Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: I Hope That Person Is Happy, But at the Same Time, I Hope They Don't Forget Me
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The night market was more crowded than expected.
Amid the bustling throng, Tail walked right next to Chloe, pressed close.
"There are more people than I thought."
As Tail said that, Chloe wrapped her arm around his.
Because they were in such tight contact, Chloe's chest brushed lightly against his arm.
Tail's face flushed with embarrassment.
"Chloe?"
Chloe mumbled, her cheeks red.
"S-so... so you don't trip."
Chloe's flushed cheeks were strangely tantalizing.
Silence fell.
Tail and Chloe gazed into each other's eyes.
Were Tail's eyes always this beautiful color?
She couldn't tear her gaze away from them, and her heart pounded wildly.
It was beating so loudly she worried Tail might hear it.
At that moment, Tail's face drew slowly closer.
'W-what!'
Chloe's face reddened even more.
Her heart thundered like it might burst.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her ears rang as if going deaf.
The people around faded into the background, like the two of them were the only ones in the world.
Before long, Tail's face was right at Chloe's nose.
She could feel his breath tickling her nostrils.
'Ki... kiss!'
This was a full-on kiss setup!
Chloe squeezed her eyes shut without thinking.
'Alright. So my first kiss is here.'
With this dashing guy, amidst the passing crowd.
'I wonder what it feels like.'
A kiss, that is.
She'd overheard the maids chatting.
'Kissing someone you like is supposed to be ecstatic and thrilling.'
Was it really?
Her heart raced as she awaited Tail's lips—then his voice came from right in front of her.
"Gotcha, you little punk."
Huh? Got what?
Chloe's eyes flew open.
Tail's face was right beside hers.
He had reached out and grabbed a kid's arm.
In the kid's hand dangled a familiar pouch.
"Wha?!"
It was Chloe's money pouch.
Tail gripped the kid's hand tight and bellowed in a rough voice.
"Where do you think you're swiping precious money from?"
At the same time, Tail thought.
'This is the money my patron's paying me for today's fun!'
He'd noticed the kid skulking around earlier, but a pickpocket?
"Tch. Busted?"
The pickpocket kid pouted and shoved Tail's hand with all his might.
"Huh?"
The force was so strong Tail staggered.
Seizing the chaos, the kid melted into the crowd.
"Damn brat. Just you wait till I catch you again."
Tail muttered, brushing off his hands.
Meanwhile, Chloe stood frozen.
"Chloe?"
Tail called, and Chloe turned to him with a deep, self-mocking smile.
But her eyes blazed fiercely.
Like resignation mixed with fury.
'What? What'd I do?'
Seeing her so upset, Tail frantically scanned around.
'Something to cheer Chloe up...'
Then he spotted the dart stall.
"Darts! 3 crowns for 10 throws! Pop all 10 balloons and get cotton candy free!"
Cotton candy!
In this world, cotton candy counted as a rare street food treat.
Street food, yet nearly 20 crowns a pop.
With a commoner's daily wage at 30 crowns, that said everything.
Pricey fare, but since commoners invented it, nobles rarely indulged.
'Chloe's probably never had it.'
This ought to lift her spirits big time.
Tail led Chloe by the arm to the stall.
"I'll give it a shot."
The owner grinned at Tail.
"Ooh, perfect. Why not let the young lady have a go while she waits?"
The owner slyly egged Chloe on.
After a brief hesitation, Chloe nodded.
"Sure. I'll try it too."
Payment first, then the owner handed each ten darts.
"Chuck these at the balloons over there. Pop all ten, and the prize is yours."
Chloe dithered, clearly a darts newbie.
"Tail. You first. I'll copy you."
Tail nodded and took stance.
The balloons were pretty far.
'But doable.'
He'd been decent at darts in his past life, after all.
Tail whipped the dart forward.
Whoosh!
It sliced the air and nailed a balloon dead-on.
Pop!
One down!
"Yes!"
Tail reset immediately.
Tail racked up nine successes after that.
However.
"Uh-oh!"
The last one veered off course and thunked beside the balloon.
'Damn.'
So close to victory.
The owner guffawed from behind.
"Whoops~ Close one~ Young lady, your turn?"
Hesitant Chloe asked the owner.
"Any tips?"
Her obvious beginner vibe drew zero expectations.
So the owner answered casually.
"Tips? Oh! Guy who nabbed the prize earlier said picturing someone you hate and annoying worked wonders."
He chuckled brazenly.
"Wanted to plant it right in that jerk's head. Kidding, obviously?"
Chloe nodded solemnly at his joking tone.
"Annoying person. Annoying person..."
Her gaze fixed on Tail.
"Chloe?"
Tail called, and Chloe beamed, gripping a dart.
"Annoying person."
Her eyes flashed.
Killing intent flickered.
"Yeah. Way too annoying."
She hurled the dart.
Whoosh!
It rocketed forward.
Bang!
Loud pop on the first balloon.
Chloe kept going.
"Why."
Whoosh! Bang!
"Did you."
Whoosh! Pop!
"Come close."
Whoosh! Bang!
"First!"
Whoosh! Bang!
Five already.
The crowd watched slack-jawed as she threw; madness gleamed in Chloe's eyes.
"Earlier!"
Whoosh! Pop!
Sixth.
"You acted like you would!"
Four darts wedged between her fingers.
"Why no kiss?!"
-No kiss!
-No kiss!
Her shout echoed as she rapid-fired the four darts.
Pew-pew-pew-pew!
They slammed into four balloons.
Pop! Pop! Bang! Pop!
All burst.
"Huff. Huff."
Energy drained, Chloe panted.
The dart stall crowd gaped at the spectacle.
The owner blinked, then clapped wildly.
"Incredible!"
The others snapped to and joined in.
"Whoa! Epic!"
"Dart goddess fr?"
Murmurs buzzed.
Chloe grinned, relieved after nailing her first darts.
Moments later, Chloe clutched a massive cotton candy.
"Whoaaa."
Fluffy.
Wobbly.
Unmistakably cloud-shaped, unique.
"Try some."
Chloe's eyes lit up.
"This... is edible?"
What else would it be?
Tail bit back the retort.
Instead, he tore off a piece and held it to her lips.
"Give it a taste. You'll love it."
Chloe parted her lips and took the morsel.
The cloud melted sweetly on her warm tongue.
Instant sugar rush.
"So good!"
Her eyes sparkled.
She plucked another tuft.
"Never had food like this."
"Yeah. Even among street eats, it's pricey. Hard to find."
He'd only heard rumors till now.
"But you're a natural at darts?"
"Nah? Total newbie."
Tail cocked his head.
"Looked pro-level back there."
"Oh. The tip helped."
"Annoying person trick?"
Chloe smiled sweetly.
"Yeah. Annoyingly dear person."
Her eyes deepened.
"Someone I cherish so much, I want their eyes only on me."
Her gaze locked straight on Tail.
"So I hope that person is happy. But at the same time, never forgets me."
Tail listened quietly.
"If."
Moonlight bathed her glowingly.
Chloe looked ethereal, stunningly pure.
She spoke slowly.
"If such a person existed. What would you do, Tail?"