Chapter 1180 - End of the Month
Arriving at the end of February.
Coupled with having fewer days than the others, the second month passed by in an absolute blink of an eye.
As for me, partly because I was removed from the capture force I had set my sights on just before, my peace continued. Even if the things I had to think about here and there didn't completely run dry, compared to before, it was the difference between heaven and earth.
Partly because I had grown completely used to busy days, these days were so peaceful it was rather bewildering. Deciding it was a good opportunity, I seriously grinded on my studies which had fallen way behind, and fully enjoyed being a "person with free time"—something extremely precious lately in both the real world and the virtual world... ——Of course,
In parallel, I did not neglect my mental preparation for "today," which had finally arrived.
"——Well then, a toast. ...Yes, to your next capture."
"Though for the next capture, I'm staying behind to watch the house...... cheers, then."
Once again, the end of February. A short while after evening fell.
In the tatami room of a traditional restaurant I had been invited to, I was facing my client, Representative Yotsuya... or rather, Sora's father, Tetsugo-shi, one-on-one across a table.
In each of our hands, lightly raised toward each other, was a glass.
A shining golden nectar with a canopy of white clouds. At a quick glance, they had the same contents, but of course, mine was non-alcoholic ——which meant, conversely, Tetsugo-shi's was real beer.
I had nodded when he asked me to join him for the sake of the atmosphere... but honestly, I hadn't expected him to start drinking right from the get-go, so I was taken aback. If I were to take this as a pose or a communication of intent, should I view it as him being dead serious and tremble in fear?
As if my path of retreat had been cut off so we could truly speak with open hearts ——and then,
"...It is a pity you cannot drink yet, but somehow, Haruka-kun, you look like you would be a strong drinker."
"Ah, I wonder. My Father is strong, but my Mother is a lightweight, so..."
The various middle-aged man mannerisms like "Buhaaa—" or "Kuhaaa—" that I had seen during my days working part-time at an izakaya did not spill from the mouth of the great Representative Yotsuya.
Though he had pleasantly downed about a third of his glass, Tetsugo-shi, who let out a refined breath, looked at me with an innocent... yes, a smile that could only be described as innocent.
"You said it was your first time having non-alcoholic drinks as well. How is it?"
"...If I put gum syrup or something in it, would it taste good?"
"Hahaha, an honest person as always."
Seeing me with a foam mustache confessing that 'it's bitter,' he laughed even more amusedly. For now, his mood seemed excellent. That was better than anything, but...
"Now... ——It would be a pity to keep you nervous forever. In order to enjoy this wonderful food to our hearts' content, shall we finish the 'conversation' we need to have?"
"............Please, go ahead."
Needless to say, there was no way I could let my guard down.
I didn't intend to be frightened, but that didn't equate to having no fear, dread, or awe. Because in this place, I was without a doubt the one being lectured.
There was no need to even straighten my posture. Wiping my mouth, I met his gaze straight-on... his gaze as a "father." As if to show that I was prepared for whatever he might say ——
And then,
"............,"
Tetsugo-shi, as expected, first offered a gentle smile.
"Once again, the other day's announcement was quite... truly a surprise attack, and it startled me from the bottom of my heart. At any rate, you and I no longer have a shallow relationship. Let me say what needs to be said face-to-face."
Smiling, after lightly tilting the glass he had raised once more,
"Congratulations. Take good care of her."
"——...Yes."
There was no pain. Yet, the straightforward congratulatory words pierced deeply into my heart.
Even if it didn't hurt, it was a word I had to engrave in my mind without ever forgetting. Something I had received many times before, and would receive countless times in the future, which I must carry with me as I move forward.
——I had not yet told him the fact that I had confessed my feelings to each of the three.
I would say that right now.
"......I, not just Iris,"
But,
"Sora... ——I also told Sora-san that I love her."
"............"
Surely,
"Nia... Lilia, um... also to the young lady of Vrubel."
"............Ah."
Probably, he ——
"I thought that would be the case."
"............I thought you would think so."
He would smile again. It seemed that prediction of mine was correct.
And,
"Precisely because it is the present where you have come up with an answer, I will take the liberty of acting like I knew it all along. Honestly, I was convinced that it would be one of the two, that the path you would walk would be a choice between two options."
"One of the two, a choice between two...?"
"Yes, indeed. ——Whether you would choose only Lilia-Nia-kun, or try to snatch up everything."
"............"
"However, I thought the probability of the former was extremely high. So, well... although I had anticipated it, it doesn't change the fact that I was surprised. You really are something."
"........................"
Even the prediction that someone of my level wouldn't be able to read him completely was correct.
And so, to me, who had lost my words in spite of myself,
"I am right, aren't I?"
Tetsugo-shi smiled gently, again and again. If that was the case, then I ——
"............................Yes."
I had no choice but to admit complete defeat and nod. ...However, having him state even the breakdown of my thoughts was beyond just being pathetic, so I gave up and opened my mouth.
"I knew that no matter which path I chose, no one would give up."
"............Yes."
"Even if I chose Sora, even if I chose Nia, even if I chose Ashe... Sora would surely continue to stay by my side as my partner. No matter how long, absolutely."
"That is likely true."
"Nia is... that girl, it's really beyond the point of just dragging it out for the rest of her life."
"From what I have heard, that does seem to be the case."
"Ashe is, well, she's already Alicia White anyway."
"That, above all else, is entirely correct."
His interjections, which seemed intentionally playful, felt both like a salvation and a finishing blow.
"................So,"
"Yes."
"................If I were to choose just one person,"
"Yes."
"................someone who would do nothing else but simply 'love' me,"
When I poured the unfamiliar liquid down my dry throat, it felt even drier, which troubled me.
"I thought that was what I should choose... ——and so, I didn't choose."
"............I see."
I was troubled, but the things I had to confess... no, that wasn't it.
I went on and on about the things I wanted to confess to at least one person. When I defiantly laid everything bare despite how pathetic it was, Tetsugo-shi gave a single nod.
This time, he wasn't smiling.
"...Haruka-kun,"
Without smiling, looking straight at me with a serious face, he said,
"You really do not suit this world."
I didn't understand the meaning of his words.
I didn't understand, but... for some strange reason, I felt like I could comprehend it.
"............In the end, ultimately, the one I choose is Sora... Sora-san. I've already handed over the power over my life and death to all three of them, telling them to do with me as they please."
Standing up, taking a few steps, and returning to the floor.
I moved my position from opposite him to next to him, and there was no longer a table between us. There were no choices either.
Thus ——I simply bowed my head.
"I haven't left any spare parts of myself. So even if I'm stopped, I can't stop of my own will anymore."
A quiet breath above my head. I couldn't read his expression or his inner thoughts.
"I no longer think of myself as my own. So ——"
It didn't matter.
I had decided what I wanted to say.
"It is not 'please give me your daughter'."
"............"
"Please allow me to dedicate my life to Sora-san."
"........................"
He probably didn't understand what the hell I was saying.
Because even I didn't seem to properly understand what on earth I was saying.
And so, how much time had passed?
It felt like several minutes, but perhaps not even several tens of seconds had passed ——
"............Raise your head."
Without any room for thought, I raised my head as I was told.
And then, what entered my vision was not the 'father' with an indescribable expression... but rather,
"...Huh?"
A single smartphone, housed in a sober notebook-style case, and further held in Tetsugo-shi's hand. To be more precise, the display showed an indication that it was recording.
"............Huh?"
Stiffness. Freeze. It was a natural reaction, and if the situation were different, I would have retorted, 'Are you kidding me?' but I couldn't do that, and to me, who was letting out a dumbfounded voice,
"I have always known that you become quite the 'actor' at crucial moments, after all."
Papa-sama, whose cheek twitched slightly, let his voice tremble just a tiny bit... ——and along with tapping the stop recording button with a tap, he placed his free hand on my shoulder.
Placing it there with a friendly pat.
"I've got your word. If you go that far, then by all means, dedicate it to her."
Because he showed his greatest smile of the day, looking truly happy.
"................Eh?"
It was only natural that I, for my part, exposed the dumbest face I had made all day.
Well, of course, since he knows his daughter is smiling so happily.
Just one more chapter to go before the end.
[Author's Note]
*By the way, as I hinted at in the main story before, the scenes that Tetsugo-shi and Chitose-san can observe are limited to "scenes where observation was permitted" by a certain someone, so they do not know absolutely everything like this or that. Adding this supplement since many people seem to misunderstand.
For example, extremely private and sensitive scenes like the protagonist's confession scene are basically off-limits. Therefore, Tetsugo-shi "knowing" was, just as he said, due to his own predictions and conjectures. Do not underestimate the great Representative Yotsuya.