After the Lurdan workshop incident, we headed to the planetarium theater Karen wanted to visit.
”…… Ouga. Are you sure? Refusing Dude’s offer.”
“Of course. I want Yueli to make it.”
If I’d agreed there, I’d have been handed a finished one and banned from the city.
For Enkalton, losing the Veret connection costs them nothing.
A daughter-loving Dude would do that.
“Is Yueli okay? She was crying at the end……”
“That’s up to her. But if this breaks her, the years-long fight wouldn’t have continued.”
“Hope so……”
Karen’s relationship with her father is still awkward despite minimal repair.
So as another daughter, Yueli concerns her.
“You said tsundere? What does that mean?”
“Dude is cold to Yueli on purpose for her sake.”
“Eh? What for?”
“My guess, but he’s definitely doing it for her.”
“He should just say so honestly.”
“Can’t, hence tsundere.”
“Ah, I see.”
Karen clapped her hand satisfied.
The show began.
“Enough of the Lurdans. Let’s enjoy.”
“Mn. Precious time. Cozy seat with you……”
We had one of the venue’s three limited couple seats.
A big round seat with a long cushion and two square cushions.
We leaned together, looking up.
“Wow…… beautiful……”
The dome ceiling projected night sky and stars.
The view moved slowly, moving the audience.
I enjoyed it too — then she squeezed my hand and I turned.
”…… Ouga, do you remember? The day you gave me this hair clip.”
“Yeah, at your birthday party.”
“Mn. The night was beautiful like this. I wanted to see one again together…… so I decided here for our date.”
”…… You’ve cherished it all this time.”
“Mn. This hair clip, this memory…… supported my heart. When my father struck me, when the prince ignored me, you saved me, Ouga.”
Karen’s eyes reflected me, not the night sky.
“I love you. Since we were small…… I’ve always loved you.”
Her voice quivered slightly.
“So being your fiancée now — I’m truly happy. Still — sometimes I think. If only I were the only one.”
She hid her face in my chest.
“I want to monopolize you…… but Ouga is cool, and I understand others falling for you.”
I listened in silence.
I could only stroke her hair gently.
Because what she’s voicing wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t aimed for a harem.
“But…… but the Ouga I love would surely make everyone happy.”
”…………!”
Her words sank in.
…… What an idiot I am.
To let her say this for me…… I should have spoken first before the dates.
I should have insisted please share life with me and told them all first.
The four confessed bearing anxiety, while I waited for certainty.
”…… Karen, thank you.”
I hugged her tightly — she gave the final push.
“Tonight, I want to talk to everyone. ……Will you wait?”
I won’t ask about what.
The girl who’s kept her crush warm for over a decade rubbed her reddened eyes and smiled.
“I’ve waited years. A few hours is fine.”
”…… Thank you.”
I expressed thanks again.
“Beautiful — the planetarium.”
“Half the time we were just looking at each other.”
“That…… mn, can’t deny.”
She scratched her cheek shyly.
After that hot confession, we’d silently met eyes, embarrassed and looked away, laughed at each other’s flushed faces.
Trivial time felt dear; I kept watching.
“All right, end of that. ……Ouga, arm not painful?”
“Pain comes from the [mana circuits], not the limb. No problem.”
She held my right hand.
The arm becomes a prosthetic soon, so before that she wants to make memories with it.
So Karen-like.
“Will cutting hurt? Don’t want to imagine……”
“Sensation numbed via magic, then sliced quickly. They’ll suppress pain magically.”
“Right. Without magic, impossible.”
“You’d faint.”
I declare confidently.
Different damage tier from torn skin or broken bones.
[Gear Change] body enhancement is useless; I’d want to avoid that scenario in the Floné fight.
“Dinner? Eat out? I’m fine either way.”
“Hotel only. ……You knew, asking.”
”…… Caught?”
Meet at the hotel, answer everyone’s confessions.
Then propose marriage to all.
I can’t imagine life without any of them.
Beat Floné, walk a bright future together.
—— And then.
“Bee! Bee! Monster attack! Monster attack! Evacuate to the underground shelter immediately!”
“Bee! Bee! Demon dragon emergence! Demon dragon emergence! Evacuate immediately!”
Mocking my resolve, sharp alarms wailed across the city.