Let's Not Narrow Our Emotional Distance So Casually 018
"It's been a long time."
"W-wait a minute! I'm still thinking about it! I...!"
"No. That's enough. Didn't you say this was a proposal where I had the choice?"
I had nothing to say.
Iris declared it to the princess before her in a businesslike tone.
"I'll just erase today's proposal from my memory as if I never heard it."
"...Ah."
Evelyn's mouth hung open in a daze.
It would've been better if she'd gotten angry or sneered in disappointment.
'As if I never heard it.'
That consideration—covering up her failure to protect the princess's pride—was the ultimate humiliation for Evelyn.
'I'm... not qualified?'
Did it mean she was a student so far below level that she couldn't even grasp the problem?
Iris wiped the equations from the blackboard and added indifferently,
"Well then, take care on your way back."
It was a dismissal.
Evelyn fled the professor's office.
Standing in the hallway, she leaned against the wall with trembling hands.
Her face burned so hot she could barely stand it.
Shame and defeat wrapped around her entire body.
And at the end of it all lingered one unbelievable question.
"Why?"
She bit her lip.
The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
"This problem I couldn't even touch... that barbarian solved it?"
That idiot, rude guy who wore perfectly fine clothes without any dignity?
"No way..."
She had to confirm it.
What the hell had happened?
"Ah, damn it."
I scratched my head furiously and trudged along.
How the hell does this happen?
No one came here until yesterday, and now it's a hot spot overnight!
I took one look at the rooftop garden swarming with people and immediately U-turned.
'Guess the only place left is the trash heap. And I might even run into the saintess.'
Okay, a bit of exaggeration.
It was precisely the incinerator, but trash heap sells the misery better, right?
"Sigh. It's just for one day, so it'll be fine."
If I had to keep hiding, I'd scout a third spot without the saintess.
But starting tomorrow, I'd have my own private research lab—like a sealed jar for aging hikikomori. Super cozy.
I sniffed the familiar incinerator stench and plopped down on the bench.
Rustle!
"..."
The bushes shook, and familiar furballs popped out one by one.
Brown squirrel. White rabbit. And the shameless sparrow landing on my shoulder.
Yeah, just as I expected. Now for the expedition leader of this jerky squad?
The grand finale.
Pink hair peeked out, meeting my eyes.
Lily flinched and crawled out hesitantly, looking down at me with a lost expression.
"Um... can I sit here?"
"Have a seat. I didn't buy this bench."
"I was worried you'd leave because of me again..."
Tears welled up in her light green eyes.
What kind of faucet is that?
I waved her off in horror.
"I'm not leaving, not leaving. Stop crying like that—it's gross. Makes me look like the bad guy."
"...I'm not crying for that reason."
"I know you're not."
Who wouldn't know?
But that wasn't the point.
Frustrated, I thumped my chest.
"Even if not, look at the picture you're painting. A cute, pretty girl bawling next to a barbarian? What do you think people will say? They'll assume I'm bullying you."
"...Hic, guh!"
Hic!
Lily gasped mid-breath and let out a hiccup.
Her face turned beet red in an instant.
Her eyes darted around in panic.
"P-pretty... cute?"
"Ah, crap. I'm not hitting on you, so don't overreact."
I know she's pretty.
I waved it off and rattled on.
"Just stating facts. You're not the type to get ignored anywhere, right? But if I force it and say you're ugly or average, you'll get all guarded and call that overkill too. So what's the deal?"
She shut her mouth—straight facts.
"So please, just stop. I don't want to get wrongly accused."
"..."
"Got it?"
"Y-yes..."
Lily bowed her head, face red enough to burst.
Then the squirrel nudged me.
Tap tap. Meaning: jerky time if convo's over.
"You're spoiled rotten."
I chuckled and handed out jerky bits to the animals, then gave the biggest piece whole to Lily last.
"...Thank you."
Nom nom.
She takes it and eats without hesitation.
She's surprisingly simple, this one.
Only the sound of the small animal trio and Lily munching jerky filled the air.
Pretty ASMR vibes.
Lily chewed while sneaking glances at me.
She had something to say.
"Spit it out if you have something to say. I'll choke otherwise."
"Um... did you hear the rumor?"
"What rumor? That I've collected three beggar nicknames?"
"No, you already know that."
"..."
This girl?
"I-I didn't mean to bring up something uncomfortable you already know!"
"I know. So don't make me kill you twice—just say it."
"Besides that... the rumor that Kasian is wreaking havoc in Professor Iris's lab."
"Ugh, what bullshit."
Wreaking havoc? Probably the clattering from after I left yesterday got twisted.
'That was her solo show.'
My inner title for her waffled.
Professor felt too formal; my mind kept drifting to wuxia master vibes.
Anyway, couldn't explain the truth.
'The professor tripped from embarrassment.' That'd sound weirder.
I answered in a way that preserved Professor Iris's dignity.
"If it was me, I'd be roasted or an ice statue by now. Can't you see I'm fine?"
"I know. I don't believe it."
Lily nodded.
"I know you're not that kind of person... I just wanted to let you know."
"Wait, why are you so sure it's slander and that I'm not that guy?"
"...Huh?"
"The world's brutal these days. Why trust me? Let's not narrow our emotional distance so casually."
Damn, that startled me.
Why's this clingy fish acting up?
The heroine building unauthorized inner intimacy was no joke.
Lily pouted.
Should just flick that lip every time.
"...What am I supposed to do?"
"Live by knowing your place with some al-jjal-tak-kkal-sen."
"What language is that? Ancient?"
"Nah, abbreviation."
Explaining loses, but for smooth talk...
"Know, well, precisely, cleanly, with sense."
"...How?"
"I do it to you, don't I?"
"...Can't argue, so I'm mad."
"I'll take it as a compliment."
"It's not."
Lily pouted, then beamed and popped the last jerky in her mouth.
...What's so funny?
Seeing that innocent smile, I figured I should tell her not to come anymore.
"Hey, Saintess."
"Yes?"
"I won't be coming here anymore."
"...!"
Lily's chewing stopped.
"W-why?!"
Her voice cracked in urgency.
Yeah. My jerky's that good.
"Got a private lab. Starting tomorrow, I'll hole up there. AC, sofa—the works."
"Private... lab?"
"Yeah."
"Wow..."
Envy dripped from Lily's eyes.
"Lucky... I'd have no regrets if I had one."
"..."
I shut my mouth at that.
Lily with a private lab? Disaster.
She flits everywhere now to dodge the crown prince.
Hand him coordinates? Reject him at the door?
"Yours wouldn't mean much even if you had one."
"Why? I like being alone."
"That's for me to know."
"It's my business?"
"Yeah. Even so. Just pretend it doesn't exist. Better for your safety."
"That's mean..."
But I didn't explain.
Didn't want to show how well I knew her story.
I stared blankly at the sky.
The acrid smell brushed my nose, but lost in thought, it didn't bother me.
A weird dissonance crawled up my head.
'...Is this okay?'
By original plot memory, villainess Elisia should be taking her first step to jealousy incarnate now.
Fixated on the crown prince, she'd finally notice Lily at the end of his gaze.
Start hating Lily like crazy.
That kickoff to the shellfish drama—where Elisia withers like over-dried fermented fish.
Then months later, eyes blazing, she hunts Lily, Crown Prince Louis despises Elisia like a bug, mudslinging ensues.
Elisia tells Louis, 'If I want to see you, I don't need to find you—I just need to find and torment that girl.'
Mmm. Tasty even on rechew.
But reality?
Elisia smiled sweetly watching me farm yesterday.
Where's the drying? Not even semi-dried squid.
Lily?
"Lately."
"Huh?"
"...Never mind."
Swallowed it.
Asking her, 'Elisia giving you shit lately?' Felt off.
And her clinginess hadn't spiked.
So provisional conclusion from unseen states: Elisia's not stirring trouble.
Crown prince? No reason to snap at his fiancée more.
Is this the grim romance I knew?
Plot's derailing— this fine?
Conclusion was simple.
'Such a pain.'
Can't know or do more—what's worrying get me?
Not apocalypse water.
It'll work out.
I turned to look beside me.
Pink cotton-candy head. Wedged between squirrel and rabbit, munching—perfect small animal #4.
Short sitting height made her tiny.
This little thing carries that grim past-life memory.
If me? Pre-future radiation-tea psycho chick shows face, instant PTSD freakout—future be damned.
As reader, heroine's clingy-avoidant vibe was frustrating.
But facing real live human? Gets it.
Heartstrings tugged.
I pulled the remaining jerky pack whole.
Plop.
"Eat it all."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
Lily's eyes widened in surprise.
"Don't want it? Fine."
I fake-snatched it back; she snatched the bag desperately.
"Nooo, I do!! You gave it to me!"
"Sheesh, complaints even when I give."
Lily hugged the bag preciously and peered up.
"...Just wondered why you're suddenly so nice."
Like I was ever mean.
Our heroine talks pretty.
"Just a mood. Eat up and grow big."
Growth plates closed on adult, but whatever.
"...Thank you."
Lily's eyes sparkled, touched.
Another chance to reset distance?
Whatever.
'Now I'm zoning out—don't talk.'
Right then—
Rustle! from bushes.
Again? Who's next?
Incinerator a meeting square now?
"...Eek!"
Lily squeaked like a chick, shrinking behind me.
I clicked my tongue and turned.
Parting bushes: dazzling blonde, blood-red eyes.
Crown Prince Louis's colors, but twintails this time.
Princess Evelyn de Leopold.
But her glare was murder—pure killing intent.
'What the hell's her problem now?'