After Eden-san left, I went back to minding the shop with Alice in a relaxed atmosphere.
"Hehehe... One platinum coin, two platinum coins... so many of them... Hehe—Oof!?"
"You, honestly..."
"What’s the harm? It’s been ages since we had any sales. With this much... I can 'lose' at gambling two hundred times—Gyaoo!?"
"Why would you try to lose on purpose...?"
I bopped Alice over the head. She had been grinning with a truly wicked expression as she counted the mountain of platinum coins Eden-san had given her.
Besides, she didn't even need to lose on purpose anymore, yet she was already factoring it into her budget... In a way, it just made me feel like Alice was still being Alice.
"Oh, that's right. I nearly forgot. I had something to give you, Kaito-san."
"Something for me?"
"Yeah... Let’s see, it should be around here... Ah, found it!"
"Wait... what's with all this money?"
She handed me a cloth bag stuffed with gold coins. I couldn't quite grasp why she was giving this to me. Actually, my brain was struggling to process the sheer abnormality of receiving money from Alice.
Seeing my expression, Alice gave me a beaming smile.
"Remember that futon we made using your idea? It’s been selling like a dream. Well, customers still aren't exactly flocking to my place, but manufacturing apparently can't keep up over at Kuro-san's end. This is your twenty-percent share of the profits."
"I see... Hmm. I'm not sure what to do with even more money, though."
"You really should learn a bit of extravagance, Kaito-san! Like treating Alice-chan to a meal, or buying Alice-chan some clothes, or maybe Alice-chan some accessories... that kind of thing!"
"Request denied."
"Couldn't you at least pretend to think about it!?"
I kept up the banter, poking fun at her as she joked around. It felt like our usual rhythm, and it was strangely enjoyable.
It seemed Alice felt the same way, as we caught each other’s eyes and shared a laugh.
"Ahaha. Yeah, this is definitely it. Though I feel like it’s been a while since we've been like this."
"That's because you were acting a bit off, Alice."
"Ah... sorry about that. But look, I've grown into 'New Alice-chan' now, haven't I?"
"Right. In what way, exactly?"
"I didn't try to punch that idiot god."
"U-Umm..."
That was some incredibly marginal growth. Or rather, if she hadn't become this 'New Alice-chan,' was she actually planning to punch her?
As I stood there with a conflicted look on my face, Alice let out another soft giggle and lightly snapped her fingers.
The lock on the shop door clicked. Then, I heard a dull thud against the wood—likely the sign flipping from 'Open' to 'Closed.'
Then, Alice pulled off her mask. Her cheeks were flushed slightly with embarrassment as she spoke with her true face exposed.
"Well, jokes aside... if it were the old me, I think things would have turned much uglier with that goddess. I felt like I had to protect you, Kaito-san... and looking back now that I've calmed down, I can see it clearly. I was panicking."
"And it's different now?"
"Yes. My desire to protect you hasn't changed... but my perspective has shifted a little."
Alice reached out and softly placed her hand over mine. She interlaced our fingers in a lover's grip before continuing.
"I’ve decided to stop pushing myself into a corner. I want to 'protect this happiness of being with you, Kaito-san'... and that means I have to protect myself properly, too."
"Yeah. You're right."
"But well, as you know... I'm an idiot. I think I'm going to need a lot of help from you as well."
"Of course. I know I'm useless when it comes to raw power, but I want to be the one who supports your heart, Alice. I want to protect the happiness you feel when you're by my side."
Hearing her resolve, I squeezed her hand back firmly, pouring my own feelings into the gesture.
Alice didn't say a word. She simply leaned her weight slowly against me.
Feeling the gentle warmth from our joined hands and her shoulder, I remained silent as well, letting the happiness spreading from the depths of my heart wash over me.
Our first encounter had been a coincidence for me, but intentional for her. The impact of the cat kigurumi I'd seen when I first stepped into her general store was still etched vividly in my mind.
Looking back, she might have planned that just to leave a lasting impression on me.
In the end, I did keep visiting her shop, eventually building a friendship. I’d been exasperated by her idiotic remarks and lectured her on her total lack of foresight. But if I thought about it, Alice was the second person—after Kuro—with whom I could speak naturally without any pretense whatsoever.
Maybe that was why? Even when the kidnapping occurred—the betrayal Alice intended to use to end our relationship—the feeling of forgiveness outweighed my anger. I had thought, "If it's this girl who's betraying me, then it's fine."
Even back then, Alice had already become someone vital to me.
My attitude hadn't changed even after I learned she was the Phantasm King... no, I had never intended to change it. To me, Alice was a dear friend before she was one of the Six Kings.
At the time, I hadn't expected us to become lovers in the slightest. I had thought we would just keep trading stupid jokes and laughing wryly forever... Or maybe I had just been trying to convince myself that was enough.
At some point, I’d started seeing Alice as a girl. More than once or twice, I’d found her small gestures adorable. The reason I’d pretended not to notice was because I was unconsciously afraid—just as Alice had been—that becoming lovers would ruin the comfortable bond we shared.
In the end, it had been a needless worry. If anything, things had changed for the better. We still traded barbs and shared wry smiles... but with love added to the mix, every single one of those moments felt like true happiness.
I was sure it would stay that way. As easygoing friends and as beloved partners... walking together, protecting and being protected.
It was a happiness that required no explanation. That was why I would do my best to support her heart.
So that this joyful relationship would last forever.
"Kaito-san."
"Yeah?"
"I just felt like saying your name."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Fufufu."
"Hahaha."
"Kaito-san."
"Yeah?"
"Please stay with me forever. Never leave me alone."
"I won't. I'll never leave you. I promise."
"Okay."
"..."
"..."
"Kaito-san."
"What is it now?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Dear Mother, Father—she’s absurdly cheerful, says things that leave me speechless, and I’m sure she’ll keep making me sigh in exasperation. But I don't mind. Because I know for certain that our hearts—mine and Alice's—are linked.