--Pasta's home .

　That night.
　With the finals starting the next day, Futa and Libra had a quick meeting and went to bed.

　Libra herself was surprised that she would actually be staying at this house.
　At least, she seemed happy.
　For Corona, it was just a fun act.

"Roompappa ...... unpappa!

　If she shouted too loudly, it would only be a nuisance.

　With such light consideration, Corona's song was a little faint as she strolled down the corridor at night, cantera in hand.

　She didn't have a clear goal in mind.

　Tomorrow was the finals.
　Compared to the rest of the team, Corona was an early riser.
　Even though she had already made some preparations for breakfast, there were many things that could not be done until the morning.

　She knows in her head that she should go to bed early, but she just can't get to sleep.

　This is rare. But in a rare way, I was also enjoying the situation a little.
　Dark night, bright eyes.
　A dark corridor I don't usually walk down.

　I figured if I couldn't sleep anyway, at least I could enjoy it.

　As she walked out with this in mind, she suddenly stopped.

...... Huh?　I'm not sure what to say.
"Leafy ...... is dead .......
I'm not a ghost.
......?
Don't shine your foot on it.

　Corona pulls the cantera to her feet with a quizzical look on her face.
　She looks up, sensing that he is apparently alive and well.

She looks up when she senses that he's alive and well. "Leafy, thank God!　You're alive!
I know!　I know! Why did you have to get killed all of a sudden?

　She swears and scratches her habitual short cut.

So what's ......?
Is Leafy in the bathroom?
I'm sure you've heard of it.

　This is a great way to make sure you are getting the most out of your money.

　It's not easy to deal with this maid.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

　The expression on her face, illuminated by the cantera, reminded Leafy of the past.

　The day when Pasta blamed her, hit her with a righteous argument, and forced her to face up to her rottenness.

　This is how I met her that night, too.
　And I remember very well that I was half forced to be inspired.

　Ah, maybe that's why it's so hard.
　I thought back to that.

"Leafy.
Hmm?
Are you ready for the finals?
It's unusual to talk about sword fighting. Well, I'm not worried about it. I teamed up with Arrows for one reason and one reason only: revenge. We're not going to lose to any other team, at least not in terms of feeling.
"I see.
Well, while you guys are having your strategy meeting, I'm being kicked out of here by myself.
Do you miss me?
............ I don't know.

　Pasta, Huta, Corona. Plus Libra.
　Think of those people and consider whether you'll miss them or not.

　There was definitely a sense of alienation.
　The last time I was there, I was in the same room as them when they were talking about the sword.

　And we had shared a cup when we were celebrating Huta's victory.
　I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss him a little.

　But...

"This is a team game, but... But it's more than that.
"What?

　The topic of sword fighting, strategy meetings.
　Last time, we were sitting in the same place, and it was just an afterthought.
　But not this time.

If I'm being hacked, it means they think I'm the enemy.
And that makes you happy?
Of course I'm happy. Of course I am. You're not the only one who's had a bad experience. ...... I'm not sure if Arrows and I are ready for that yet, but... But still.
Because it's recognized.
"Hey.

　I'm not sure what to make of that.

　She was right.


　Huta didn't really care either way. Pasta kept Leafy away from him. It was a tag team match and anything could happen. And then there's the trust issue with Libra.

　He didn't want anyone to think that he and Leafy were trying to do something together. So I just said a quick hello and left the details for when Leafy wasn't around.

　The main contest "preferential quota".
　That title was much more important than Futa thought it was.
　More than anything, Leafy is proud of it.

So we're gonna have to put up a fight to live up to it. It would be a disgrace to be underestimated by Libra.
...... Oh, yeah?
What's up with you? You sound like a shriveled vegetable.
Vegetables don't talk, okay?
Shut up. It's a metaphor. It's a metaphor.
"Vegetables don't talk.
All right, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

　Big sigh.
　But with his shoulders slumped, Leafy glanced up to see Corona's face reflected in the cantera.

　I'm not sure what to do.

　I'm sure you'll agree that it's hard to fall asleep with that.

...... Well, I don't think there's anything I can do about it.
"Meido?

　I'm not sure there's anything I can do.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure you can do it.

What's wrong with you, you look so gloomy. That's why you can't sleep.
"......?

　Leafy is not stupid.
　He's not stupid, and he's very resourceful. He is a swordsman who can outthink his opponents in sword fighting.

　But he is not an educated man either.
　So I thought about it, and as a result, I chose to ask him straight out.
　I don't know any hard and fast tactics or theories.

　I don't know any of those little tactics or theories, though that's why I get beaten up by Pasta in arguments.

"Did you have a dark face?
"If that's not a dark face, I don't know what is. It's not like you're crying or in pain or anything like that. But you look like you're in a good mood.
I see.

　I'm sure you have some idea.

　There's a bit of silence between us as she blurts out her understanding.
　But it was not an awkward space.
　Leafy, smiling as if to say, just kept her eyes on Korona.

　She, in her own way, is searching for the cause of her vagueness, and she tells him from memory.

"............ asked me to marry him.
"Oh. ...... What?
It's a surprise.
"What, to Futa?

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

"Hmmm... He'd never say something like that.
"Never?
"No, never.

　"Definitely.
　I'm sure that there are beliefs and principles in Futa that Leafy doesn't know about.
　While feeling a little disappointed, Leafy continued.

To whom, then?
I don't know.
Well, why don't you just say no to ......?
That's easy for you to say.
I don't know anybody who doesn't know anybody.
Oh, I see.

　Smiling Corona.
　But apparently, that's not the problem.

The maids are not ...... wondering if they want to get married or not. I'm not sure if I want to get married or not. ...... Hmm, that's a lie. I'm not sure what to say, but I'm not sure what to do.
"......

　The jade eyes are slightly downcast.

Didn't you fall down the other day?
"Oh, you mean you collapsed?　That was bad, too. As soon as the pasta was in his ear, he snapped and got up.
"Thanks for the ......, huh?　......, but no.
Hmm?
The princess, Futa... The princess and Futa were fighting something, and they said they would continue to fight. You don't want your maid to get in the way of that, do you?


"Huh?　What the hell is that? Are you planning on collapsing?
"...... might, might.
"......

　With a difficult face, Leafy crossed his arms.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

I'm not sure what to make of that.
I don't know what to say. What does she think she's doing with a chambermaid's life?
No, no, no. No, she just said I could stay.
...... You're a pain in the ass, you guys.
...... Yeah, right. Yeah, the maid thinks so too.

　She smiled annoyingly, as if she was aware of it.

...... Futa-sama says it's fine as long as the maid is happy.
"......

　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.
　Leafy immediately understood the other emotion in that statement.

　Was it because she was a woman?
　Or was it because she knew them both?
　Or both.

　Either way, Leafy says with a furrowed brow.

"I see. You're the one who's about to lose sight of your own happiness because Futa told you so.
...... It's not Futa's fault, but...
I don't know. It doesn't matter who's responsible.
Yeah, I guess.
Because you don't know what makes you happy, do you?
Yeah, .......

　My happiness. That's why you want to live.

　You don't have a reason to live, and you're throwing your life away.
　I'm living now, trying to find my own happiness.

　That's why I want to live now.

　But Leafy kicked him out of the conversation.

I've been struggling to survive because I'm consumed with my dojo. The pasta guy has been struggling to survive and win, and has been struggling to stay alive. ...... There's nothing happy about that.
"......

　But," Leafy said, narrowing his eyes.

I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure what makes you happy, but I can't give you an answer. But I do know something.
"...... What is it?
It's easy.

　Just like you don't know if you're happy now.
　Just like you don't know if you're happy now, you don't know if she is either.

　Just like she doesn't know if she's happy now.

If you can afford to look for happiness, you're happy enough.
"......
Maybe.

　Put down your burdens.
　You want to be a champion, an Izuna, to wield a sword and hone your skills.
　There are no detours on that straight path. You just keep working to achieve your goals.
　On the way, I sometimes wonder. I wonder what happiness is.
　But Leafy Lean Glide is living in King's Landing long enough to be able to think about such unnecessary things.

"This world is full of hellish places. It's all I can do to stay alive. There's a lot of desperation to do something about it. ...... I'm probably not like that right now. So I'm happy enough.
"The ...... maid...
You've been happy enough, haven't you?

　The question made me look up.

　I was looking for a reason to live.
　And when I couldn't find one, I gave up and just lived.

　But...
　The days in the royal capital when I was looking for a reason to live and for happiness are gone.

"...... I see.
Well, the rest is true.

　I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure what to say.

　You're not a princess or a fugitive.

"If you're feeling guilty about the princess or that bastard Futa, ask him.
"Ask me what?
"Are you happy now?" That'll tell me if you're happy or not.


"...... So...

　Yeah, but that's the thing, Korona thought.

　Even if they were happy together.
　If I think about my future, I'll probably make you sad more often than not.

...... I don't get it.
"Then you'll have to think about it. I'm always here for you.
Are you sure?
Yeah.

　I know it's not easy.

　But," Leafy says matter-of-factly.

　I'm sure that's the strength of her normal life.


Don't worry about it. ...... We're friends, right?
"...... So we're friends!