Chapter 81: 'Holy' Ellis's Day (2)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 81: 'Holy' Ellis's Day (2)[R-18]
“Heheh~.”
Evelyn usually got particularly sharp as ‘Ellis’s Day’ drew near, but today she seemed to be in high spirits.
I had a pretty good idea why.
‘...It’s probably because of that important talk.’
Evelyn clearly expected me to confess my feelings... but far from a confession, I was actually planning to reveal that I’d already slept with other women besides her, and that I intended to sleep with even more in the future.
“Heheheh~.”
“....”
The happier Evelyn looked, the stronger the feeling grew that I might actually die this time.
‘...Should I write a will?’
I couldn't help it. If I put myself in her shoes...
‘...Ian, to be honest, I have other men besides you, and I plan on having even more in the future.’
Ah...
Yeah, that’s absolutely not okay.
Forget about a relationship; just imagining Evelyn holding another man’s hand made my insides twist.
“Hey, what should I wear this weekend? Tell me, quick. What makes me look the prettiest?”
“...I told you. You look pretty in anything.”
“Heheh... I know, you bastard.”
“....”
It was painful to look at Evelyn’s smiling face, so I averted my eyes.
‘...Hm?’
The classroom felt unusually crowded today.
‘No, it’s not just a feeling...’
Perhaps because it was the eve of ‘Ellis’s Day,’ there were a ton of kids from other classes here.
SLAM—!!
Suddenly, Evelyn slammed her desk and stood up.
“Whoa, you scared me... What are you doing? It’s embarrassing, sit down...”
“Ahem!! Come to think of it! Ian!! You have that disease where you die if you eat chocolate, right?!!”
Evelyn was spouting total nonsense today, as if she’d eaten something wrong.
“No... what are you talking about? When did I ever—”
“Shut up. Anyway, you’ll die if you eat chocolate.”
“...Yes, ma’am.”
Even if I didn't have a disease, I could feel the look in Evelyn’s eyes suggesting she’d kill me herself if I ate any, so I quietly lowered my head.
SLAM—!!
The sudden noise made Estelle look toward Evelyn.
“Ahem!! Come to think of it! Ian!! You have that condition where you’ll die if you eat chocolate, right?!!”
With that single warning from Evelyn, the gazes of the girls from other classes who had been stealing glances at Ian scattered in an instant.
—Ugh, seriously, how annoying...
—She always says they’re just childhood friends, but then she acts like his girlfriend at times like this...
—Who does she think she is?
A few girls grumbled in voices too low for Evelyn to hear, but...
I knew.
‘...Evelyn.’
If any of them were to sincerely offer Ian chocolate, Evelyn would never stand in their way.
Slowly—
Estelle closed her eyes and recalled the day of the group project presentation a few days ago.
Nothing else had registered in her mind.
‘Yeah, I’m asking you on a date. ...I have something important to tell you, too.’
Only Ian’s confession toward Evelyn remained etched in her memory.
“...Thank you for saying that. I’ll be going now.”
I had left the two of them while desperately forcing a smile.
—Creak, creak—
‘I shouldn't be sad... I shouldn't be sad...’
To Ian, I was merely a classmate and the Library Club President.
Therefore, I didn't even have the right to be sad.
“Sigh...”
I finally let out a sigh after pushing my wheelchair for quite a while.
In this place where people were scarce, I felt like I could finally sort through my emotions.
Tap, tap, tap—
I bit my lip at the sound of someone running up behind me.
‘...Why now, of all times!’
It happened occasionally. When I was in secluded spots, idiots who held a grudge against me would sometimes charge at me.
But the timing was terrible.
...Because right now, I didn't think I could handle things ‘moderately.’
“Whew... Finally found you. Estelle.”
“...E-Evelyn?”
My body trembled at the fact that the person who had chased after me was Evelyn.
I was afraid.
Afraid that I might hurt Evelyn...
And afraid that, because of that, I would be hated by Ian.
‘...Don’t come any closer.’
Please...
Step, step—
Despite my desperate prayers, Evelyn did not stop.
‘...Ah.’
It was painful, but I could understand why Evelyn would harbor resentment toward me.
The two of them were about to become a real couple.
She must have hated the sight of someone like me lingering near Ian.
That was why I had already resolved not to approach Ian anymore...
Stop—
“Estelle.”
“....”
Evelyn, who had finally approached within arm's reach, opened her mouth.
“You’re going to eat lunch, right?”
“.......What?”
“Huh? I asked if you’re going to eat lunch.”
“...No. Like I said earlier, I’m not feeling well and I’m not hungry...”
Grumble—
My stomach, which usually never made a sound, chose today of all days to growl loudly.
“Ha, lying about something like this... You really are just like Ian used to be...”
“...What?”
“Why do you keep asking back when you clearly heard me? I said you and the old Ian are alike. Here. Take this. Let’s eat in that empty classroom over there.”
Evelyn handed me a lunchbox.
It was the same lunchbox she always shared with Ian.
“...Why?”
It wasn't a question about the lunchbox.
Why are you being so kind to me?
Since she had followed me all the way here, it was certain. No matter how much I tried to hide my feelings, Evelyn had already noticed.
So why, instead of slapping me and telling me to stay away from Ian, was she being so kind?
“Why? Because you’re hungry. Let’s eat.”
“...You know that’s not what I’m asking.”
“Sigh... You’re even alike in that regard.”
Evelyn said as she opened the door to the empty classroom and spread out the lunchbox.
“I know. But even if I know, what can I do? If the human heart moved exactly how you wanted it to, it wouldn't be a heart. Besides, that oblivious bastard can afford to skip a meal.”
“....”
I felt disgusted with myself.
I used to think people who treated others with prejudice were disgusting, but I was no different.
Clinging to my own prejudices, I had been judging the innocent Evelyn however I pleased.
“...Oh, but don't get the wrong idea, Estelle.”
Evelyn said, her sapphire-blue eyes sparkling.
“I’m not saying I’m going to step aside. No matter who the opponent is, I’m never letting him go.”
“......Don't worry. I’ve never once thought about taking him, nor have I ever thought I had the right to.”
“Whatever... Hey, do you have any idea how many girls I’ve watched swarm around that guy while staying by his side? ...The bastard should’ve been moderately handsome, but he’s just so selfishly good-looking.... That son of a bitch.”
“....”
Ian was handsome.
That was something I absolutely had to agree with.
“Well, even so, 90% of the girls who fall for Ian give up within a week.”
“...Why?”
“Because of me. Honestly, I’m pretty, aren't I?”
“....”
Munch, munch— Gulp—
Evelyn, having said something I once again had to agree with, swallowed a piece of grilled eel.
“The girls who were just testing the waters give up simply because a pretty childhood friend like me is always by his side.”
“...What about the other 10%?”
“Those are the ones who think they’ve got the looks. The ones who delude themselves into thinking they can somehow seduce Ian even if I’m around.”
“....”
“They usually drop off within a month, too. That guy is just so incredibly oblivious... No matter how much they appeal to him, it doesn't work, so they eventually turn away thinking, ‘Ah~ I guess I got dumped~.’”
Was she talking about me?
But I had never thrown myself at Ian, nor did I think I had the looks.
“And Estelle, it’s not 10%, it’s 9.9%.”
“...?”
“The last 0.1% are women like you, who just love the person named ‘Ian.’”
“....”
“To be honest, it pisses me off... but what can I do when you say you love him to death? Should I go pick a fight? Or beg? Beg you not to take Ian from me? I can't do that.”
“....”
“Sigh... Well, I say all this, but if it actually looked like I was going to lose Ian right in front of my eyes, I might actually do those things... But for now, I just choose to believe that Ian will choose me.”
“.....I, I’m... not that much...”
“You don't love him to death? What would you do if Ian died right this second? I’d die right along with him.”
Evelyn spoke as if it were nothing, which made it feel all the more sincere.
Because to Evelyn, the idea of dying with Ian if he died felt perfectly natural.
‘...Ian dying?’
Just the thought of it made my blood run cold.
It was something that must never happen...
But if such a thing were to occur, I would first find every single person responsible for his death and kill them all.
And then...
Snap!
The sound of a finger snapping brought me back to reality.
“See? The fact that you’re taking this so seriously proves you’re part of that 0.1%. Usually, people take it as a joke and laugh it off, or they get scared and back away.”
“...Why, why are you telling me this! This is....!!”
By forcing me to face the emotions I had been trying so hard to suppress...
It felt as if she were telling me not to give up on Ian.
“Sigh... I wonder why myself.”
Evelyn let out a deep sigh and pouted.
“I know this is a really stupid thing to do, okay? I know... I know, but.... Sigh, I just can't leave you alone... ....Agh!! I’m already starting to regret this!!”
“......Evelyn.”
“Hmph! Don't get the wrong idea! I’ll say it again: no matter what you do, I have no intention of handing Ian over, okay? I only came because I was worried! ....Sigh, but seriously, why am I so worried? Is it really because you remind me of Ian when he was a kid?”
“...What was Ian like when he was a kid?”
Actually, I’d been curious about that for a while.
Just what was Ian like as a child that she would say we were alike?
“Heheh!”
Evelyn let out her characteristic laugh.
“You’re curious, aren't you~? But I’m not telling~.”
“....”
“It’s a secret between me and Ian. Think of it as a ‘childhood friend privilege.’ I’ve been that guy’s childhood friend for fifteen years; I should at least have something like this. Hey, more importantly, eat your food. Lunch is almost over.”
“....Ah, right. Okay. I’ll enjoy the lunch.”
“Yeah, eat up. But.... huh? What’s up with that elf? Is she walking in the sky???”
“....”
As if giving me space to eat comfortably, Evelyn moved toward the window while saying something nonsensical.
Slowly—
“AAAH~! I! CAN’T! WAIT! FOR! OUR! DATE! THIS! WEEKEND!”
“Don't say it so loudly, Evelyn....”
When I opened my eyes again, I saw Evelyn still marking her territory.
‘...Thank you.’
Watching her, I felt a deep sense of gratitude in my heart.
‘...Thank you for letting me love Ian.’
I knew it couldn't have been an easy choice.
Even I, who had no right, felt pained just seeing Ian and Evelyn getting along so well.
How much more so for Evelyn, who had been by Ian’s side the longest?
The duration of love does not determine its magnitude, but there was no doubt that she had suffered as much as she had loved.
‘...But don't worry.’
I will not let Evelyn regret her kindness because of me.
By handing him a macaron filled with all my emotions for the first and last time...
I have decided to end my love tomorrow.