25-Oh. I see.

Right now, I was troubled about something. What was I troubled about? Well, about my being shocked by the scene in front of me.

I didn't know what exactly I was shocked about.

I knew I was supposed to smile and feel congratulatory, but instead, there was a stabbing pain deep in my chest.

I didn't know which emotion this pain was coming from. Was I feeling envious? Jealous? Feeling betrayed and abandoned by someone whom I'd thought was the same as me?

Only one thing was certain: it wasn't a happy emotion.

Walking a little further down the road I was on, was a familiar knight in armor. With sunshine reflecting off of the armor and making it sparkle, he looked heroic as always, and as if he was hot in that armor.

And beside him was a very beautiful woman.

The knight's arm was curled around the woman's back, as if ready to protect her from the crowd and pull her inward. And the woman's hand would at times companionably touch the knight's arm and chest.

They had an intimate atmosphere, as if one couldn't possibly get in between them. The people passing them by would look back and gaze at them with envy.

A customer out shopping gossiped with the grocer:

"It's Firks-sama's knight and Annette-sama. They look as close as ever."

"Hasn't it been a while since we've last seen the two of them out together?"

"Well of course, that knight was on a long journey before. Looks like the rumor about their marriage being only a matter of time might be true."

"If it is, then that's some cause for celebration. There hasn't been any good news recently. This will definitely liven up the town."

From their conversation, it could be gleaned that the two of them had long been recognized as a couple by the townspeople.

They really suited each other. The woman wore a top quality-looking dress, and the hand she used to touch Krish-san was white and refined. She looked like a princess from a fairy tale.

A princess and a knight in armor. They would surely end up together, and live happily ever after.

"Oh. I see."

Even though Krish-san told me that he didn't have a lover.

I thought that we were both alone. It turned out that he had such a beautiful sweetheart.

Then the reason he came to meet me during the luminescent moss festival, was just because he pitied me for being alone on such an important day?

The beautiful woman called Annette-sama stopped in front of a stall and bent down. In her hand were two bracelets, which she held out to Krish-san.

Krish-san pointed to one of them and nodded, paid for it, then immediately put it on his wrist.

They were too far away for me to hear what they were saying, but I could practically hear the lovey-dovey conversation of, 'Does it look good on me?' 'Yes, it looks really good.'

No matter how you looked at it, they were on a date. So Krish-san wore the armor even when out on a date, huh.

"Oh. I see."

I was the only one who didn't have anyone.

Today I had some free time, so I'd come here to see if there was any soy sauce for sale. But now I didn't feel like it.

I hung my head. As I did, I spied a pebble at my feet. I kicked it away, and it rolled towards a street stall and struck one of its posts.

Since I'd been standing still in the middle of the road for a while now, the people passing by moved around me like I was an obstacle.

"What's wrong, boy? Are you lost?" A kindly aunt spoke to me.

People here saw me as 'a boy who was lost'.

Looking like a ten year-old as I did, nobody thought of me as an adult.

"No, I'm alright. Thank you."

Was I able to smile just now?

I'd done my best to raise the corners of my lips, but from auntie's expression, it seemed like I hadn't done well.

Without my notice, Krish-san and Annette-sama had disappeared from view. I wasn't intending to snoop on their date so it didn't matter, but, somehow. I felt...sad, maybe?

It might just be because I was hungry, though. I hadn't planned on going to Couge's restaurant today, but it might be a good idea to visit as a customer coming to eat lunch this time.

"We're very sorry, but we're all sold out now!" Norn cheerfully raised his voice as he turned around at the clanging of the bell. On his chest glittered a small metal plate.

Engraved on it should be the initials of his beloved, and some secret words that only the two of them knew.

This was the first time I'd seen him since the luminescent moss festival, but I felt like Norn had become beautiful.

His smile glowed. It was like happiness was bursting out of his every pore.

"Oh, it's Shinobu."

"I came to have a meal, but it looks like I was too late." I smiled wryly, disappointed.

Couge's head poke out of the kitchen area. "Shinobu, come on in and take a seat. If you're fine with something simple, then I'll make it once the restaurant's closed. We haven't eaten yet either."

"Really? Then I'll take you up on it."

A necklace with the same design as Norn's glittered from around Couge's neck, too. The two of them kept exchanging glances and smiles as they went about cleaning up the place. They were so lovey-dovey that I was getting embarrassed.

"How nice..." I muttered.

Norn cocked his head. "Did you say something?"

"Nope, it's nothing."

Even if I was envious, there were just some things that one couldn't have.

I knew that very well.

Couge quickly made lunch for us and set it on the table. We all chorused, "Itadakimasu."

Bread, salad and some grilled meat. The meat was topped with a dark sauce.

"I've never seen this sauce before," I said.

Couge replied, "This is the first time that I've made it. It's from some plant extract that I boiled down. It has a strange color, right? Apparently it's a local seasoning from an area with no salt. Around here, it's just used to dye clothes.

"I learned it from a regular so I tried it out. I was thinking of using it for the restaurant if it tasted good."

I took a piece of meat with plenty of the thick, glazed sauce on it and put it in my mouth. I almost fainted. This sweet and spicy, dark sauce...

Wasn't this teriyaki sauce?!

Norn commented, "Yes, it's not bad. But I would prefer if it were a little saltier."

"I guess that's true. Okay, I'll put less sugar next time."

I didn't hear what they were saying.

Bread, vegetables, and teriyaki. The only thing I was missing was mayonnaise!!

"Couge, do you still have some mayonnaise?" I asked excitedly.

"Hm? Yeah."

I put some lettuce and chicken teriyaki on the bread, then squeezed mayonnaise on top. Teriyaki burger was my absolute favorite kind of hamburger. Unable to hold in my impatience, I took a huge bite.

"~~~~!!"

Delicious!! It'd been awhile since I tasted something that wasn't salty; I was so happy I wanted to run around the place!!

Couge wondered, "Is it that good?"

Norn and Couge tried it themselves. Their eyes widened in surprise at the taste.

I was busy concentrating on the food, but the two in front of me kept fidgeting as if restless.

Finally, Couge smiled embarrassedly as he informed me, "Hey, Shinobu. We're formally engaged now."

Ah, I see. That was why they were fidgeting just now, they were worrying about when they should tell me the news.

I knew it was a success. It was obvious the moment I saw them.

They looked so happy, after all.

I hurriedly swallowed the food in my mouth. "Congratulations, you two!! When will you register?"

"We're planning on setting the date after I greet Norn's parents."

Couge'll be doing the 'please give me your son' thing soon then.

It looked like in every world, one had to tread the same steps.

Norn said, "My parents wanted me to marry a woman, so they might object. But I'll definitely make them accept it."

I felt like I understood his parents' wish for him to marry a woman.

Because with a woman, they might get some grandchildren in the future. But with a male partner, it was impossible.

Couge added, "With the restaurant on track, I can now greet them without hesitation. This is all thanks to Shinobu."

The two of them held hands tightly as they gazed into each other's eyes. It was like they were tied together by a strong bond. Well, of course they were.

Couge had lost his mother at a young age, and when his father died, Norn was there to support him.

"I'm sure it'll go great," I said.

They both smiled in an embarrassed manner. Suddenly, an image of the Krish-san that I had seen earlier seemed to overlap with them.

I clutched at my chest, which at that moment started to hurt.

'Their marriage was only a matter of time'. Even though two pairs of people I knew were about to attain happiness, I wondered why my chest was hurting.

Seeing me in a daze, Norn cocked his head. "Shinobu, is something wrong?"

"No, I was just thinking that you look so happy."

It might make me feel better to talk about this feeling that I didn't understand, but I didn't want to throw a wet blanket over their happiness.

"Isn't there anyone whom you think is great, Shinobu?" Couge asked.

"I'm still new here, and I've been too busy with day to day life. I haven't had the time for such things."

When Couge said those words, what came to mind was Krish-san.

No no no, it was true that I liked Krish-san, and that I wanted to get closer to him, but it wasn't that kind of like.

"More importantly," I said, "what are you doing for your marriage party? If it's alright with you, I'd like to be the one to cook."

"Are you sure? Shinobu's cooking, huh. I'm looking forward to it."

Somehow, I didn't want to think about things further, so I changed the subject. Norn and Couge didn't seem to question it and willingly followed suit.

"Oh, but I'll leave the ravi recipes to Couge, okay?"

"Ahh, right. You did scream when you saw those ravi ears at that skewer food cart."

"Ugh, don't remind me!!"

The two of them laughed at me, and I laughed together with them. But somewhere in my heart, there was still a feeling of gloominess. I didn't want to think about it, so I chased the thought away.

On the way home, I avoided the road near the market that I usually took.

I didn't want to remember the sight of Krish-san and Annette-sama getting along so well.

"I wonder if Krish-san will come tomorrow?"

This was the first time that I felt depressed at the thought of seeing someone.

I knew everything would be fine if I just smiled and said, 'I saw you in town yesterday, Krish-san. The woman you were with was really pretty,' but somehow, I felt that the heaviness in my heart wouldn't allow it.

I gripped on Brian's reins as I heaved a sigh.