It was the 20th of the Month of Wood. I stood in the garden of Lilia-san’s mansion under a brilliantly clear sky, my gaze scanning back and forth in anticipation. We were expecting visitors today, and I had been tasked with welcoming them.
The reason I, someone who wasn't even a servant of the Albert estate, was handling the reception was simple: the guests were acquaintances of mine. They really should have been here by now.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, a booming, friendly voice reached my ears.
"Yo! Kaito!"
"Acht!"
Approaching me was a large man nearly two meters tall with blue skin and two horns—Acht, a Blue Ogre I’d befriended at a barbecue Kuro had invited me to a while back. Just as I’d requested, he had come in his human form. He walked toward me with a bright, refreshing grin, waving his hand high.
"Man, sorry about that. I took a wrong turn and ended up running a bit late."
"Don't worry about it. Welcome, Acht."
"Yeah! Oh, right, let me introduce you. This is my partner..."
"I’m Eval, a special variant of the Black Wolf Race—a Silver Wolf. Good to meet you."
A beautiful woman with silver hair stepped out from behind Acht. Her long, voluminous hair was reminiscent of a lion's mane, complemented by large triangular beast ears and a long silver tail peeking out from her waist. She was a beauty who perfectly embodied the image of a beastman. The word "fluffy" instinctively popped into my head.
"I’m Kaito Miyama. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eval-san."
"You can just call me Eva. Like this idiot here, I wasn't exactly raised in high society. Being spoken to so formally makes my skin crawl. I'll be calling you Kaito, too."
"I understand... I mean, I got it."
Whether you'd call it a "big sister" personality or something else, Eva’s temperament seemed remarkably similar to Acht's. She flashed a spirited smile that radiated confidence.
"I couldn't make it to that barbecue the other day... Did my 'stupid husband' do anything weird?"
"...Husband?" I blinked, momentarily stunned.
"Hm? Yeah, I'm talking about Acht over here."
"Wait... Eh? Eeeeehh!? Acht, you're married!?"
"Hey now, Kaito. Why are you so surprised? What exactly did you think of me...?"
Good grief, what a shock. He looked like someone who would have absolutely nothing to do with romance, yet here he was, married to a beauty like this. Normies should just explode... Wait, no, I have Isis-san, so I’m a normie too.
"N-No, sorry. I heard you were partners, but I didn't think you were husband and wife..."
"Hm? Oh, I guess I never mentioned it. We’ve been married for eight hundred years now."
"Sigh... Honestly, why did I end up with an idiot like this?"
"Hey, hey, calling me an idiot over and over is a bit harsh, don't you think?"
"Who was it that drank the special alcohol I was saving?"
"...I'm sorry."
The power dynamic was crystal clear after only a few seconds of conversation. Acht was completely under her thumb. Still, it was proof of how well they got along. I was so caught up in meeting Eva that I almost forgot to ask about the other person who was supposed to be with them.
"...Acht, wasn't Noin-san supposed to come too?"
"Ah... Hey! Noin! How long are you going to keep hiding!?"
"Huh?"
Noin-san was definitely supposed to be part of this visit, but she had been nowhere to be seen. When I asked about her, Acht looked back toward the gate and called her name.
Slowly, from the shadows of the mansion’s front gate, a familiar armored head peeked out.
"I-I can't. My heart isn't ready! Is it not customary for the couple to only meet right before the ceremony?!"
"What kind of nonsense have you been spouting? Come on, get over here."
"Aaaahhh!? Let go of me, Eva-sama! Premarital dating is forbidden! I must keep my body pure until the wedding! B-B-But... if Kaito-san requests it of me, I have no confidence that I can refuse!"
"You're jumping way too far ahead..."
Eva-san sighed as she literally dragged Noin-san out from behind the gate. Even as she was being pulled along, Noin-san continued to mutter things that made absolutely no sense.
"...Hey, Acht. Is Noin-san feeling okay? She seems a little off."
Acht looked at me with an expression of pure disbelief. "...You... Are you serious?"
"Eh?"
"Kaito... a man needs to have some awareness, you know?"
"What?"
For some reason, Acht gave me a pitying look and patted me on the shoulder. What was that about? And what did Noin-san mean about not being able to refuse if I requested something?
Wait, maybe... is it about that time I asked her if she would let me try her miso soup? No, surely not. I only said I’d like to try it if she was comfortable with it; I had no intention of forcing the issue.
Thinking I’d figured out the reason for her panic, I approached Noin-san as Eva brought her over.
"Noin-san."
"Hyah!?" She jumped, her armor clanking.
"You don't have to push yourself. I’m happy to wait patiently. It’s perfectly fine to wait until your heart is ready."
"Ah... Y-Yes. I am so sorry... for being such a spineless woman."
"No, please don't worry about it. I think that modest side of you is one of your most wonderful qualities."
"Heh!? A-Haha... Hauu... Auu..."
Noin-san truly was like a woman from the old days—exceptionally modest. I suppose she felt that even something like sharing her cooking required a high level of intimacy first. She was the ideal of a modest woman, the type who would follow three steps behind a man. It was actually quite charming.
When I shared those thoughts with her, Noin-san’s armor rattled as she lowered her head. I couldn't see her face through the helmet, but she seemed dejected. Being a person with a strong sense of responsibility, she was probably feeling guilty for making me wait.
"...Hey, Acht. Do you think he's saying that seriously?"
"Probably. Actually, definitely. I suspected it after the last time we met, but to think it was this bad..."
"I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for her... All right! I guess I'll have to play matchmaker!"
"Hey, don't do anything unnecessary—"
I caught Acht and Eva whispering to each other before Eva turned her attention back to us.
"Say, Kaito... You think Noin is a good girl, don't you? She’s reliable, she’s a great cook... Don't you think she'd make a fine wife?"
"Wha—!? E-E-E-Eva-sama!? What are you saying all of a sudden!?"
"Eh? Oh, yes. I think Noin-san is a wonderful person. Whoever she marries will be incredibly lucky."
"!? !? !? K-K-K-Kaito-san!? Lucky? S-S-Such a thing... N-No, it’s still too early for that!"
At my response, Noin-san began to shake so violently that the clashing of her metal plates echoed through the garden.
"Noin-san? Are you alright? You’re acting very strange..."
"Your face! K-K-Kaito-san, your face is too close!"
"Maybe you really are sick. I can't see your face with that on, so could you please take off your armor for a moment?"
"T-T-Take it off!? That is, um... I want to satisfy your requests as much as I can, but... the first night should be in a bed!"
"The first night? Um... I don't think we were talking about anything like that. Regardless, please take off the helmet."
"I can't! Doing such a thing in broad daylight... I... I just can't!"
Noin-san was definitely unwell. She wasn't making any sense. There was a real possibility she had a fever or something similar, so I decided I might need to be a little more assertive. I took a step closer and reached for the visor of her helmet.
"Wait, wait, wait! K-K-Kaito-san!?"
"Sorry, I know this is a bit sudden, but I'm taking the helmet off. If you're sick, we need to get you some help."
"Auu... Hauu... Um... P-Please... be gentle..."
"...What?"
As Noin-san whispered those words in a voice so faint it nearly vanished, I tilted my head in confusion once again.
"...These two are a riot, but at this rate, they're never going to get anywhere."
"That's why I told you to stay out of it..."
Dear Mother, Father—Acht came to visit with his wife, Eval. Noin-san came along too, but she’s been acting bizarrely the whole time. To put it simply—something is very wrong with Noin-san.