Currier I'll be back in the other room to make sure I'm okay.
I know.

　Cecily-san's mouth broke out in a gentle smile as she controlled Cecily-san, who was trying to explain something in a confused manner.

''I was going to make sure to tell you what happened earlier when I got back to my room--that's what you were going to say now, right?
Yes, sir, but I'm afraid that's not the case now.

　Cecily's voice, tinged with guilt.
　The conversation the two of them had just had.
　It sounds like a nuance of something that was meant to be a sneak peek, but wasn't.......
　Is it my imagination?

Hm ... it's all right. Besides, you didn't do anything wrong. You can put your chest out.

　After saying that in a tone of appeasement, Currier-san turns around and looks apologetic.

''More importantly, I'm the one.......I'm sorry for acting like I was eavesdropping. I was waiting in front of the room and I heard you.......it's too late now, but I still should have left immediately. I should be the one to apologize. Once again, I'm sorry.
No, no, Currier doesn't need to apologize--

　Cecily flinched, as if she hadn't expected the reaction.

'Hey, Cecily,'

　Mr. Currier, who raised his head, stepped forward.

'I don't think I'm even qualified to say this--but still, there's one thing.
...Currier?

　Cecily-san's hand was placed on Cecily-san's shoulder as she made a quizzical sound.
　Then Currier-san placed her hand on her shoulder and said with an expression that was even refreshing.

''I can trust you with that guy without worry.
What?

　Turning around, Cecily-san's eyes were as round and wide as a plate.
　Currier-san also turned around, leaving a smile on her face.
　Was it my imagination that she seemed somewhat lonely?

''A change... right?''
Uh....yes?
Well, I'll see you later, Cecily.

　Cecily nodded silently, despite the tail of confusion.
　Then she left the room.
　The door closed.
　What came next was silence.

　I was all jumbled up in my head.
　It would be.
　Because that Cecily-san had suddenly said something like that to me.
　A confession.........
　Was it a confession?
　She said.
　As a woman, she said.
　..........
　What is it?
　This sensation, as if something that had been blurry was rapidly forming a clear image, this feeling - that something that had been wavering and indeterminate was rapidly converging with a single word........

　And also.........Currier.
　What you said earlier.
　I can handle it, she said.
　I can take care of it.
　The anxiety in me is connected to her words.
　After all, Currier-san, once this noise thing is over...

Hey, Blackie.

　I looked towards the voice when it called out to me unexpectedly and saw Currier-san lying on the bed.

'What are you dazed about?　You're going to do it, you're going to rub it in.
Yes.

　Eventually.
　I started the massage.
　But soon enough, my hands stopped.
　I didn't even reach level 2.

'After what was said, right? And the other party is that Cecily Arkwright........I knew it, she's out of her mind.

　Currier says as he lies down.

'You see, sir?'
That's a pretty impressive story for a man to tell.
I have to admit I'm surprised.

　I let go of Currier-san's waist.
　Curie-san also raised her body.
　I was already in no mood for a massage.

'It was the first time in my life that a girl had ever said that to me.
Is that so?
Because it was me.
Oh, honey...

　Currier-san makes a dumbfounded face.

''No, there are reasons to think so, to a point. Cecily-san, you gave me all sorts of reasons why you fell in love with me... but I feel like that's something that any other guy could do, too.
Well, maybe it is.
Right?
But...

　Mr. Currier looked at the door of the room.

'There's a very big gap between 'can' and 'did','

　When I told her to admonish me, Currier-san corrected her posture.
　Naturally, I correct my posture as well.

'Kurohiko, I'm going to be a little tough on you now.
Yes, sir.

　Sigh, Currier said after taking a breath.

Don't mock Cecily too much.
Oh, I'm not an idiot.
I am. That's what you just said. That's not the kind of woman Cecily is. I can see that. But the way you just said it, the way you made it sound as if Cecily would have fallen for anyone given the chance.
'Oh....'

　'Hmph,' Currier sniffed and smiled.

Of course, I understand that you didn't intend to do that.
Mr. Currier...
I want you to be happy, you know. And I think you and Cecily will be happy together.

　Miss Currier slowly lowered her eyelashes.

'It's a strange feeling. I've never prayed for anyone's happiness before. And now I'm praying for someone else's happiness and it's not a bad feeling, strangely enough.

　...........

"Mr. Currier, I--
Here's the rest.

　Again, Curie-san lay down.

'I've come to look forward to your rubbing therapy and all that. You're going to make me ... feel good, aren't you?

　So much for this story.
　The expression on her face told him so without saying a word.

''........I understand.''

　I walked up to her and put my hands on her hips.
　Then I slowly put more force into it.

The best thing about it is that it's not a bad idea. Even if you don't become a holy warrior, can you still do well over here?
..........
...Blackberry?

　I gulped, and stopped my hand when I pressed my fingers into it slightly.

'Miss Currier,'
Hmm?
I don't want to.

　There was a slight pause before the words came back.

'....What is it?
A future where you're not laughing from the bottom of your heart is not something I want to do.

　No response from Mr. Currier.
　I continued.

'Me, I want everyone to be happy ... all the people I love, if I can.
"...I don't know why you feel that way. But as someone who grew up in the apocalypse, I have to say. There's no such thing as a future where everyone is happy--
I know. And I know it's my ego. I know it's all idealistic. The world is not that easy. But I don't intend to give up easily.

　Currier-san breathes as if to say she's dumbfounded.

''Utterly ... you're an unsalvageable idiot, you.
'But ... there are some things you have to be that stupid to do, right?
Maybe...
So Currier-san please don't say that you don't have to be happy, like you don't have to be happy.
I'm not sure...

　I felt Currier-san's shoulders tremble slightly.　

''I want you to be happy, too.

　There was a moment's pause, and then Currier-san opened her mouth.

''Please ... please, Kurohiko.
What?

　Her voice seemed to have a lot of emotion in it.

'Don't make me ... too ... annoyed.
Currier, Mr.?
..........

　Eventually.
　Currier-san's rubbing therapy didn't make much progress.

　　　　　　　　　　*

'Wah-hey-hey-hey!　Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha!　Hahahahaha!　Wheeze! Wheeze!　Hee!　Hahahahahaha--!
Hey, Ira........are you really that ticklish?
"Sorry, I'm sorry, Kurohiko, but ha-ha-ha!　A-hah-hah-hah!　Hey, wait!　I'm going to die!　I'll die of laughter if I don't do this.

　And a few minutes later.
　Me and Ira were sitting upright on the bed, facing each other.
　Both of us blushing, feeling sorry for each other.

''...........''
..........

　In a way, it was an awkward atmosphere.


'No, it wasn't Ira-san's fault. My skills were inexperienced I'm sorry.
You're welcome.

　Thud.

There you are.
"Aha.

　We lowered our heads at the same time and our heads bumped into each other.

'I'm sorry!'

　Ira-san put his hands together and apologized.

''That was okay, Kurohiko...?''
Are you okay, Mr. Ira?
I'm fine. You see, I'm a stone's head.
It's a bump, isn't it?
'What?　Really?

　It's a little silence time.
　After a while.
　Our expressions break down into loose, embarrassed smiles.

"Hahaha.......Hey, it's getting weird.......
Yeah, well....

　Ira Horne.
　Yes.
　What a surprise, she had a constitution that made the rubbing treatment feel oddly ticklish.
　Since it couldn't be helped........we decided to chat until the time came.
　However, he only asked me about my various preferences, such as my favorite food, after digging for answers.

　So, next up was Ray-senpai.
　As for what happened during her rubbing therapy - I probably shouldn't say too much about it.
　If I dare to say just one word, it's that I saw the essence of an older character.
　

　　　　　　　　　　*.

　After the rubdown was over, I was alone in my room in a daze.
　The reason why no one visited me was probably because Cecily and Currier had taken care of me.
　There was no visit from Ira-san or Ray-senpai.

　Thanks to that, I had time to think about Cecily-san.
　
　Cecily Arkwright.
　I don't need to rattle off all the rhetoric about how it looks now.
　As for the inside....................From my point of view, she's rather easy to talk to after that night.
　She has many other virtues in other aspects as well.
　Most importantly--.

　Cecily Arkwright is the first girl to tell me that she likes me as the opposite s*x.

　The more I think about it.......the more my heart races.
　The more I think about it, the more my heart starts to race, and if a girl like Cecily became my lover, this would be a dream come true.
　Naturally, all sorts of fantasies spread through my mind.
　Then I lost my emotional state and hugged the pillow of the bed tightly.

"..........

　What is this...?
　I can't stop getting a strange feeling of excitement--
　I mean.
　I wonder what kind of face I'm supposed to meet Cecily-san at dinner today (and, in a way, Ray-senpai, too).
　And there--.

　Suddenly, Currier-san's face came to mind.

　............
　And now, for some reason, an inexplicable sadness came over me.
　Huh?
　I wonder.
　It's something.
　Something's not right.
　I can feel it.
　What is this unidentified feeling?
　.....

　And......

Kurohiko, dinner's ready.

　After sinking into deep thought for a while, Ira came into the room to announce that it was time for dinner.