Chapter 9: To You, My Counterpart

[The Relationship Between the Protagonist and the Heroine]

Even if the protagonist and heroine meet, their romance doesn't necessarily begin immediately.

Of course, this isn't the case if one of them confesses their feelings right away after falling in love at first sight, but that's an extremely rare case.

Most romance stories, especially rom-com, are about enjoying the twists and turns that follow the initial encounter, and many people place great importance on that process.

At least, that's how I felt.

To depict that process, the protagonist and heroine must have a relationship where they regularly meet or spend time together, a relationship that doesn't feel out of place. This could be, for example; colleagues, childhood friends, rivals, classmates, or tutor. If you start considering attributes like initial animosity or having feelings for each other from the beginning, the possibilities become endless.

The relationships between characters are incredibly diverse, and there are countless relationships conceivable that a typical sickly-heroine enthusiast like myself would never even consider, captivating readers and viewers somewhere even today.

Now, since the enjoyment comes from the process, I believe that the relationship that provides the reason to continue the process is just as important as the encounter that sparks it.

And just like with encounters, I don't think there's a single right answer when it comes to relationships. It's natural that what people find desirable differs from person to person.

However, even with that understanding, I want to declare this:

'The more intense the relationship between the protagonist and the heroine—the more they feel they couldn't exist without each other—the better, right...?'

★★★

Casual small talk that had already become a daily routine for lady and her attendant.

"Chitose-sama, aren't you feeling cold?"

"I'm fine, Sakura. It's warm inside the mansion."

"Is that so? Oh, by the way, I received another letter from Moritsugu-sama, and this time it came with some sweets."

"..... Sigh~, Onii-sama..... I'm very happy that you send me all sorts of things, but I wonder if you're okay financially?"

"Moritsugu-sama.... well I'm sure he has enough sense to handle that kind of thing... probably....?"

Despite the stillness of the silently falling snow, the words that spilled from the lips of the two girls never ceased.

The brazier in the corner of the room was warm, and it seemed as if the burning embers within it were quietly watching over the still young girls.

The season was about to enter its second winter since Onjōji Chitose and Hojo Sakura first met.

"It's really been snowing a lot since this morning, hasn't it?"

"Yes, it is. Everything outside is completely white."

"Like my hair?"

"Your moonlight-like hair, Chitose-sama, is far whiter and more beautiful."

"..... Sakura, you've certainly grown quite a bit. Last winter, when I said the same thing, you just made an unreadable face and stayed silent."

One moment, she looks sulky like a child whose prank went wrong, and the next, she's beaming with a huge smile and resting her head on Hojo Sakura's lap.

Hojo Sakura isn't surprised by this at all.

This kind of playful banter is already commonplace for the two of them.

"I know very well that Chitose-sama is not just a weak being to be pitied."

"You're overestimating me, Sakura. I can only be like this because everyone is here. I can't do anything alone."

"That's true for everyone. Just like the energies of Yin and Yang, we can only live healthily because someone is there for us."

"...I wonder if Sakura is living even a little bit healthier because I'm here?"

"Of course. If not, I wouldn't be chatting with you like this, Chitose-sama."

"I see. ...Thank you, Sakura."

Hojo Sakura's hand touched Onjōji Chitose's white hair. Her fingers glided through it effortlessly, without any resistance—a testament to her regular care. When she released the hair she had lifted, it fluttered down to where it belonged, as if dancing.

"Your hair has grown quite long, hasn't it?"

"..... It's finally reached this length. Even so, it's still only just about to reach my neck."

"Nothing happens overnight. Even Madam didn't grow such long, beautiful hair in just a year or two."

"I know that, but still... no, never mind. That's right, this is how it is."

"Yes, that's right, Chitose-sama. This is how it is."

The attendant's hand touches her lady's head, which rests on her lap. She handles it with the care of a delicate glasswork that might shatter at a touch, as gently as touching snowflakes that would melt at a touch, simply stroking it softly.

The lady closes her eyes in apparent bliss, and the attendant, sensing this, also falls silent.

The room is now enveloped in silence, a stark contrast to the moments before, with only the crackling sound of burning charcoal in the brazier echoing through the air.

And so, another day comes to an end for this lady and her attendant.

(Please, please rest in ease today too. Have sweet dreams tonight, Chitose-sama.)

There, as always, was the unwavering love of the attendant.

(Scenes like this where a sickly heroine is being pampered by her female partner are great... very good for your health...)

In contrast, the lady was like this.

★★★

It's been many years since I started living a smooth and happy life as a sickly heroine (who is actually healthy).

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye since Sakura-chan started staying by my side.

I think those have been very smooth sailing days as a sickly heroine.

The people around me are considerate of me, and I'm able to enjoy my sickly heroine moves, especially my sickly heroine smile.

I can't thank Sakura-chan, Onii-sama, Otou-sama, Okaa-sama, and Ayame-sensei enough.

I'm truly sorry for everything, and thank you so much.

Yes, these are truly wonderful days.

'Except for the lack of romantic encounters!!'

I've been saying all along that I want a protagonist who will make me the heroine, and yet look at me now.

However, there's a reason for this. It's only natural since I'm playing a sickly heroine, but the people around me are overprotective and I'm hardly ever allowed to go outside.

Well, that's only natural.

In this life, I, Chitose-chan, was born with a rare disease, and on top of that, even though I've grown up, I'm still very young.

Being a child is one thing, but with the added attribute of being physically weak, it's not like I'd be allowed to go out anytime soon.

I suppose if I insisted hard enough, they might let me out, but even though my attendant, Sakura-chan, is quite capable, she's still within the realm of a child. So naturally, if I want to go out, someone from the mansion has to accompany us.

If it were just a one-time thing, I might just push for it....

Since the goal is to find Protagonist-kun I haven't met yet, it's not going to end in just one go. It would be really bad to make them accompany me wandering around aimlessly over and over again.

Besides, both Otou-sama and Okaa-sama are quite overprotective. They wouldn't easily grant permission to go out again and again.

And if I were to sneak out of the mansion on my own, it would be Sakura-chan, my attendant, who would get in trouble. I really want to avoid that, so I still haven't been able to pull off the "incognito heroine" move just yet.

I deeply regret not being able to pull off the typical move of going out, getting carried away, and then getting sick, but I don't want to make Sakura-chan the bad guy, so I'm holding back.

If Chitose-chan can't go outside, there's no chance of meeting anyone, so the dream of meeting her Protagonist-kun remains just a pipe dream.

I never expected that my perfectly executed sickly heroine persona would backfire.

It's a tragedy caused by Chitose-chan being too cute as a sickly heroine....

'Should I gradually improve my health over several years to lower the barrier to going out?'

It will take a long time, but there's no other way. As Sakura-chan said, nothing happens overnight.

The same goes for sickly heroines. A sickly heroine isn't made in a day.

To be honest, I personally like the childhood friend heroine trope, so I would have preferred someone I'd spent time with since childhood...

'But at this point, there's no other way.

Just wait, Protagonist-kun, wherever you are in this world! 

I'll definitely find you!!!'

★★★

That night, too, the snow fell softly. The lady and her attendant's daily routine was the same as always.

It was supposed to end without incident, just like always...

—But then something unexpected happened.

"Chitose-sama, please leave immediately!"

That day, as the two went out into the garden to watch the falling snow, a boy dressed in rags, clearly not normal at first sight, appeared before them.

"Ugh... ugh...!"

(What is this overwhelming Yang energy...? No, more importantly, Chitose-sama....!)

The attendant prioritized her lady's safety above all else, even the intruder's identity.

Just as she was about to leave, taking her lady behind her into her arms, she saw that small, pale back appear before her.

"Chitose-sama!"

"I'm sorry, Sakura. But it's alright. I can tell."

Ignoring her attendant's words and dodging the outstretched hand, the small white lady advanced. Smiling at the boy, she spoke in a voice so gentle it was almost incongruous.

"Are you alright? You look like you're in a lot of pain."

"Gaa... Gaa...!"

The boy's Yang energy intensified, perhaps due to his wariness of the approaching girl.

However, the girl's Yin energy gently enveloped it.

"Cough... It's alright. It's alright now."

"Gaa... Gaa... Ah..... ahh...."

"Chitose-sama..."

The boy's Yang energy and the girl's Yin energy mingled, canceled each other out, and harmonized.

It was as if they were two halves of a whole.

The boy's cries of agony faded away. As he gazed at the girl with eyes that had regained their reason, she said to him with an expression his attendant had never seen before:

"First, let me introduce myself. Nice to meet you, I'm Onjōji Chitose."

That day, the girl met her counterpart.

(Not only did I not have to search for him, but he came to me!

A boy radiating such Yang energy, just like Chitose-chan's counterpart, he's totally the Protagonist-kun!

If this were a manga or game right now, there would definitely be some great background music playing and it would be a touching first contact!!!

Woohoo! I'm getting hyped!

Nice to meet you, Protagonist-kun! I'm your heroine, sickly heroine, Chitose-chan!!)

.....Yeah

..... That day, the girl met her counterpart!