chapter 28.2

As we left Reinas small room and intended to return to the dorm, familiar figures could be seen near the entrance.

At that moment, being reminded of what happened the other day made a s.h.i.+ver run down my back.

The tall owner of a dark blond ponytail; the owner of the marshmellow melons. Though I think it can be questioned to make a judgment based on b.r.e.a.s.t.s, there is no mistake. When they noticed me, they walked over to meet us midway.

Vito, chan?

Its Chiffon, and Ariade. It seems to me that they are confused to see me and Maribel together. Their faces are becoming stiff. No, actually I wonder if there are other reasons.

Like the thing with the rumor, or that they are nervous to be around the Dragon Building which is filled with Dragons, or various things.

Uhm, we heard Vito-chan was here. (Chiffon)(1)

Vito, this is about the rumor but, Is it true? (Ariade)

Compared to Chiffon, what I heard from Ariade was a straight ball. I like that in her. But, its not a ball with a change of speed, its too straight so it left me mumbling. (2) It was a voice lower and softer than usual. And the atmosphere as if speaking with someone you meet for the first time it made me feel like running away. I said I was resting because I was feeling ill, yet I ended up disappearing just like that so I caused the both of them a lot of trouble. And the friends with whom I get along the best at the castle are Chiffon and Ariade. About the rumor, I think they were probably told something by a coworker. Thinking that, I feel that what I did to them is very inexcusable.

Particularly to Ariade, I ended up doing something very rude when I suddenly escaped. Im, making the preparations to be yelled at.

Im sorry to have kept silent.

At my apology the two people lower their gazes.

I do not know what to do. Originally I wasnt planning to stay in the castle, so regarding them I was thinking if its just this much, while resigning myself (3). Because I thought itd be rejected when they learned the truth. Because I was afraid that if that happened, Id be confronted head on, and I wouldnt be able to stand it. (4) So at that time, I ran away. But, it was thus made that Id remain in the castle, so I should have made preparations for when we ended up meeting again. It was inevitable. But, I do not know what to do to. If I apologize, would that be fine? Or should I behave defiantly?

Maybe she grew impatient because we continued to stay silent, but Maribelle grabbed my arms, and hugging me to her chest, she dragged me away. Her arms have the making to be a boyfriends arms (5). By being pulled so suddenly I almost fell, but somehow I managed to steady my feet, and we briskly begin walking in a in a fast pace. When Ariade blocks our way in front, Maribelle raises the end of an eyebrow and makes a challenging expression. Its the same domineering att.i.tude she made when I first met her.

You guys, whats your business here? If you have no other businesses then please leave. You are a hindrance.

Maribelle, I (Vito)

Its fine, right? Lunch break is about to end, so lets go to eat to Na.s.saus place quickly.

Mr. Na.s.sau!! I want to eat! I want to eat his cooking by all means but!!

It seems Im losing to my appet.i.te, but right now is not the timing to be thinking such a thing.

Wait a moment please. We have an issue to discuss with Vito, wont you please not take her away as you please?

Ariades cold gaze is directed to Maribelle.

You guys have no business here. More over what are you to Vito?

How about you, what are you to her.

What am Im, Im her friend!

Oh really now. Were her close friends, and we also have been so from waaay before you. And whats more Chiffon and I are even her roommates.

And so what! Because were sleeping together in the same bed!

Wha, I, Ive chosen clothes for her! And she looked very cute in them! Its a shame you couldnt see her!

That loses to Vito wearing my frilly negligee!!

I, I wanted to see that thats not it, !!

Ugh even I one day!!

Stop iiit dont fight over meee!! I had wanted to say this at least once. Or perhaps I should say I wanted to be born a man, huh, if I had the current situation would be a harem. (6) It isnt the time to be joking? Sorry. I wanted to escape from the current reality in front of my eyes. Cause Im scared, too scared. Now I understand the feelings of the men of action. (7) What youre saying makes me happy and embarra.s.sed, but please dont say it out loud. Somehow I dont like this. Though I do not want to see my friends fight because of me, since Im afraid of these people who are shouting to each other by no means could I jump in to stop them. (8)

I heaved a small sigh, yet when I thought I heard the sound of a running nose nearby so I looked towards Chiffons figure, I was startled.

Wait, calm down the both of you, Chiffon is crying.

I wonder if their threatening att.i.tude and yelling made her scared. As I hurredly approach her in a panic, she says even while letting sobs out.

Dont, fiiiight Vi, Vito-chan suddenly went missing, and the rumors that are going around say that shes a dragon or something, I dont know what to do anymoree(9)

Chiffon, dont cry.

Although my chest tightened at those words, I take out a handkerchief from my pocket and wipe the messy tears that overflow from her honey colored pupils.

Uu, ee, Vito-chaan (t/n: crying sfx xD)

Look here, you should blow your nose.

Zupi.

Thank, yoou.

Oops, I have no more handkerchiefs. As I was in a panic by not having something to wipe the tears still flowing in a mess, a pale colored handkerchief presses softly onto the area around Chiffons eyes.

Im sorry, I flew in a rage for a little bit. Forgive me.

U, uuhh

This time Ariade was wiping the tears and blowing her nose. She looks like a mother from here. Shes the same as always, very caring.

The tears stopped after a while, and somehow because of that the two stopped glaring at each other, that was helpful.

Did she calm down? Ariade who recovered her cool turned to me with a slightly sad expression.

I just wanted to know, whether the rumor is true. So I came to meet you. That you are that, a Dragon, I cant believe it, but if it were true honestly, Id be scared.

Is that so. Who would think that the person whom so far they thought to be their friend would turn out to be a Dragon who eats humans? Its not very believable, but now in front of me I can see the relation weve had until now crumbling in an instant.

But now, I realized when I met you, that its stupid that I was troubled.

Are you saying that Anticlimactic also a good place I, and.

I heard the rumor, and I was wondering if you had changed, or if you had become a fearsome creature, I was really scared. But it was me the one who ended up changing my att.i.tude towards you who were being thrown all around by the rumors. (10) Im sorry, about the other day. Because I ended up taking that kind of att.i.tude, you

Ran away.

Thats it. Because I couldnt stand Ariade who was making those eyes at me, nor the inquisitiveness from the surrounding gazes, I ran away from the castle.

Tell me Vito, you saved my little sister, right?

I saved her younger sister?

I heard the story of Ariades sister a long time ago. Also I know she was troubled over it. And I am involved with it as well. But I never mentioned that I saved her.

Without knowing why such a thing was said so suddenly, it made me blink.

After that, I tried asking her again when she was in a good mood, and she said with a smile, the Dragon saved me. I was surprised since she said something different until now. Besides it has been a long time since I saw her smile like that.

But, that is

My sister said so, so it must be true. I believe in my sister. And, I want to believe in you as well.

Ariade laughs with her usual smile.

As per usual I dont know what you are thinking, but you are surprisingly bad at lying, youre gentler than anyone, and you even empathically let me converse with you. You also saved my little sister. And, you are sweeter than anyone towards Chiffon. I noticed that, since you are the Vito I know, whether you are a Dragon, whether you are human, that wont change.

No! I feel tears coming, such a failure. (11)

Now that I think of it since your common sense is a bit out of place, its not strange that you were a Dragon, or even another kind of creature. Yet it was odd that it was us the one who changed their att.i.tude, and we ended up hurting you. So if from now on we can continue as we have until now, ..that, Ill be happy.

Ariade Thank you.

Im happy to be able to have wonderful friends. Theres no thing happier than this. Though it would not have been odd even if they persecuted me, they accepted me. Though it would not have been odd even if they rejected me, they smile gently towards me.

Surely Ariade was very troubled as well. So she came to see me trying to find the truth. Im happy just with that already, but she even said as we have until now. Theres nothing happier than this.

No! Im about to cry. But there are no more handkerchiefs.

Then from the side a handkerchief with a lot of pink frills was swiftly offered. Maribelle had offered me a handkerchief while facing the other way. Such a favor made me happy, and made me want to cry even more.

But I think, that Ill cause trouble to the both of you.

Like with the girls we work with, huh? Certainly it has been heard by a lot of people these few days. But I wont cut my connection to Vito even in the slightest for such a small thing.

Im also fine with it! I want to work together with you again!

I think that itll be impossible to work. Yet those feelings made me happy.

And besides Vito, you, arent Dragon-like at all.

Ariade laughs and says the same thing that Maribelle says. Am I so un-Dragon-like to such an extent? Should I be glad or not? But I am very happy right now.

Vito-chan, you, you wont e, eat me, right?

I wont eat you. Everyone, I wont eat you.

As if I could eat you. Even if you asked me to I wont. Definitely!

Chiffon laughed as if she is relieved. Could it be she was worrying over if Id eat her or not? Certainly its said that Im a flesh-eating Dragon, but I wont eat my important friends. Honestly I always want to sigh at this me so full of contradictions; however I cant go on like this. I wont get troubled over it now because I wont find an answer even if I dwell in it.

Whats more, Im sorry to have charged at you.

Ariade directs her line of sight to Maribelle. Chiffon says You were jealous, right? and Ariade blushes at this. Is it fine for me to think, that Im being loved even though Im like this?

Hmph, its not like it matters to me anymore.

Maribelle seems to be complaining somehow. But then I notice that her real feelings were heard in the previous quarrel, and she even lent me a handkerchief. Ill wash it and return it next time.

She grabs my arm again, and forcefully pulls me.

Well leave if your matters are finished. Not much is left of lunch break.

Na.s.saus rice! Its not negotiable! But, I feel its lonely to separate from the two of them here. Did she notice I was feeling that, Maribelle lets out a big sigh as she looks at Ariades, Chiffons and my face.

In any case, even if you guys want to follow, I will definitely not say it!

You are a tsundere, I know.

The rear view of Maribelle rapidly walking away on her own is charming.

Surprisingly she is also a good child. Really, rumors cant be relied upon.

I also nodded with a laugh to Ariades words.