"Could I... have a moment of your time?" the girl before me asked.
"Hm? Sure, I don't mind," I replied with a light nod. I was just looking for something to eat anyway, so I had plenty of time to spare.
"Thank you very much." The girl let out a small, relieved sigh.
I wondered what it was. She had only spoken a few words to me, yet I felt a strange sensation—a sense of nostalgia, perhaps?
"Well then, for now—"
Grumble...
"Ah."
"..."
"...I'm sorry." The girl looked down, her face heating up slightly.
I knew that feeling all too well. I was a famished little caterpillar myself right now (?).
"No, it's fine. I'm hungry too. Why don't we go find something to eat together?"
"...! Yes!" she agreed, nodding vigorously.
A few minutes later, we were sitting across from each other in a shop I’d picked at random. As expected, they served us bread and soup.
"So, it really is just this everywhere, huh?"
"It’s humble, but it’s quite nutritious," the girl said quietly.
"Heh, you’re well-informed."
"No... it’s just... I eat it often."
Whoa, so the people of this country really did live on this? I wondered if the bread was always this rock-hard.
"Oh, right. Can I ask your name?"
"..." There was a brief pause. "...You may call me Nana."
"Got it, Nana." It was a lovely name that suited her cute appearance perfectly. One hundred million points. "I'm Luka. Nice to meet you."
"...Yes, Luka." She repeated my name as if testing the weight of it. "...Just as I thought."
There it was again. "What do you mean by 'just as I thought'?"
When I pressed her, Nana offered a slightly awkward smile. "...It’s nothing."
There was definitely something, but I didn't push it. Everyone has boundaries they don't want others crossing.
"This is a pretty strict country, isn't it?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Yes... that is true," Nana nodded. "This is a sacred land created by the Hero, after all." She paused, her gaze drifting toward the distance. "But... there are some who find it stifling."
"Is that so?" That was unexpected. I’d imagined this was the kind of place where every citizen was perfectly content.
"What do you... think, Luka?"
"Hmm..." I took a sip of my soup. "I just got here, so I don't really know yet. But," I added with a small chuckle, "I'd hate not being able to choose my own food. I’d definitely get tired of nothing but bread and soup eventually."
"...Fufu." For the first time, Nana gave a clear, genuine laugh. "I suppose that is true."
Her smile was innocent, almost pure. But... why did it feel so familiar? It was like looking at someone I’d known my whole life.
We walked through the city together for a little while after that. Nana didn't take the lead, but every time I stopped to look at something, she seemed to brighten up.
"Is that unusual to you?" she asked.
"Not really. We have things like this in the Royal Capital, too. But the atmosphere is different here."
"...The atmosphere," she repeated softly. "Because you are from the outside, Luka."
"I guess that's it," I laughed.
It was then that everything changed.
"—Found you."
The air grew heavy. I turned around to find a man and a woman standing there. One was a blonde youth, the other a girl with pale, light-colored hair. They were just standing there, but I could feel it.
"They look strong..." I muttered. My instincts were screaming at me.
Nana’s shoulders trembled slightly. "...So you've come," she whispered.
"Nanalicia-sama," the blonde youth said tonelessly. "We have come to collect you."
Wait, Nanalicia?
"It is quite problematic when you wander off on your own," the other girl added. "To be without a guard..."
Nana shook her head slightly. "...I was fine. Because... this person was with me." She looked at me for a fleeting moment.
Our eyes met. This was incredibly awkward. I felt a flush of embarrassment creeping up my neck.
But the blonde man’s gaze shifted to me. "...A citizen of the Kingdom?" He was measuring me, his eyes sharp and calculating. Talk about rude.
"...Is there a problem?" I asked.
"No." The man smiled, though his eyes remained cold. "You have my thanks for accompanying the one we must protect."
'The one we must protect,' huh? It seemed I’d managed to stick my nose into something troublesome without even trying. I really outdid myself this time.
"I see." I wasn't going to dig any deeper. Further involvement seemed like a massive headache, and they didn't seem like bad people, exactly. "Well, I’ll be going then. See you, Nana."
"...Yes," she nodded softly. "...Until next time."
That choice of words caught my attention for a second. But before I could think about it, the two guards stepped in.
"Let us go, Nanalicia-sama."
Fitted between the two of them, Nana was led away. As she walked, her back looked... reluctant. Like she didn't want the moment to end.
"Well," I sighed, now alone. "I should probably get back." Everyone was likely worried sick.
"Luka-kun!"
"Lord Luka!"
"Master Luka!"
I got absolutely roasted.
"You're late!"
"Where on earth have you been!?"
"We were so worried!"
The pressure coming from three different directions was intense. Apparently, they’d expected me to be back in ten minutes.
"Sorry, I was just grabbing a bite to eat—"
"By yourself!?"
I apologized profusely. Explaining that I’d been with a girl would only make things more complicated, so I kept my mouth shut about Nana.
"...I'm sorry. I was just really hungry..."
"As long as you're safe, I suppose it's fine," Elysia sighed, rubbing her temples. "But next time, you must—"
"I know, I know. I came back, didn't I? I kept my promise."
Yuka stared at me intently, her expression unreadable. Then, she reached out and squeezed my hand tight.
"Yuka?"
I gave her a small smile, but my mind was elsewhere. Nana... her face was stuck in my head.
"...'Until next time,' huh," I murmured.
The phrase weighed on me, leaving a strange, restless feeling in my chest. Carrying that lingering doubt, I followed the guides toward the Academy.