After accepting Sieg-san’s confession, we had officially become a couple.
This didn’t mean our dynamic changed overnight. After finishing our tea and chatting for a while longer, I stood up so we could resume our stroll through the forest.
Up until then, Sieg-san had walked ahead while I followed, but now we walked side-by-side.
With the distance between us closed, a faint, pleasant citrus scent wafted from her. Was it perfume? It was a refreshing, gentle fragrance that felt very much like her. Now that I’d begun to see her as a woman, the scent made my heart pound intensely.
We walked like that for a while until her hand suddenly brushed against mine. Then, slowly, she took hold of my hand.
“...Eh?”
“T-This much is... w-we are a couple now, after all...”
“Y-Yes!”
Her hand was surprisingly soft. Perhaps because my body temperature was a bit higher, hers felt slightly cool against mine. Her small hand fit perfectly inside my palm. It was a lovely feeling, one that made me truly realize Sieg-san was a woman.
“...This is nice, somehow. Doing this...”
“...You mean holding hands?”
“That, too... but it’s more about walking by Kaito-san’s side like this. It makes it feel real—that you’re truly close to me.”
“...Sieg-san.”
Hearing her murmur those words with blushing cheeks and a happy expression, I squeezed her hand a little louder. Our feelings were perfectly in sync; Sieg-san squeezed back just as firmly.
It wasn’t a sharp, burning nervousness, but rather the kind where your body temperature slowly rises degree by degree. With every step we took, the happiness of being with her grew stronger.
Between my nap and the confession, we had resumed our walk much later than intended. By the time the sky took on a reddish hue, I was surprised to realize how much time had passed.
I felt a lingering regret, wishing I could have enjoyed our walk a bit longer, but she suggested we head back. The forest grew dark quickly, and she was worried I might trip or fall. I nodded in agreement.
As soon as we returned to the streets of Rigforresia, we let go of each other’s hands out of embarrassment. When we reached Rei-san and Fia-san’s house, it seemed they were already in the middle of preparing dinner.
Rei-san and Fia-san greeted our return with smiles. Was it just my imagination, or did they both look like they were having the time of their lives?
Since dinner was still a little ways off, they suggested I take a bath first to wash up.
As usual, Rei-san tried to strongly recommend a mixed bath with Sieg-san, and as usual, Sieg-san punched him across the room. I took advantage of her kindness—she insisted the guest should go first—and headed to the bath.
The tub in their home reminded me of a Japanese cypress bath. The scent of the wood was soothing, melting away the fatigue in my body. The luxurious, sprawling baths at Lilia-san’s mansion were nice, but a familiar, cozy size like this was wonderful too.
After I finished, Sieg-san took her turn. Once we were both clean, we gathered in the dining hall for dinner.
Fia-san had prepared a beautiful dish arranged like a large, blooming flower. On closer inspection, it was made of vegetables and thinly sliced meat, resembling a carpaccio. However, the scale was enormous, and it used so many different varieties of ingredients that it felt incredibly extravagant.
“...What a stunning dish.”
“Isn’t it? It’s called the Flower of Rigforresia—a local specialty of this region,” Fia-san explained.
“...Wha... Wha...?”
“Sieg-san?”
While I was admiring the beauty of the dish, Sieg-san turned bright red, staring at the table as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.
I tilted my head, wondering what was wrong, but she was too stunned to hear me. She slowly turned her gaze toward Fia-san and whispered, “...W-Why? W-When did you...?”
“Eh? When did we what? Right, Rei?”
“Haha! How many years do you think we’ve been your parents, Sieg? I knew the second I saw your faces when you walked through the door.”
“~~!?!?”
As Sieg-san stood there dazed, Rei-san and Fia-san replied with perfectly innocent expressions.
“...Um, what’s going on?” I asked.
“Oh, that’s right! Miyama-kun doesn't know. The Flower of Rigforresia is a dish we only serve in this city for very specific celebrations.”
“A celebration?”
“That’s right. A celebration for you and Sieg,” Rei-san added with a grin.
“Wha!?”
I froze as they beamed at me. Wait a second... does that mean they already know we’re dating? That was fast! It only happened a few hours ago, and we’d made sure to stop holding hands before entering the city. I suppose I shouldn’t have underestimated her parents; they picked up on the change in Sieg-san instantly.
As I felt my own face heating up, Sieg-san’s shoulders began to tremble. Her blush spread all the way to the tips of her ears.
“...Just because we are... T-This dish... this is what people eat for a wedding celebration!”
“Whaaaaaaa!?” I shouted, mirroring her shock.
A wedding!? No matter how you looked at it, they were jumping the gun. This was incredibly embarrassing...
“Hmm? What’s the problem? You’re going to get married eventually, aren’t you?”
“Wh-What!? I mean, th-that’s...”
“Or does our little Sieg-chan think there’s a chance she’ll break up with Miyama-kun?” Fia-san teased.
“That’s... well... it’s... impossible... but still...”
“”Then there’s no problem!”” the parents chirped in unison.
“...U-Uuugh.”
Utterly defeated by their logic, Sieg-san slumped down, covering her face with both hands. Her face was so red I half-expected steam to start rising from her head.
I certainly had no intention of ever breaking up with her, but I understood exactly why she was so mortified. Having your parents be this shamelessly supportive is enough to make anyone want to crawl into a hole. I had to tell myself to stay composed; I couldn’t let myself think about how cute she looked right now.
Then, Rei-san looked away from the slumped Sieg-san and turned toward me with a sudden, serious expression.
“...Miyama-kun.”
“Eh? Ah, yes!”
“...Sieg is our precious daughter. I believe you’re a good man, but still... please, make her happy.”
“...I will. I know I’m still immature and I rely on her a lot, but... I’ll work hard. I want to become someone who doesn't just receive her help, but someone who can truly support her.”
“~~!?!?”
Despite the weight of his paternal gaze, I looked Rei-san straight in the eye and gave him my word. I’m a man, too. I need to be able to stand tall at times like this. I want to become someone worthy of Sieg-san—someone Rei-san and Fia-san can trust with their daughter.
“...Yeah. I knew it. I’m glad you’re the one for her.”
“Now, now! Enough with the heavy talk between men. Let’s eat! I’m particularly proud of how this turned out.”
Rei-san’s serious mask crumbled into a gentle, satisfied smile. Fia-san chimed in with a bright voice, ushering us to the table. Sieg-san stood up, her face still flushed, and took the seat next to mine.
“...Oh, that reminds me, Miyama-kun!”
“Eh? Yes?”
“To reiterate, the room is completely soundproof. I’ve also left a set of ‘spare sheets’ in the drawer next to the bed. And I’ve already adjusted the magic tools so the bath stays hot all through the night, so feel free to use it to your heart’s—buheff!?”
“...Please... just die once.”
The dignified father from a moment ago had vanished, replaced by a lecherous old man. Before he could finish his outrageous suggestions, Sieg-san punched him into next week. Veins were throbbing on her forehead, and her eyes were cold and sharp. She looked more furious than I’d ever seen her.
“W-Wait, Sieg! Why are you drawing your sword?! Wait! Just a second! Wai—Gyaaaaaaaaah!”
Rei-san’s scream echoed through the midnight air of Rigforresia.
Dear Mother, Father—
Rei-san and Fia-san found out that Sieg-san and I are a couple in an instant. But why does Rei-san have to be so... meddlesome? If he could just keep his mouth shut, he really would be a good father.