Adventurer's Guild Café: I Was Wrongfully Exiled by the Saint, So I Will Enjoy My Second Life with My Fluffy Friends - V 2.2 Chapter 8.4

After a stretch of awkward silence, Gear finally spoke, his tone hesitant.

“Come to think of it, um… Kuna.”

“Y-yes? What is it?”

I tilted my head—and then he said something I never expected.

“Today, you… look cute.”

“Wha—!?”

“Your clothes… they’re different than usual, I thought.”

My face instantly flared red. Without realizing it, my tail was wagging furiously.

I had chosen to wear the pretty dress I bought earlier, telling myself that since I’d gone through the trouble of buying it, I should.

But having Gier point it out like that—it made me feel horribly embarrassed… and yet, uncontrollably happy, to the point I almost started hopping up and down right there. Dangerous, dangerous.

“Th-thank you very much…”

Good thing it was dark. I was certain my face had to be crimson right now.

My heart wouldn’t stop racing. Gier gave me a small, slightly bashful smile.

“…If anything ever comes up, call for me. I’ll help with whatever you need.”

“I—I could never thank you enough for that…”

This pounding in my chest… could it be…?

I found myself staring at Gier in a daze. He looked back at me and said, with a smile:

“Mind if I watch the fireworks with you here?”

“…Of course not.”

I nodded quickly, over and over.

We stood side by side, gazing up at the night sky. Not looking directly at him gave me the courage to ask, gathering every ounce of bravery I had.

“Um… When you protected me from Agnès, you said, ‘Because Kuna is someone important to me.’ W-what exactly… what exactly did you mean by that?”

My face felt hot enough to burn. Gier glanced at me, and I could swear his eyes were a little red, too. The thundering of my heart was deafening…

“…I meant exactly what I said.”

“E-exactly?”

Gier, uncharacteristically, seemed to be choosing his words with care.

“You’re someone important to me. That’s what I meant. I still don’t fully understand these feelings myself… but for some reason, you’re the only one who feels so… irreplaceably special. Everyone else says it too—that I’m soft only when it comes to you.”

His profile, illuminated faintly against the night, was so breathtakingly beautiful that I couldn’t help but be captivated.

“But there’s one thing I know for certain—”

Gear kept his eyes on the sky, a gentle smile touching his lips.

“Kuna… I just want you to always be happy. Ever since that day I saved you.”

At those words, my breath caught.

Shurururu— a thin whistling sound brushed my ears.

PAAAN!

A bursting crack rang out across the night as the sky lit up.

A great wheel of fireworks bloomed above, scattering glittering sparks.

Again and again, the fireworks shot upward, filling the heavens with light.

It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.

And yet—the very first fireworks I truly saw were the sparkles reflected in Gier’s eyes.

While he gazed upward, I simply stared at him, entranced.

—So that’s it. I’m allowed to fall in love too.

The realization struck me all at once.

Until now, I hadn’t understood that feeling. No—somewhere deep down, I had thought I wasn’t allowed to have it.

Because I had never been loved by anyone. Because I believed someone as worthless as me had no right to love another. Even though that was never true, I had accepted it without knowing. And I had hated myself for it.

But now, it was different.

I liked myself.

I stood up to Father and defended my place. I thought with my own head and acted on my own will. I learned to ask for help when I needed it. More than anything, I had treasures—my bonds with everyone. I was still slow to grow, still shy at times, but even those parts of me were precious. I was the daughter my mother had loved with all her heart, and that was something irreplaceable.

And so, I could finally believe it: I am a person too. Just as I love myself, I’m allowed to love someone else.

There is no hierarchy among human souls.

And now, another treasure was about to be added to mine.

Gier, who had been looking up at the sky, turned his gaze toward me. With a slightly embarrassed, yet blissfully happy smile.

Seeing that smile filled my chest with happiness too.

If I could learn to love myself—then I could love someone else with all my heart.

I realized then—surely, I… I was in love with Gear.

Part II — END