Chapter 143: Night Blossom’s Resolve -1-

[Shion Testarossa: If you’re free tomorrow, I’d like to meet with you, accompanied by Clara.]

‘···.’

Having received Shion’s message, Ichinose, after much deliberation, accepted the invitation.

As long as the two girls stuck to Rohan like glue, it was a meeting she would eventually have to face.

While the intention behind this meeting was difficult to grasp, there were undoubtedly questions they both wanted to ask.

And so, Sunday, the day of their promised meeting, arrived.

Because she’d been warned not to overdo it, just in case, her morning training was on hold until today.

She had slept deeply enough to relieve her mental fatigue. Slowly, she prepared to go out.

Ichinose left the Dormitory long before lunchtime, with plenty of time to spare before the appointed time.

She also left a note and snacks on the table for Noa, in case she decided to drop by unexpectedly for a meal.

Click. Click. Click.

Ichinose, embracing her Sword, walked with a slightly buoyant step.

‘The weather’s nice.’

The warm sunlight, a sensation she couldn’t experience in the Dungeon.

Simply walking down the street, taking in the trivial noises of everyday life, was enough to lift her spirits.

The only regret she had was···.

It would have been wonderful if Rohan were walking alongside her.

Since they were always together in the Dungeon, his absence felt even more pronounced.

“···.”

As Ichinose reached the shopping district, a fair distance from the Dormitory, she turned on her smartphone.

Her eyes open, she navigated with her fingers.

‘It would be troublesome if I were late for the appointment···.’

She hadn’t left early because she had a poor sense of direction. She simply wanted to enjoy a leisurely stroll.

Even now, she had to open the map because she couldn’t remember the meeting place Shion had sent her.

In any case, Ichinose’s mind was full of such rationalizations.

‘Huh?’

Ichinose kept checking the map, wondering if she’d gotten lost on her way to the destination.

The place Shion had chosen was quite remote.

It wasn’t in a bustling area with lots of infrastructure, but rather a residential area.

[Wooden Place]

Seeing the sign, she confirmed it was the right Cafe.

It wasn’t a franchise. It was a privately owned Cafe that Ichinose had never seen before.

She hadn’t expected a Cafe in such a quiet place.

Ichinose checked the time again.

She wasn’t late.

‘Phew··· Shall I go in?’

Shion and Clara were already inside.

A subtle tension built within her.

Cling! A bell chimed as she pushed the door open.

After exchanging a brief greeting with the welcoming staff, Ichinose stepped inside.

‘It’s a lovely Cafe.’

Although not spacious, it was cozy. The wooden interior and the aroma of coffee appealed to her.

A few more steps.

They, too, were naturally aware of her presence, so they rose from their seats to greet her as she approached.

“Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.”

“Ah, hello···!”

Shion and Clara. Both seemed to have made more of an effort with their appearance than yesterday.

They were subtly conscious of each other’s demeanor.

‘···They’re remarkably beautiful. This one is especially beautiful, even among Elves.’

Ichinose bowed her head slightly before sitting opposite them.

Since the table was empty, she picked up the menu placed beside her.

“Have you two eaten yet?”

“Not yet.”

“My, my Older sister and I were planning to have a light meal here··· would you like to join us···?”

“Thank you. I’d like that.”

Ichinose smiled at Clara’s cautious words.

They proceeded to order.

Ichinose ordered an Americano, Shion an Einspänner, and Clara an iced chocolate.

In addition, they ordered caramel French toast and a brunch dish to complete their meal.

Once they finished ordering, silence fell over the table.

Ichinose was turning over in her mind whether she should ask the reason for the meeting or continue with small talk to gauge the atmosphere.

As she pondered, Shion spoke first.

“Rohan asked me something today.”

At the mention of Rohan’s name, Ichinose’s shoulders twitched.

She leaned in to listen but something about Shion’s words caught her attention.

“Not yesterday, but today? It’s almost lunchtime··· Did you see Rohan today···?”

“Yes. It came up while we were having breakfast together. Rohan is currently in training.”

“···.”

She was speechless from the start.

Ichinose’s mind was filled with questions like bubbles, but Shion continued without giving her a chance to speak.

“He asked what the common denominator between myself, Clara, and Ichinose Yui might be.”

“···A common denominator?”

“I told him that aside from being beautiful and strong, I couldn’t think of anything else.”

Ichinose’s lips twitched with pleasure.

Although she knew Shion and Clara were observing her reaction, she couldn’t control her joy.

After taking some time to compose herself, Ichinose cleared her throat in an attempt to cover it up.

“Ahem···! Is this gathering meant to find that common denominator?”

“No.”

Shion firmly denied it, just as their orders began to arrive.

The staff carefully filled the table and left.

Clara, looking restless, sipped her sweet drink.

The other two also took a light sip to wet their throats.

This time, Ichinose expressed her curiosity.

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Could you tell me where Clara is from?”

Suddenly becoming the center of attention, Clara flinched, pulling her lips away from the straw and stammering.

“I… I, I’m from Zeno…”

“Zeno. I see.”

That’s quite far away.

Ichinose knew about Zeno’s current situation, practically anarchic due to the civil war. She could guess why Clara had come to Academy City.

“Do you have any other questions?”

“Right now, I’m most curious about why the two of you sought me out.”

As Ichinose spoke, Shion and Clara exchanged glances.

With a small nod, Shion took the initiative. She asked bluntly, like a fired bullet.

“Ichinose-sama, do you have feelings for Rohan?”

“!”

There was no need to ask what kind of feelings she meant.

Ichinose simply froze, stiff as a board, still holding her cup.

“Are Clara and I mistaken?”

“…”

Ichinose placed her cup on the table with a clatter.

She felt like her hand would lose its strength and drop it if she tried to speak.

“As Ichinose-sama is probably already aware, Clara and I want to spend our lives with Rohan.”

Her voice was firm, but the end trembled slightly.

Shion’s calm expression and the blush on her pointed ears were admirable, even from another woman’s perspective.

“I see…”

Ichinose had anticipated those youthful feelings. But she was still surprised to hear them confirmed by the person herself.

That doll-like girl too, just what had Rohan done to captivate even an Elf?

She genuinely wanted to interrogate him.

“That’s why we want to hear your feelings, Ichinose-sama.”

“…”

“We want to know if you are a rival or someone we can join forces with.”

“Join forces…? What do you mean?”

“First, please tell us how you feel about Rohan, and then we’ll explain that part.”

Ichinose reached for a glass of ice water, not the warm coffee.

She gulped it down, hiding her emotions, and started with admiration.

“You both are very perceptive.”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t think anyone would notice that I have favorable feelings for Rohan. You two are probably the only ones who have.”

““···?””

Did Ichinose think she had hidden her feelings well?

Did she really believe even her parents wouldn’t know?

Shion and Clara’s lips itched to speak, but they held back.

Her intelligence mixed with unexpected naivete seemed like a unique charm the girl possessed.

“Ichinose-sama, please tell us clearly. When you say you have favorable feelings for Rohan, does it end with just liking him?”

“That’s…”

Apparently, it was still difficult for her to say it directly.

Shion pressed on to confirm Ichinose’s feelings.

“Do you harbor romantic feelings for Rohan, like Clara and I do?”

“…”

Ichinose blushed and tapped her fingernails against her teacup.

While she acknowledged her feelings, admitting and confirming them to others was still difficult.

“Are you certain you want to marry Rohan and have at least three children with him?”

“M, Marriage?!”

Ichinose’s voice rose in surprise.

As the surrounding eyes turned towards them, Ichinose covered her mouth with both hands.

Even so, the heat in her face didn’t subside.

“Is that not the case?”

“I… I haven’t thought that far ahead yet…”

“Even so, I don’t think your feelings are light.”

Ichinose nodded slightly.

She couldn’t deny it.

That was enough of an answer.

Shion shifted the topic slightly.

“Recently, there has been a girl who sends pictures and calls Rohan.”

“Who…?”

“Lete. The girl Rohan saved at the shopping mall.”

“Ah!”

Quite some time had passed, yet they were still in contact.

It wasn’t surprising, now that she thought about it.

“She actively appeals to him, talking about festivals in the Sepia Archipelago and school events, expressing her desire to meet with Rohan.”

“…”

Watching something like that made one feel impressed by the other person, but also suffocated, Shion lamented to Ichinose.

“As you know, Ichinose-sama, Rohan is popular. It makes us want to do something, but Clara and I lack experience and can’t act rashly.”

“I, I’m scared Older sister will hate me…”

Clara’s words were filled with heartfelt emotion.

It wasn’t an exaggeration. Ichinose now understood that feeling.

“We would like to meet Lete and talk to her, but the circumstances aren’t favorable.”

“A situation like today?”

Shion nodded at Ichinose’s question.

As if indicating she would reveal the purpose of this meeting, she broached the main topic.

“I understand that Ichinose-sama is from the Three Kingdoms Union.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So, I want to ask…”

Ichinose listened attentively.

“If someone, like Clara, has those values, would you, despite your own country’s customs, be open to accepting polygyny?”

“Ah…”

Ichinose instantly understood what Shion meant by “joining forces.”

Seeing Ichinose hesitate, biting her lip, unsure how to answer,

Shion and Clara’s eyes sparkled.