The high-end Chinese-style French fusion was fantastic. Despite the bizarre clash between its name and appearance, the flavor lived up to the restaurant’s reputation; everything was delicious.
The star of the show was a Peking duck-style meat dish. It had a savory poultry richness so concentrated it was as satisfying as if I’d devoured an entire bird. Yeah… that was definitely chicken, right? It wasn't the meat of some giant worm or a frog, was it? Best not to think about it.
As the meal continued in high spirits, I gradually realized something. Every so often, I felt a pair of eyes on me from the next table over. It was Lilia-san. She didn't say anything, but through my Sympathy Magic, I could feel a distinct sense of… worry? I wondered what was wrong.
“Um, Lilia-san?”
“Kaito-san, could I have a moment of your time?”
When I finally took the plunge and spoke up, Lilia-san replied with a hesitant, flickering expression.
“Oh? Sure.”
“Then let’s step away for a bit. Luna, please tell the staff to delay the next course for Kaito-san and me.”
“Understood,” Lunamaria-san replied.
Still unsure of her intentions, I followed Lilia-san out of the observation area and onto the balcony. True to its high-end status, the balcony was massive. Lilia-san and I walked in silence across the stone floor, the space surprisingly peaceful given we were in the middle of the Six Kings Festival grounds. After we had put enough distance between us and the others, Lilia-san stopped and turned around.
A cool night breeze caught her hair, and she brushed a few stray strands back with one hand before speaking.
“Kaito-san…”
“Yes?”
“I hope I’m just overthinking things, but… are you troubled by something?”
To be honest, her question caught me completely off guard.
She was talking about the encounter I’d had earlier that day—the woman who looked exactly like my mother. Thanks to Isis-san, I’d managed to move past it to the point where I could genuinely smile again, but it hadn't left my mind entirely. I kept remembering it in brief flashes. Still, since I wasn't agonizing over it, I hadn't thought I was being that obvious.
“I can’t quite put my finger on why,” she continued, “but I felt like there was a faint shadow in your smile.”
“……”
“It wasn't that you were faking it. I know your smile was sincere. It’s just… it felt different than usual.”
I was stunned, but more than that, I was touched. Lilia-san was watching me so closely that she’d picked up on such a minute change. Knowing she had been worrying about me all this time… I felt a surge of gratitude.
“It’s not really a big deal, but… it won’t take long to explain. Do you mind listening?”
“Not at all, if you’re comfortable telling me.”
I decided to be honest with her. I told her about the woman I’d seen today, how she was the spitting image of my late mother, and how—while it wasn't a deep-seated problem—it was still lingering in the back of my mind.
Lilia-san nodded in understanding once I finished.
“I see. That’s only natural. I’m still young, but I’m no stranger to loss. While my own mother is healthy, several of my father’s concubines—my stepmothers—have passed away over the years. Anyone would be shaken to see a ghost of someone they loved.”
She stepped toward me and leaned her head against my chest.
“I’m just glad you aren't agonizing over it. That’s a relief.”
“Lilia-san…”
“I’m sorry. I know you’re a strong person and that you’ll be fine on your own, but… please let me worry about you. I am your lover, after all.”
“I… I’m actually really happy you cared enough to ask.”
I pulled her into a light embrace, relishing her warmth. Lilia-san wrapped her arms around my back. We stayed like that for a long moment, simply holding each other in the quiet of the night. Then, she looked up at me with a shy, tentative smile.
“Kaito-san…”
“Yes?”
“Would you… like to kiss?”
“...Eh?”
I was so taken aback that I let out a rather pathetic-sounding squeak. I never would have expected the shy Lilia-san to initiate something like this.
“I just realized we haven’t done it yet,” she murmured. “Do you… not want to?”
“No, of course I do! It’s just… Lilia-san, are you sure you’re—”
I stopped mid-sentence. Lilia-san had already closed her eyes, her face tilted up toward mine. Talking would only be a disservice to her courage. I placed my hands on her shoulders and slowly leaned in.
Our lips met, and they were incredibly, surprisingly soft. A tiny, muffled sound escaped her throat. I lingered there for a moment, basking in the depth of her affection, before eventually pulling away.
“Um… Lilia-san? Thank you for that.”
I was so happy that the words of gratitude spilled out naturally. This was Lilia-san, the shiest person I knew, pushing herself to the absolute limit of her bravery.
But she didn't respond.
“...Lilia-san?”
“……”
“L-Lilia-san?”
“………………Kyuu…”
“Lilia-san!? W-Wait, please pull yourself together!?”
She suddenly went limp. I scrambled to catch her before she hit the floor, only to find that her eyes were spinning. She had fainted.
Dear Mother, Father—I shared my first kiss with Lilia-san. It was a gift of pure, unadulterated courage that she summoned just for me. It made me incredibly happy, but… well, I suppose the embarrassment was just too much for her to handle. It seems she really pushed herself too far.
Serious-senpai Act 3 (Crab-style): “Hey, eat your food already…”