It was a complete whim, sparked by the fact that the Eternal Flower had taken first place in the Phantom Item Ranking, but bringing photos of the Sanctuary Flower Garden turned out to be a brilliant idea. Rosmiel-san was so overjoyed that she had impulsively hugged me in a fit of excitement.
When someone catches you completely off guard like that, the surprise leaves a vivid impression. Even after Rosmiel-san regained her senses and hurriedly pulled away, the soft sensation of her body seemed to linger against mine.
I tried not to dwell on it too much as we sat down to look through the photos again, but...
"I'm so excited to see the Sanctuary Flower Garden! I've imagined it so many times after hearing you talk about it, Kaito-kun, but I never dreamed the day would come when I could actually see it. I’m so happy!"
"I'm just glad you're pleased. Well then... let me get the photos out."
"Okay!"
...Was it just me, or was she exceptionally close? Her face was right next to mine. It wasn't as if she were taking the photos I placed on the table into her own hands; rather, she was leaning over my shoulder, peering down at the pictures I was still holding.
Rosmiel-san’s sense of personal space was always a bit skewed when it came to people she trusted. Even now, she had one hand resting on my arm as she peered eagerly at the prints in my grasp.
She probably wasn't even conscious of it, but with her face practically pressed against mine, I could feel her warmth against my back. I was acutely aware of every point of contact, and the softness of it made me incredibly self-conscious.
Anyway, I needed to get the photos out quickly...
"So this is the Sanctuary Flower Garden I've dreamed of... Wow, it's so beautiful! And these flowers—none of them exist in the Human Realm or the Demon Realm. They’re all so gorgeous; they almost seem to glow."
"They really do. Um, Rosmiel-san? Your face is a bit close..."
"Oh! Look! This is the flower you mentioned before, Kaito-kun!"
"Ah, right. That one."
At this point, she was practically hugging me from behind. Our cheeks were so close they were almost touching. Rosmiel-san was so completely no-guard and her sense of distance was so skewed with those she trusted that it was actually a bit worrying.
Furthermore, she seemed to be acting entirely on instinct. I’d pointed this out to her a few times in the past, and she usually reacted with bashful panic, but right now, she was so enthralled by the sight of her dream garden that my voice didn't seem to reach her at all.
Even if she didn't realize it herself, Rosmiel-san was an extraordinary beauty. She had sparkling blonde hair in soft curls, striking red eyes, and features that were almost impossibly refined. At first glance, she looked like a sharp, noble beauty, but she had the skittish heart of a small animal. Once she opened up to someone, she showed such a gentle, soft expression that she felt like a kind, adorable older sister.
And perhaps because she was the Rose Spirit, she carried the faint, pleasant scent of roses. Having her this close made my heart hammer against my ribs.
"I wonder which flower you like best, Kaito-kun? I think this red one is my favorite so far."
"Yeah, it’s vibrant and lovely. The shape is different, but it has a rose-like feel to it. I like it a lot, too."
"I'm so glad we like the same things! Sharing this with you makes me so giddy. Just being able to look at the Sanctuary Flower Garden with my beloved Kaito-kun is enough to make me happy, but finding these little things we have in common makes me feel so lucky. It’s pure bliss."
Her excitement was at its peak and she was lost in the photos, so there was probably no ulterior motive, but hearing her say she loved me so naturally was still a shock.
Was this really what happened when Rosmiel-san—who already struggled with boundaries—hit the height of her excitement? She was pressed against me even more firmly now, her cheek fully resting against mine. Honestly, her guard was way too low.
I knew it was only because of her extreme shyness and the fact that she had so few people she could truly rely on, but men are simple creatures. This level of physical intimacy made it dangerously easy to misunderstand her feelings.
I knew she liked me, but...
Serious-senpai: "They’re flirting about three times harder than I expected! Also, she definitely doesn't just like him—her feelings are clearly in the love category at this point!"
???: "It’s true that she tends to lose her sense of distance with people she trusts, like Camellia-san, but Kaito-san is a special case. They have compatible personalities and she enjoys his company, so she already had a high opinion of him. On top of that, he’s currently benefiting from a massive Spirit Race Affection Level Boost..."
Serious-senpai: "Oh, right. I forgot about that hellish system where being liked by one Spirit boosts your standing with the entire race. Since he’s been racking up points with the likes of Jutia, Rosmiel’s affection level is naturally spiking as well..."