Chapter 87
Chapter 88
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: I Like Luena
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The fastest solution popped into my head, so I opened my mouth.
"Hey."
"Yeah, what."
"Being only Luena's capture target is just another way of saying I should be her love interest. ...So, wouldn't it be fine to just confess to Luena right now?"
"Hah──?!"
Melissa stared at me in absolute shock.
I tilted my head at her.
Wasn't this the most obvious solution?
If our goals aligned, there was no reason to take the long way around.
Skipping all the events and such—this had to be the simplest and most reliable method, right?
But—
Melissa clearly didn't see it that way.
She scanned me up and down repeatedly before pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Hey.... You were just saying you had no intention of crossing the line of friendship, that you didn't want to toy with Luena's feelings. And yet your own feelings for confessing—"
"I like her."
"...Huh?"
"I'm saying I'll confess because I like her."
I stated it firmly, then waited for Melissa's response.
But the voice that reached my ears wasn't hers.
"Oh my goodness...."
It was Marian.
Marian had both hands over her mouth,
her eyes wide as she stared straight through me.
She looked like she'd witnessed something unbelievable,
or perhaps like an audience member at the climax of an opera.
I met her heavy gaze with my own eyes.
'What, why.'
With Marian's exclamation, the rooftop fell silent.
A brief stillness passed.
Melissa stood frozen, staring at me intently.
Her expression seemed to be weighing whether what I'd just said was true or if she'd misheard.
Her gaze was a bit burdensome, but I stood still and waited.
Soon enough, a long sigh reached my ears, and Melissa slowly opened her mouth.
"......You."
"Yeah."
"So you're saying right now.... Haaaah...."
Another long sigh stretched out.
Melissa took a slow breath.
A moment later, she fixed me with a sharp, accusatory glare and continued.
"You like her? You?"
"Yeah."
"Luena?"
"Yep."
"...I'm losing my mind, seriously."
Melissa pressed a hand to her forehead.
She slowly dragged that hand down her face.
I could sort of understand why.
It was a complete one-eighty, out of nowhere.
Whether it helped her plans or not, confusion would come first.
'Even I'm feeling it right now.'
I like her.
Luena likes me.
And I like Luena.
It was a conclusion I'd reached logically,
but whether my emotions couldn't keep up, or because I was clueless about romance,
I still hadn't fully grasped it.
Someday—
a romance novel I'd read under duress because of Trisha.
I'd only skimmed a bit because it felt weird and then put it down,
but it was hard to put myself on the same level as the lovesick people in that book.
Those characters seemed to live solely for their beloved.
Whereas I—
'...I'm not at that level, am I?'
From what I'd read, falling in love turned you into a fool who tossed reason out the window.
No matter how I thought about it, I wasn't like that.
Luena wasn't my entire world,
and I'd never lost my rationality in front of her.
At least, that's what I believed.
Not like in the books,
I wasn't desperate or frantic,
nor had I ever staked everything just to have her.
I couldn't even imagine myself clinging like that.
'Maybe that's why it doesn't feel real—it's all so hazy.'
But—
I couldn't answer "no" when asked if I liked her.
Separate from my lagging emotions,
my accumulated actions had already drawn their conclusion.
Just like how I'd judged Luena's feelings moments ago.
'Same for me.'
I felt most at ease by Luena's side,
and when she wasn't there, my gaze naturally drifted to where she'd been,
most of my plans and schedules revolved around her.
Being by her side constantly felt natural,
and the constant pickups and drop-offs were routine.
And—
Those pickups and drop-offs...
were only possible because someone kept going back and forth without rest.
At some point, even after I stopped stealing glimpses of her future and heart,
habitually,
as part of my daily life,
I'd wake up and naturally prepare to head to the Eliad estate.
No questions arose, and I'd never even thought it was strange.
Not just me,
but the people around me too.
'Now that I'm aware, it does feel a bit odd.'
Looking back—
Luena was truly a hassle, a nuisance of a girl.
I had to fix things for her one by one,
and sometimes even after I did, she'd cause another mess—the ultimate airhead.
That's why I'd visited her every day to look after that troublesome, annoying girl.
For over a decade.
More than half my life.
If it had been Trisha...
'I'd have kicked her out, parents be damned.'
Well, that gorilla would—
jump the fence, climb the walls, and strangle me.
I think it would've been the same for anyone but Trisha.
Even Melissa or Marian right in front of me.
Or anyone else I'd meet in the future.
I wouldn't have looked after them endlessly like I did Luena.
Honestly, it was annoying plenty of times.
I'd sighed more than once or twice wondering who the hell would ever put up with her.
But—
Only Luena could make even that annoyance feel natural.
Even now.
And it would be that way going forward.
Strangely, in front of Luena...
irritation,
annoyance,
fatigue and frustration.
All dulled so easily, as if they were nothing.
And—
I had no intention of striving to possess her,
but if it would make her happy, I could gladly give her everything I had.
If I could create that happiness for her...
I'd step up without hesitation to play that role.
Just like I always had.
Like right now, facing Marian and Melissa.
I glanced at Melissa.
She couldn't continue for a long while.
Seeming to frantically reorganize her thoughts,
she stayed frozen in the pose of sweeping her hand down her face.
I waited until I got tired and sighed before speaking.
"I'm gonna head out at dawn."
"...Ugh, you really."
Finally looking at me, Melissa clicked her tongue and dropped her hand, shaking her head as she continued.
"...You mean it?"
"Of course."
"No, but. Realizing you like her that fast...."
"Speed is life."
It wasn't wrong.
A slow thief wouldn't survive in the first place.
Melissa looked even more baffled at my perfectly reasonable answer and pressed her forehead again.
I shrugged at her and said,
"Isn't this a win for you guys? You wanted me as Luena's capture target. It's not forced—I'm doing it willingly. Shouldn't you be grateful?"
"No, no—! It's because of your attitude! What the hell—?!"
"What about me."
"No—! How can someone who just realized they like her be so calm?! At least show some agitation or hesitation. That's normal, right—! When I realized I liked Zenon back then—!"
"...Ah, there it is. You do like that Zenon guy, huh?"
The effect was tremendous.
Melissa's face flushed bright red in an instant.
Sweat pouring down.
Her face flushed like mad.
Her gaze had tossed all composure far away.
It was the first time I'd seen her so flustered since knowing her.
'Perfect example.'
I raised one corner of my mouth and watched leisurely.
That must be the textbook image of someone in love from the books.
I'd gotten a great example.
Plus, some prime teasing material to use later.
Maybe my intent to tease pierced through my thick skin.
Melissa flailed her hands frantically and yelled,
"Wh-why bring up Zenon—! We're talking about you right now, you—!"
"I didn't bring him up—you did first."
"Urgh...."
Melissa gritted her teeth, bowed her head, then glared at me again.
Her eyes even seemed a bit misty.
"...You're the worst, really."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Argh, you're pissing me off—!"
Marian giggled from behind.
She shrank back innocently under Melissa's fierce glare.
Melissa clicked her tongue again and sighed before speaking.
"Anyway—! Back to your confession."
"Yeah."
"Honestly, you liking Luena is a plus for us, like you said. But confessing right away, like you think...."
"Why?"
"...Unexpected variables could pop up."
Melissa's voice trailed off.
Variables.
The biggest reason and cause for their repeated regressions.
Situations deviating from predictions had always ruined every plan.
From their perspective, I was
a variable, but one they could control and persuade.
So maybe they wanted to prevent this variable from creating more.
But...
I had no intention of losing control
and remaining their puppet.
I looked down at Melissa a bit irritably.
"So what. Should I just chase after events, stay in line, and play shield well?"
"Hey, I didn't say it like that!"
"How's it different. You're telling me to dance to your plans."
"...Ugh, well, it is kinda that. ...Sorry if it came off that way. But hear me out, Celen."
Melissa paused as if choosing her words, then looked up at me with a completely serious expression, no trace of playfulness.