Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: What Do You Think of Our Ophelia? -3
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It's a question that's hard to understand easily.
What do I think of Ophelia?
"Sally, what's-"
"Be quiet, Ophelia."
Ophelia, her mouth covered, mumbled "mmph mmph mmph."
It seemed like she was just playing around.
That girl Sally... she has a sneaky playful side, doesn't she?
"That's a tough question, miss."
"I'm not asking as a customer."
"Then?"
"I'm asking as her friend."
As her friend?
That's even harder to understand.
Why would a friend ask something like that?
As I pondered what to say, text appeared before my eyes.
[Special Event]
[This event is a special opportunity to raise affection levels.]
[Try raising the other person's affection.]
Affection event?
'This is totally a dating sim.'
Where did the healing game go?
'Anyway, I just need to answer that question, right?'
No point complaining; I had to accept it.
"Ophelia is..."
"... "
"... "
No, why is the atmosphere like this?
Sally asked the question, fine, but why was Ophelia so tense?
Young girls' hearts are impossible to read.
Have I gotten too old?
'Sigh.'
I sighed inwardly and chose my words carefully.
I had to be cautious. Kids at that sensitive age could get hurt by a single wrong word.
After some thought...
"Then I'll speak not as the Cafe Club leader, but as a senior."
"Whatever makes you comfortable."
"Ophelia is a good junior."
I said what I thought.
"A good junior..."
"Yeah. A really good kid. She helps me when I'm struggling, listens well, and she's talented too."
"Is that all?"
"Hm? Is there something more needed?"
Sally looked lost, and Ophelia's hand trembled around her teacup.
Why were they reacting like that?
I had no idea.
Was there a problem with calling her a good junior?
"So... you just see her as a junior?"
Just a junior.
A good junior.
As I nodded to that...
Beep-! Beep-!
[BZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!]
'Shit, you scared me.'
The status window started flashing wildly.
Why was it going off like that all of a sudden?
Did I make the wrong choice or something?
'That doesn't make sense-'
"...Hoo. Haha."
It did.
"Ophelia."
"...Yes, Senior. This is your good junior Ophelia."
"You okay?"
"Of course. I'm a good kid, after all. Yeah, that should be enough."
Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes weren't.
No, more than that...
'Did she break?'
For some incomprehensible reason, Ophelia's state had gone weird.
She was clinking her teacup for no reason, pulling a strange smile.
Especially her eyes—they were dead, giving me chills.
Where had I seen eyes like that before?
"Heehee, hahaha."
'...Ah.'
I remembered.
'When Ethan was killed by Ophelia.'
That's exactly how Ophelia's eyes looked then.
Lifeless, dull, like rotten fish eyes.
'...Am I in danger?'
I couldn't figure out the reason at all.
I hadn't said anything weird.
'Think.'
I racked my brain quickly.
Where in what I'd just said could have offended her?
Navigating a maze without clues.
That wasn't going to be easy.
After agonizing for a while, I latched onto Sally's words.
"Just a junior... that's all Ophelia is to you?"
Just a junior?
'That seems connected.'
Instinct told me so, and I chased the answer.
A path opened in my maze-like mind.
One path that seemed utterly wrong, no matter how I thought about it.
'No way.'
Was it possible she had feelings for me?
What reason would Ophelia have to feel that way about me? I was just an elder figure trying to understand these kids' hearts.
Besides, we're practically twenty years apart.
Me and Ophelia. Ethan's body might make it look close, but my real age is nearly 30.
"That's a funny joke."
"A joke?"
"Ophelia would be troubled by jokes like that. Even as friends, you should be careful with those words."
This was bait.
I tossed it out to observe Ophelia's reaction.
Pretending I hadn't noticed any affection at all.
Ophelia let out a hollow laugh in response.
"Ophelia, you okay?"
"Yes. I'm perfectly fine. You have a girlfriend, after all."
"Huh?"
"...Ah, forget I said that. I don't even know what I'm thinking..."
Oh my god.
'For real?'
It was hard to believe.
Ophelia having feelings for me?
All I'd done was listen to her troubles and treat her kindly.
Before any joy could set in, pity hit me first.
'How much has she been through?'
How much emotional hardship to react like this to a little kindness?
"Ophelia."
"Yes, Senior."
"...You've been through a lot."
I saw my old self in her.
Back when I'd chosen this path.
No one to lean on.
Heart exhausted inside, but couldn't show it easily.
The existence of someone to comfort you then.
I knew how much strength that gave.
I'd been through it myself.
But.
"Times like that, you need to think carefully."
This industry has one unwritten rule.
Counselors must never get romantic with clients.
When your heart is vulnerable, someone's help feels incredibly warm.
And it's easy to mistake that for romantic feelings.
That's why therapists never date patients.
Ophelia wasn't a patient, but she might have caught these feelings in a moment of impulse.
'No helping it.'
I reached out toward Ophelia's head.
My hand went to her silky white hair.
She flinched! in surprise when I touched it, but...
"It's okay."
"...Ugh... Senior... that's..."
"Take your time and think about it carefully. Your feelings."
"I don't know... what this even is."
She started calming down under my stroking hand.
"Better now?"
"...I've worried you."
"It's fine. You're in an unstable state right now."
"Me?"
"Yeah. But that's not wrong. For now, let's take care of your heart slowly. Other things later. Got it?"
"...Yes."
Senior's Hands are Healing Hands
'Not now, you. Read the mood.'
[Hing.]
I ignored the status window and looked down at Ophelia.
She'd fully calmed now, light returning to her eyes.
Good.
I really thought I'd get murdered here.
"Hold it, you playboy!"
Once things settled, Sally was the one getting excited.
"P-Playboy?"
"Yes! How could you!? Our Ophelia isn't girlfriend material!?"
"...What are you talking about?"
Sally hissed like a cat.
Now she was even pointing accusingly.
"Shame on you! Cheating on your girlfriend right next to you to seduce Ophelia!"
"Seduce? Girlfriend?"
"Sis, say something! Your boyfriend's doing this right in front of you!"
Sally's finger pointed elsewhere.
The one she called my girlfriend...
"...Me?"
"Yes!"
"...This dragon lady is shocked!"
It was Agnes.
No way... those girls thought Agnes was my girlfriend?
"Hey, you two."
"Explain yourself!"
"Looks like you have a big misunderstanding."
Thud thud.
The shadows of two people walking stretched longer.
"Hehe, the cookies are super tasty too."
"... "
"Next time, let's go with the club leader too."
"... "
The two shadows walked the same path, but harbored different thoughts.
Sally was thinking about the cafe she'd discovered.
There'd been a misunderstanding, but it cleared up, and it was a delicious spot for once, so she was in a good mood.
She chattered away, but her walking companion seemed lost in other thoughts, unable to respond.
"Not my girlfriend..."
"Ophelia. Still thinking about that?"
"Ah, Sally. For me, it's..."
"Sigh. Think hard about it. I give up."
Sally stuck a cookie in Ophelia's mouth and poked out her tongue.
"Worried for nothing."
"S-Sorry."
"That senior was right. Sort out your feelings first."
Ophelia nodded at Sally's words.
"Definitely. Doing Disciplinary Committee work gets the heart tangled up a lot. First, deal with that somehow, then other things-"
"Not the committee."
"Then?"
"About what happened to you back home."
"...That's my karma."
"Still! That was too much!"
Sally scowled at Ophelia's lukewarm response.
But Ophelia shook her head, as if she didn't want to hear more.
"You could run away and come to our house."
"I appreciate it. But that's my responsibility."
"Still, when it's frustrating, you have to vent, okay?"
"I will."
Her old story.
Wondering if there was one more person she could tell...
'Senior.'
Ethan's face came to mind.
Maybe he'd understand and listen to her past karma too?
'Someday, there might be a chance to talk.'
Ophelia thought so as she gently stroked her own head.
The exact spots Ethan had stroked earlier. Doing it herself brought back the sensation vividly.
"Hehe... hehet."
A smile crept onto her face unwittingly.
Of course, to a third party...
"Ophelia."
"Yeah?"
"You've totally lost it."
...It just looked like a madwoman.