Chapter 11
The Millennial Hikikomori Witch
Part 5
After parting ways with Akatsuki-kun and Dia-kun, I headed back to the tent where Ruki-kun was waiting. Outside, the sunset had faded without me noticing, and night had fallen.
Ruki-kun seemed to be sitting in front of a campfire near the tent, stirring a pot with a ladle. Noticing me walking over from a distance, Ruki-kun waved his hand broadly.
“Ah, Haru, welcome back! You’re late. I made some food, wanna eat?”
Ruki-kun placed the pot that had been over the fire onto the ground.
A good smell wafted over. It seemed to be a rice porridge with diced root vegetables and salted meat.
“Thank you. Meals are supposed to be my role, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it! Well, I can only make simple stuff, so I don’t know if it’ll suit your taste though.”
“……”
The whole time, I had been thinking about what to say to Ruki-kun when I handed him the Mana Elixir I received from Akatsuki-kun.
Just imagining him being happy made my chest feel warm.
Of course, I still intend to give all of this to Ruki-kun.
But I felt there was something I needed to say first.
I didn’t know how to broach the subject and stood rooted to the spot a little distance away from him.
Ruki-kun peered at my face curiously. I wonder what expression I’m making now; it also kinda looks like he’s a little worried about me.
“Ruki-kun… I’ve been lying to you.”
The words that finally came out of my mouth were those.
Even I thought, ‘Why did I say that?’ While thinking I might have chosen the wrong words, I also felt that this was what I wanted to say.
I wanted to keep it a secret forever and continue our current peaceful relationship.
But after seeing Akatsuki-kun and Dia-kun, I started thinking that being able to accept everything about each other and live harmoniously like lovers is also wonderful.
Until yesterday, I thought Akatsuki-kun normally relied on Dia-kun for his daily life. Both in dangerous times and in everyday matters around him.
When I said I would undo Akatsuki-kun’s soul magic, Dia-kun seemed afraid of it, though I didn’t know the circumstances. Seeing Akatsuki-kun hold his hand as if to reassure him, I honestly felt very envious.
I understood that they live helping and supporting each other.
I was happy that Ruki-kun reached out his hand to me, that he walked ahead for me. For me, who was never allowed to be dependent, his kindness felt very comforting. I was afraid of him finding out my true identity. I thought our current relationship would surely crumble, and a disparity would arise, just like back when I was in the Celestial Realm.
But I finally realized. From my desire to be supported by you, I had come to wish to support you.
If it’s Ruki-kun, I’m sure he would treat me the same as always even if he knew my true identity.
If we could have a relationship without lies or falsehoods, it would surely be even more wonderful than now.
“Which lie are you talking about?”
Ruki-kun was surprised for just a moment, but then asked that with a gentle smile.
As I thought, he must have noticed that I was hiding something.
And yet, he stayed with me all this time.
“I… can buy things I like by my own will, I can choose my favorite food myself, I can go to places I like alone, and decide what to do.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I can survive perfectly well on my own.”
I know how, I can research. I can do everything perfectly.
There is nothing that other humans or demons can do that I cannot.
Even without Ruki-kun’s power…
“I see. So, you don’t need me anymore?”
Ruki-kun looked sad as he said that, but he also looked just as relieved.
I immediately shook my head.
“I need you, Ruki-kun. I want to be with you, in sickness and in health.”
“…Huh!? Do you understand the meaning of those words?”
“I understand them.”
At those words, Ruki-kun looked more shocked than I’d ever seen him, his mouth wide open. His cheeks were red too, as if he was embarrassed. When I stared straight at him, the way he averted his eyes while opening and closing his mouth was adorable.
The usually reliable and straightforward him still didn’t seem accustomed to affection from others.
“Won’t you hear my reasons?”
“…No.”
“You’re mean.”
“Haru, I haven’t told you, but I’ve done terrible things to humans. If you knew, you’d be disappointed in me. I’m not worth being with.”
When I first met him, I touched his head and peeked into his memories. So I actually know everything.
If we’re talking about terrible things, the sins I carry are greater.
Even so, I want to be with you. Compared to you, I am selfish and self-centered.
“I don’t mind.”
As I approached Ruki-kun, he tried to scramble backward as if flustered.
Not letting him get away, I grabbed one of his hands, pulled him towards me, made my wings appear, and extended them behind his back. I curved my wings, larger than a human’s height, to envelop him, and Ruki-kun was neatly tucked inside the space within my wings.
“Eh? Eh?”
“Please don’t run away.”
Ruki-kun had been writhing, trying to escape, but when he realized his back was also enclosed by my wings, he seemed to give up on running. I gently bumped my forehead against his. I also extended the feathers growing from my head, softly enveloping the back of his head.
Our eyes met at zero distance.
His wavering golden pupils were very beautiful, like the shining planet Venus.
“I have something I want to tell you.”
What I’m about to tell you is my clumsy words of love, thought of only for your sake.
Please, I want you to listen.
