Chapter 59
Perhaps because of that,
People each thought of someone who had loved them.
Their parents, spouse, children.
Or, if not, someone else entirely.
“So, I wanted to give it back too. With another meaning of the flower—courage in love. Thank you always, and I love you.”
And then I thought,
I should tell the person I thought of.
Like Estelle, with courage.
“…Khh!”
“Are you alright?”
“Y-Yes…! Khh!”
With the awards ceremony over, the beautiful harvest competition also came to a close.
First place, of course, went to our Estelle.
Not only was her crop excellent, but the reason she chose an old pumpkin also touched everyone’s heart.
‘It’s so moving…’
I didn’t want to cry.
But after hearing Estelle’s true feelings, tears streamed down my face.
‘I didn’t even understand Estelle’s heart properly…’
Even though Estelle had a reason for everything.
And even though that reason was to convey a message to me.
Yet I doubted why she would choose the old pumpkin.
‘Right. My original goal was just to win the harvest competition.’
To be exact, the goal was to win and slightly increase my fame stat.
Winning the harvest competition was just a means to that end.
But after hearing such a moving confession, I felt so shallow…
Fame: 60 (+60)
‘I’m not shallow. I just did what I had to do.’
Seeing the increase in my fame stat snapped me back to reality.
The target fame for this year was 80, and one competition win gave me 60.
Even though it was a relatively unpopular competition, that was an enormous increase.
‘This will fill up in no time.’
I swallowed the saliva that had pooled in my mouth.
At that moment—
“Reina!”
Far away, little Estelle, dressed like a cute young farmer, ran toward me.
Her arms were wide open.
I ran as hard as I could and jumped, catching her as she leapt into me.
“Did you hear everything I said on stage?”
Estelle lifted her chin to look at me.
I nodded vigorously.
Then suddenly, with a “khup” sound, I lifted my head and looked at the sky.
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
“N-nothing… it’s just…”
Seeing Estelle’s face reminded me of what she had said earlier.
The tears that had receded due to the fame stat increase threatened to spill again.
I held back my tears and answered in a thick, choked voice.
“Y-you’re crying? Why suddenly?”
Hearing my muffled voice, Estelle was greatly startled.
She released her arms from around me and stepped out of my embrace.
I could feel the warmth that had filled my chest slowly leaving.
I strained my eyes to keep the tears from falling.
Then carefully, I lowered my head and looked at Estelle.
“…Huh?”
Something felt off.
“Could it be Claude made you cry?”
Estelle, who had stepped out of my embrace, was glaring at Claude.
Seeing the suspicion in her eyes, I hurriedly opened my mouth.
“I’m not crying because of Claude!”
“Really?”
“Th-That… I just remembered what you said earlier, Estelle. It was incredibly moving.”
Sniff. My tear ducts must be broken.
They were threatening to gush out again.
I widened my eyes at Estelle, who was looking at me, and pulled her close again.
Then, exaggeratingly, I buried my face in her shoulder with a dramatic “whaaa!”
“So, it was because of what I said? I thought something happened and got worried.”
A voice full of relief came from above my head.
Soon, I felt her small hand patting my back.
She must have been surprised by my sudden hug.
Yet instead of panicking, she calmly reassured me, and my heart swelled once again.
“When did you grow up enough to think like that!”
“Ah, Reina, you always give me so much love. Just because of this one time, how could you say that? I want to return the love I receive from now on.”
Estelle whispered in my ear.
So softly that no one else could hear.
What should I do?
I liked Estelle even more.
Her sincere words, gentle tone,
And this small body in my arms, her warm hands on my back.
It made me so happy I could hardly contain it.
Ugh. I couldn’t resist.
I hugged Estelle tightly and shouted.
“What do you mean! I’m still lacking. I’ll do even better from now on!”
“I’ll do better too, of course!”
“I will!”
“No, I will!”
As I shouted loudly, Estelle shouted back, competing with me.
Each shout was accompanied by her hugging me tightly.
…How could such small arms be so strong?
Feeling my ribs being compressed to the point of struggling to breathe, I gently loosened my arms around her.
“If we just say we’ll do well for each other, this will never end.”
“Then we’ll just do even better for each other!”
Aww. How can Estelle speak so beautifully?
She’s truly a treasure.
I wiped away my tears and took in Estelle’s bright smile.
“Estelle!”
Then, from afar, I heard the sound of wagon wheels and someone calling for Estelle.
Who could it be?
I tilted my head and looked toward the sound.
“Don’t leave without me!”
It was Peter, running toward us while pulling a wagon.
“You even left the pumpkin in the wagon.”
“Oh, right.”
“You were so proud, saying it was a gift for Reina. What happened?”
“Seeing Reina cry, I couldn’t help myself… Thank you for bringing it.”
“What? Reina cried?”
Peter put down the wagon with a thud and strode toward me.
He grabbed my shoulders and leaned close to my face.
“There are tears! What happened? Are you hurt?”
Oh my! So surprising!
I was startled by his sudden worried face.
I couldn’t even step back because my shoulders were held, which made it even more shocking.
“I-I’m not hurt. I was just moved by what Estelle said.”
I stammered and gently removed his hands from my shoulders.
Then I stepped back, increasing the distance between us.
“…So that’s it?”
Phew. That was a relief.
Peter hesitated for a moment, looking at his empty hands.
Then he curled his fingers into fists and gave an awkward smile.
“Well, yeah. What Estelle said today was so moving that I figured you’d cry. Reina, you often cry when you’re moved… Though I don’t think you shed a tear when I gave you that apple before.”
Peter raised his eyebrows in frustration.
Seeing that expression made me uncomfortable.
Even knowing he was pretending, I worried if he had truly felt upset and that feeling had carried on until now.
I hurriedly started explaining.
“No, that was…! That was given as a gesture of friendship. And I asked for it too… If anything, shouldn’t you be the one crying for losing it?”
“Friendship… yes. Friendship.”
Peter slumped his shoulders and let out a deep sigh.
A sigh so deep it felt like the ground was collapsing.
‘Why is he like that?’
Could he really be upset?
But thinking it through, I knew his upset was just an act.
And now his expression was more like regret than actual sorrow.
I couldn’t figure out why Peter looked like that.
‘It’s best to stay quiet in times like this.’
I chose to keep my mouth shut and just glanced at him surreptitiously.
Luckily, Peter’s expression of regret was only temporary.
He shook his head lightly and returned to his usual energetic demeanor.
His drooping shoulders straightened as well.
“By the way, what’s happening after this? If you’re okay, since it’s the last day of the festival, would you like to….”
Just as Peter smiled and tried to step closer to me—
“……”
“Uh….”
Peter froze in surprise.
His path forward had been blocked by someone.
