GalaxyTL
I’ve been fidgety since this morning.
“Fufu, Meg-chan, he’s not going to come that soon, you know.”
“I-I know, but…”
I finished breakfast and have been wandering around the hall, and finally, Saura-san started to laugh. I mean, I mean…! Today’s the day Asuka arrives at Ortus!
It’s been a week since I heard about his visit. Apparently, he left for here the day we gave him permission. I was surprised that he didn’t even bother getting ready, but I guess he didn’t even consider that he might be rejected. It seems like he was ready to leave immediately. But I totally understand how he feels. And it just goes to show how cute Asuka still is.
Schlie-san left to pick him up a few days ago, so if everything’s on schedule, he should be arriving today. That’s why I’m waiting here, near the entrance, but… as Saura-san said, there’s no way he’s going to come this early in the morning.
“You’re going to make me worried about tomorrow, at this rate. You’re showing him around the city, right?”
“I-It’ll be fine!”
Ronny, who’s probably heading for training, chuckled and teased me in passing.
“Oh, it’ll be fine, Ronny. I’m coming along too.”
“Owen-san! I’ll be in your care tomorrow!”
Then Owen-san, also passing by, ruffled Ronny’s hair and joined the conversation. That’s right, I asked Owen-san to accompany me when I show Asuka around the city. I mean, at first, I was going to ask Gil-san, Nika-san, or Juma-nii. But Saura-san said this when I asked them:
“Ah, if it’s okay with you, could you ask one of the members who isn’t part of the core group? Those who primarily work outside the guild are generally strong.”
And so it went something like that. Apparently, she wants me to start relying on other members, now that I’m able to somewhat protect myself. Until now, I was seen as someone who was an easy target, and who just needed to be protected. But lately, I’ve been proving, with actual results, that I’m able to deal with things. She said it was because of that, that she made this decision.
“And also, I want the other members, who’ll be responsible for the next generation of Ortus, to aim higher. Protecting Meg-chan is the most important duty in Ortus. I want them to understand that responsibility!”
I wanted to object to those words, but I understood what she meant. I mean, why is it the most important duty? But if we ignore that, I get it, it’s basically about training the younger members.
So Saura-san gave me a few candidates, saying that this is an opportunity to give them a heads up and help them prepare, and out of those, I asked Owen-san. Because he’s the one I’ve talked to the most! From now on, I’m thinking of asking the others, in turn.
Of course, I went to Owen-san to make the request! He’d probably already heard from Saura-san because he agreed without being surprised. But he did seem a bit tense. It made me realize how important this is.
“Well then, we’ll meet here tomorrow! After breakfast?”
“Yeah! Asuka and I will be waiting here! Are you working today? Be careful!”
“Oh, thanks. Well then, I’m off.”
Owen-san, grinning as he placed his hand on my head, waved and then left. That mischievous grin from a wild, handsome man is quite something. I wonder if Maryla-san’s always getting shot by those smiles. He’s still being rejected, but maybe she just can’t be honest? I don’t really get it.
“Meg-chan, good morning!”
“Ah, Meg! You’re already waiting? You’re eager!”
“Good morning, Meg-chan! I’m off!”
It’s a busy time, in this area. It’s the time when those who ate breakfast at the guild are about to leave for work, and those who commute are coming in. It’s rush hour! Everyone who sees me calls out to me like this. Part of the reason why I’m here is because it makes me happy.
“Good morning! Good luck with work!”
So even though I have the day off, I energetically return their greetings. I sat on a sofa in the hall, smiling, and watched the people come and go.
Just as it was almost lunchtime, the person I’d been waiting for finally arrived at Ortus.
“We’re back. Ah, Asuka, Meg’s here.”
“! Welcome back, Schlie-san! And…”
There were two at the entrance. Schlie-san, and then, of course…
“Asuka!?”
“!”
That should be… Asuka, but… I couldn’t help but stop, wide-eyed, at how much he’d grown.
His soft blonde hair had gotten a bit longer, just long enough to graze his shoulders, but his bright blue eyes, his large round eyes, that mischievous mouth, he still looks the same. Yep, that’s definitely Asuka. But he’s grown taller and he looks more like a boy now! His apparent age, maybe it’s even younger than me? I’m feeling a bit conflicted.
“Meg-onee-chan!”
“Wah!”
And he’s still calling me that. That’s right, he calls me “Meg-onee-chan”. It’s making me even more conflicted now. Even though he’s taller than me, he hugged me, just like when he was little, and I almost fell backwards.
“Oops, sorry, Meg-onee-chan… Did you get smaller?”
Back then, I wasn’t able to endure his hugs and always fell over, but not this time. It’s because Asuka immediately noticed and supported me. Phew, that was close. Or rather!
“I didn’t get smaller, you got bigger!”
“Huh? Really?”
I puffed up my cheeks and complained, but Asuka just tilted his head, looking confused. Damn you elves. You’re so cute! I’m an elf too, though.
“Asuka, as you grow bigger and stronger, you need to be especially gentle with girls.”
“I wasn’t bullying her or anything! And I said sorry right away. I just…”
Asuka nonchalantly answered Schlie-san, who’d cautioned him, smiling wryly. He then hugged me again, this time more gently. Aw.
“I-I just wanted to hug you tightly, Meg-onee-chan!”
“Asukaaa, I can’t bweathe!”
I’d been a bit worried, thinking that he might be uncomfortable because it’s been a while, but I’m glad he’s acting so familiar. It’s a bit hard to breathe, but I’m happy to see him too, I can’t help but smile!
“Hey.”
“Wah!”
It suddenly stopped being difficult to breathe. Asuka suddenly let go. No, he was pulled away, or rather.
“Meg’s in pain. Be careful.”
“Eh? Ah, Gil! It’s Gil!”
“Hmm. H-Hey…”
Asuka, realizing it was Gil-san holding him, got excited! That’s right, Asuka loves Gil-san! He’d taken a liking to Gil-san the moment he saw him because his father, who’d passed away, was a Black Bear demi-human, and his hair and eye color is the same.
Hair and eyes in this world are so colorful, so it’s actually rare for someone to have just black. It’s a bit strange to me, a former Japanese person, and there are quite a few people with black hair around me, so it doesn’t really feel that way, but… it is rare for Asuka, who grew up in the Elf Village. Because elves have those shiny hair colors and blue eyes!
“You’ve grown a lot.”
“Of course! Gil hasn’t changed, though.”
“I’m already an adult, so it’s only natural.”
Asuka looked happy being patted on the head by Gil-san. I’m so envious, being patted on the head. Just as I was staring at them, our eyes met. Asuka grinned and then came over to me and reached out his hand. Hmm? What?
“You want me to pat your head too, Meg-onee-chan? You were envious, weren’t you?”
“Aw, Asuka…”
That’s true, but not really. I mean, it’s not that I don’t want to be patted by Asuka, but my dignity as an onee-chan… I couldn’t help but pout.
…Suddenly, I felt something soft against my cheek. I couldn’t comprehend what had just happened for a moment, and froze. It’s not my fault.
“…Huh?”
So it can’t be helped that I made a strange noise, put a hand on my cheek, and my face turned bright red. It-It-It was so unexpected! H-He just… kissed me on the cheek!?
“Asuka!?”
“…………”
Schlie-san hurriedly called out to him, while Gil-san was speechless. I was the only one flustered and fidgety. What’s with this situation? But Asuka remained unfazed, looking happy. He put his hands behind his back, grinned as if his prank was successful, and then said,
“Fufufu, Meg-onee-chan, you’re so cute! But… I’m also cute, right?”
O-Onee-chan never taught you to act like that!! I couldn’t even speak, just opening and closing my mouth, so I had no choice but to scream internally. I’ve never even taught him anything. This is some strange thought process caused by how flustered I am. Fuooooooh!?