I slowly open my closed eyelids to see Zeke-san brewing tea with a magic tool that looks like a portable stove.
　When I raised my body, lightly shaking my head, which was still a bit sleepy, Zeke-san noticed me and smiled at me.

''Good morning. Mr. Kite.
Good morning ... um, how long have I been sleeping?
About two hours.
Well, you could have woken me up on the way out.


　Apparently I've slept longer than I thought I would, and I feel a little sorry for myself, but I accept the tea that Zeke offered me.
　The taste of the warm tea seeps into my sleepy body and I slowly wake up.

'Kite, this too,'
...What's this?
It's called a fruit stick, and it's a popular snack among the elves.

　What Zeke prepared for me was a long, slender pastry about the size of my palm......It looks like a spring roll.
　　I see... the famous cake of Rigforesia.

　When I picked one up and ate it, it seemed to have jam inside the sticky crust, and the natural sweetness of the fruit and the soft crunchy texture was very delicious.
　It's not so much a bread as a jam bun, and it's not as hard as a scone. The jam also contains large pieces of fruit, and the occasional change in texture is a wonderful product.

'.........It's very delicious. I like this one a lot.
I hope you like it, too.
'Somehow, it reminded me of the jam cookies I bought the first time I went out with Zeke.
They get their fruit from Rigforesia, you see.

　While chatting lightly with Zeke, we had a nice cup of tea and fruit sticks.
　The fact that I slept for two hours after lunch means that it's just about tea time, and it's just about the right amount of time.

''Only, Kite, it's actually a little different... it wasn't the first day I followed Kite as her escort.
'What?　Is that so?
"Yes, you might not have realized it, but I have actually been your guard since the first day you came to this world, Kite. Well, I've been relieved of my duties now because the Phantom King is here.

　My impression was that the first time I met Zeke-san was when we went out shopping together, but in fact, I just didn't realize it, but the whole time Zeke-san had been escorting me away when I went out.
　I see, so that's why Zeke-san was the first to appear when I was attacked by Eta and Theta....

'I hadn't realised that. You've been a good friend of Zeke's for a long time, haven't you?
Well he's the no-good bodyguard who lost Kite on the first day.
'No, no... well, thank you again.
I'm the one who should be thanking you.
...What?

　You've been protecting me all these years without my knowledge. As I thanked her for that fact, Zeke-san slowly shook her head and looked at me with her blue eyes.

"At first, I thought Kite-san was an ordinary and somewhat unreliable person... she was confused, being carried away by the situation and unable to have a firm intention. I thought you were just one of those people who could be anywhere.
Ha-ha, I think you're right, actually.
No, it was just my eyes being blinded by that impression. You were a much stronger and better person than I was.
'No, no, I'm not that big of a...'

　Zeke throws out words of praise in a gentle tone, and I feel embarrassed to reply, scratching my head, but Zeke is looking at me with eyes that have no hesitation.
　The emotions that are being conveyed are affectionate?　Respect?　Anyway, something very favorable and strong....

''I've been watching you, Kite, for a long time. Coming to a strange world unprepared, surrounded by people stronger than you, and many of them not friendly to you... I can't even push away how anxious I was about it, how much pressure it put on me.
Well I've had the good fortune of meeting people...

　It's true that, just like Zeke-san said, even though I was behaving in some sort of a cheerful manner, I was very uneasy at first.
　In a world where your common sense doesn't apply, where you have to rely on people you don't know, there's no reason not to feel uneasy.
　But I was fortunate enough to be blessed with fate... and the people I met. That's why I'm really enjoying my life now.

I think being blessed with fate is a wonderful talent. But above all, I think it's because of Kite's personality that so many people have come around you.
"...Mr. Zeke.
You're strong, you're straightforward, you're kind, you're strong, you think about other people... and you've given me a lot of courage.
Courage, sir?

　I think this is probably a very important story for Zeke-san.
　Because I felt that, I also look straight at Zeke-san with a serious expression and return the words.

It was so easy to change something that couldn't be changed.
....
'My relationship with Lili, the guilt in her heart, and my voice that I had lost...Kite has done so many miracles for me. The things I wanted, the things I once wanted, the things that were once broken ... she picked them up one by one and put them in front of me.
"...I didn't mean to do anything so grand, you know?　If things have changed for the better for Mr. Zeke, it's not in my power, it's in Mr. Zeke's power.

　The reason Lilia-san and Zeke-san's relationship was restored was because they had firm feelings for each other...I think I was only a small catalyst.
　The reason why the guilt in Lilia-san's heart has loosened is because she herself has a strong heart and has looked firmly ahead.
　And the reason why Zeke-san's voice came back is because of Liliwood-san's help.......of course I could have helped her a little bit, but above all, I think Zeke-san's own power is greater than anything else.

　When I returned my words like that, Zeke-san smiled gently, as if he knew I would answer in that way.

''Yes, I thought Kite-san would say that. Since you're such a kind person, I........
"...Mr. Zeke?
''Well even if you think so, the gratitude I have for you, Kite, inside me is not something that can be expressed. Once again, thank you so much.
Oh, no, no, no, no, you're welcome.

　After Zeke-san said that and bowed his head deeply to thank me, he raised his face and opened his mouth while looking straight into my eyes again.

''........Kite-san is like a sunshine to me. Dazzling and big, yet so warm and powerfully guiding.......such a wonderful you.......
...Jeez, Mr. Zeke?
''I am a weak elf. All this time I haven't had the courage to do it. But finally, I have the courage to tell you this thought that I've been holding. I want to keep looking at you from now on as well. Closer than ever before...
....

　What, right?　My heart was thumping with excitement. Each word spoken in a serious voice echoes loud and clear.
　Although I was confused by this, I couldn't take my eyes off Mr. Zeke, no, I didn't think I should.
　And then, after Zeke-san was silent for a bit, he said those words with a very strong thought.

''........I like you, Kite, I like you. As a person of the opposite s*x........
Huh?

　The words that were told to me with all my heart and soul, completely hardened my thoughts.

　 I was aware that Zeke had directed favorable feelings towards me. But I had assumed that it was something close to affection. But I was wrong, and today, Zeke-san............................confessed his feelings to me.