Lia stared blankly at the silver coin pouch she had received as prize money.
Currently, the Summer Water Balloon Festival had just ended.
Emil and Lia visited a nearby restaurant together for dinner.
However, even while eating the delicious meal, Lia couldn't properly focus on her food.
She glanced.
She picked up a piece of delicious meat with her fork, put it in her mouth, and subtly looked at Emil.
'Why did he block it for me earlier…?'
A moment ago.
She recalled the moment a water balloon she hadn't seen came flying at her.
'I thought it was over then…'
She had tried hard, but she was going to be eliminated.
It was a certain situation.
But then.
Emil grabbed her as she lost her balance and took the water balloon for her.
The smile Emil gave her at that moment.
It wouldn't leave Lia's mind.
"Doesn't it taste good?"
"Huh, huh?"
Emil spoke to Lia, who had been lowering her gaze, focusing on her thoughts.
"You've been picking at your food since earlier. I thought you didn't like it."
"Oh, no. It's delicious. It's just…"
"Just…?"
"..."
Lia was about to explain why she couldn't focus on her meal, but then closed her mouth.
'Ugh, it's a bit much to say it's because I'm thinking of you…'
Lia, her cheeks subtly flushed, stole a glance at Emil.
He was looking at her with a gentle smile, waiting for her answer.
"Emil…"
"Yes."
"I have something I'm curious about."
"What is it?"
"A moment ago… why did you do that?"
"Huh? What?"
"..."
Lia hesitated for a moment, then this time, she asked clearly.
"At the end of the competition, you took the water balloon for me instead of letting it hit me."
"Ah…"
"Why… did you do that? It was prize money, and we were in the middle of a match…"
Lia couldn't understand.
It was something she would never do herself.
Because Emil had done it.
And to her question, Emil chuckled, propped his chin on his hand, and looked at her.
"Indeed… why did I do that?"
"Huh…?"
"Actually, I was planning to throw it at you at the end."
"W-what?!"
"Haha, is that surprising? We were in a match, weren't we?"
"Ugh…"
Come to think of it, water balloons could not only be dodged but also thrown.
Lia, who had been so busy just dodging, only then realized that fact.
She felt a slight sense of betrayal, but.
That's how competitions are, so it couldn't be helped.
But then, Lia felt even more curious.
"If you were going to throw it, why did you take the hit instead?"
At Lia's tilted-head question, Emil smiled again.
"Well, I don't know either. Was I being a fool?"
"..."
"It's just…"
Emil closed his mouth for a moment, then gazed intently at Lia.
He said softly.
"Somehow, I just didn't want you to get hit."
"..."
"Does that answer your question?"
"...Y-yes."
Lia blushed and subtly nodded her head.
'Why is the lighting here so subtle…'
Was it the restaurant's atmosphere?
Emil's words just now sounded quite romantic.
Perhaps because of that, Lia felt warmth in her face and subtly lowered her head.
Her heart thumped.
And then, the prize money pouch caught her eye.
"...Ugh."
A thought suddenly came to mind.
…Thinking of her home and her younger sister, it was too much of a waste, but.
'It wasn't my money to begin with…'
Lia clenched her fist tightly, then.
*Slide.*
She placed the silver coin pouch on the table.
"This…"
"Hm?"
"D-divide it in half. It was originally your prize money anyway."
"Ah…"
"Actually, I want to give you all of it… Sorry, that seems a bit difficult."
Lia's hands trembled.
When would she ever be able to get such a large sum of money so easily again?
That thought lingered in her mind, but.
Her conscience spoke.
That swallowing it all by herself would make her not even human.
So Lia squeezed her eyes shut and held out the silver coin pouch.
"It's fine, I don't need it."
"What…?"
She opened her eyes wide at Emil's short answer.
"Why, why?"
And a flustered voice escaped her.
Because if it were her, she would never refuse such an offer.
No, she would have demanded it first to begin with.
And Emil's answer to that was simple.
"I don't really need money. And my family is quite well-off."
"..."
"And somehow, you seemed to need it. So I don't plan to take it. That's prize money you earned fairly."
"..."
Lia stared blankly at Emil, who was smiling leisurely.
'What on earth is he…?'
She had never felt this kind of emotion before.
Is this curiosity?
It felt closer to that kind of emotion.
It was like just hearing the rules of a board game she had never seen before.
The desire to quickly set up this game and play it filled her.
To Lia, who was blankly lost in such strange feelings.
Emil sighed softly and said.
"By the way… about that penalty."
"Hm…?"
Emil smiled cautiously and asked her.
"Could you… let me off the hook just once? The 'meow' thing, I mean…"
"..."
At the moment she was just starting to feel a mysterious emotion toward Emil.
Seeing Emil show such a human side at that moment.
Lia chuckled and wore a joyful smile.
"Absolutely not."
This moment was more enjoyable than any game she had played recently.
***
'That girl… I even gave her the prize money, but she absolutely won't grant my request.'
I had expected it, but a sigh escaped me.
Cat-speak, really.
I'm a man, you know?
The thought of having to use such a strange way of speaking all day makes me despair.
Still, I can't not go to the club activities for Lia's capture.
'Still, her reaction was better than expected.'
At least at the end of yesterday's date.
I recalled how sweet the atmosphere was when we returned to the dormitory together.
Lia and I exchanged personal questions and laughed happily.
It went a little differently from the original plan, but.
It seems I succeeded in making her feel favorably towards me.
"Perhaps I can just pass 'meow' off as cute."
She's a heroine without any events, but I quickly gained her favor.
I thought it wasn't a bad deal.
Then I changed my clothes and left the dormitory.
'Chris… isn't here. Is she nearby?'
I thought she'd be waiting in front of the dorm like yesterday.
It seems she's probably following my instructions and observing from nearby.
Being watched from somewhere is creepy, but.
Still, it's better than constantly lingering nearby….
"Hello."
"Whoa!"
"..."
"Oh, S-Sierra, it's you…"
"I didn't even startle you today, so why are you surprised?"
Turning my head, Sierra stood there with a grumpy expression, arms crossed.
'And why do *you* have that face?'
I wanted to ask about her grumpy expression, but.
Somehow, I felt like I shouldn't ask.
"No, I was just… thinking deeply."
"Thinking? About what?"
"Uh… well…"
"Perhaps yesterday's date?"
"What? No, that's not it."
"..."
*Whoosh.*
At my answer, Sierra walked past me and ahead, her grumpy expression unchanged.
"What was that…?"
I was flustered by that and looked at her back.
After wondering what to do, I walked alongside her.
Since we were going in the same direction anyway, following her from a distance would be strange.
"So?"
At that moment.
Sierra, walking briskly straight ahead, asked me as I approached her side.
"So, what?"
"Was the date fun?"
"..."
A shiver ran down my spine.
Somehow, goosebumps appeared on my back.
Why was that?
This feeling that I absolutely had to answer well.
…Somehow, an instinctive sensation arose, as if I was about to see a bad ending.
"Ah, ahh~? Date? Haha, actually, it was only called a date, we just played together… didn't we?"
"...You just played together?"
"Ah, u-uh, yes."
"A man and a woman, meeting alone and playing. And on top of that, you yourself called it a date, but now you say it wasn't a date?"
"Ah… well…"
"..."
*Sting.*
Sierra's glaring eyes felt sharp.
And that gaze was scary.
For me, who has died five times, to be scared by a mere woman's gaze.
I learned that for the first time.
"..."
"..."
Sierra glared at me once, then looked straight ahead again.
And we walked in silence for a while.
A short while later.
"Hey…"
"Huh, yes?"
Sierra opened her mouth in a cautious voice.
Her ear, a step ahead of me, was slightly red.
"Emil… do you like Lia's type… is that your preference?"
"...What?"
"Well, you asked her on a date. …You've never done that before. Not with Mari, not with Chris."
"...Ah."
Come to think of it, Sierra was also there during Mari and Chris's capture strategies.
She also saw them develop feelings for me.
'Well, I did go on dates with both of them… but she wouldn't know that.'
So does she think Lia, whom I asked out on a date first, is my ideal type?
"No, not particularly."
I answered Sierra's question lightly.
Then Sierra subtly looked back at me again.
"Liar."
"No, I'm not."
"You asked her on a date. Then it's a lie."
"That's because Lia lost a bet then. She bet on being a one-day slave."
"…What does that have to do with anything?"
"I'm not a pervert, why would I need a slave? So I just changed it to a date. It's easier to tease and a suitable penalty."
Actually, I wanted to mess with Bran, but.
I fumbled for that excuse.
Then Sierra's face, which had been grumpy all along, subtly relaxed.
Seizing that opportunity, I added one more thing.
"I-if…"
"Hm?"
"…Even if I had a bet with you, I would have done the same."
"..."
"So don't misunderstand."
Somehow, what I tried to say naturally felt embarrassing.
I felt warmth in my face and subtly turned my head away.
"..."
Then I felt Sierra's silent gaze.
After that, I walked with Sierra in silence.
However, the awkward and heavy atmosphere that had lingered until a moment ago disappeared.
Only, I felt a little nervous.
And so, after walking for a while.
We arrived at the academy's annex and entered the board game clubroom.
*Creak.*
"Ah! Sierra and… Emil!"
As I opened the door, a scene similar to yesterday's unfolded.
Bran and Lia were there, and Lia stood up from her seat as she saw us.
The only difference was Bran's and Lia's expressions.
Lia greeted us warmly and welcomed us.
Bran's expression was blank, but… he looked at me with eyes that held a hint of wariness.
"Hello~, Lia. What are you doing today?"
"Hello. Good morning."
Sierra and I greeted Lia together.
And.
"Ehehehe…"
Lia let out a playful laugh and subtly approached me.
Sierra and I looked at her.
"Emil-ssi, that's not right~?"
"..."
"Huh? What… are you talking about?"
Lia spoke to me as if pointing something out.
I closed my mouth, and my clenched hand trembled.
Sierra asked me, sounding curious.
And.
"Good… morning. ...Meow."
I lowered my eyes and said that.
"Pfft."
"Eh…"
Then laughter came from in front, and bewilderment from beside me.
I gritted my teeth in shame. …Meow.