Chapter 87 – Festival (2)

Two days ago… we went shopping together?

What is she talking about? Two days ago I was still asleep—

“I-I’m sorry, Noah.”

Rubia lowered her head.

Two days ago…? Then it wasn’t me—it was the other Noah.

Well, I suppose that makes sense… Yeah, it could happen. I was asleep for a whole month after all…

“Traitor…”

Huh?

“Rubia… you’re a traitor.”

What…?

The words kept spilling out on their own. My voice flowing without permission.

This was meant to stay in my head. No, not even in my head— Deep, deep in my heart where no one could hear…

“No-Noah…?”

Rubia’s bewildered expression was amusing. Funny and cute and irritating and infuriating and frustrating.

I felt angry.

Yeah.

Since I’ve already started saying it…

Might as well go all the way.

I can just… blame it on side effects from just waking up, right?

But… what if Rubia starts hating me for saying all this…? I probably sound obsessive… She might find it creepy.

Um… ugh…

Whatever!

“I hate you. I hate you so much… Rubia, you’re a traitor. A flirt… no, not flirt… a… a shameless flirt?”

This is Rubia’s fault! Not that hanging out with friends is wrong but… Friends… friends.

You said you had no other friends but me!! I don’t have any other friends either… You said I was your best friend!!

I ground my teeth as I plopped down beside her.

“Someone useless like me who can’t even see… who’s stupid… who can’t talk properly… who couldn’t beat Tylant… I must not be good enough, right? Yeah… that must be it.”

“No… what are you saying? I would never—”

“Oh really? Really? Then why did you hang out with the other Noah…? Buying underwear together, eating meals together? Right? Having meals… and dessert… and then going for walks to digest. That’s exactly what happened, isn’t it?”

“There were… circumstances—”

“Mmhmm… Sure there were. Right. Circumstances. Of course. I get it… Sigh… Fine. Forget everything else. Just answer one thing…”

I voiced the biggest question burning in my mind.

“Which one of us do you like more?”

“Wh-What?”

Still sitting on the bed, I turned my body. My clothes rode up slightly against the bedding.

Rubia’s gaze dropped downward, but I pressed on, enunciating each word clearly.

“Between super-strong Noah who went un-underwear shopping with you… and useless, sleepy Noah… which one do you like better?”

At least she knows she did something wrong—she can’t even look up. I might forgive her… a little.

So give me a straight answer, Rubia!

“Not going to… answer?”

“Ah… well… Of course I like Noah.”

“Th-There are two Noahs…! Which one…!”

Rubia slowly lifted her head. She licked her lips, swallowing hard.

Are you getting ready to lie to me?!

“The useless… no, the Noah I’m talking to right now.”

“Really…?”

“Yes.”

“…Why?”

I asked impulsively. Rubia gave the answer I wanted.

But why ask ‘why’?

I don’t even understand my own thoughts. But… I want to know.

“Wh-What is it… you like about me?”

I can’t even look at her face. Can’t walk properly without my greatsword. Can’t cook, can’t speak well, can’t even make coffee. Someone who can’t do anything right… why would you like me?

“Hmm…”

The moment Rubia started to speak, I released my grip on the greatsword. I’m too scared to see her expression. If I find out she’s lying… it would hurt too much…

As her second shaky breath escaped, her hand touched my cheek.

“Even with your eyes closed, the way your eyelids twitch with emotion is adorable.”

“Ugh…”

“Your messy, disheveled hair is cute too.”

“Eep…”

“I love how soft your skin is, and how your nose twitches when you don’t have your greatsword—it’s so cute.”

“Ahh…”

“The way your lips quiver when you smile awkwardly, and how your teeth peek out when you laugh brightly.”

“W-Wha… What are you—”

“Every strand of your hair, your small delicate fingers, your cute toes, your fingernails, toenails, your sweet scent.”

“St-Stop… I get it, so please… stop—”

“How you promised to protect me forever, how you always stand before me leading the way, yet still help lift me up when I fall.”

Her voice rang so clear. The bed trembled beneath us. Her clothes kept brushing against my knees.

Her scent drew closer.

Without thinking, I gripped my greatsword’s hilt.

Then—

“I love everything about you.”

I saw something I’d never seen before.

A smile so bright… That even ‘happiness’ felt too weak a word to describe it.

“Ah… uh…”

“So don’t say things like that. Don’t doubt me.”

“O-Okay…”

“Even if everyone in the world comes to hate you, even if they call you a heretic and cast you out… I’ll always be on your side.”

Rubia spread her arms wide.

“Come here.”

I shouldn’t.

If I let her hold me… I’ll start wanting more, imagining more.

“Come on.”

“Ugh…!”

Finally, unable to resist, I threw myself into her embrace.

And then— Tremendously…

***

Thud!

“Noah, sis!”

“Mm? Hephaestus…?”

I reached for the greatsword beside the bed.

“Sis… Sis!!”

As my senses activated, Hephaestus rushed over and squeezed me tight.

“Urk… Ow!”

“Sob… Are you okay? Does anything hurt? You’re really alright?”

“Nngh… Yeah, I’m fine… Just let go…”

“Noah… It’s been a while.”

As I struggled in Hephaestus’s grip, Yuria walked over and helped pry her off.

“And Rubia… you’ve improved greatly.”

“I’ve always been the same…”

“Waaah! Siiiis!”

Still held back by Yuria, Hephaestus wailed, her nose running heavily.

Ugh… gross…

“Charlotte wanted to come too, but she’s busy with festival preparations. She said she’d visit later.”

Ah, right. Charlotte is a princess… She probably has lots to do.

Though she acts so un-princess-like, I keep forgetting…

“Hehe… Maybe it’s better without Charlotte here.”

Rubia stood and walked to the table.

“Would you like coffee? Or perhaps peppermint tea, chamomile… We also have strawberry milk.”

“Coffee for me, please.”

“Sniff… Ch-Chamomile…”

“And strawberry milk for Noah, right?”

“Yes.”

I nodded and stood up.

I tried fixing my thoroughly messed up hair and smoothed out my wrinkled clothes…

That’s when I noticed Hephaestus and Yuria staring at me.

Why… Why are they looking at me like that?

“Um… Doesn’t Noah look shorter?”

“Indeed, the height reduction is noticeable…”

What? What are they talking about?

I tilted my head at Rubia, who made an “oops” face and approached me.

“Noah, I forgot to tell you something.”

“Hm?”

“About Yuria’s elixir…”

“Oh, yes…”

“Well… there’s a side effect…”

“Which is…?”

After avoiding my gaze for a while, Rubia finally bowed her head and spoke.

“Noah… your height has… decreased.”

“What…”

My already small height got even smaller?

“H-How much?”

I couldn’t tell any difference. Or could I?

Come to think of it… When Rubia hugged me earlier, didn’t her chest press against my face instead of my chin…?

“About… this much?”

Her awkwardly positioned hand hovered above my head.

“Th-This much!?”

Wait… what?

“But why didn’t I noti— oh…”

I haven’t properly walked yet. Haven’t swung my greatsword. Didn’t notice my viewpoint was lower…

Since I don’t see with my eyes but sense everything…

Of course I wouldn’t notice…

“It’s approximately a 10% reduction. Think of it as redistributing healthy tissue to heal damaged areas… The height loss was unavoidable…”

So how much exactly…?

My original height was 145.7 centimeters…

“Noah, at least you’re still over— pfft—130… snrk!”

131 centimeters…?

That… That can’t be right…

“R-Rubia… No… That’s impossible… No, no, no…”

The greatsword I’d been dragging… I couldn’t even hold it upright anymore.

Before, I could manage by standing on tiptoes with arms stretched… Now… not even close.

“Wh-What is this…”

“Pfft—Bwahahahaha!”

Rubia finally lost it, setting down her teacup as she burst out laughing.

“Ahem… We should probably shorten the greatsword by— snrk—a bit…”

Yuria turned away, her shoulders shaking.

“Yeah, maybe like… hic… 15 centimeters. I’ll do it quick, sis!”

And Hephaestus… sneaking closer to compare our heights.

They were all laughing happily. Are you enjoying this? ARE YOU?!

My whole world just collapsed!

“Is there… any way to grow taller?”

“Well… that depends entirely on your natural growth… I can’t guarantee anything.”

Growth? Growth…?

“But… But I’m a grown adult… I’m 20…”

“Then… I guess you’re out of luck— snrk!”

“It’s okay, sis! You’re… you’re cute!”

“Look on the bright side, Noah. At least… your skirt covers more now.”

Rubia, you’re the worst.

“F-Fine… Just leave… I want to be alo—”

As I turned to hug my greatsword—

Suddenly, overwhelming energy surged through it as it swung wildly. Instinctively, I swung back while shielding Rubia.

SLASH!

Crimson energy tore through space, wreaking havoc around us.

“Oh ho! Already this strong?!”

And there, at the chaos’s center—

“Greetings! I am Sirin!”

A child slightly taller than me stood before us.

“I’ve come to be your master!”

She faced me, our greatswords crossed.