You want to talk about it?

Narsena stares at me with a serious expression.
Feeling intimidated by her gaze, I repeated Narsena's words.
I feel a bad feeling that I can't get rid of and my face twitches.
But Narsena, without noticing my condition, opened her mouth.

''Well, that! Why don't we buy a party co-op house!

Huh!

...... And then I realized that my premonition had come true with Narcena's words.

It's a good thing that you've got a lot of income from defeating the phoenix this time. And you see, our rapport is also advanced ...... well, I was wrong! No, I didn't mean to make a mistake, but, well, what can I say, ...... Yes, bonds! I feel like it's better to strengthen the bonding thing between parties!

Narsena's face turns bright red as she piles on some words even faster.
I couldn't make out almost half of those words, but still, I could tell from them how much Narsena wanted the joint house.
If Narsena had a tail like a dog right now, she'd be wagging her tail like a dog.

"Uh, uh, .........

But I couldn't respond to Narsena's words immediately.
I'm not going to be the only one who can do it.
After all, I've been approached by Narsena about this many times before.

...... but I had no intention of buying a house for me now.
Even if Narsena wanted it, no matter how much she wanted it.

I open my mouth to tell her this, feeling my heart ache.

'Well, I think it's too early for a party joint house. You see, you'd better have money saved up for emergencies or something ...... maybe ......

What came out of my mouth was a list of words too painful to be called an excuse.
Having defeated Hydra and Phoenix, me and Narsena have quite a bit of money in this labyrinth city.
In other words, there is no point in making money for us anymore.
Even Narsena knows that, I'm sure she knows that.

...... Yes, that's right. It's important to prepare for emergencies, right? ...... A little later, right?

...... But Narsena, realizing that I wasn't on board with that, so withdrew her own opinion.
A different sunken expression from earlier, while trying to hide behind a smile.

''Haha, I'm going to go for a walk to cool off a bit.

Narsena laughs at that and walks away with her back to me.
You can see the shabby tail on her back, and my heart aches with guilt.

But I couldn't follow Narsena as she walked away. ......



◇ ◇ ◇.



Haha ...... I guess I'm wrong.

After telling my brother I was going for a walk, I walked through the city with a sinking feeling.
The party's communal house, I knew that my brother would not allow me to do that.

Because no matter how many times I had asked for it before, my brother had never nodded his head.
I'm not dull enough to see that and not notice that your brother is not interested in buying a house.

...... Not that they don't like me, by the way, right?

...... Still, many times I asked your brother for a joint house for me because I remembered that I was so anxious to ask him for a joint house.

If your brother approves of the party joint house, it's the best proof that he doesn't hate me.
It's because of this thought in my mind that I ask my brother over and over again if he wants to buy the house.
It's annoying, and I understand that.

...... I'm a bad girl.

I couldn't help but feel guilty about my actions and let those words slip out of my mouth.

However, even though I thought that, I couldn't stop myself from doing so.
The reason for this was the change in his attitude towards me.

When I asked him to buy our house, he didn't say anything that would make me clearly refuse.
He refused to buy the house in such a relaxed manner, as if he were admonishing me.

...... But lately, though, your brother clearly couldn't afford it.

I'm still calm now, but not long ago, he looked somewhat uncomfortable every time I arrived and spoke to him at the party's shared house.
On top of that, for some reason, he became adamant and refused to buy the house, or even suggested to me, with a red face, that we should separate the innkeepers.

I managed to make the talk of separating the innkeepers out of it and pretend it wasn't happening.
But I still couldn't feel relief.
After all, it was obvious that my brother's attitude towards me had changed.
And I have no idea what the reason for that change was.
That's why I can't help but feel uneasy.
I'm not sure if your brother dislikes me or not.

...... Every time I think about it, I feel my heart tighten.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with this particular brand, and I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of it.
But I still couldn't get rid of my fears.
I can't wipe away the anxiety that maybe ...... is from my heart.

'Haha ......'

I let out a small sigh at the uncertainty.
At a time like this, it would normally be better to talk to someone about it.
However, I can't think of anyone I know right now who seems to have a lot of romantic experience.

''Huh? But I think I recently met someone who seems to have a great deal of experience in love: ......

I feel myself forgetting someone else's existence and I begin to search my own memories.

'Oh dear, Narcena. What's going on in there?

Hi!

Suddenly, it was then that I was approached from behind.
As I was thinking, I didn't realize there was someone behind me and I couldn't help but let out a strange cry.
The voice was so goofy that I blush with embarrassment.

'Oh .........'

But the moment I turned around and saw the person standing there, I was shocked enough to forget my shame.
After all, the person behind me was the one I had forgotten until now, someone who had a lot of experience in love.

''Uh, Ojo: ......''

Yeah, well.

In the next moment, I had begun to speak as such, unaware that I was interrupting the other person's words.

''Lila-san, may I ask you to consult with me for a moment!

...... Huh?

At the sound of my desperate voice, the woman behind me, Lila, the healer of Zeke's party of guild direct adventurers, Lila, her face tinted with surprise: ......



◇ ◇ ◇.



'So, I was actually worried that your brother might not like me anymore: ......

It is in a quiet cafe.
I'm sure you'll find many people relaxing in that room with a harmonious atmosphere.

...... But in the midst of it all, I, Lila, was in a crisis that I never imagined I would be in.

'I don't think I am,'

Calmly on the surface, I show my answer to Narsena's question.
But in fact, my clenched palms are wet with sweat.

''Is that so? I'm still a little nervous, but it's a relief to hear that from Lila, who has a lot of experience in relationships.

Oh, yeah?

At my words, Narsena smiles as if she is truly relieved.
But that cute smile, which would have seemed smiling at times, was now a factor in putting me under terrible pressure.

...... The reason why I was being pushed that far, it was because of Narsena's misunderstanding.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.
However, the fact is quite different.

After all, I'm still a novice at romance, still rejoicing in my first love (Zeke).
Narsena is more advanced in love than me.
...... but I couldn't tell Narsena about it because I was so confident about it, and I was in a cold sweat while taking the advice.

If I had known it was relationship advice, I would have given some reason to run away, and I resented myself for asking Narsena's request a few minutes ago.
At that time, I decided to ask for advice without hesitation, because I hadn't been as active as I had boldly told Laust during the defeat of the Phoenix, and I had hoped to repay the debt I owed for the matter of Armia at some point.
But I can see now.

It was an obvious blunder.

'Actually, these days your brother seems to be in a hurry and wants to separate the innkeepers: ......

...... I don't think you need to worry about that.

What is so sad that I have to listen to the ridiculousness of people who have more experience in love than me and are one step away from being lovers?

I almost let out a sigh as I reply that to Narsena.
The dull Narsena doesn't realize it, but it's obvious that the reason she's trying to change the inn is because Raust is aware of her as the opposite s*x.
That's not a bad thing.
......... Unlike Zeke, who, despite living in a shared house, doesn't seem to respond as if he is.

"But my brother will never agree to buy the party joint house ......

But I didn't know why Laust would avoid the party joint house to such an extent.
I don't buy the party joint house out of embarrassment, and I can't help but feel that Laust's actions are too excessive for me to think that way.
If that's the case, I don't know if I'll tell Narsena, but once I do, I might as well ask Zeke to hear it from Lausto.

...... Should I be a little more bold in my appeal?

Maybe so.

I continue to think about that as I converse with Narsena.
...... That distracted me from the conversation, but fortunately or unfortunately, neither Narsena nor I noticed it, and time passed.

'Oh, it's already this late ......'

I was lost in my thoughts and it was only when I heard those narcena's words that I noticed the time.
I noticed that the sky was beginning to darken and I was inwardly surprised that I hadn't noticed the passage of time.

'Thank you so much for your time today! Like Lila said, I think I'm going to be proactive!

But without realizing my inner feelings, Narsena bowed her head so.
The words of Narcena, which I had never heard before, made me gasp for a moment.

''Well, good luck with that.''

But there was no way I could come out and say I hadn't heard, and I managed to say just that with a vague smile on my face.

'Yes! Thank you so much!

I think my demeanor was quite suspicious, but Narsena, who seemed to have made a new decision, didn't notice, and with a final bow, I walked off to the inn.

After the bell on the door of the coffee shop rang and Narsena walked out of the coffee shop, I noticed that the number of people inside the coffee shop had dwindled considerably before I knew it.
Apparently, it had been quite some time since Narsena and I had come into the coffee shop.
However, it seems that the coffee shop will close for a little while longer, and there is no sign placed on the door that I can see from here to let me know that it is closed.

"Hah ...... I'm tired ......

After confirming this, I decided to take a short break until the store closed.

'Nn.........'

It was then that certain thoughts that I had always held onto since I met Narsena came to the surface again.
Until now, I had kept that thought bottled up.
But now that Narsena is gone, I don't need to care about her anymore.
Deciding that, I leaned sluggishly against the desk and opened my mouth.

'Narsena, you and Raust are clearly not in love with each other. ...... I'm so jealous of you. ...... I guess I have to be proactive too. ......

The words are somewhat wistful to be called that soliloquy.
It fizzled into the air without anyone's ears. ......