Ch.14You Too (3)

“Want to ride Rush, Kirsy?”

“Huh??”

“Let’s go on a cozy date together?”

She jumped in surprise as if she’d discovered some world secret. Then she shook her head vigorously in refusal.

“Ah, I can’t, brother. I’d… I’d like to go on a date… but I don’t know how to ride a horse.”

“I know that. I’ll help you.”

“…You will?”

At my offer to help, her attitude quickly changed, and she began to consider it.

She looked so cute that I couldn’t help but pat her head.

The only difference from usual was that today I stroked her more preciously.

Standing close to her, I ran my hand through her hair gently and slowly, all the way to the nape of her neck, as if caressing a treasure.

Beyond what just happened, I really wanted to somehow relieve the shock I’d received from Asena.

“Yes. Let’s go for a ride on Rush and take a walk. It’ll be fun.”

After staying still for a while, Kirsy carefully answered.

“…I’ll… I’ll ride.”

“Good choice.”

I closed the basket containing sandwiches and handed it to Kirsy.

From the other basket, I took out two apples, giving one to Rush and one to Goldie.

Feeling an odd gaze, I turned around to find Kirsy staring disapprovingly at Goldie eating the apple.

She seemed to be reacting to what Judy had said during their slight argument.

But soon she noticed me watching and relaxed her expression.

That much seemed unavoidable. I overlooked her behavior and looked at Rush.

“…Be good just this once, Rush. She’s my sister.”

I whispered quietly to Rush, stroking his mane several times, hoping he would behave himself, before slowly leading him out of the stable.

Kirsy was watching the entire process intently.

“What is it?”

When I smiled and asked her,

“…You look cool, brother.”

Kirsy answered.

Feeling awkward, I cleared my throat.

“You’ve seen me lead horses a few times before.”

“Yes. And you looked cool every time.”

Indeed, it seems no man dislikes compliments. It was quite a mood-lifting comment.

I led Rush out a bit further and turned to Kirsy.

“Kirsy, hold the basket up a little higher.”

“Like this?”

As she raised the basket to her chest level as I instructed, I grabbed her slender waist and lifted her.

“Eek!”

She let out a cute scream and tried to curl up, but with her waist in my grip, she couldn’t move as she wanted.

I easily placed her on Rush. She sat like a princess, with all her legs to the left side of Rush.

Before she could feel anxious, I also mounted Rush.

I stepped on the stirrup and swiftly swung my other leg over Rush’s back.

“Up we go. Kirsy, stay still.”

With the horse between my legs, I held the reins with my right hand and pulled Kirsy’s pelvis with my left arm to keep her from falling.

“…Ah!”

Though she flinched at my touch, I felt playful.

“Should I let go? You might fall if I do.”

“Ah! No… I like it. I was just surprised because it’s not where you usually touch me.”

“Really?”

“Yes… I’d feel uneasy if you let go. You can pull me tighter if you want.”

I lightly tapped Rush’s side and signaled “Giddy up,” and Rush began walking more gently than ever before.

Mentally thanking Rush for not causing trouble, I headed out to the training ground.

“Whoa!”

Despite the gentle gait, Kirsy swallowed nervously and looked anxious.

It made me smile to see her clinging to my arm, trying not to fall off.

Slowly leaving the training ground, we found a place covered with green grass and flowers.

Though not as grand as the Praester Family’s Territory plains, we found quite a scenic spot.

Kirsy gradually relaxed. The pressure of her clinging to my arm decreased, and she began to enjoy the scenery.

After going further out for quite some time, she slowly leaned against me. Her head touched my neck. A subtle floral scent rose up.

Rush and I waited until Kirsy felt completely comfortable.

As time passed, I could see the smile on her face.

The walk seemed like a good choice. It felt like experiencing again the walks I often took in the Praester territory.

“Kirsy. Don’t just sit there, feed me some sandwiches now.”

I said as we reached a place filled with the scent of grass.

“Ah. Right.”

As if waking from a pleasant dream, Kirsy answered in a dreamy voice, then opened the basket on her lap and took out a sandwich.

I naturally opened my mouth, and Kirsy naturally fed me.

“Oh? This is delicious.”

When I genuinely exclaimed, Kirsy took a bite from the same sandwich I had bitten.

She wiped the sauce from the corner of her lips and agreed with me.

“…It really is. Super delicious.”

We looked into each other’s eyes and burst into laughter.

And so we continued roaming around, enjoying the scenery.

Flowers were in full bloom, and butterflies were flying around.

Rush seemed like a different horse, not causing a single problem.

The atmosphere became increasingly relaxed.

It was around this time, I think.

“…Kirsy. If you’re okay with it, let’s come out like this often from now on.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“I’d love that, brother.”

“Yes. But you shouldn’t show the same behavior as today.”

Carefully, so as not to hurt her feelings, I mentioned the cold demeanor from Kirsy that had shocked me earlier.

“…Yes.”

As if she was reflecting on it, she hung her head guiltily and spoke.

That was a relief.

She knew she had done something wrong.

I wonder if she understood how alarmed I had been.

She had planted anxiety in my heart.

I was now confused.

Had I really rehabilitated them?

Until coming to this Academy, I thought the reason they became villains in the novel was because they couldn’t find someone to rely on.

…Even though it turned out Asena wasn’t actually relying on me, still.

Still, I believed my existence had twisted the novel’s development.

But Kirsy’s behavior shook that belief once more.

Perhaps becoming like this was their destiny?

Was that ruthlessness innately dormant somewhere within them?

Was I nothing at all?

I desperately hoped that wasn’t the case.

“Behavior like today’s is absolutely unacceptable. Do you promise?”

“…Yes. I promise, brother. I don’t know why I acted that way either…”

“It’s okay. You might have gotten angry suddenly. Let’s be careful next time.”

“I’ll be careful, brother. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me.”

“…..”

I nudged the side of Kirsy’s head with my chin and opened my mouth as she sat there reflecting and looking gloomy.

“Ah~.”

Kirsy fed me a sandwich without protest.

It went slightly off course, and sauce got on the corner of my lips.

“Ah, it’s a bit messy. Kirsy, could you wipe this for me?”

My hands were already full, so I couldn’t do anything about it.

Kirsy nodded and looked up at me.

Her hand approached and wiped my lips, then suddenly, as if her body had frozen, she stopped moving.

My lips paused at her finger.

“…Kirsy?”

Looking down at her, I thought I saw her swallow.

“Ah, sorry.”

Kirsy licked the sauce off her finger, put a sandwich in her mouth, and began chewing.

We moved around more, enjoying the peace on horseback.

“Brother?”

After being quiet for a long time, lost in thought, Kirsy spoke up.

“Yes?”

“Can I ask for one favor?”

I narrowed the gap between my elbows to embrace her and rested my chin on top of her head.

“What is it?”

“…From now on, could you come find me?”

“Hmm?”

“After class, I’m always the one looking for you. Can’t you come find me instead?”

It was such a reasonable request that I nodded.

“Of course.”

I had no intention of ignoring her effort to always come find me.

If she came to me once, it was only right that I go to her once.

“…And… continuously. From now on, con~tinuously.”

“Huh?”

Thinking it might be an unreasonable request, Kirsy forcibly buried her face in my chest.

The posture became slightly uncomfortable, but it wasn’t a big issue.

“You want me to keep coming to find you from now on?”

“…Yes.”

“Continuously?”

“…Yes.”

“I might be late sometimes because I’m taking care of Rush?”

“…Take care of me too.”

It had been a while since I’d seen her whining like this.

As always, but especially today, I was being generous with her.

I wanted to hear everything she had to say.

“Is there a reason?”

“…….”

“…Kirsy?”

“…Well…you see…”

“…If there isn’t one, it might be difficult every time. You never know what might happen with Rush.”

“…Ah! Well… boys keep approaching me… and… sometimes it’s a bit annoying.”

“…What??”

I doubted my ears and lowered my head, trying to make eye contact with her.

The more I tried, the more Kirsy buried her face in my chest.

“Boys are bothering you?”

“…Um… yes. Come see for yourself. It’s true.”

“Well… I see.”

I couldn’t refuse now.

This was an unexpected problem.

Unlike in the novel, her bright personality had created an unforeseen side effect.

“You’re… you’re in the knight department, brother. Can’t you protect me like a knight?”

Her request to protect her like a knight ignited a fire in my heart.

Kirsy seemed to know how to handle me.

The way she acted cute, her choice of words… she seemed to instinctively know how to persuade me.

Having spent many years together, she seemed to have figured out her own methods.

“Alright, Kirsy. I’ll keep coming from now on.”

The decision was quick.

I intend to see with my own eyes which guys are hitting on her.

“Really?”

Kirsy asked.

“I promise. From now on, I’ll keep coming to you.”

I answered.