The song you sang yesterday. It was my favorite.”

“Oh, that one?”

“Yeah. You remember, right?”

“I remember.”

Rurin nodded.

“Do you want to hear it?”

“Yes.”

Since I wanted to hear it, she sang it. Though it was a slightly different kind of wanting to listen. Rurin hummed, furrowed her brows, and said,

“I didn’t really like it.”

“Can you still sing it for me?”

If she didn’t like it, then no. But I wanted to hear it. So I asked her again if she would sing it.

“Alright. If you ask me to sing it, I will.”

Finally, Rurin nodded. Without delay, I found the song and played it. The music started immediately.

This song was one I liked when I was young. It’s past tense because it’s a story from the past.

“There are three bears in one house. Daddy bear, mommy bear, baby bear.”

That makes sense since it’s a children’s song.

“Growing up happily.”

Rurin, having only recently encountered songs, couldn’t distinguish between children’s songs and pop songs. So she sang the whole thing very seriously. Who would laugh at such sincerity?

Because I asked her to sing it, she sang with that earnestness.

“Puhahahaha!”

Of course, despite my thoughts, I couldn’t help but laugh. She was just way too serious.

When “mommy bear, daddy bear, baby bear” came on repeatedly, Rurin was ridiculously adorable.

“What, what’s this? Why are you laughing?”

“Ah, no. It’s just that.”

“Just that? What is it!”

After the song ended, Rurin held the mic and stared blankly at me. When I twitched, she sensed the strange vibe and shouted.

“Ugh? Something’s annoying.”

“No, I’m just laughing because you’re so cute. Our dear is just too cute.”

“Cute? That’s a good thing. Cute is good, so it’s good, but hmm, something about your expression bothers me!”

“Sorry, maybe that’s true. To be honest, the song you just sang is a children’s song sung by little kids.”

“Kids? Like those tiny little ones?”

“That’s right.”

A brief silence began. It lasted for exactly three seconds. Then came an explosion.

“What did you make me sing! I’m not a kid! Ughhhh!”

“Ahhhh, what are you doing?”

Rurin flew through the air, trying to flying kick me. I barely dodged; she landed on the sofa and pouted.

“Just kidding, just kidding. Come here.”

I patted the seat next to me again. Though grumbling, she came closer.

“If that was Red, they’d be dead! But since it’s you, I won’t attack again.”

“Okay, okay. So calm down and since we’re at karaoke, let’s have a proper karaoke contest.”

“A karaoke contest?”

“When you sing at karaoke, you get a score. It’s simple. The higher score wins. If I win, how about canceling the 24-hour sticking together you mentioned before?”

“Grrr? No way! What’s that even like?!”

“You just have to win. But if you win, I’ll extend it to 48 hours. How about that? Forty-eight hours is really long, right? Twenty-four hours is short; just sleeping takes away twelve hours. Hehe. Plus, you sing way better.”

I explained why Rurin had the advantage and that 24 hours was too short, and challenged her. Miserable me. Sob sob.

Honestly, it’d be good if I win the bet and gain freedom, or else it just extends to 48 hours, so I might as well try.

Sticking together for 24 hours.

It implies much more than just the phrase. I have to do everything for her. Feed her, put on her shoes, socks, and so on.

So from my perspective, I want it gone. Even if not, we’re stuck together enough.

If I want to be stuck now, I’ll just cling like this.

“How about it?”

I said that, wrapped my arm around Rurin’s shoulder next to me, and hugged her tightly toward me.

“I-I’m thinking, don’t hug me. It clouds my mind!”

“Then why don’t you just move away?”

“I don’t want to. You’ve already hugged me, so there’s no choice.”

“Fine, do that then. But what about the decision?”

“I-I’ll think about it after we separate later.”

“…Later? When are we separating?”

I realized it won’t work and suddenly lifted Rurin up in the usual princess carry. Then I put her down in front of the sofa and stepped back.

“Woo!”

“Woo nothing! Since we’re separated, hurry up and decide.”

“You’re so cold. I’ll decide coldly too.”

Only then did she finally start pondering. Arms crossed under her chin, eyes half open, she thought deeply for about three seconds.

Her eyelashes fluttered, then she uncrossed her arms and shouted,

“Good! Longer is better. I won’t lose! Hehe.”

She showed no sign of thinking she’d lose.

“You! Don’t forget. When we’re stuck together, everything is up to me! It’s my world! No objections!”

“Yes! Exactly. That’s why I’m trying to get rid of it like this.”

“I won’t lose, so how could you?”

Rurin’s eyes widened. Her expression showed she never considered losing. She thought I was easy.

“Oh? You might get into big trouble, Rurin.”

“My nose isn’t big.”

Rurin touched her nose and tilted her head at my words.

“Well, the nose I meant isn’t that one.”

I shrugged. If it was a pure singing battle, she wouldn’t stand a chance. I know my singing skills best. I wasn’t even near Rurin’s level.

But, well. Hehehe.

The karaoke machine’s scoring isn’t based on skill. It doesn’t have any AI or anything.

“Alright, then let’s do it. A single round match?”

“Got it. But you sing first. I’m the main character, so I’ll go last.”

“Fine.”

What meaning does order have? I was just glad she accepted the bet, so I grabbed the mic first.

I had a chance. Karaoke machines favor lots of shouting and high notes.

So I chose a song with lots of shouting.

Hehehe.

“Oooooooh! Yeahhh! Nanananana~ nanananana!”

I started with a shout. Good.

“You’re so noisy!”

Cut.

The song stopped.

Rurin quickly ran to the machine and turned off the song, having figured out the system.

“What, what? Why’d you stop?”

“Sing the song. Why are you just shouting? I want to see you sing!”

“No, that’s also a song! Don’t turn it off!”

“I also have a bet condition. Sing a song for me. Not lyrics like that just now!”

“Huh?”

Did she realize shouting raises the score? No way. But suddenly setting a bet condition?

“A song for you?”

“Yes. Doesn’t singing a song mean that? I saw it on my phone.”

“Usually that meaning isn’t there though…?”

Where did she see that?

But Rurin’s expression was firm.

“Can’t I just do what I did just now? Dear?”

So I approached and acted coy. Showing I didn’t want to lose.

“Ugh? D-don’t look at me like that, it’s adorable!”

Maybe she read an article about proposal songs, because she was very firm. She turned her back to avoid my teasing.

It can’t be helped.

A song for Rurin. What should I sing?

Nothing comes to mind. My song repertoire is very limited. Considering when I was transported here, it can’t be helped. When others were in high school, I was fighting monsters on the battlefield.

So I chose “The Day She First Cried” by Kim Kwang-o. It’s the only emotional song I could think of.

It’s also a song I like.

“The day she first cried…”

I started singing. But it’s a very quiet song. There are no emotional songs with shouting anyway.

I’m not confident singing confessions (emotional songs) either.

That Rurin.

She found my weak spot.

Unaware that she attacked my blind spot and broke my trump card, Rurin rested her chin on her hand and stared at me. Her gaze was burning hot.

So as a last resort, I raised my voice. They say the one who shouts louder wins a fight, right?

Rurin’s gaze never left me. It felt like she was piercing through me. I’m not that good at singing, so I felt embarrassed, I guess.

I finished singing and as the last notes played, Rurin suddenly stood up.

“You, I don’t like the lyrics. Why can’t I see a smiling face?”

“Huh? It’s just the lyrics. Besides, unlike the lyrics, I sang it hoping you’d always smile.”

“Smiling?”

“Of course. When I first saw you at the lair, you weren’t smiling and had a crying expression. These lyrics are for you at that time. My chest felt tight; now I want you to smile. That’s what I thought…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Wahahahaha!”

“No, I didn’t mean for you to suddenly laugh like that.”

“What’s so complicated about that!”

I like the happy smile you always show me, but saying it out loud feels super cheesy, so I held back.

Bbang-barara-rang! (sound effect)

Meanwhile, the score finally appeared.

[94 points]

A whopping 94 points!

Oh yeah, that’s very lucky. With this, I shouldn’t lose easily, right? Hehe.

“Your singing was cool. You sing well too. I think I’m kinda smitten. My heart’s beating fast.”

“Really?”

“But what’s 94 points? If 100 is perfect, then I’m 100! No matter how cool you are, I won’t lose. Uhi.”

Saying that, Rurin showed me a song. This song was also one she listened to on her phone all the time.

It’s not a song to shout to. But it’s not a quiet song either.

For now, I left the scoring to the karaoke machine. Hoping for a low score by chance.

“Nanananana, nanananana~”

Rurin started playing with the notes. Her resonance was different from ordinary people. She just praised my singing, but maybe that was just being blinded by love.

As such a resonant song flowed out, I just stared at Rurin blankly.

Then Rurin, holding the mic and singing, slowly approached.

Then she poked my cheek with one finger.

“Hehe.”

“What, what’s that?”

“The lyrics said to poke the person you like, so I did.”

During the instrumental break, Rurin shouted that, then resumed singing.

After lively Rurin’s song ended, she made a V sign and smiled. A smile confident of victory.

It was not yet known.

Where else is there a thing as capricious as a karaoke machine?

I glared at the screen.

I acknowledged Rurin’s singing and everything else, so please just give her a low score.