"Honestly, don’t we usually just go out and eat something when we hang out? It’s not like there’s anything to do at home."
"Hmm... well, that’s true... then should we go out?"
"Nah, I think touring Hina’s house is a little more interesting, so I’ll pass!"
"What kind of answer is that...?"
"Why? There shouldn’t be anything weird here, right? Like cigarettes or alcohol."
"No... cigarettes are bad for your body."
Tap!
She covered Hina’s mouth with a finger, gesturing for her to stop talking, while shooting her a look that said it hurt just hearing it.
"...Right... you said before... that you used to smoke for a while, didn’t you...?"
"Yeah... I quit automatically after not doing it for five years. Haa... I still think about it sometimes, which is why I’m even more aware that it’s bad for you."
"Then what does it feel like?"
"No. Don’t ask."
"That just makes me more curious... can’t you just tell me what it feels like?"
"That’s exactly why I’m telling you not to ask."
"Mm... okay. If Haruta says not to know, then there must be a reason. Fine."
"Yeah, just drink instead. No, wait... you shouldn’t drink either. It’ll wreck both your mental health and your physical health."
"You’re only saying bad things now..."
"But... wine is fine, right? ...Or is it...?"
"Wine... you mean grape wine, right? I read about it in a book... wasn’t it something people drank at festivals in ancient times?"
"Oh, yeah, exactly... the problem is they don’t even sell it in the Black Market."
"Well... since we don’t have that, you can look around slowly. And it doesn’t seem like Haruta would do anything strange."
I’d expected a reaction more like Iori’s, but she gave permission far too easily.
"...Uh... okay? You’re not going to stop me? I could, like, steal your underwear or something."
I was an idiot for thinking she’d at least push back after I said something like that.
"No... you don’t have to say it like that. I just..."
"...Huh. You’re way bolder than I expected."
"Ah... n-no... I was joking..."
"So? What do you want to do? Do you have any card games?"
"Ah... card games? If you look around back there, you’ll probably find one."
"There? Here?"
When Hina pointed toward the shelf, my gaze followed.
"...Hey... what is all this...?"
"Ah... those things up there? They’re old certificates I got. I don’t really need them now, though."
The shelf was packed with more than fifteen certificates and trophies. And on the bottom shelf, a card game box sat there gathering dust.
"...But do you usually clean this? It’s pretty neat."
"Yeah... it’s proof that I worked hard, so I should take care of it. That’s why I clean it whenever I have time... Lately... I haven’t had much time, though..."
"Yeah, that’s cool too."
"Mm... but how do you play this? It’s been so long since I bought it."
"Wait... let me see... where’s the manual...?"
Looking at the game, it turned out to be pretty simple. Each turn, you drew one card numbered from 1 to 10, and the person with the higher number won. If I added a little more detail,
when you thought you were going to lose, you could pass the round and draw a card. The limit was three times per game.
"Simple, huh?"
"But this could be done with paper too..."
"Hey! What matters is having fun! Why nitpick something like that? Come on... let’s play!"
"Okay... then."
-Two hours later
"...Hey... Hina?"
"Mm...?"
"How many times have I lost so far...?"
"Hmm... we’ve played a total of 123 rounds... so you’ve lost 121 times... sorry... Haruta."
"...I didn’t know I’d be this unlucky..."
"Yeah... I didn’t know I’d draw the card with the number 10 on it five times in a row either."
"No... I drew a 9 and still didn’t pass..."
"Then do you want to try something else?"
"Yeah... I need some healing right now..."
"Hmm... then do you want to watch a movie?"
"Oh, nice. What do you want to watch?"
"...I don’t usually watch movies, so... could Haruta pick one?"
"Let’s see..."
When I turned on the TV in Hina’s house, all kinds of variety shows and movies appeared.
"...Robots...of...Revenge...."
Something familiar caught my eye, and when I looked closer, there was a Terminator version with dogs.
"...Right, this is Kivotos."
"Ah... that? I know it’s a pretty old movie."
As I kept scrolling through the movies, every single lead was either a dog or a robot.
"...Huh?"
Then I saw a familiar cover.
"...Isn’t this... Frozen?"
"I heard that one was good... want to watch it together?"
"Yeah... well, there’s probably nothing better to find here anyway."
Whirr
"Ah, before the movie starts, do you want something to eat or—"
Clench
"...?"
"Could you just... stay by my side...?"
"Yeah...? Well... I don’t see why not."
"...It’s a little cold..."
"Is it?"
Poof
I spread my wings a little and covered Hina.
"...Mm... warm... so cozy... Haruta... your wings smell nice."
"If I use my wings too much, they start hurting a lot, so I just clean them for a long time. So it’s probably just my shampoo scent, or maybe body wash."
"Mm... but it’s warm..."
"Yeah... if you’re tired, you can sleep a little."
"No... I like talking like this better."
"Is that so... then ask away as much as you want! I’ll answer anything."
"Really...?"
"Yeah... I’ll answer everything I can."
"...Then... Haruta..."
"Yeah, Hina."
"Do you... really like me? Even though I’m this short... and my chest is small... and my face isn’t that pretty...?"
"What are you talking about? Why are you so trapped by standards other people made for you? I like Hina just because she’s Hina. I don’t need some special reason."
"Really...? I’m not that cute or pretty, though...?"
"Hina? You may not know this, but... at least to my eyes, nothing is more beautiful than when you smile brightly. And when you love someone, looks aren’t what matters. I always look at a person’s heart first."
"...Really...?"
"That doesn’t mean Hina’s ugly or anything, so don’t misunderstand, okay? Got it?"
"Mm... thank you."
"Yeah... phew... if you understand, that’s enough."
"Then... can I ask a second question?"
"Yeah, I’m always ready."
"Haruta... I heard it from Sensei yesterday."
"Heard what?"
"That if... for some reason... Haruta dies... you asked Millennium to erase your memories..."
"...Mm... that’s a heavy topic, so I’ll answer it later when I have time."
I tried to change the subject, but Hina’s expression looked sorrowful, and at the same time desperate.
"...Haruta... answer me... what does that mean...? What’s the point of it...?"
"Haa... why does everyone always make a problem out of everything I say...?"
"Please... what do you mean by protecting everything? And what did you mean by all those things you said yesterday...? Tell me what they mean."
"...It’ll be a long story. A very long one."
"...That’s fine. That’s why I called you here."
"...First, let’s turn that off."
Click
"Haa... where should I even start...? Right."
Haruta opened his mouth more calmly than ever before, speaking slowly.
"I... you all... I mean, you, Hina, and the other girls too. There are the Tea Party girls as well, and..."
"...Mm... and?"
"Meeting you all... it felt like a dream. I was really, really happy. But... that’s exactly why I kept wondering..."
"..."
"What if... if there’s ever a problem in Kivotos that you can’t stop? What if something comes up that nobody can stop... something only I can stop? I think about that a lot."
"Yeah... Sensei told me that."
"Yeah... it’s actually because everything feels too peaceful that it scares me. If I lost you too... I wouldn’t feel like there was any reason left to live. That’s why I’m trying so hard to protect you. Because I know how awful that would be."
Then Hina’s eyes changed. They were full of resolve, as if she was asking him to listen to something she was about to say from deep in her throat.
"U-um... go on... it’s okay."
"Haruta... I’m not Haruta, so I don’t really know... but if... if you truly have nowhere to lean on, if there are times when you’re really sad... then lean on me... rest a little... don’t get too tied up in the past and the future..."
"...Yeah... what I need right now is..."
"Mm... I think so too. That’s probably what Haruta is thinking right now."
"Someone... I can lean on... was what I needed, huh... haha... I didn’t come to Hina for that, though."
"Ah... n-no! I’m fine, so... if you’re having a hard time, always lean on me. Even if it feels like you can’t hold on anymore, I’ll stay by your side..."
My chest felt hot. It was like every thought I’d had there burned away and was replaced by something else.
"...Live in the present, not the future or the past... that was the phrase I liked, wasn’t it? Thank you... no, I love you... Hina."
But Hina’s face turned red again, and her wings fluttered. Every little movement of hers felt adorable.
"...Anyway... thank you. And it’s okay, so you should sleep first. You must be tired."
"Mm... maybe because Haruta’s wings are so warm... I am tired..."
"Then sleep a little."
"...Haruta should... sleep too."
"Yeah... I’m a little tired too."
And then, just as I was about to close Hina’s door and leave—
"W-wait... Haruta..."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Let’s... sleep together...?"
"...Well, if we’ve already slept together twice, then I guess it’s not a big deal...?"
"Hehe... okay..."
So Hina and I hugged each other tightly and slept. I don’t know if it was because Hina was so small, but she fit right into my arms.
And that night, we really did just sleep.
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