A Surprise Night Stroll
“What a novel outing.”
“Are we going for a walk?”
“Yeah. A walk.”
Charlotte was suggesting we take a stroll together on this late night.
Back when I still had the urge to talk to her this morning, she had pushed me away.
I wanted to ask right away what had happened to make Shion, Alice, and Charlotte so dejected, but given the mood, asking bluntly felt too blunt.
“Alright. Actually, I’ve always had a hobby of night-strolling.”
I accepted her suggestion without a word.
“Great. Then let’s go right now. I’ve already decided on the entire walking course.”
“You’ve already planned the course? I suppose I’ll have to look forward to it.”
“Yeah. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
I followed Charlotte out of the dormitory.
“So, does that mean we just need to stroll around the garden now?”
“No. First, come inside.”
Charlotte arranged her power and a familiar rift appeared in the air.
“...It’s not like last time, connecting straight to the sky or something, right?”
“I’m not saying that. Don’t you trust me?”
“Haha, I’ve suffered enough from you lately.”
“...So, sorry about that time.”
It was strange. Charlotte would never apologize so meekly. She should have been angry herself, claiming she had suffered more.
“Anyway, hurry inside.”
Nodding at her urging, I crossed the rift.
What greeted my eyes was.
“...Ah.”
It was a truly familiar sight.
A landscape so familiar it should have been ordinary, yet after only a few months I hadn’t seen it, why did it feel so warmly welcoming?
Soft breathing filled the air, the sky was dark, but the street was endlessly bright, filled with the lively chatter of people.
This was Earth.
I never imagined I’d see my real home again like this.
Of course, this Earth might not be the one I was originally from. Maybe even Charlotte’s Earth was different.
But still, the sharp sting in my heart couldn’t be suppressed.
“Well? I said I was looking forward to it, right?”
Charlotte, who had crossed the rift behind me, asked.
“...Truly. It’s the best I’ve ever seen.”
“That remark just now was the first time you sounded completely sincere.”
“Huh? Then I was wrong to think you’ve only been lying to me without meaning it all this time?”
“Ah, no. That’s not it...”
Hmm, truly strange. If it were Charlotte, she should have ignored it or bluntly dismissed it with “You’re right.”
Seeing Charlotte react completely opposite to her usual self, something felt off.
“It’s a joke. So, is our walking course this gloomy alley?”
“No. If we walk this way, we’ll reach a place you know. Come on.”
“I’ll follow you blindly.”
I walked silently behind Charlotte.
After exiting the alley and crossing the crosswalk several times, we reached the place from my memories.
“...I never imagined I’d return here.”
It was the Han River.
Even on this dark night, it was a hot spot where countless people strolled and toured.
And especially a place where many couples were seen.
“It’s definitely perfect as a walking course.”
“Right? I have a bit of sense, after all.”
Standing beside Charlotte, we walked along the Han River.
Was it the boundary between summer and autumn? The cool breeze felt pleasant against my cheeks.
“I’ve made all kinds of memories here on the Han River too.”
Old memories now, but still precious in my heart.
As I continued thinking, I unconsciously turned toward Charlotte and found myself holding my breath.
The Han River rippled calmly, streetlights illuminating the dark path.
And a blonde girl walking slowly against that backdrop.
Admiring her beauty anew, something strange made Charlotte turn to me and say,
“...What’s wrong? Suddenly stopping.”
“Ah, nothing. Let’s keep walking.”
I forced a smile and continued my steps, pretending nothing had happened.
“B-but, wouldn’t people find it strange seeing us?”
I brought it up to change the topic, embarrassed.
“Really?”
“Of course. We’re wearing flashy clothes, and our looks are definitely not something ordinary people would have. Haha, there might even be someone asking for a photo...”
“...Would you mind taking a photo with us once? You’re so pretty...”
Tigers come when called, two women approached Charlotte carefully from the side.
“Yes, of course.”
“Thank you! That photo...”
“Leave it to me!”
Somehow I had become the photographer.
“Thank you~”
“Sure. Take care.”
The two women smiled brightly after receiving the photos and walked away.
“Tigers come when called, I see Charlotte is popular everywhere.”
“Charlotte was a super popular character. This is nothing. You should know since you’re her fan, right?”
“Cough. When did you say that?”
“You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“...Um, could I ask for just one photo?”
At that moment, two young men approached us and handed over their phones.
“Haha, leave it to me. I can take at least one photo...”
“No, not women. Men...”
“Whoa! Hey, did you hear that!? Even the tone is slanted!”
Eh, the situation was going completely different from what I expected.
“Your cosplay was amazing! The acting was flawless! The clothes were unfamiliar...”
“...Cosplay?”
“What? It’s not the slanted-eyed villain from XXX?”
No, actually, it was the slanted-eyed villain character. What should I say?
......Just say yes. I don’t have to explain everything one by one.
“Haha, you have sharp eyes. Taking photos is no problem.”
“Oh...! Thank you. Can you take a photo?”
“Ah, yes. Of course.”
Charlotte received the phone from the young man, and I posed naturally with the two of them for the photo.
“Woo! Thank you!”
“Haha, take care.”
After handing back the phone and greeting them politely, I waved and continued walking.
Charlotte looked at me and giggled.
“They have good taste. It really is the slanted-eyed villain.”
“The actual slanted-eyed villain character is pretty pitiful, though.”
“What does that matter? It’s more fun having small things like this than just wandering blankly.”
“Absolutely. If there were no hardships in life, what’s the fun?”
“That’s right.”
Suddenly Charlotte’s expression twisted, and she began looking at the sky.
Charlotte was acting unlike herself today.
“C-Charlotte. Is there something wrong—?”
Just as I asked cautiously, worried about her.
- Gurgle...
A stomach rumbled from somewhere.
It wasn’t mine, so then...
“Haha, there really is something.”
“I-I just had something to think about, so I skipped dinner.”
Charlotte blushed slightly and said.
“Hmm, I see.”
Listening to her, I glanced around and found a suitable spot.
“Then, shall we have a snack here?”
The place I pointed to was the convenience store.
“...Not a bad idea. But... we don’t have money.”
“Ah, right. We really don’t.”
Wait, with the current country, maybe.
I activated Nature Realm and scanned the surroundings.
And before long I found it.
“Hehe, follow me.”
“When you say things like that, disasters happen.”
Charlotte followed me obediently despite the grumbling.
At the boundary between river and land, in the grassy spot, lay a 50,000-won bill.
“How did you find that...”
“Fufu, that’s a secret.”
From the collaboration of Nature Realm and four-leaf clover.
I moved Tao Power and stuffed the bill into my pocket.
“Let’s go! Today I’m treating!”
“You found money while walking and still putting on airs.”
Charlotte’s face was faintly smiling as she said that.
We visited the convenience store and selected snacks to our liking, placing them on the counter.
Then, as the calculation was proceeding smoothly.
“ID card, please.”
“Yes?”
“You have an ID? Alcohol sales are prohibited to minors.”
Alcohol? I didn’t bring any alcohol.
“Tch.”
I heard Charlotte click her tongue softly.
“...I’ll pay without the alcohol.”
“Yes.”
Ultimately, the alcohol Charlotte secretly brought wasn’t calculated.
Carrying a bag full of snacks, I left the convenience store and told Charlotte.
“Haha, what a shame. Charlotte. Drinking next time...”
“Hmm? I don’t know.”
“What? What does—?”
As I tilted my head, confused, Charlotte gave a meaningful smile and shook her small hands.
In her two hands were two beer bottles.