The Fox's Disappointment
"Haa… I don't even know why I'm telling you this pathetic story."
She said that after finishing her tale, as if she was suddenly feeling embarrassed. Of course, that wasn't really what was going on in her head. Still, for someone who had spoken so calmly, she seemed to care about what happened back then more than she let on—even now.
"You shouldn't drink any more."
"…Whether I get drunk or not is none of your business."
No, it is my business, because I'll be the one dealing with the aftermath.
"Mm…"
I did want to make up with her. Even if she wasn't outright angry, the reason she was irritated seemed to be me. I didn't want to keep seeing her snarling at me every time we ran into each other, and today she had gone out of her way to create this chance to talk. I figured I should at least try.
"If there's anything else you want to say, go ahead. You can always blame it on the alcohol later."
"Blame it on the alcohol? Hah… I don't need excuses like that. It's not like anyone else is listening anyway."
So that's why she's annoyed. I think I get it now.
She snorted and brushed off my half-hearted excuse, then continued as if she didn't need any pretext to say what came next.
"…Even though you're not human, I saw how you treated others with kindness and thought you might be the one I'd been waiting for."
Maybe you could teach me what love is.
"But you didn't have much experience with women, and you didn't exactly look like you knew your way around romance either."
Unlike the time when she had naturally developed feelings for someone, it seemed she had simply been looking for a partner to satisfy her curiosity or to make up for her first failure—anyone would do, as long as the conditions were met. The relationship that had ended so abruptly just because she had been honest about her feelings might have left her with something close to resentment.
"But even if your tastes were a little unusual, you were still just an ordinary guy. And yet you saved my life. Twice, even."
"…That did happen."
"Do you understand what it means to throw your own body away to save someone?"
"I don't know. Maybe it just means you're an idiot who doesn't value your own life?"
…That's what Nero had said. At my lukewarm response, she raised her voice as if she'd expected it.
"It means you put the other person before yourself…! What clearer proof could there be? That's… real love."
Watching a grown nine-tailed fox keep saying embarrassing words like "real love" was so awkward that I was struggling to keep a straight face. She had the kind of seductive looks and figure that suggested she could have any handsome man she wanted whenever she got bored, so hearing her talk about true love made me feel secondhand embarrassment instead.
"I don't know if it's because of whatever's inside you that saved your life, or if you've just gotten more used to women, but after that I noticed you were fine with my scent too."
"Undine…"
"On top of that, you were getting better at handling abilities that affect the mind. You could look me in the eye without getting charmed so easily anymore. So…! I had expectations."
"…Ah."
But the faint, ticklish embarrassment I felt while looking into those golden eyes that were now biting her lip and glaring at me with frustration vanished completely. This was… a lot of information all at once. When I thought it over, it basically meant she had once considered me a romantic prospect. She had hoped that once I became immune to a nine-tailed fox's charms, I would genuinely fall for her. And on top of that, I was her lifesaver in the most literal sense. The conditions couldn't have been better.
"…"
How exactly had I disappointed a woman like that?
"…Ah."
Right. I had shown her myself having an orgy with three women. According to the Team Leader, she had dropped everything and rushed over the moment she heard I was in danger. And yet…
"I had expectations, but you were just fine with any woman. That wasn't love. It was just the same filthy lust I've always seen."
Now I understood why she was annoyed. And it seemed she had only realized the reason for her own irritation after saying all of this out loud.
"Yeah. There's no way I was jealous. This is all your fault."
"My fault… Yeah, that sounds about right."
"Not 'sounds about right.' It is your fault, got it?"
She was absolutely correct. I might have come to my senses now, but back then I had been surrounded by beautiful women who liked me and had simply been happy that I could do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. There might have been love at the root of it, but I couldn't deny that my actions at the time had been driven mostly by lust.
"…I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. It just makes me more annoyed now that it's too late."
"…"
So I had apparently kicked away a possible relationship with the Field Team Leader without even realizing it. I had done the exact same thing as that guy she used to find so frustrating. Of course, right now I was already overwhelmed just trying to satisfy the women around me, but looking at the Field Team Leader's beauty and figure—clearly made to charm men—I couldn't help but think it was a waste. I was a man too, after all.
"Shall we just drink?"
"…Yeah."
Well, there was no point in me trying to hold on to someone who was already disappointed. I raised my glass, and she quietly lifted hers as well. The clear sound that followed was the two glasses lightly clinking together. After saying everything out loud, she seemed relieved, and because I had admitted my mistake, this was the first time she had willingly clinked her glass against mine. It was a half-hearted toast, almost like an accident, but I supposed it could pass as a sign of reconciliation. Or at least, an agreement.
Drinking while carrying disappointment and regret for a chance that had already slipped away tasted incredibly bitter. Both of us kept frowning, but neither of us stopped pouring and emptying our glasses.
"…Field Team Leader."
"…Idiot."
"Yes, the idiot is right here. Looks like we've finished all the alcohol…"
In the end, it had turned into a drinking contest. And we had emptied every bottle. Of course, thanks to Undine I couldn't lose even if I wanted to, so I was only lightly buzzed and still mostly fine. But the Field Team Leader had collapsed onto the bar table and was now close to being completely unconscious.
"I guess I'll have to pay."
I had a feeling it would come to this.
"Could I get the bill, please? This person is a regular, right?"
"Yes, she is."
"Then do you happen to know her address or contact information?"
"…No. She always complains about things, but this is the first time I've seen her this drunk."
…What?
"Then… this is a problem…?"
"…"
What was I supposed to do with her? I couldn't just leave her here when men would swarm around her the moment she was alone. But how was I supposed to take her home when I didn't even know where she lived? My place…? Out of the question. I could never bring her there. Nero would probably attempt her second runaway if I did.
"Haa…"
Then a method suddenly occurred to me. I really didn't want to do it. I really didn't, but the longer I dragged this out, the worse it would get.
"No choice…"
I didn't want to contact this person first, but the situation left me no other option. I took out my phone and tapped one of the few contacts saved in my otherwise empty address book.
"…"
And as if she had been waiting for my call, the line connected before the dial tone could even ring once.
"…Sorry for calling so late."
"—Not at all. It's fine between us.—"
I wanted to ask what exactly our relationship was supposed to be, but I held it in. The voice on the other end was, of course, the Team Leader's, sounding displeased even through the static. She had probably overheard me talking with the Field Team Leader in the hallway before the meeting, so she likely knew we had gone out drinking together too.
"—I just sent you the address. Make sure you get her home safely.—"
"…You knew, didn't you?"
"—I didn't expect that sharp-tongued fox to have such a girlish side. It doesn't suit her at all. I feel like I'm going to throw up what I ate for dinner.—"
I always felt this way, but no matter how she worded things, I never sensed any real hostility from her. Of course, the Field Team Leader's hostility toward the Team Leader was genuine, but that didn't matter right now.
"—So? Are you going to grant that trivial, childish wish of hers? She can't even stand properly right now. If you're going to make a move, now's your only chance.—"
"…I'm not doing anything like that. And we're still inside the bar."
"—That's a shame.—"
Right now I might actually be able to win against the Field Team Leader, but if I valued my life at all, I couldn't lay a hand on her without permission. Still… she was right. I was a man too. What was she thinking, getting this defenselessly drunk?
"What do you mean, 'a shame'…?"
"—I've always wanted to see that proud nine-tailed fox squirming and moaning underneath you.—"
"…"
Was she planning to use this as blackmail material against the Field Team Leader? This time I could definitely feel the malice. It made me wonder once again whether the Team Leader was really an angel, but she probably didn't actually think I would do anything to the drunk Field Team Leader. …Probably.
"I'm really not going to do anything. I'm just taking her home…!"