Chapter 57: Cultural Festival, Day Two (Hisui’s Confession)

"I love you, Ikuto... I've loved you for a long, long time."

Hisui confessed her feelings to me, on the premise that I am Ikuto.

To put it mildly, this was a crisis.

Because I naturally went along with the flow of conversation, I’d ended up in a situation where I could no longer deny anything.

"Why did you think I was Ikuto, Hisui...?"

I grasped at straws and voiced the only question I could come up with.

"I seem to have inherited a strong bloodline from the shrine maidens. I was born with the ability to see people’s souls. When I asked my dad, he said my late mother was the same."

"...So, since the very first time we met?"

"Yes... I was trying to move on from the feelings I’d been holding onto, so I went to Ikuto’s funeral. I was really shocked when I met you there. I’d never seen a person with two souls in one body before—except for pregnant women. And one of those souls was unmistakably Ikuto’s."

Now I understood why Hisui had suddenly run away the first time we met when I was Alice. If someone showed up at your funeral and greeted you personally, being shocked would be the least of your reactions.

"There were times I doubted my own eyes, thinking maybe it was just someone with a very similar soul. But today, during our date, I became completely certain. There’s no one else I can be this natural with except you..."

Looking back, Hisui had indeed been unusually natural today. Now it made sense—that attitude came from her already knowing I was Ikuto. Considering how shy she usually was, I should’ve realized something was off when she acted that way with me.

『...So, what do we do now?』

I asked Alicia for advice.

『...At this point, I don’t think there’s much you can do. Rather than trying to come up with a clumsy lie, wouldn’t it be better to just tell her everything?』

『...Yeah, you’re probably right.』

It was true that there was no way to undo things now—and more than anything, I didn’t want to brush off Hisui’s confession with some vague evasion.

"Can I ask you something too? Honestly, I’ve got so many questions I don’t even know where to begin..."

"Okay, I’ll tell you everything... I don’t know if you’ll believe me, though."

『Ikuto-san, could you connect mental communication with Hisui-san?』

『Got it.』

I adjusted the settings so Alicia’s telepathic voice would connect with Hisui.

『...Can you hear me?』

"Huh...? Ikuto? ...Wait, no?"

Hearing a voice identical to mine inside her head, Hisui seemed confused.

『My name is Alicia. I’m the other soul residing in Ikuto-san’s body. I’m now speaking directly inside your mind, Hisui-san.』

"...This isn’t ventriloquism, right?"

『I don’t think even a ventriloquist could talk directly into someone’s head.』

"...So Ikuto can speak directly into people’s minds too?"

『You can do it too, Hisui, if I support you. Try talking the way you would in your head, okay? I’d prefer we continue this conversation privately from now on.』

"I’ll try."

With a serious expression, Hisui closed her eyes and focused, as if in deep thought.

『Ahem, test test... can you hear me? ...Did that work?』

『Yeah, you’re good. I hear you.』

『Then, if you don’t mind, I’d like to explain everything to you up to the present.』

『I’ll jump in with extra details if needed.』

From there, we began explaining everything to her step by step.

How I was summoned to another world and met Alicia. How, after a year of adventure, we defeated the Demon King in a mutual blow. How I was transported back to Japan and ended up in Alicia’s body. And how I ended up living as Alice.

We didn’t hide anything. We told her the entire truth.

『...It’s honestly hard to believe.』

『I get that. I feel the same. But... will you believe me, Hisui?』

『I will... but there’s something I’d like to confirm. Could I talk to her—Alicia—alone for a bit?』

『I can do that... but Alicia, are you okay with it?』

『...Yes, please go ahead.』

『Alright then, I’ll just look at my phone over there. It’s probably hard to talk with me watching.』

『Ikuto, thank you.』

『It’s fine. I’m used to it with my mom and Yuna.』

My family has regular chats with Alicia a few times a week. During those times, I usually study, play games, or just kill time on my phone.

『Okay, switching over now.』

I switched the telepathic channel so that only Hisui and Alicia could hear each other. With that, I could no longer hear anything from their conversation.

I moved over to a desk a short distance away, pulled out my phone, and lowered my gaze to the screen.

But my thoughts weren’t on the screen. I was thinking about what was going to come next.

『...Sorry to keep you waiting. We’ve finished talking.』

Before I realized it, a few minutes had passed, and Alicia’s voice brought me back to reality.

『Hisui-san says she’d like to talk to you now.』

『Got it.』

I put my phone away, returned to my seat, and faced Hisui again.

『I’ve heard everything. That you’re really Alice, and that you can’t return to your original body. Knowing all that, I want to say it again.』

Her expression was filled with determination. I couldn’t help but think she looked dignified—beautiful, even.

『I love you. I want you to be my girlfriend.』

Just as I’d suspected—Hisui’s confession hadn’t changed, even after learning about my change in gender.

In that case, I had to face her properly and give her a clear answer.

『I’m really grateful for your feelings... but I can’t return those feelings.』

『Can I ask why? You’re not going to say it’s because of your gender, are you?』

Even in the face of rejection, Hisui stayed calm and composed.

『I’m not into guys or anything like that... It’s just that... I’ve found someone really important to me.』

I thought I’d prepared myself while I was sitting and thinking, but saying it out loud was still embarrassing.

『Someone I want to stay with forever... and that wish kind of came true in an unexpected way.』

We can’t physically touch—but more than that, I’m just happy we can always be together.

『...Ikuto-san.』

『That’s why I can’t be with you, Hisui. The one I love... is Alicia.』

We’d both been aware of our feelings, and yet we kept dodging them with vague words.

But now, I finally said it—what I’d always been too embarrassed to admit. I gave Hisui a clear, honest answer.