(Yukito side)
That afternoon, I was surprised to see Yuu-chan and Hime come home with their clothes so dirty.
Lis-san said that they had just finished training, so… I guess that's reasonable, right?
It seemed that Hime told Yuu-chan to use the bathroom first.
Well, it looks like their relationship has gotten even closer while I wasn't around. That's a good thing, right?
Ah, I was told earlier that Yuu-chan and Hime each have their own room.
So, why did Hime, instead of going back to her room, start wiping her head with a towel and sit right next to me?!
"H-Hime, why are you sitting here?" I asked her.
If Hime were me, I wouldn't do what she's doing right now.
If my clothes were dirty, I'd rather clean myself up in my room or in the bathroom. Not beside someone else.
"In my room I'd be alone, so I'd rather stay here, since it's lively, right?" she said, smiling softly at me.
Hearing her answer, I didn't know what else to say to her.
Of course, her reason still sounded reasonable, and maybe that really was how she felt.
But, considering Hime's background, every word she says could have another meaning.
That's why, I can't let my guard down whenever I'm with Hime.
Lis-san, who was sitting in front of the two of us, joined in commenting on what was happening in her house.
"It's fine, right? Yukito-chan, Hime-chan just doesn't want to be alone… besides, you're not too bothered by it, are you?" said Lis-san as she sipped a glass of tea she had made.
I… it's not that I'm bothered or anything, but… seeing a girl cleaning herself right next to me… my ears and cheeks would definitely turn a little red.
It felt like I was watching a girl in a weakened state, and that made my mind a mess.
That's why I couldn't stay calm, even though Hime was only wiping her head with a towel.
I still couldn't stand looking at her cute and beautiful face!!
Not long after that, Yuu-chan came out of the bathroom, looking much cleaner and refreshed.
Seeing that, Hime stood up from where she was sitting and walked into the bathroom.
Well, maybe she really just didn't want to be alone, that's why she sat with me and Lis-san, maybe…
——
During dinner, I finally brought up the question about what I had been wanting to do for a while.
"Yuu-chan, when are we going to the central city of Ulvur?" I asked.
Yuu-chan, who had been enjoying her dinner, paused for a moment before answering my question.
"That's true… how about tomorrow?" said Yuu-chan, also asking Hime.
"We shouldn't stay here too long… if Yukito-san agrees, we can go tomorrow," said Hime.
Hearing our conversation made Lis-san join in as well.
"You want to leave soon, huh? I can't stop you, so I'll prepare something for you to bring tomorrow," said Lis-san.
After that, no one talked further about it.
From the expressions they both showed, it seemed they agreed and weren't bothered by it.
As for Lis-san, she might feel a little sad since her guests would be leaving soon.
——
That night, I lay on the bed, not immediately closing my eyes to sleep.
I felt like staying awake a little longer, though I didn't know why my body and mind felt that way.
Then, I kept thinking—when the three of us finally meet Charlotte, what will I do next?
Will I keep moving and visit every place on the continent of Velmoria?
Will I return to Necvalion and live there forever?
Or maybe, will I follow Hime and Yuu-chan to wherever they want to go?
I… don't know what to do after that.
Besides, I haven't found my purpose in this world. Like, if one day I want to live peacefully when I'm old or something.
I haven't found anything that makes me want that to happen in my life.
Well, eventually, I'll find it while I'm with the two of them.
If I lose my purpose, the two of them will surely help me return to my original one.
I guess I should sleep soon, my mind already feels calmer than before.
So tomorrow… I'll arrive at the central city of Ulvur after everything that's happened…
Starting from Anna-chan, who once surprised me back then, and getting trapped inside Weinz's world.
I'm sure I've spent so much time before finally reaching the central city of Ulvur.
That's why tomorrow will be the end of the wait, because I'll finally arrive there.
——
The next morning, I woke up because I felt someone poking my cheek.
Feeling disturbed, I woke up from my deep sleep because of that person's antics.
I turned to see who had been playing with my cheek, and it turned out to be Yuu-chan.
"Yukito-sama, if you wake up late, you'll get left behind~" said Yuu-chan.
Hearing that, I immediately got out of bed and walked to the bathroom.
I looked outside the house, and the sun was already shining brightly. It seemed I really woke up later than usual.
That's why my cheek ended up being poked by Yuu-chan. There were so many other things she could've done… why did she have to do that to my cheek…
Hah…
—
I put on my usual clothes, and this time, I wore this favorite black cloak of mine that was given to me by Rosa-chan back then.
Of course, aside from it being a gift, I like this cloak because the color looks so cool.
When I wear this cloak, it feels like my appearance gets upgraded by almost fifty percent.
That's why I always wear it whenever I go somewhere.
Before we left, of course we ate breakfast that Lis-san had cooked.
There's no way I'd go with an empty stomach.
I looked at the clothes worn by Yuu-chan and also Hime.
As for Hime, she was still wearing her favorite purple outfit, and Yuu-chan… well, the same too.
She was still wearing the clothes she'd worn since she got her human form.
In my opinion, Yuu-chan's clothes looked very plain compared to Hime's.
Maybe… later in the city, if I see some clothes that look good on her, I'll buy them and make her wear them.
Even though I don't have much money, I think it's still enough to buy a few things.
There's no way I'd let Yuu-chan keep wearing clothes that are too plain.
At least, I want her to look prettier by wearing something that makes her stand out a bit.
W-well, whether she wants to or not… she probably won't refuse, right?
——
The three of us waited outside the house; Lis-san said she had prepared a carriage she usually used to bring her harvest to the city.
None of us minded at all—in fact, we were very grateful to her.
She had been so kind to us, almost as if she thought of us as her own family.
Crit.
The carriage we were going to ride stopped right in front of the house.
The wagon pulled by a horse was an open one, but there was a small wooden seat placed on top of it.
I told the two of them to get on first, since Lis-san had asked me to wait a moment.
She came back carrying a basket in her hands. She handed it to me, and I immediately took it.
From the basket, I could smell several dishes made by Lis-san. W-wait, don't tell me—
"I made some lunch for you, please eat it later, okay?" said Lis-san.
Seeing the lunch she had made, I felt really happy.
"Thank you, Lis-san!" I said, running up onto the carriage.
"All set? Then let's go," said the person driving the horse.
Yuu-chan and Hime waved their hands toward Lis-san, and she waved back at them.
I… only gave her a small smile, since I'm not used to waving at other people.
For me, waving feels like saying goodbye, and I don't want that to happen.
Because… I'm sure that everyone I've met so far, I'll meet them again someday.