This is Why I Like You -2-

I knew next to nothing about Hanna Histania. What she liked. What she hated. Her hobbies. Nothing.

The favorability window told me some things, but there was a world of difference between reading words on a screen and experiencing it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠firsthand. And since she wasn't a character from the novel, I knew far less about her compared to Yuria or Mikhail. The only mentions in the story were Rowen's nostalgic flashbacks about his youngest daughter. That was it—no other references.

All I knew was that she was the youngest daughter of the swordmaster family Histania... and that she'd died young.

-She seems really awkward...? I hadn't realized she was this shy, either.-Right...? It doesn't suit her, does it?

I also hadn't known she was a beauty who could rival Yuria. Of course, not quite on the level of my lady, but it was undeniable that she was as lovely as a violet in full bloom.

As usual, I headed to the meeting spot thirty minutes early and spotted a girl pacing in front of the bench.

"Haa..."

"Uwaaaah!"

"Get it together, Hanna Histania! The book said confident women snag hot guys!"

Whatever had her so tense, the brown-haired girl was clutching her chest, taking deep breaths, and circling the bench like a top.

"Okay...! Okay...!"

I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the sight of Hanna swinging back like a pendulum. I walked over slowly.

"Why are you out here so early... Hanna?"

"Kyaaak...! When did you get here?!"

"Since you were playing solo tag around the bench?"

Hanna's face turned tomato-red. Stammering, 'Y-you saw me from then?!' she let out a 'Kyaaaaah!' and slapped her hands over her face.

I added, watching her, "I was about to ask to join in. Too bad."

"Don't talk to me... I'm a corpse who died of embarrassment starting today."

"I'll revive you, so it's fine."

Hanna stomped her feet and yelled, "Agh! Stop teasing me...!" as she punched my chest with her fists.

She really was a swordswoman, huh.

-Thud thud...! Those punches packed a wallop.

Hanna kept her hands over her face for a good ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠while. Finally, her blush fading a bit, she peeked out slowly, brushing her fallen hair behind her ear. I smiled and stared right at her.

The moment I got a proper look at her face—something I'd never really done before—I forgot how to speak. It felt like my breath had stopped.

I was more shocked than when I'd seen my lady's disastrous makeup attempt. Not the "cute but funny" kind of shock, but the opposite.

Hanna was stunning.

She'd dolled herself up. Not in some frilly dress or flashy gown, but everyday clothes you might see around here. The special thing? They were styles you wouldn't find in this world.

I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thought my own cleaned-up uniform looked decent, but Hanna had outdone me completely. Subtle makeup. A short leather skirt hitting mid-thigh. A white sweater hugging her figure and a leather jacket. She looked straight out of the modern world—like an idol, no question.

Or maybe even fresher, more vibrant. I just stood there, dumbfounded, staring.

"Um... Mr. Butler?"

Hanna fidgeted with her fingers, looking up at me. Sensing something off in my sudden silence, she couldn't stay still.

"Do I look really weird?"

Her shy expression made me want to blurt out you're pretty, but the words stuck. She pulled it off too well.

I was surprised she'd come out so early, and doubly so by her transformed look.

"I've never worn anything like this before..."

"What do I do? I must look so weird..."

Her trembling eyes fixed on me as she muttered to herself, at a total loss. She looked ready to bolt back to the dorm and change, so I grabbed her wrist and shook my head.

"Where are you going?"

"W-well, my outfit feels too weird."

"No..."

"It's really weird, right? I've never dressed up before..."

I shook my head firmly.

"You're too pretty."

"Huh?"

Hanna jerked her head up like a broken doll. Timidly lifting her head—which she'd kept bowed from lack of confidence—she widened her eyes. Smiling, I said,

"You were so beautiful, I lost my words."

"What even... I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠such an idiot, I'll actually believe you if you say it like that."

Blushing, she shook her head. Like a shy elementary kid, she wiggled the hand I'd grabbed like a rattle.

Holding her wrist tight, I shared my honest impression, a trembling smile on my lips.

"Really..."

"You're beautiful."

After a simple lunch, Hanna and I headed to the theater for the dancer's performance.

"Whoa... so many people?"

Hanna's voice trembled as she eyed the packed crowd.

So many people.

I nodded emphatically. "Yeah. First time realizing Hamel had this many folks. More than the line at Forest Friend, even."

The dancer's show had drawn a huge crowd. The empire's top dancer visiting the boonies must've been a big draw for locals.

Hanna stared at them, then blankly at my empty hand. Her eyes flicked to my big palm, like she had something to say. Tilting my head, I asked,

"Something on my hand?"

"Huh?!"

"You've been staring at it."

"Oh..."

Fidgeting, she shook her head with a disappointed tone. "Nothing..."

Downcast, she hung her head. I smiled faintly and took her hand.

"Eh...?"

Startled by the sudden warmth, Hanna stared blankly at me. Her face showed pure confusion, so with a soft smile, I murmured,

"Too many people. Don't want to lose you."

I kept my eyes forward, so I couldn't see her face. What if she hated it? But better than getting separated.

Just in case, I added, "If it's uncomfortable, you can let go."

"N-no! It's fine!"

"Yeah?"

Grinning, I glanced at her. "Uh... um..." She gawked at our joined hands, looking adorably dumbstruck. Smiling, I led her toward the theater, and she followed, gripping tight.

What was it? Fluffy? Squishy? Our first meeting had been a disaster, but things had warmed up like spring breeze ever since.

She must've been shocked when I used Ruin's head as a mop, but she hadn't run away—instead, she'd approached. I was grateful.

Without Hanna, I'd be scrambling to pay debts, maybe even kicked out with my lady into some dingy single room, living in misery.

Thanks to her, I met Malik. Thanks to her, my lady made a friend. Thanks to her, I got a friend.

To me, Hanna was a benefactor. Whether she saw her own "nothing" as saving me, I meant it from the heart.

Even if...

"Hoo... my heart's gonna explode..."

...she was starting to pick up my habits. But even that was just cute.

A master cherishing their disciple was natural, and Hanna really was cute.

Smiling softly, I squeezed her hand. Her fingers wiggled shyly in my palm. I held tighter.

"Sounds fun, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Can't wait."

"Me too, I wanna..."

She stared at me, then bashfully looked down. "What was that?"

"Just... wanna keep doing this with you, Mr. Butler."

"I am pretty handsome."

"..."

Blushing, she said, "Yeah."

We let go once seated in the audience.

And—

-Hm... A familiar guy's face. I burst out laughing.

"No way, pfft—Boss!"

"Oppa!"

-Shh.

The empire's greatest dancer. No one would've guessed the fox-masked performer was a man, let alone called him a woman.

Hanna facepalmed watching Malik dance passionately on stage, while I laughed and enjoyed the guy's moves.

"So this was your 'busy' thing...?"

-Spin spin~!

He was seriously good. No matter how you sliced it, this novel's real protagonist had to be Malik.