Love Potion

Ross-ssi seemed busy today; I hadn’t seen him since lunchtime. I kept waiting, but as lunchtime neared its end, he showed no sign of appearing, so I ended up eating with the club members and looking around.

During the triathlon, the shops that temporarily popped up in Transcendence Academy weren’t just restaurants. Even though the triathlon was over, the festival’s excitement hadn’t died down and was still going strong.

Looking at the countless students and people, I can’t help but wonder: Where do they all come from? I haven’t had much experience seeing so many people, so I’m still not used to it and find it amazing.

Moving away from the food-smelling street towards the annex, there were shops selling pretty beads and places selling nice-smelling soap. Beyond that, there were clothing stores lined up.

At first, I was with the club members, but starting with Lacar-ssi leaving because he had a date with his fiancé, and then Aria-yang running away belatedly, declaring, ‘I’m going to taste all the desserts in the academy during the remaining weekend!’, I grabbed her but she still left.

It’s a shame I ended up alone, but I wasn’t lonely. I was too busy looking around the shops to buy Ross-ssi a gift to comfort him, as he must be struggling with my mother’s harsh words and the audience’s sharp reactions. I bought several soaps with a refreshing scent that Ross-ssi would like. I also bought a few outfits that would suit Ross-ssi.

This looks good on him, and that looks good on Ross-ssi too. He’s cute, but also cool. Playful, but also serious. It’s hard to pick just one thing and say that’s his charm. To me, each and every aspect is a charm that I really like. It’s embarrassing, but to be honest, Ross-ssi feels lovable no matter what. Is it because he’s my first love? Or maybe it’s because Ross-ssi is perfect.

There were too many things that suited him, and too many clothes I wanted to see him in, so I couldn’t give up and ended up buying them one by one, until both my hands were full. There were also a lot of people looking around, so I got tired quickly from moving this way and that to avoid bumping into them. I decided to quickly walk to the last shop on the street and then return to the club room.

Oh my…?

Without realizing it, I turned my gaze away from the shop. After the lingerie store, the next shop was selling adult goods. All the students attending the academy were adults, so it was natural for such a shop to be here. But I couldn’t help but blush and avert my gaze from the suggestive lingerie that made me doubt if it could even function as underwear, the furry handcuffs, and the whip with a heart-shaped end.

There was a reason why the people around me were all couples holding hands tightly. Was it just my imagination that the person who just went into the shop looked like Lacar-ssi?

Anyway, I have no business here. Thinking that, I was about to turn around when a promotional item in the shop caught my eye.

[From the Red Magic Tower! Alchemist of Love Sebastian’s ambitious creation! Love Potion♥ – Do you want to confirm true love? Then taste it! Viewing & Experience Welcome!]

Love potion, that’s the first time I’ve heard of it. What could it be? I was a little curious. Just looking wouldn’t hurt, right? I slipped into the tent. The inside was decorated like a pretty pink cafe. The only difference was that there was an alchemy table and a cauldron bubbling with something.

,Excuse me…”

,Oh my, welcome~!”

,…!”

A high-pitched voice, I couldn’t tell if it was male or female, greeted me. The person who appeared from behind the counter was a man with long hair slicked back with oil and wearing makeup. He seemed to have an overwhelming amount of energy.

,Welcome to the shop of Sebastian, the Alchemist of Love-yong. I’m Sebastian, the owner of the shop-yong. Do you have any products you want-yong~? Today, I’m planning to give you a special service-yong. Ohohong.”

He has a unique way of speaking. I was flustered, but I didn’t show it much and asked what I was curious about.

,Um, what is the Love Potion…?”

Sebastian-ssi’s eyes lit up at my question. He looked like a hungry beast waiting for its prey. He smacked his lips for some reason and made me sit at a table, saying it must be heavy. He even gave me a cold drink without me asking, so I felt like I had committed a faux pas.

,Since opening the shop, I’ve received many questions about what the Love Potion is-yong. The Love Potion reveals the feelings that you haven’t expressed-yong. Like when you’re drunk and unintentionally reveal your true feelings! To explain further, the potion makes the other person’s mind hazy and amplifies the senses of the body to confirm love-yong!”

That’s a little hard to understand. Amplifying the senses to confirm love, what could that be?

,I don’t really get it…”

,Do you have a boyfriend-ssi?”

,Yes. I do.”

,The Love Potion is something that can confirm how much your boyfriend loves you-yong!”

My eyes widened. To think there was something so amazing…! I had no idea. I was worried if it was dangerous, so I asked, and Sebastian-ssi proudly pointed to the Magic Tower Lord’s certificate of authentication hanging on the wall of the shop. Well, if it was dangerous, the shop wouldn’t have been approved.

,The Love Potion doesn’t have any aftereffects-yong. Looking at the ingredients, it’s no different from a potion-yong. There’s no evidence that you used the Love Potion either-yong. It’s the perfect potion for women-dang. Ohohong!”

I don’t doubt Ross-ssi’s love. But it’s true that I’m curious about how much he loves me. He’s confirmed his love in a somewhat extreme way several times, but I can’t easily relax because there are always rivals around Ross-ssi.

Sebastian-ssi placed a box containing the Love Potion on the table. I wiggled my fingers with a strange feeling and looked at the Love Potion. Seeing my worried expression, Sebastian-ssi smiled and said.

,You’re not thinking you’re doing something bad, are you-yong? This is just like a strong alcohol that makes you drunk quickly-yong! It just helps you reveal your true feelings-yong! It doesn’t even have a hangover like alcohol-yong!”

I made a firm decision in my heart and got up from my seat.

,W-what’s the service?”

Sebastian-ssi smiled brightly at my question.

***

After Headmaster Nelson left, I immediately set out to find Ellie. After wandering around the academy for a while, I ran into Ellie as she was heading to the library with a coffee.

After a brief conversation, we promised to go on a date alone all day tomorrow. The empty promise of buying me snacks that she made during the last triathlon game turned into a date due to Ellie’s strong request.

I could have refused sternly, but I reluctantly nodded to Ellie’s request. The best way to confirm my suspicions about Ellie is to feel and experience it directly. I’m Ellie’s personal lie detector. For the sake of both of us, we need to clearly define our ambiguous relationship now.

However, I was anxiously waiting in the club room, not knowing how to explain to Luna that I was going on a date with Ellie. I wondered if anything I said would sound like an excuse. Sitting on the chair and shaking my legs, trying to organize my complicated thoughts. Someone opened the door to the club room and came in.

Without thinking, I turned my head and met the beautiful blue eyes. A lovely smile spread across Luna’s face as she looked at me. As if following suit, I smiled too.

,Ross…!”

Luna, who was holding bags full in both hands, ran towards me with short steps. Every action is so lovely and cute. I got up from my seat and hugged Luna tightly as she approached. My heart pounded loudly at the warm body temperature and scent. Luna, who couldn’t hug me because she was holding the bags, leaned only her face and smiled happily.

,I missed you.”

I couldn’t hide my joy at Luna’s bright voice. To think that there’s someone who misses me this much. This feeling surprises me every time.

,I missed you too.”

Saying that, I gave her a light kiss, and Luna, with a pretty smile, put what she was holding on the table.

,I bought it because I thought of Ross. It’s a gift!”

I was more embarrassed than happy at Luna’s appearance as she took things out of the paper bag and explained them one by one. The gift was very appreciated and I liked it, but… in my position, where I had to confess that I had made a date with Ellie for tomorrow, it was such a sorry situation that I couldn’t be fully happy. Because I have a conscience.

,Huh? Ross, is something wrong…?”

Perhaps my conflict was showing on my face, Luna tilted her head and looked at me with worried eyes. I quickly waved my hand at her anxious eyes, as if she was wondering if she didn’t like the gift.

,No, it’s not that something’s wrong…”

I don’t know what words to start with. Should I apologize first, or should I say my purpose first? Luna’s worried gaze made my heart impatient.

,Actually… I’m meeting Ellie tomorrow.”

,Uh, uh… yeah, uh-huh…?”

I could see Luna’s eyes shaking with embarrassment as she looked at me. She seemed shocked by the sudden appearance of Ellie’s name. Luna, who was pursing her lips for a moment, wiggled her fingers and asked.

,Y-you’re just meeting for a little bit, right?”

My heart ached at Luna’s appearance, smiling as if she had misunderstood. I sighed with an apology.

,…I think we’ll be together until late.”

,T-tomorrow is the last day of the festival, though…?”

I know. Tomorrow is even the day of the fireworks show that decorates the end of the triathlon. Luna seemed to be looking forward to it, and we even promised to watch it together.

I feel guilty at Luna’s drooping shoulders. I’m telling Luna, who prepared a gift for me, that I’m going on a date with another girl. I feel very pathetic myself. I grabbed Luna’s hand with a deep sigh.

,I’m really sorry. It’ll sound like an excuse, but it’s not that I want to go on a date with Ellie. My real purpose is to end the relationship completely. I’m sorry for saying this so suddenly.”

At those words, Luna, who had been looking at the floor powerlessly, looked up at me blankly. Luna, who was staring at me as if she was thinking about something, rummaged through the bag she had put on the table and took out something in a bottle. The bottle with a heart drawn on it contained a liquid with a mixture of pink and bright red.

Luna pulled out the cork and drank it all in one go. Perhaps because her heart was burning because of me, Luna drank all the drink without even breathing, and put the empty bottle down with a tang- sound. A moment of silence came. Luna kept her head down and didn’t say anything, and I couldn’t open my mouth to look at her, like a sinner.

,Ross…”

Just as I was scratching my head, I heard a small murmur. Before I could answer, Luna rushed into my arms. Luna, who buried her face in my chest, trembled for a moment, then grabbed my waist tightly with both hands. Looking down with bewildered eyes, Luna raised her head at a good time and met my gaze.

Luna’s gaze looking at me felt strangely subtle for some reason. A hazy gaze. Her face was also flushed red for some reason. A regular vibration was quietly heard from somewhere in the quiet room. The hand holding my waist tightened.

,Ross, I like you. So much. So much that it’s embarrassing. So much that my heart hurts.”

I couldn’t find an answer to the embarrassing confession. As I was stupidly opening my mouth, Luna pressed her body against me. For some reason, the body temperature that touched me was hot.

,I love you so much. Even though I see you every day, I miss you when I’m away for a while. So much that I think it’s okay if Ross does something bad if we’re together. So much that I’ll say it’s okay even if you say you’re going on a date with another girl. I love Ross so much.”

The answer I could give to Luna’s heartfelt confession was decided.

,…I’m sorry.”

Luna shook her head at my apology.

,I’m not saying this because I want to hear an apology. I wanted to honestly tell Ross my feelings. Because I love Ross, I have no choice but to believe you until the end, even if I’m betrayed. Because I’m going to love you stupidly.”

At Luna’s words, I made a firm decision to end my relationship with Ellie even more. I wanted to make Luna not feel insecure about our relationship, and to be able to trust me completely.

,I’ll never betray you. There’s nothing I can’t do for you. I can even give you my life if you want. I really mean it.”

Luna smiled brightly, as if she was happy with my words, and asked.

,Does Ross love and trust me as much as I do?”

,I love and trust you more than you do.”

Luna frowned slightly and raised the corners of her mouth.

,No. I love you more. Ross doesn’t express it well usually.”

,I’ll express it often from now on.”

Luna, who was satisfied with my answer, smiled and moved her hand, which had been holding my waist, to my butt.

,Ross’s butt~ I like it~”

I flinched without realizing it at Luna’s bright voice. Luna’s appearance, confidently fondling my butt and giggling with a swaying expression, felt strangely unfamiliar and even worried me.

,Luna, are you okay…?”

,Yeah! I believe in Ross. I don’t think you lied!”

Saying that, Luna’s appearance, somehow moving her face towards my armpit, made me shrink my shoulders even more. Luna’s nose twitched like a dog sniffing.

,Ross’s armpit~ I like it~”

,A-are you really okay?”

Luna’s appearance, doing things she wouldn’t normally do without any embarrassment, wasn’t normal. Was the shock that great?

,It’s okay because it’s my beloved Ross~!”

For some reason, I felt like Luna was driving me into a corner. No, my back really touched the wall. Even if I flailed my arms and tried to escape, Luna continued to stick to me and confessed that she liked me while touching my body here and there. I felt like I was being molested, so Luna gave me a sinister smile that I had never seen before, with my arms crossed in an X and protecting my body, and whispered.

,How about it, wanna go to the rooftop with your big sister?”

I think we should go to the hospital ward before the rooftop.