I stood restlessly in front of the inn . I couldn’t help that I had to put on nicer clothes than usual . It was almost the time where she should arrive . And I was already regretting not prioritizing buying normal clothes instead of armor .

Ahhh, I was so nervous . I could hear my heart beating loudly . Had my heart rate ever risen this high since I was murdered? Thinking of it like that, it made me think I was off to die once again… I scratch the back of my head in irritation every time such stupid thoughts enter my mind, and this repeats itself several times . Finally, I hear a voice from behind me .

“You will go bald if you scratch your scalp so much . ”

It was the same voice she always had . I quickly turned around . The person I was waiting for . Daniela .

“I wouldn’t want that . ”

“Hehe . Neither would I . ”

What did that mean… I give her another look . She did not look the same today, because she was now wearing the gothic lolita dress I had bought for her at the Goblin’s Boutique . It was a black and red outfit that completely transformed her . But, it was very cute .

“You decided to wear it, the dress . ”

I said, partially stunned . Daniela looked down at the dress and then back at me with a slightly embarra.s.sed expression .

“…Does it not suit me?”

I don’t know if I have ever regretted not having a camera as much as I did now . I wanted to go back to j.a.pan for the first time, even . It wasn’t fair that I could not immortalize this image!

“It suits you very well! You look incredibly cute . ”

“Hehe . I see . Thank you . ”

She smiled, and my heart felt like it would burst . Did my AGI affect my pulse?

“Well, do not just stand there like an idiot . Are we not going to the armorer?”

She said, and with a most natural motion, grabbed me by the arm . I could hardly fathom the powerful appeal of this adventurer who I relied on and nearly tripped over myself as she pulled me . Daniela did not miss this and laughed infectiously .

“It seems very busy today…”

“Is it? It appears to be much the same to me…”

Apparently, the town was unusually lively in my head alone . Daniela was as calm as ever . There was something about her now that seemed liberated, but I wasn’t sure what she was thinking . And I had still to hear an answer to my confession .

“I am quite hungry now… I did not get to eat breakfast thanks to you . ”

“Ah, sorry about that…let’s find a place to eat . ”

“Yes . Then…that place looks good . My instincts are demanding that we go there . ”

Daniela pointed to a coffee shop which had an open terrace . Normally, Daniela had a tendency to choose stores based on the size of servings, but it appeared that she wanted to act like a proper lady today .

“Alright then . You sit here, Daniela . I’ll go and order something you’d probably like . ”

“Ah, I will leave it to you then . Do not let me down . ”

She looked at me then, but I found it hard to meet her eyes . I guess I was embarra.s.sed . I could only imagine how my face must burn a bright red right now . I entered the store in order to hide it from her .

It was quite s.p.a.cious inside, with low chairs and tables lined up . A good place to relax and kill time . The kind of store that you might spend hours at and do nothing if you came alone . I checked the menu at the counter and decided to order some sandwiches .

I scan the store and its customers . There was an old man reading a book, an old woman who was knitting . A woman who was writing something, a sleeping adventurer…wait, isn’t that Rex? What was he doing here?

“Are you alright?”

“Mm… Ah, sorry . It looks like I fell as…oh, Asagi . Aghh . . aa… And I was having such a good nap . ”

“Hey, Rex . I know it’s quiet in here, but is that smart?”

I chuckle as he stretches his arms and yawns . Though, I could totally understand how someone would want to sleep in this atmosphere .

“So, this is an unusual place to b.u.mp into you . ”

“Uh, yeah . Daniela wanted to come here . ”

“Hoho…I see I see . ”

“What…”

He looked at me with the most annoying grin on his face once I said her name . It almost made me want to punch him, but as he was probably thinking exactly what I was thinking, I could only sulk .

“So you two are, together after all then?”

“Ahh, I knew you would ask . Unfortunately, I wouldn’t say we have that kind of relations.h.i.+p yet . ”

“Yet?”

“…This morning…I told her . ”

Oh, this was really awkward . It had been quite a while since I’ve had talks like these with male friends . Rex’s grin got even bigger as he stood up bashed me on the should several times .

“Well, you must make a full report, if things go well . And even if they do not, make a report anyway!”

“Stupid b.a.s.t.a.r.d . If things don’t go well, I’m leaving this city . ”

“Ah, do not be so pathetic . Have some confidence!”

He had another go at my shoulder before picking up his bag and leaving, saying, ‘There’s a place I need to stop by now, got to go!’ That b.a.s.t.a.r.d, he looked very intent on spreading the word!

I clicked my tongue and regretted that I had woken him up . I was regretting a lot today, it seemed . Daniela was waiting quietly outside when I came out and took the chair in front of her .

“I just saw Rex come out the door . He looked surprised to see me, but he just waved and then immediately ran towards the guild . ”

“Ahh…that…he’s going to tell everyone . ”

“Ahh…that…he’s going to tell everyone . ”

“Tell everyone what?”

“About…ah…you know… Us?”

“You do not sound too sure…”

You know, that thing . I couldn’t say ‘our relations.h.i.+p,’ when we were not even dating, could I?

“Is there something that would greatly trouble you, if word got out about it, Asagi?”

“No, not really…umm . . ahhh…”

“You seem very indecisive . ”

Daniela laughs . I felt like I was being toyed with now . But she was right that I wasn’t being clear . I couldn’t really continue like this .

“Alright then . I will ask you plainly . ”

“Aye, that would be preferable . ”

“Tell me . Your answer . Would you say that it is good or bad? I don’t know if my heart can take this any longer . ”

“But it has only been an hour . Asagi, you are not very strong mentally, eh?”

I had no answer for that . Yes, maybe my mind was like tofu .

“What did you think when you saw me like this?”

“I told you . You look very cute . ”

“Hehe . Thank you . These are clothes that you gave me . Your confession…or explanation, hearing it brought on an urge to wear this . I was overwhelmed by an emotion that destroyed any reason . I wanted to be enveloped by you . ”

Hearing those words made my face go bright red . I wondered if steam was starting to rise from my head .

“In other words, in regard to the answer being good or bad…well, I intended for the fact that I put these clothes on to be the answer . ”

The answer had been in front of me as far back as when I waited in front of the inn . Daniela’s hands tenderly wrapped around my own as they rested on the table .

“Well, if you truly want me to put it into words, I have no problem doing so . ”

“…Yes, I want you to say it . I want to hear . ”

I look straight into her eyes . She too looks straight into mine . Her small mouth opens, and she crafts the words that I had wanted to hear .

“I love you too . ”

It was as if all other sound had disappeared from the world . Only her words existed to me . But that only lasted for an instant, and the noises of the streets returned . I was now overwhelmed by an emotion that I had to put into words .

“Thank you, Daniela . Let’s stay together, always . ”

“I know that it is nothing new, but I am an elf, you are human . Our lifespans will not be the same . Are you really fine with that?”

“Yes, I’m sorry that I’ll have to die first . But I hope that I can live on in your heart . ”

We look long at each other, confirming to the other how we felt . And when our emotions had reached their peak, our faces closed in, lips against lips…

“Your food is ready!”

Plates descended right in front of our eyes and the rose-tinted atmosphere was shattered . I looked to the side to see the waiter looking down at us . It was almost impressive how someone could have such a large, professional smile, all the while his temples seemed to be twitching with rage . I realized what we were just about to do in public, and pulled back with embarra.s.sment before addressing the waiter .

“Th-thank you . ”