We didn't exchange many words, but there were no awkward silences or strained pauses. The time I spent with Illness-san passed with a gentle, tranquil rhythm.
Just as the wine and snacks were beginning to run low, I finally spoke up.
"Illness-san."
"Yes...?"
"Thank you for indulging my selfishness today. If there is ever another chance... would it be alright if I invited you again?"
"Of course... If that time comes... I would be delighted... to join you... you know...?"
I had a feeling that Illness-san intended to continue returning my salary to me in ways like this. Understanding that, I had asked if I could invite her again, and she had readily agreed. I genuinely enjoyed the comfort of her company, but I couldn't shake a certain sense of inadequacy... a feeling that I wasn't truly repaying her for everything she did.
"It feels like I'm always the one on the receiving end. You're always doing so much for me, Illness-san."
Perhaps it was because that thought was weighing on me that the words slipped out so easily.
I was indebted to Illness-san for more than words could ever express, yet I never felt like I had properly thanked her. Even the salary I had just paid her had essentially circled back to me.
Despite the weight of my words, Illness-san simply shook her head in soft but firm denial.
"No... that is... not true... you know...?"
"Eh?"
A small smile touched her lips. Her gaze, which usually seemed to drift aimlessly, sharpened as she looked me straight in the eye.
"Just as you feel... you are receiving things from me... I too... receive so much from you, Kaito-sama... you know...?"
"Is that so?"
I felt as though her beautiful black eyes, deep enough to draw me in, possessed a kindness so great that just looking at them felt warm.
"For example... Kaito-sama, you always... say 'thank you' to me, don't you...? Taking care of your daily needs... is my job. In a sense... it is only natural. And yet... whether I am collecting the laundry... or bringing you tea... you never fail... to say thank you... to me... you know...?"
She paused, and then a smile of profound, heartfelt happiness spread across her face—a look distinct from her usual, quirky expression.
"To you, Kaito-sama... it may be a trivial thing... But to me... that one word... makes me uncontrollably... happy. That is only one example... but beyond that... I have received more from you... than I can possibly count... you know...?"
"Illness-san..."
"That is exactly why... I also... want to return... various things to you. I want to make you happy... That is... how I feel... you know...?"
Illness-san’s face, illuminated by the magic light, was so dazzlingly beautiful that I couldn't look away. I could tell that she was speaking from the very bottom of her heart.
Truly, she was so radiant that the title "Holy Mother" seemed to fit her perfectly. Hearing her say those things left me completely speechless.
As the conversation drifted into a comfortable silence, Illness-san stood up smoothly from the sofa. She reached into her Magic Box, pulled out a large, heavy cape, and draped it over my shoulders.
"It seems it will be... a bit chilly tonight... Please... get some rest... before it gets too late... okay...?"
"Yes. Um, thank you very much."
"No, no... the pleasure was mine... Thank you for... such a wonderful time... you know...?"
With one last smile, Illness-san efficiently cleared away the glasses and plates, gave a deep bow, and left the room.
I watched her leave, then glanced down at the cape she had given me. I had received a hand-knitted lap blanket from her before, and the texture was similar; she had likely made this one as well.
It was then that I noticed it—embroidered on the inner lining were three red roses and a cluster of leaves.
Wait, why is the embroidery on the inside? It didn't look like I was wearing it inside-out. Knowing Illness-san, it wasn't a mistake, but I couldn't quite grasp the meaning. Was she just being modest, hiding the decoration where it wouldn't stand out?
Now that I thought about it, she always wore a rose tie at her neck. Perhaps she simply loved the flower. I made a mental note to remember that.
Roses are special flowers; their meaning in the language of flowers changes based on color and number. A red rose symbolizes "affection," a white one "purity," and a yellow one "friendship."
Even the leaves of a red rose have their own meaning: "I pray for your happiness." It was a sentiment that fit Illness-san’s personality perfectly.
However, the flowers she had hidden on the cape given to Kaito carried an even deeper weight. Roses are the quintessential symbol of romance, and the message they carry depends entirely on how many are given.
A single rose means "love at first sight." Thirteen roses mean "eternal friendship." Fifty roses mean "perpetuity."
The flower speaks through its count as much as its color. And the meaning of three red roses is—
—"I love you."
Serious-senpai: "Right there! That should have been 'Let's Have a Drink at Home with Illness! 2'!! You forcibly changed it last time, so why are you switching back now?! There isn't even a trace of a 'party' in this chapter!! Just because you forgot the '1' last time doesn't mean you can just force the title like this!!"
???: "Coming up next: Interlude—Illness."
Serious-senpai: "...What? You're kidding. Illness's story is still going? Stop... please, give me a break. I'm already falling apart from the sheer violence of her heroine power..."