Hidden Love
Maybe it was just the size of the place, but Café City didn't have nearly as many spots worth wandering as Athens. There were a few people on the streets, sure, but of all the cities I'd seen, this one had the fewest.
Maybe that was why it had a flavor all its own. Where every other city had been loud and lively, this one felt quiet—almost sentimental.
Even the street musicians you saw everywhere else were scarce here. The few who did turn up played soft, gentle melodies that suited the mood far better than anything upbeat.
"This kind of atmosphere isn't bad either."
"...Does the Hero prefer quiet places~?"
The Saint's voice had loosened a little, but there was still something unfamiliar hanging between us.
Awkward! This is so awkward! You're not this well-behaved, damn it!!!
"...I like lively places too. But this isn't bad, is it?"
"...No. You're right."
Whether the aftereffects still hadn't fully worn off, every so often she went quiet like this.
...I still don't get why she even has aftereffects.
"Ah—Saint."
She tipped her head toward me at the sound of her name. Those bright amber eyes settled on mine.
"Yes, Hero?"
"Want some of that?"
I pointed at a street stall. She glanced over, then shook her head.
"I'm not hungry right now."
"Ah... okay."
...Chloe's eyes always lit up the second I suggested food. This feels completely different.
"...But if you're buying, I'll eat some."
"Uh... of course. My treat."
Not that it means much when we share the same money pouch... What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine.
Still, it wasn't the kind of moment for quibbling over that. I pulled out my coin purse.
"Ma'am, how does this work?"
"Welcome. Looking to try some?"
What I'd asked about were fruit skewers—chunks of fruit stacked on sticks in every color, looking delicious.
"Yes. Two, please."
"Five hundred gold each. A thousand gold for the pair."
I fished out a single thousand-gold coin and handed it over. The shopkeeper thanked me and passed me two skewers.
"Saint."
I held one out. She took it and bit into the fruit at the very top.
"...It's good♡"
"Yeah? Let me try..."
Is this kiwi...? It looks like kiwi, but why is it blue.
...Looks poisonous.
I took a bite. A bright, clean freshness spread through my mouth—sweetness balanced with just the right touch of tart.
"Oh. You're right."
Skewers in hand, the Saint and I started walking again. Following the street, I noticed people coming and going along a dirt path that branched off the paved road.
What's over there?
"Hmm. Want to check that out? Looks like something's there."
"Anywhere is fine with me."
"Alright. Let's go, then."
I led her up the dirt path with the other people. After a short climb up the gentle slope, a wide field opened out before us.
"...Whoa."
Rows upon rows of smallish trees stood packed together, every one of them heavy with yellow blossoms. This wasn't a natural grove. Nature didn't line up a single species of tree this neatly on its own.
Must be one of Café City's tourist spots. Way bigger than the daisy field back in this body's hometown village.
Pretty flowers. The scent's nice, too.
"Saint, there are so many flowers."
"...There... are."
Huh? That reaction's weird.
"Saint, what's wrong? You're not feeling sick, are you?"
"Ah—no. It's nothing like that..."
"By the way, Saint, do you know what these flowers are called? I'm curious."
Yellow flowers on trees... the only thing I know is forsythia. But these trees are way too big for that...
"...Acacia."
So she knew what they were. But weren't acacias the ones with white flowers?
"Acacias look like this?"
"...Yes."
"Then what about those other ones? The white ones that also grow on trees..."
"...You mean black locust? People also call it false acacia, so it's easy to mix them up."
"Ah."
Different species, then?
She sure knows a lot, though. Looks like monsters aren't the only thing the Saint's an expert on.
"Anyway, they're beautiful. Flowers like these usually have interesting meanings, don't they?"
"...Want me to tell you?"
She knows the flower language too? So we've got a walking monster encyclopedia and plant encyclopedia rolled into one.
"What is it?"
"There are a few meanings, but the one people use most often is..."
For some reason she trailed off, dipping her head a little. Had she suddenly forgotten? Well, she was human. It happened.
I waited patiently for her answer—and then her face went bright red.
"...?"
I blinked, thrown. Why was she blushing all of a sudden?
The Saint lifted her eyes just enough to look at me.
"...Hidden love."
"Sorry?"
"That's the flower language."
...Hidden... love?
"Ah... that's a pretty meaning. Like a secret crush?"
She nodded without a word. Then she dropped her gaze again, and I sucked in a sharp breath before I could stop myself.
...Why. Why that reaction.
Hidden love. The words kept circling through my head. For some reason, I felt dizzy.
The air between us had gone strange, so I cleared my throat and forced a change of subject.
"...Ahem! Anyway, the scent is wonderful. And the flower field is gorgeous. Don't you think?"
"......Hero."
Those amber eyes, bright as gemstones, locked onto mine.
I couldn't read them. Even staring straight into them, I couldn't tell what was in her gaze.
It wasn't the usual mischief. It wasn't the look she wore when she gave serious advice. It wasn't the one she had when she worried about me.
It was completely unfamiliar—the kind of look that made me wonder if she had ever looked at me this way before.
And what lived inside that gaze was...
I swallowed hard. The sound of it was loud in my own ears. I was tense without meaning to be.
"...Hero."
She called me again. I scrambled to answer.
"...Y-Yes?"
"...Why are you getting all nervous like an idiot~♡ Don't tell me you thought I was about to say I like you~?"
The Saint flashed that signature cocky little smile, eyes curving into crescents.
...Haa. Stop scaring me like that.
"...Yeah."
"I guess I jumped to conclusions."
Our voices came out at almost the same time. The fact that she'd answered so fast probably meant I really had misunderstood.
"Ah, of course... sorry. Did I make you uncomfortable?"
"What?... N-No, that's not..."
She started to speak, then stopped.
...That's not it?
I waited quietly for whatever came next. A brief silence stretched between us, and then her lips parted carefully.
"...Seriously~♡ You really need to keep the wild assumptions in check♡ This is exactly why virgins are hopeless~♡"
"Haha..."
She teased me with a smiling squint, just like always.
"Why would I like the Hero~♡"
"...Right?"
I laughed awkwardly and played along—but something still snagged at the edge of my thoughts, leaving my head a mess.
...She is just teasing me... right?
"Ah, sorry to keep you waiting."
Celine, back from the Ludria Church branch, greeted Abel and Estelle where they waited in the square. As she approached, Abel welcomed her.
"You're back. Everything go alright?"
Seeing him worry about her right away, Celine nodded to put him at ease.
"No problems at all. The Church gave its permission without any fuss."
"Oh, really? That's surprising. Is that normal?"
"You put on quite the performance this time, Hero. I think that's why they agreed so easily."
"...Ah."
Whatever the process had been, it was Abel who had driven a blade through an Amon-class monster's heart. The Ludria Church had taken that feat—and his potential—seriously enough to overlook Celine leaving Revius, and to gladly approve her traveling with Abel.
"It's thanks to you, Hero. Truly—thank you."
"Don't mention it. I didn't do anything special. I just did what any Hero would... what someone like Elfride would have done."
Celine glanced between Abel and Estelle. The current running between the two of them had shifted a little. Had something happened while she was gone?
...Well. That's good news for Saint Estelle.
The bigger change wasn't in Estelle. Estelle was the same as ever—fumbling and flustered, unable to say what she felt even with the person she loved standing right beside her. That was classic her.
What had altered the air between them was Abel. He was deliberately trying not to look at Estelle.
Noticing that, Celine smiled to herself.
"...At this rate, it won't be long."
"Hm?"
"Nothing. So what were you two up to?"
"Ah... we just walked around the streets a bit. Sitting still felt weird."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
Celine shifted her gaze to Estelle. Estelle felt it, met her eyes for a second—then whipped her head away.
She couldn't hold that look. It was the kind that asked, So? How did the date go? Celine shook her head.
Looks like our bashful little Saint struck out again.
Estelle was clearly going to need drastic measures. Left alone, that timid, blushing Saint wouldn't work up the courage—she'd just sit there while someone else walked off with the feast right under her nose.
Celine drifted closer. Estelle startled a little and looked up at her.
"...Celine?"
"Saint."
Celine leaned down slightly toward Estelle, who was shorter than her, and whispered in a voice laced with mischief.
"If you keep putting it off, I might snatch him myself?"
"...Eh? ...What!?"
"Consider yourself warned."
Celine gave a soft snort of laughter. Without a push like this, Estelle would never find her nerve. Fine—she'd play the villain.
Estelle couldn't hide her fluster.
"C-Celine, what do you mean snatch him. You don't even particularly care about the Hero..."
"Isn't the Hero plenty attractive?"
"What?"
"He's handsome. He's strong enough now that he can call himself a Hero without flinching. And he's a decent person on top of that... men like that don't grow on trees, you know?"
"Then does that mean Celine likes the Hero too, or..."
"Ah—not quite yet. I'm saying I have a favorable impression. So..."
Celine smiled, a little wicked around the edges.
"Claim him properly before I change my mind?"
"...Hic."
Estelle looked almost adorably panicked.
Meanwhile, watching the two of them whisper among themselves, Abel thought:
...Why am I the only one left out of this conversation.
He was feeling distinctly excluded.