Darling
The world of Reverse Harem Is Somehow Weird features five Great Relics. There's the Magic-Engineering Floating Core, which basically serves as the power source for Campbell Academy. The Sea God's Blue Pearl, the treasure that forms the basis of the sixth episode. Persona, which lets you manipulate someone's emotions if you stare into their eyes for more than a few seconds. The Akashic Record, said to contain all the knowledge in the universe. And finally, the Wormhole, a pistol made from a meteorite engraved with the Milky Way and stars.
'At a glance, it's obvious that most of these end up in the hands of the male leads…'
What a contextless world-building this is. All five Great Relics falling into the hands of students at one academy? No, actually, the fact that princes, saints, and people with ridiculous backgrounds all gather at the same academy at once is probably the more absurd part. No matter how prestigious it is, it doesn't make sense by any reasonable standard.
'Anyway, the thing we need to steal is one of those relics—the Magic-Engineering Floating Core…'
There was no way taking it would be easy. I'd called Lucia here as help, and while she was certainly a formidable asset, she still fell short when compared to people like Heidi, Nihil, or the saint.
"You said you had something for me to do, right? Anything's fine! Just tell me!"
…Of course I knew that, but she really was reassuring. The way she puffed up with pride at the mere fact that I was going to ask her for something—without even knowing what it was—made me feel strangely guilty, even though I hadn't done anything wrong.
After all, we were about to go steal one of the five Great Relics. I didn't think we'd fail, but it was more than enough to ruin someone's life if things went south. Was it really okay for her to say something so reckless? She was practically begging to get scammed.
"She's completely wrapped around your finger, huh…"
The sigh-laden mutter came from Raul, who was sitting across from me. I wanted to argue with every fiber of my being, but I couldn't. There was no refuting it.
"What, are you jealous?"
I was starting to realize that what this guy showed wasn't an act—it was genuine goodwill. The way he truly cared for me showed in every little action, unlike the old days when he'd only seen me as a tool to mess with Heidi.
'How could I possibly say anything here without feeling embarrassed…'
Whether it was me or Lucia, if things kept going like this, it felt like we were both inevitably going to end up wrapped around each other's fingers. Just looking at Lucia sitting right next to me, if she'd had a tail it probably would've been wagging like crazy.
She wasn't some loyal dog showing infinite devotion to her master, but when she acted like this, it made me feel way too guilty.
"If you're grateful, you could at least call me something a little sweeter!"
And yet, all she wanted was something that simple. Honestly, if I added up everything I'd already received from her—the money to buy Grayson, all those lemon candies—it probably came close to a thousand favors.
'…So maybe this time, I should give her something that could actually count as a gift.'
I didn't think that saying what Lucia wanted to hear would repay even a fraction of the debt I'd already incurred and would continue to incur. Part of me worried that I'd just be toying with her feelings when nothing could come of it. But if I had one small selfish desire, it was this: even though I couldn't be with Lucia…
"…Thank you."
While she kept showing me kindness, I would do my best to make her as happy as possible. Even if it hurt in the end, if she could walk away with only good memories, then that alone would be…
'Crazy. Even I can tell this makes me sound like trash.'
Honestly, I still didn't know how I should treat Lucia. I kept denying it to myself, but the truth was I liked her. The idea of just playing with her heart and then leaving her alone was something I hated too. I still couldn't decide whether to follow cold reason in the name of conviction or to listen to my emotions.
'What a pathetic idiot, trapped in the past and unable to even confess.'
If I were a woman, I'd hate a guy like me. Maybe it was because I kept thinking that way, but lately I'd begun to feel the painful past that had kept me locked in conviction slowly crumbling. Apart from still not knowing whether to choose reason or emotion, the chains binding my heart were coming undone.
"You're grateful, but is that all you have to say?"
The reason was none other than the ridiculously cute golden sun sitting in front of me. Every time I looked at Lucia, I wanted to throw everything away, pull her into my arms, and just feel at ease. Considering how I'd lived until now, keeping my distance was the right thing to do—but now, the thought of her drifting away felt unbearable.
'I keep saying I'll leave, that we can't be together…'
But I'd already fallen. How could I just walk away and let go of my feelings as I pleased? I couldn't even forget a single thing from my past—how was I supposed to shake off someone who'd burrowed so deep into my heart?
I admit it. I don't think I can go on without Lucia anymore. No matter how much I brainwash myself, the desire to stay would only grow stronger with time, never weaker.
'…If it's going to end up like this anyway, then little by little, slowly…'
Maybe if I gradually set down the burdens of the past like this, someday I could live like other people—unshackled by the past, faithful to the present. Maybe I could become someone who could laugh and brush off those old stories.
'And maybe someday, there will come days when Lucia can smile and accept it too.'
Without leaving. Promising each other a future.
I briefly pictured a future where Lucia and I were together, and just imagining it made me feel warm inside.
'Let's hope that someday, it can really happen.'
I resented my own weakness—the fact that I knew exactly how to be happy right now but couldn't bring myself to do it. And so, from now on, I decided I would slowly start conveying my true feelings. I opened my mouth.
"…Darling?"
It was meant to be the first step in repaying her kindness and conveying my heart. But—
"…Eh? Ehh? Ehhhh?"
The moment Lucia heard it, she completely short-circuited.
"Is that a bit much…? Then how about… honey?"
"Uwaaaah?"
I'd wanted her to be a little surprised and laugh it off. I hadn't expected her to freeze solid. If I'd known she'd get this stiff and burdened, I never would've said it. I inwardly cursed myself for thoughtlessly spitting out such irresponsible words.
But strangely, I didn't feel bad at all.
Wh-what did I just hear?
Did he just call me darling? Darling, right? Or maybe he misspoke and meant something like "excuse me, ma'am"…? No, more importantly, how could he say "darling" right in front of his friend like that…!
"Is that a bit much…?"
Jack's voice cut through the whirlwind of fantasies exploding in my head. Hearing the faint sigh in his tone made my heart ache for a second.
'No, it's perfect! Please say it more!' The words surged all the way up my throat, but—
"Then… honey?"
Before I could speak, Jack's next words completely robbed me of any remaining shred of reason. What was this? Was he advertising himself as ready to be devoured? I swear I could almost see a tail wagging behind him. Honey? He called me honey? Wasn't that basically him declaring that I was his now?
'Finally! He's finally fallen!'
When I thought about all the effort I'd poured into seducing this one guy, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Back when I'd dragged him to my dorm, I vaguely remembered telling the other girls, "This one's my man, so hands off!" The pet names he was calling me now felt like a wonderfully belated but perfect response to that declaration.
The thought that this guy was going to be mine for the rest of his life from now on already made me feel giddy…
'…Wait a second.'
Come to think of it, we'd only ever kept things in this vague, ambiguous state. We weren't officially dating, were we? I'd gotten so excited that I hadn't even considered that for a second. The last time he'd said he liked me a little, and now this—both were practically confessions.
'Can't we just naturally start dating like this…?'
I briefly imagined us acting all lovey-dovey, but I quickly shook my head. What if I assumed we were lovers and kept pushing, only for him to think it was just friendly teasing between friends? Even though calling each other "honey" and "darling" had already gone way beyond normal friendship, still…
There was nothing more embarrassing than one-sidedly imagining a romance and then getting rejected, right?
'Or maybe right now…'
Should I just ride this sweet mood and confess on the spot? The thought crossed my mind, but—
'No. It's still a little early.'
I immediately shook my head, rejecting the idea that had just occurred to me. Jack still hadn't completely opened his heart to me. He was only just beginning to crack the door open. It seemed like he'd only recently started paying attention to me, so if I waited just a little longer until he liked me and thought about me as much as I did him…
Yes. The moment he fell for me as hard as I'd fallen for him—that was when I'd confess.
'Of course, by then my feelings will probably be even bigger…'
They say the one who falls in love first loses. But if this was the kind of defeat I was facing, I would welcome it anytime.
'What the heck, I've turned into a total literary girl.'
I'd dressed it up with all sorts of fancy words, but if I were to speak like myself, it would be better to sum it up in one sentence. I usually hated complicated things and didn't tend to think too deeply, but…
'Whenever I think about Jack…'
How should I put it? It was like my emotions became richer and thoughts flowed out on their own. As if I were in the autumn of my heart, turning all poetic and lyrical…
'There I go again, thinking too much.'
I just wanted to feel these emotions fully right now. Even the time I was wasting thinking instead of being in Jack's arms felt precious. I'd organize my worries simply, set them aside for now, and just comfortably snuggle into Jack. Because right now, I loved him so much I couldn't stand not being in his arms any longer.
'Someday I'll make him fall for me completely, and by any means necessary, I'll make him marry me.'
And from now on, just like always, I'd use every trick and method I could to make Jack mine.
"Hehe… daaarling…"
For the day when I'd completely claim Jack—so completely that words like this would come out naturally.
Lucia, fighting today too!