Ah, my body already feels warmer than before... what happened?
Faintly, I heard someone calling my name, it feels like this situation isn't unfamiliar.
Oh right, Yuu-chan and I were trapped under a steep cliff and freezing because of the terrifying forest air.
I don't know what happened after my consciousness faded when I saw two lanterns that looked like they were walking toward me.
Haha, that must've been just my hallucination because I wanted to survive but couldn't.
"Yukito-san!"
That voice echoed again in my ears, who is that person actually?
I tried to open my eyes that felt so heavy, but it didn't matter to me.
—
Before I knew it, when I woke up, my body was already lying on a bed, and Hime was looking at me beside it.
Hime immediately hugged my neck, she seemed to be crying a little because she felt sad and worried.
She said, last night, Yuu-chan and I had already lost consciousness when Hime and Charlotte found us.
Then, they hurried back to the village as fast as they could and asked the villagers for help.
Fortunately, Yuu-chan and I were still breathing again, because of that we could survive.
"Yukito-sama, you're already awake?"
I turned and saw Yuu-chan walking toward me after opening the room door.
"You, since when did you wake up huh?" I asked back.
"For quite a while… you were the one who was too into sleeping." Yuu-chan said.
——
That morning, Charlotte and Hime had already prepared breakfast that made me want to eat it right away.
"Let's eat," we said together before enjoying this delicious breakfast.
It's good, this is the first time I've eaten Hime's cooking, even though it's not entirely made by her.
But this is enough to prove that Hime can cook too.
Suddenly, Hime, who was sitting next to me, immediately offered her spoon filled with food toward my mouth.
"W-what is this…" I said.
"Open your mouth… aaa…" Hime replied.
Charlotte and Yuu-chan could only stay silent and didn't respond to what Hime was doing to me.
And, I was forced to eat that bite, because I couldn't bring myself to refuse her.
Maybe that was the food she cooked, and she wanted me to taste it directly from the hands of the person who made it.
Even though I can eat by myself…
——
After breakfast, Hime told me that today we would go back home to Necvalion.
Hearing that, I was actually shocked and confused about the decision she made.
"Why? We've only been here for two days?" I asked.
Hime and Charlotte had just reunited after a farewell without a final wave.
"I already offered Charlotte… to return to the main kingdom unit… but…" Hime said.
"She refused, and said she wants to protect the village where she was born." Hime continued.
If Hime has given up, there's nothing I can do.
This all depends on their decision, Yuu-chan and I will just follow whatever happens next.
Hime said Yuu-chan and Charlotte already knew that we would leave today. And when Hime told Charlotte this, her expression immediately looked sad.
Even though right now, Charlotte and Yuu-chan were still washing dishes while laughing.
——
Hime and Yuu-chan said they would go to the town first to look for a caravan heading to Necvalion.
And they left me alone with Charlotte in this house. This is my chance!
I walked out of the house and saw Charlotte sitting outside, her gaze fixed on the road where Hime and Yuu-chan had left.
It's obvious, she must be feeling lonely again.
I lightly tapped her shoulder, making her look at me and feel confused by what I did.
"What is it?" Charlotte asked.
I immediately sat next to her, looking at the same direction she had been staring at.
"What are you trying to do? Do you think that just because they both left, you're going to do that?!" Charlotte shouted.
"Do what? I just want to ask you something." I said.
I looked at her expression, she seemed like she didn't care about what I wanted to talk about.
Well, I'd do the same to someone who suddenly approached me.
"This is about you and Hime." I said.
When I said that, she seemed to become interested and curious about my question.
Yeah, it's really easy, right? To make someone focus their attention on you?
"Why did you reject Hime's offer? That was your chance to gain your rightful position, and your place beside Hime… so, why?" I asked.
Charlotte didn't answer, instead she turned her face away from me.
"I know you must think I don't have the right to know that… but what if I tell you, Hime gave me something precious?" I asked again.
She finally looked at me again, and I succeeded in provoking her.
The precious thing Hime gave me, you know, when we first met, Hime immediately kissed my lips and that was our first experience together.
Of course, that's something very precious, right? (Especially for a girl)
"Hah… I realized ever since coming back to this village, the villagers always gave me their smiles, and that made me want to keep protecting them."
"Even though I was just expelled from the guard unit, I feel like living in this village would be really enjoyable." Charlotte continued.
"Hime-sama's offer made me feel that she's still the same as before, someone who always cares about others more than herself."
W-wait? What does that mean? Hime cares about others more than herself? No way, I've never seen her do that.
"So, what is it that you really want?" I asked.
"I just want to stay in this village, and for Hime-sama to keep considering me her friend." Charlotte answered with a smile.
It seems I already know what I have to do.
I got up from my seat and began stretching my slightly stiff body.
"That's fine then, right? Hime will definitely respect your wish too." I said as I saw Hime and Yuu-chan returning.
——
Charlotte only wants to stay in this village, I can't force her to accept Hime's offer again.
I respect what she wants to do, and of course, Hime must feel the same way.
We can't force something onto someone, that's not the way we want to do things.
——
"Yuu-chan, let's go outside for a bit, let's leave them alone." I said while pushing Yuu-chan so she would leave the house.
"You don't have to tell me, I already knew…" she replied.
Ah, Yuu-chan already told me that later we would travel together with a merchant, fortunately he agreed to take the three of us.
Then, before we left, Yuu-chan and I intentionally left Hime and Charlotte alone.
Maybe there's something they've been holding inside all this time, and they want to let it out now.
——
Ten minutes… quite a long time actually.
Ah, she's coming out now.
Hime looked at Charlotte, with a smile that Charlotte returned with her own smile.
"See you later, Charlotte." Hime said.
"Safe travels, Hime-sama." Charlotte replied.
——
Well, the point is I feel like Hime feels much better now.
Because this problem has existed since the very beginning when I arrived in this world.
It's been quite a while since that day, but everything could only be resolved today.
I don't have any desire to fight the Abbys army, but if needed, I will fight them.
I will continue training until I can truly protect the both of them.
And when I'm sure, I will already be surrounded by people who trust me and consider me their family.