Chapter 50 - The Warmth Transmitted to My Shoulder
Before I knew it, we've reached fifty chapters. Thank you as always.
I continued pushing the cart loaded with Flora's belongings for a while.
We finally reached my home.
"We've finally made it."
"...Yes."
Flora answered in a slightly tired voice.
It was no wonder. She had been surrounded by villagers until just a moment ago.
After declaring ourselves lovers in front of the villagers, greeting Flora's parents, and then loading the cart with her personal effects, anyone could tell that Flora and I were going to live in the same house.
Once that happened, the villagers wouldn't leave other people's romance or interesting rumors alone; they all praised us and teased us relentlessly.
Especially those villagers who threw Papyrus Beans while shouting, "This is a celebration for the new couple!"—I'll have to get back at them next time.
Flora seemed quite exhausted as well, having been doted on by the women who had been worried about her love life.
Since the men mostly showed envy or teased me, I felt envious of Flora for receiving purely joyful voices.
Well, when you're in a relationship where you live with a woman as wonderful as Flora, it's only natural to be envied.
Everyone said they were looking forward to celebrating at this year's Harvest Festival, but I felt like we'd been celebrated enough for just one day. Thinking there's more to come is a little scary.
"Well then, let's bring the luggage inside. It's already evening because of all those unexpected things."
"You're right. Let's get them in before it gets dark."
The sun was already setting because we were caught by the villagers. If we took our time, it would get completely dark.
I took the lead in pulling the cart, while Flora pushed from behind to make fine adjustments.
"Flora, open the door."
After placing the cart near the entrance, I took the key from my pocket and tossed it to Flora.
"Wawa!"
Flora let the key bounce three times in her hands before finally catching it.
Seeing Flora let out a sigh of relief, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"It's not like it'll break if you drop it, you know?"
"Aldo-san, I was just a little surprised because you threw it so suddenly."
When I said it teasingly, Flora hurried toward the door as if to hide her flustered state.
It was obvious that her cheeks were turning red. I knew she was a bit poor at physical activities, so she didn't need to be embarrassed.
Flora slowly inserted the key she held into the door's keyhole.
Her movements were clearly unpracticed, and I could tell she was nervous even from behind. While I had opened the door for her before, Flora had never opened the lock and entered by herself.
As Flora slowly turned the key as if timidly, a clicking sound returned from the keyhole.
Confirming the sound, Flora slowly pulled out the key and opened the front door.
With a dry creak, the living room and kitchen—our living space—revealed themselves.
"............"
It was the same space as always, but perhaps the sight today looked a little different than usual.
Until now, Flora had regarded it strictly as my house, but after being recognized not just as lovers but as a couple by her parents, Elgis-san and Fiona-san, she probably felt strongly that this was the house where she would live starting today.
I gave her the key because I wanted her to have that realization.
Looking at Flora standing in front of the entrance gazing inside, it seemed I succeeded. If so, I'm a little happy.
I thought I should just watch over her, but seeing Flora's sentimental expression made me want to hold her.
I approached Flora softly and hugged her from behind.
Flora trembled in surprise, but she gently grasped the arms I had wrapped around her.
"This is the house where Flora will live starting today."
"...Yes."
Even though I knew we didn't have much time, I continued to gaze inside the house while holding Flora.
◆
The sentimental time for Flora and me came to an end as the sky turned madder red.
Though our faces were slightly flushed, Flora and I carried the luggage from the cart into the house.
I carried the relatively heavy items, while I had Flora carry in the lighter ones.
Since the house was already equipped with a basic set of furniture and Flora's house wasn't far away, there was no need to bring everything at once. It felt like we could just go back and get anything we lacked, so there wasn't that much luggage, and we managed to finish moving everything in before the sun went down.
Currently, we were carrying Flora's chest of drawers into the bedroom and organizing her small personal items together.
Normally, this would be the time to finish dinner before it got dark or start preparing it, but since we had lunch and snacks at Elgis-san's house today, we weren't that hungry.
Besides, there were leftovers from breakfast like Radish soup and stir-fry, so there was almost no need to cook dinner.
So, the plan was to finish organizing the luggage first.
"Flora, I'll put your plates in the cupboard, okay?"
"Ah, I don't think I'll use those large plates much, so the back is fine."
"Understood."
The tableware Flora brought included silver items and large wooden plates.
Since she understood that almost everything in my house was wooden, she must have prepared the silver items for guests.
The large wooden plates were probably for when we invited many people like Toak, Aisha, Elgis-san, or Fiona-san.
Such things had completely slipped my mind, so I couldn't help but be impressed by Flora for noticing immediately.
"Are the usual drawers okay for the spoons and forks?"
"Yes, that's fine. Aldo-san, can I use this drawer? I want to put the seasonings I brought here."
"Yeah, there are spare drawers, so that's fine. Tell me what kind of seasonings they are later, okay?"
"Yes!"
Flora and I moved around the kitchen, storing the tableware one after another.
Everything Flora brought was something not found in my house, so it felt fresh.
Things that I didn't really need because I was alone until now, things I hadn't noticed, and things I thought would be nice to have were being added one after another.
Light pink curtains were added to the window in the living room, making it much more cheerful.
I gazed at Flora's newly arrived daily necessities and murmured deeply.
"It's fun seeing new things increase like this. It reminds me of when I first lived in this house..."
"Hehe, me too. It's very exciting, like when I got my own room for the first time."
Flora laughed innocently as she stored the jars containing seasonings.
Once she put them all in, she nodded with satisfaction and slowly closed the drawer.
She seemed incredibly happy that the kitchen was becoming fully equipped.
Every time Flora's daily tools increased, the realization that we would be living together from now on welled up in me, making me happy.
The lonely living room of a single man looked very stylish and bright thanks to the daily necessities Flora brought.
I'm sure the reason for that wasn't just because the stylish daily necessities had increased, but largely because my beloved Flora was by my side.
"Is something the matter?"
Perhaps because I was gazing at Flora's profile, she looked over and tilted her head.
"I just felt happy as the realization that Flora is going to live in this house welled up."
When I honestly spoke the feelings I had in my heart, Flora's cheeks turned cherry-blossom pink and she smiled bashfully.
"I'm happy too, thinking that I can live here with Aldo-san. Just imagining it makes me excited, and a little nervous."
Flora's words made me so happy that I instinctively pulled her closer by her shoulder.
Then, as Flora leaned her head against my shoulder as if to spoil herself, I stroked her head with my right hand.
Flora's warm body temperature and the soft sensation of her body were transmitted to me, and a flower-like scent came from her silky hair, making me feel her presence strongly.
Without saying a word to each other, we felt each other's presence.
On the living room table ahead of our gaze, a small flowerpot was placed, and there, a vivid pink Flower of Connection was in bloom.
[Author's Note]
I think there will be some slight eroticism next time.