With You By My Side
As long as you're by my side, humid, sweltering summers and chilly, frigid winters. The autumn between them is a fickle season. So, on some autumn night, a sudden downpour isn't all that strange.
Shwaaa— By now, the rain's intensity had ramped up, turning into a torrent outside. It had been a close call. Vita and Carlyle had barely made it into the cabin before it hit like this. A little later, and they'd have been in real trouble.
"...It's really pouring out there."
The pitch-black outside was impossible to see through. Vita felt a pang of worry.
"...We'll be okay, right? Everyone must be worried about us."
Her small voice prompted a reply from behind as the lantern light flickered in and out.
"We're not choosing to stay. We just can't go."
Flick— Flick— By now, the search parties had probably called it off. Not with rain like this.
For a moment, Vita thought: What if I were alone? If I'd still been out there by myself...
If Carlyle hadn't come...
Just imagining it made her dizzy. Having him here was a definite relief. A wave of reassurance washed over her.
As those thoughts swirled, she turned around—
"Oh, whoa..."
The bright light flooding in drew a gasp of admiration from Vita.
"H-how...?!"
The light was fully on now.
"There's always a way."
Carlyle, leaning against the wall, wiped sweat from his forehead with a sigh. A small victory after persistent effort.
"It must've been dead from disuse. I got it working again."
"Ah, I see."
Vita was fascinated.
"But how'd you even know...?"
"Not much I haven't tried."
Carlyle flashed a grin, his expression saying, A real man handles this much.
Vita suddenly recalled her mother's comment from last time.
—Carlyle, that kid. He's got some serious survival skills!
Spot on. She could really feel it now. Maybe she should learn from him in that regard.
Yeah, that's what a man does—handles all sorts of things well...!
Her mood had lifted considerably. Enough to make such resolutions.
Anyway, it was truly a relief.
"There's even a stove here..."
Carlyle was bustling about again.
"But is it okay to use it? Without permission...?"
"That's what it's here for."
As Carlyle said so casually. A fact they'd learned upon entering the cabin together.
[Emergency Evacuation Shelter.]
It was meant for hikers stranded in the mountains. An explanatory sign by the door confirmed it. So there was a stove, mats to lie on. Nothing else—absolutely nothing—but for now, the two were just grateful.
Having the stove was a godsend.
Thud— Thud— Carlyle had apparently dusted off the mats in the meantime.
"Take off your clothes."
"...?"
Vita froze for a second, of course.
"W-why...?"
It came out of nowhere. Here? Her body was soaked through anyway?
"Don't get any funny ideas."
Carlyle chuckled and started undressing himself.
"Even if you wanted to, we couldn't right now."
Vita shot back, naturally.
"W-what nonsense is that?"
Carlyle approached with a smirk, giving her a light flick on the forehead.
Boink— So gentle it wasn't even a proper flick—more like an affectionate nudge.
"No condoms."
Vita got it in an instant. Carlyle Schultz was diligent in the weirdest ways.
"Gotta dry the clothes too. And more importantly..."
As Vita watched quietly, he continued.
"The situation isn't great. Not in a place like this, and you're a bit hurt."
"...Y-yeah."
She'd been the one misreading it. Still, it confirmed he had no ulterior motives. Her face flushed anyway.
Truth be told, she wasn't in the mood for anything like that either. Lately, especially since her identity confusion started ramping up, she'd been avoiding it on purpose.
Whoosh— Inside the cramped cabin, the stove slowly warmed up. Crimson light bathed the space in gentle warmth.
"Come here, Bianca."
Carlyle beckoned from where he sat on the mat. Luckily, her underwear wasn't too soaked, so she could keep it on.
Vita hesitated. It felt embarrassing somehow. Now? After everything? But it really did.
Taking it all off is too much...
Her underwear was a bit damp, but the stove would dry it quick enough. So she decided to just hang her outer clothes and, after a moment's pause, slipped off the yukata.
Crackle— Pop— The stove burned steadily. As Vita undressed, Carlyle's eyes carefully scanned her delicate form.
"W-what...?"
Vita shyly covered herself a bit, but his expression was unexpectedly serious.
"Move your hands."
She had no choice but to comply.
"You've got some scrapes."
His face hardened slightly, even sighing. Fortunately, there was a first-aid kit, but it only had ointment—no bandages or anything.
Carlyle gently took her hand, and Vita awkwardly lay down beside him.
"Ow, ah... it hurts..."
"Does it hurt a lot...?"
It felt so strange. Those rough, large hands applying the ointment so delicately, so tenderly.
"At least you're not hurt worse. Small mercies..."
As he kept applying it, he added,
"Bianca, why can't a girl like you be more careful?"
Vita pouted at that.
"...I might not be a girl."
"Ha, what...?"
Carlyle let out a disbelieving chuckle, then finished with the ointment and lay down beside her. His large hand rested near her navel, pulling her into his arms.
He handled her like fragile glass—delicate, cautious.
"Warm enough, Bianca?"
Referring to the stove's heat. Vita nodded. His low voice rumbled right in her ear, his warmth against her back making her curl up a little.
No awkwardness, even in such close contact. They'd done more than this before. Why had she grown so accustomed to his touch?
Her head naturally came to rest against Carlyle Schultz's chest. She breathed easily.
It just felt... natural.
For a while, no words passed between them.
"...I'm beat, somehow."
"No wonder."
Their bodies were heavy with exhaustion.
How much time passed?
"...You wouldn't get it, Bianca."
His voice sank low as he suddenly spoke. But then he trailed off oddly.
Carlyle Schultz truly... Earlier, how much his heart had plummeted. How his mind had blanked. He couldn't put it into words.
An urgency he'd never comprehended gripped him. By the time he snapped out of it, his feet were already flying.
What incredible luck. Finding Bianca Shama when he did.
...!
That instant of relief—it was the most dramatic emotion in Carlyle's life, short or not.
Indescribable. But there was one thing he needed to tell her first. Better clear up any misunderstandings.
So Carlyle said,
"I didn't choose Emily as my partner."
"H-huh...?"
The abrupt statement caught her off guard. Vita turned to look. No trace of a lie in those golden eyes.
Carlyle spilled everything about Emily, his childhood friend. Their past connection, knowing her feelings, how he'd ended up partnered with her against his will. Even the secret words she'd whispered to him.
[Just look after me this once.]
In the dimly lit room, just the two of them. In the quiet atmosphere, Carlyle got to the point. This was why he'd said all that.
"Emily's just a friend."
A firm declaration. Vita blinked in stunned silence.
"Now you get it?"
Her face heated up inexplicably fast.
"W-why tell me that...?"
A faint, inexplicable relief bloomed. But beyond that, why Emily had gone to her specifically? No clue.
Still, somehow... reassuring.
"Thought you were jealous?"
Carlyle teased with a smirk.
Vita panicked.
"...W-what?"
"Not jealous?"
"Don't be ridiculous all of a sudden..."
Of course she denied it. Then came the bickering.
Jealous? No way.
"I'm telling you, it's not—!"
"Playing hard to get again?"
"Not talking to you anymore."
All while pressed close together. Vita stayed snug in Carlyle's arms.
Suddenly, it hit her. Isn't this weird? Being with Carlyle always felt so comfortable. No awkwardness, conversations just fun. The cabin's mood? It was quiet, dim. The once-dead light flickered faintly, rain pattering outside.
Maybe that's why her persistently off mood all day unraveled so completely. On impulse, Vita asked something strange. Like seeking confirmation.
"Be honest... You actually wanted to partner with Emily, right?"
She just had to ask. Pretty, kind girl. No wonder Vita had crushed on her.
But still... it didn't add up. Even asking playfully, her heart trembled.
Carlyle's silence made it worse.
Thump— Thump— Her heart raced anxiously.
Then the answer came.
"No, not at all. It was you from the start."
The resolute reply left Vita speechless. It felt so genuine, sparking curiosity.
"Um... well..."
She hesitated briefly. Drunk on the cabin's atmosphere? The cramped space filled with faint crimson glow. Held in his arms, feeling each other's warmth. Raindrops drumming like heartbeats.
So Vita asked that question she never would have otherwise.
"Why... you..."
Why do you like me—
"...did you fall for me...?"
It suddenly gnawed at her. Maybe always had. Why had Carlyle Schultz fallen for her?
She'd never properly heard it. And now, time was running out.
The day 'Bianca Shama' turned back into a boy.
"Tell me... the reason...?"
His low voice prompted. She swallowed dryly, nodding from sheer curiosity.
"Hmm..."
Carlyle pondered long, then said playfully,
"Dunno. Me neither."
"What...?"
Vita deflated. Expectations dashed. Teasing me now?
As she huffed and turned away—
"Heh, okay."
Carlyle chuckled, then grew serious, his voice whispering in her ear.
"When I said I don't know... that's the honest truth."
From Carlyle's view, it was the simple reality. Reasons to like Bianca Shama? Plenty.
"Pretty, cute, killer figure..."
"Body's super hot. Sensitive too."
"Eek... what...?"
Her face burned. Even though she'd asked.
So blunt. She cringed.
But... kinda made sense. Bianca Shama was cute and pretty now.
So Carlyle had fallen for her looks. Figures.
"Not done yet."
It continued.
"Personality's surprisingly soft. Sweet side. Sometimes carefree, sometimes feminine."
"M-me?! "
Vita was flustered, but—
"You cook great."
"W-well, yeah, true."
Her pride swelled a bit.
Smart kid, knows a good thing...!
She did cook well. She'd shown it off, and anyone with taste buds would know.
"Put it all together, that's the gist."
His voice deepened. His arms tightened around her from behind.
"R-right...?"
Her heart quickened bit by bit.
So yeah. Vita thought:
If I were a girl for real...
Even if she'd always been one.
If she truly were.
Carlyle's confession might shake her. He wasn't a bad guy, and his feelings were clear.
But then he continued. She'd thought it was over.
Shwaaa— Plip— Rain battered the window. A fierce storm raged outside. The crimson stove light glowed faintly.
Bianca nestled in his arms.
His voice whispered again.
"Look out that window."
Flustered, she did as told, peering into the dark.
What's this about? What did it mean?
"...Can't see a thing."
"Yeah, figured."
Carlyle chuckled shortly.
"Earlier... before I found you in that dark forest..."
That's how his heart felt. Pitch black, nothing visible.
Had he felt this strongly for Bianca Shama? Enough to shock himself.
Maybe even back at the orphanage, his heart had always been like that.
When he heard Bianca was missing, his vision went black.
But now...
Right now, with her here.
Even something darker than that night outside—he felt like he could push through.
"With you by my side, I think it'll be okay."
Like he could conquer anything.
No matter what life threw at him, as long as Bianca Shama was there.
As long as this woman was beside him.
That feeling.
When had she become this important? Carlyle didn't know.
"So, I don't know."
No simple reason or phrase could explain falling for her.
What made her different from other girls? Indescribable.
Just... special. Precious. Even voicing it felt overwhelming.
He trailed off, rubbing his face dryly.
Was this love? He wasn't sure. First time and all.
But it went beyond mere liking—deeper, thicker.
His confession rolled on.
"Being with you is always fun. Heart feels at ease. Stable, you know?"
Vita was speechless.
"......"
She got it. How Carlyle saw her. His raw, bare gaze, right here.
Didn't expect this much. So heavy, so earnest.
Breath caught in her throat.
But she realized something too.
Together: fun, at ease, stable.
Just having that one person nearby.
Her wrecked mood all day, suddenly fine.
No reason, just weird— she'd thought.
But Bianca Shama wasn't that oblivious, hearing this confession.
I... I...
The truth she'd ignored forever.
No, I...
Finally, she faced it.
But no. Couldn't admit it.
She was originally a guy. Absurd.
Still...
"...I like you, Bianca."
"Ah..."
In the end.
Carlyle Schultz's confession crumbled her walls.
The barriers she'd painstakingly built, blocking her perceptions—they fell.
I... this guy...
Not full certainty.
But facing it for the first time.
Vita covered her face with her hands.
Face burning hot, aflame.
Breathing weird.
Couldn't respond.
But he just held her gently.
For some reason, her heart suddenly ached a little.