Mealtime is approaching.
Today's menu is beef stew, rye bread, and salad.
I've also prepared vegetable stew for vegetarians, so there shouldn't be any problems.
"5... 4... 3..."
"Food!"
"I'm hungry!"
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They're even faster than I expected.
But that's fine.
There's plenty of food prepared.
I'd made enough to satisfy even Familia members who looked like they'd been starving for days.
"I'm going to rest for a bit."
Since I'd finished everything I needed to do, I could finally take a break.
"Ughhh..."
"Shiro."
After quickly cleaning up and stepping out of the Familia home, I heard a familiar woman's voice.
When I turned toward the sound,
"Where are you going?"
"Ah, Ryuu..."
Ryuu Lion, who had already finished her patrol and returned, was walking toward me.
"I was planning to go home and rest."
"In that case..."
Ryuu was my first friend after I came to Orario, a fellow member of the same Familia, and...
"Would you like to go out with me?"
...my lover.
Before I knew it, ten years had passed since I entered Orario.
Somehow, I'd ended up joining Astraea Familia and living there for ten years...
"...Wait, what have I even been doing all this time?"
"Shiro?"
Right after I arrived in Orario, I made up an alias.
In a place where all kinds of races gathered, openly revealing that I was Crozzo would only make me a target for spiteful elves, so I decided to use a false name until it was safe.
By chance, I joined Astraea Familia, and eight years later, after reaching Lv.4, I revealed my real name.
"? Is something wrong?"
"I was just thinking how grateful I am."
"!?"
After I revealed my real name, the Familia members treated me exactly the same as before, contrary to my expectations.
And exactly one year later,
I started dating Ryuu.
"Shiro...?"
"Sorry. I was just thinking about things."
Maybe because I was tired... my thoughts were starting to wander...
"...If you're tired... would you like to rest for a while?"
Ryuu led me to a bench.
And then...
"Is this okay?"
She placed my head on her lap.
"Don't worry about it. I'm doing this because I want to."
"I see... then I'll borrow this for a bit..."
And just like that, I fell asleep.
After Bellf fell asleep, Ryuu smiled and quietly said, "I will love you forever."
"Ryuu has fallen for spring too."
"A-Astraea-sama!?"