Chapter 148: Visit
I woke up in the morning with a heavy feeling in my body.
Shuffling around, I checked my basal body temperature. It had dropped by about 0.5 degrees since yesterday.
I didn’t want to admit it, but there was no doubt anymore.
My period had come.
Day 28, right on schedule.
I couldn’t help but wish it had been late this time, just this once.
"Aaahhh..."
I didn’t want to do anything.
But I had to go to the bathroom and change my pad...
The one I had on was a thin one I wore just in case—completely unreliable.
If my pajamas got stained, it’d be even more of a hassle.
I braced myself and sat up.
Bathroom, breakfast. Then I have to tell everyone.
Get the bare minimum done.
...And after that, I’ll just sleep the rest of the day away.
Before I knew it, I found myself standing all alone in complete darkness.
As if under a spotlight, only I—dressed in the attire of a Water Priestess—and the area immediately around me were lit up in white.
Everything else was nothingness.
"Is this... a dream?"
『That's right』
I meant to speak to myself, but a reply came unexpectedly.
It was a young man’s voice. I couldn’t see him.
『You couldn’t get pregnant, huh? Even after everything you went through... In the end, it was all for nothing』
What a rude guy, even though this was my dream.
Who was he...?
I’d definitely heard that voice somewhere before. But I couldn’t place it.
"It wasn’t for nothing. I knew from the start the odds were low.
This was just the rehearsal—the real deal is next time."
This outcome had been within my expectations from the beginning.
It’s not something to get depressed about.
『...But what will you do if next time fails too?』
They say the chance of getting pregnant is about thirty percent.
And if it doesn’t work next time, who knows if I’ll even get another shot after that.
But—
"There’s no point in worrying about failure before I’ve even tried."
Despair is for when there’s truly nothing left to do.
『Isn’t all this just self-satisfaction on your part?
Using forbidden magic, stealing a body meant for a child that should have been born... Alicia wouldn’t have wanted to live like that』
His voice challenged me—was I really going to push forward, knowing it was just ego?
"Yeah, it’s all my selfishness. But still..."
Even if it was a sinful act.
Even if I was burdening others.
Even if it wasn’t what Alicia wanted.
"I want to see Alicia one more time."
I’ll carry this sin with me as I live.
I’ll repay every debt of gratitude I owe.
If Alicia resents me, I’ll accept every word of it.
In a world I didn’t understand, filled with fear, pain, and hardship...
I can’t count how many times I almost broke.
Even so, I made it through to the end and came back alive—because Alicia was always by my side.
"Alicia might have died fulfilled, satisfied that her mission was complete...
But I don’t accept that.
I wanted her to live for her own happiness.
That’s why I—!"
That’s why I will save Alicia—for my sake.
『And if, as a result, Alicia ends up starting a new life and falls in love with someone else—not you?』
"Her happiness means more to me.
It tears me apart just thinking about it. It hurts. I hate it. I can hardly breathe... but still..."
『...I see』
The man seemed satisfied with my answer.
"...But you already knew I’d say that, didn’t you?
Didn’t you?"
This time, I was the one asking the voice.
I’d already figured out who he was.
『Yeah... but for me, confirming that is something important.』
Like a veil being pulled back, the darkness around me vanished in an instant.
The sudden brightness of the world made me squint without thinking.
"Whoa... this takes me back."
The scenery of a small hill overlooking the lake where the Water Temple stood spread out before me.
This was Alicia's hometown where she was raised—and for me, it was the place where my journey began.
There was someone else on the hill besides me.
It was a boy dressed in a familiar high school uniform—me, from when I was still male.
"Huh, seeing myself like this... I don’t look half bad?"
Looking at myself objectively for the first time, I had to admit I didn’t look so bad.
『Don’t get too full of yourself. That appearance is based on Alicia’s memory of me. Her brain probably beautified it a little.』
"Come on, let me enjoy it a bit..."
At least in my own dream, he could let me feel good for once.
『It’s just the truth.』
The me in front of me replied flatly.
The reason his voice sounded slightly off must’ve been because it was how Alicia remembered it.
『It was on this hill that I made a vow to Alicia.』
"...Oh yeah, I did, huh."
I played dumb, but of course I hadn’t forgotten.
It was a vow made in the flush of youthful excitement—brought on by the grand sights of another world and the mission I was given. Thinking back, it was so embarrassing it made me cringe.
『I swore I’d defeat the Demon King and make Alicia happy—that’s what I promised.』
I did defeat the Demon King.
But making Alicia happy? I was still far from accomplishing that.
『Keep that promise.』
"...Yeah."
He didn’t even have to say it—I knew.
The boy version of me thrust out his right hand, clenched in a fist.
I responded with my own, bumping it against his.
He smiled in satisfaction.
"…Are you okay?"
Right in front of me was Hisui, peering into my face with concern.
Apparently, I had fallen asleep without noticing.
"Mm... Morning, Hisui."
"Morning? It's already almost noon, you know.
I came to check on you, but you were sleeping, so I just watched your sleeping face for a bit.
But then you started looking like you were in pain, so I got worried... Did I wake you?"
"No, it's fine. Thanks, Hisui."
Her hand touched my head.
It felt so nice, being petted like this.
My period came, and at first, I was a little shocked—but now I’m okay.
Because in the dream, I was able to sort out my feelings.
I was encouraged by the conversation with myself.
"Do you want to be alone, Alice? Or would you rather be together?"
"I want to be together."
"I see. Then I’ll stay by your side all day today."
"I don’t want to do anything..."
"That’s fine. You can lean on me as much as you want. I finished my spring break homework, so I can keep you company however long you like."
"...Ugh."
Hearing the word “homework,” I got stuck and couldn’t say anything.
"Do you still have homework left to do?"
"...Lots."
I was so wrapped up in Alicia’s stuff that I barely touched my homework. There were only two days left before school started.
"I’ll help you, too, so let’s do it together, okay?"
"Ugh..."
I had planned to just stick close to Hisui and laze around all day today...
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