The weather was nice tonight—the full moon shone bright and unobstructed.
Ripples glittered along the canal that ran down the middle of the street, reflecting the pouring moonlight; the phosphorescence looked like fish leaping from the water one after another.
"The night view of this town is really something…"
Walking on the wide stone-paved road, Roland murmured softly.
It was ten in the evening. There weren't many people out, and Mira, in a deep crimson dress, kept quietly at his side.
A slightly chilly night breeze passed by. Her waist-length white hair fluttered open, leaving a faint, clean fragrance in the air.
Hearing his voice, Mira turned her head ever so slightly, her bright eyes settling on him.
At some point, his black-framed glasses had vanished, exposing the pretty tear mole at the corner of his eye.
There it was again—that flutter in her chest.
Mira quickly drew her gaze back and pressed a hand lightly over her heart.
She could clearly feel her heartbeat speeding up from just a moment ago.
"What's wrong, Mira-nee? Are you not feeling well?"
Noticing her motion, Roland asked with concern.
"No, I just… got lost in thought." Mira shook her head and tugged a smile to her lips.
"Something troubling you?"
"Something like that…"
Mira sighed softly.
She really didn't know what to do—if she answered her feelings, she and Levy would become rivals in love.
But if she didn't answer this quickening in her chest, it felt unbearably uncomfortable—like handing her favorite toy to someone else and letting that outsider stain it with their scent and marks.
And then flaunting it back in front of her…
Absolutely not!
Thinking of what might happen, Mira's hands, clasped behind her back, unknowingly tightened.
"If it's not some kind of secret, would you tell me? Maybe I can help you figure something out, Mira-nee."
Roland stopped and looked at her, his voice easy and soothing.
"Ah, it's not that it's a secret. It's just…"
Mira's expression tangled, and she let out the faintest sigh.
No way she could say it—that she and Levy liked the same person, and that person was you.
"…It's my brother—Elfman," she said at last.
Sorry, Elfman.
After apologizing to her brother in her heart, Mira parted her lips and slowly continued, "He and Marcus are close, but lately they both fell for the same girl…"
Their pace gradually slowed; Mira's gentle voice was pleasant under the night sky.
When she finished, Roland pinched his chin thoughtfully.
He got it.
Elfman matched to Mira, Marcus matched to Levy, and he was the girl who liked to tease everyone?
"So what's confusing you, Mira-nee, is whether Elfman should go after that girl or not?"
"That's right. And Elfman came in later. Just because of 'love at first sight,' he's going to fight Marcus for her…"
Mira raised a finger, stressing the word "later."
"There's no 'first come, first served' in this kind of thing. If you like someone, you work hard and win her over—that's how you avoid regrets in life!"
"And about Elfman and Marcus: real comrades aren't going to cut each other off over something like this. If they did, that friendship would be way too fragile."
"Besides, look at how Jet and Droy get along."
Roland smiled and gave an example.
"You're right!"
Mira's eyes widened, a cute, enlightened look on her face.
Jet and Droy liking Levy was something basically everyone had known for years. Even so, they rarely had any real conflict.
Too bad Levy liked Roland. Those two never stood a chance.
As the knot in Mira's heart loosened, a smile returned to her face, and even her steps felt lighter.
"Thanks. I'll pass this on to Elfman when I get home."
Mira stroked her cheek, her tone bright with a smile.
"It's nothing. I hope Elfman wins her over soon."
Roland's voice was gentle.
After all, Marcus had already stolen the girl's first kiss.
The house Mira had bought was a two-story building, much the same style as Roland's rental from the outside.
Through the window shone warm light, and a tall, sturdily built figure—Elfman—moved within.
"So… want to come in for a bit?"
Standing at the door, Mira tilted her head and asked softly.
"Not tonight. I'll visit when I have time."
"See you tomorrow, Mira-nee."
"Mm, see you tomorrow."
With Mira seeing him off, Roland's figure slipped unhurriedly into the night.
——
["Protagonist? Nothing Special!" completed. Please claim your quest reward!]
["Hidden Affection!" completed. Please claim your quest reward!]
Pale blue text glowed into lines in midair, and Roland let out a quiet breath.
Finally done…
"Claim all quest rewards."
As his voice fell, Roland suddenly felt a flood of unfamiliar knowledge into his mind—an image of slashing again and again at swallows flying over a field.
No—that wasn't swallows so much as wind.
Steadying himself, he looked calmly at his hands.
Long, clean fingers; pale, smooth skin; not a swordsman's calluses to be found.
Yet the stranger's memories pouring into his head made his muscles move on their own—his hand grasped at the air, and a blade-like sharpness surged, as if he'd trained for decades.
"Tsubame Gaeshi (Swallow Reversal), huh… a nice ability."
"Dora? Dora?"
A cute voice sounded suddenly by his ear.
He turned his head reflexively—and at some point, a red, miniaturized Doraemon had perched on his left shoulder.
Seeing the familiar cat-type robot, Roland's lips rose into a smile.
"Good evening, Little Dora."
"Dora~laaa~"
Little Dora hugged his cheek and nuzzled him like a kitten.
(End of Chapter)
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