The seventeenth day of the Month of Light. According to what Lilia-san told me, this month was originally called the "Month of Earth."
Back then, the middle of the year was the Month of Earth and the end of the year was the Month of Heavens. Apparently, the name was changed long ago to the Month of Light to honor the achievements of the First Hero.
I had no doubt that Noin-san would have been mortified by the news. To have your own name immortalized in the calendar is the kind of profound embarrassment that makes you want to crawl into a hole and die.
The reason I was reminiscing about this was that I was currently on my way to a place associated with that very hero.
"...Kaito... are you okay? ...Are you... tired?"
"I'm fine. The weather is beautiful today, and it feels great out here."
"...Yes... I'm glad it's sunny... Even if it had rained... I would have 'blown the clouds away'... but... I'm happy... it's clear."
"R-Right... I bet you would have!"
Casually mentioning that she would have literally blasted the weather into submission just to keep our date was Isis-san, who was currently walking beside me, her hand in mine.
As I had proposed to Lilliwood-san yesterday, I was out on a date with Isis-san today.
I had considered the possibility that she might turn me down because of the preparations for the Six Kings Festival... but when I sent her a Hummingbird, she replied with a "Yes" within two seconds.
Now, the two of us were strolling leisurely across a plateau some distance from the Royal Capital.
Our goal for the day was to collect memories, something I had promised Isis-san before. We were visiting locations from the books and bringing back physical souvenirs.
Isis-san had apparently gathered quite a few rare items on her own in the past, but since this was my first time, we decided on something relatively easy to obtain. Honestly, it felt more like a picnic than anything else.
Our specific target was a flower mentioned in the chronicle of the First Hero’s adventures. It was known as the "Night Flower," and it shared similar properties with the Light Trees I had seen during the barbecue with Kuro. It would glow once darkness fell.
These flowers supposedly grew in dense clusters on sunny highlands, so finding them was expected to be a simple task.
"...Kaito... today... I made... a bento... Let's... eat it together... later?"
"Oh, I’m really looking forward to that. Thank you."
"...Hehe... Yes... You're welcome."
Isis-san was wearing a white-themed gothic dress adorned with plenty of frills today. She smiled happily at my response.
Finding solace in her adorable smile, I continued walking at an easy pace, chatting with her since we weren't in any rush.
"By the way, I heard the preparations for the Six Kings Festival are pretty hectic. You aren't getting too tired, are you?"
"...Yes... I'm fine... I'm... not very good... at making things... so I've been a burden to Lilliwood and the others... but... I'll do my best... so that Kaito... can enjoy it too... I'll work hard."
"I-I see... Well, good luck! I’m rooting for you!"
"...Yes!"
Ah, there it was. I finally understood exactly how Lilliwood-san felt. When someone is being this earnest... you just can't bring yourself to complain.
Isis-san's desire to give it her absolute best was painfully clear, and I could tell how much she truly enjoyed being part of the festivities.
I offered a silent prayer for Lilliwood-san’s peace in my heart and gave up any hope of indirectly talking Isis-san out of "helping."
"...Hehe..."
"Isis-san? You seem to be having a good time."
"...Yes... a date with Kaito... is fun... the conversation... the scenery... even the most mundane things... everything... everything... is happiness."
"...Isis-san."
Good grief! Why is this woman so cute? When she smiles with that much pure joy, my reflexive urge is to pull her into a hug.
Wait, actually, that should be fine, right? We’re lovers. It’s perfectly acceptable. Safe. Yes, it’s safe... I’m going to hug her.
"...Ah."
"..."
"...Kaito?"
"Ah, sorry. I just couldn't help myself..."
"...No... I'm happy."
I wrapped my arms around her. Her frame was so delicate it felt like it might break if I held her too tightly.
Isis-san didn't resist at all. On the contrary, her cheeks flushed with happiness as she smiled up at me.
Happiness in the mundane. It was exactly as she said.
Every tiny gesture of hers was uncontrollably dear to me. The way she gently rested her hand on mine as I held her, the way she tilted her head to lean against my chest—it was all irresistibly precious.
"...Isis-san."
"...Kaito."
I gazed into her beautiful red eyes and whispered her name. She whispered mine in return and closed her eyes.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, our lips met. We shared our happiness and affection through the kiss.
Naturally, we ended up stopping to do similar things many times after that, which significantly delayed our schedule.
Between stopping for lunch and pausing for "distractions" at every opportunity, we arrived at the Night Flower colony much later than planned.
The area was a vast, colorful carpet of blossoms. I sat there in the middle of it all, my arm around Isis-san’s shoulders.
"...During the day, they look like pretty ordinary flowers."
"...Yes... but... once it gets dark... they're... very... beautiful."
"I see. So, what now? It’ll be a few hours before the sun actually sets..."
"...If Kaito... doesn't mind... I want... to stay like this... for a while."
"Of course. I’d be happy to."
Isis-san's voice was a soft, pampered whisper as she rested her head against me. Sitting side-by-side like this, surrounded by flowers, created a truly wonderful atmosphere.
Isis-san clearly felt the same. As if she wanted to cherish every passing second, she placed her hand over mine, interlacing our fingers while leaning her entire weight against me.
The scent of flowers tickled my nose, and when I glanced down, I caught a glimpse of her beautiful neck through the gaps in her dress. My heart began to race.
Yet, that rapid heartbeat wasn't uncomfortable in the slightest. It felt as though a tingling warmth was welling up from the depths of my chest.
Isis-san and I stayed inseparable until the sun finally dipped below the horizon and the surrounding flowers began to glow with a fantastical light.
Reluctantly, we eventually gathered the Night Flowers... preserving the memories of this day in a physical form.
As a side note, when Isis-san shyly told me, "...The memories I made with Kaito... make me... so happy," she was so incredibly cute that I ended up hugging her again for a deep, lingering kiss. It goes without saying that we returned home much later than I had ever intended.
Dear Mother, Father—
As I thought, Isis-san is just too adorable. When I realize that someone like her is my lover, it hits me all over again how lucky I am. Basking in that warmth, I managed to create something today—a physical reminder of my happy memories with Isis-san.
Serious-senpai: "I... seriously can't... Isis, stop... it hurts..."