Himegi-san a Bride from the Future Begs Me to Confess My Love to Her Again - Volume 2 Chapter 5.2

The Terrifying Cave I and the Princess Must Traverse 2

Then, the next day——

When I woke up, I put all my heart and soul into my hands and struck my own cheeks.

Then—a loud ‘smack’ resonated through this small house.

“——Ouch!!…—Ah, it hurts!!”

But, I’m awake.

Finally, my head is clear. Only the foolish part should have flown away.

The worrying stops here, the overthinking stops here, and the complaints stop here!

I won’t be downhearted anymore, I won’t utter any more words of weakness, and I won’t run away anymore!

Yesterday, I was defeated.

Right I was defeated by fear, and because of fear, I wasn’t myself.

I acutely felt my own powerlessness.

I understood that I’m not a special human being.

——So what! What about it! To hell with all that!

What’s with the ‘thank you.’ ——That’s wrong! It’s completely wrong!

What did I promise to the two of them!?

What did I inherit, and what did I decide to bear!?

The words that should be conveyed to Natsumi-san are not such flimsy words as ‘thank you.’

The words that should be conveyed to Natsumi-san are “Don’t worry.” and “Leave the rest to me!”

Today, I will convey that to Natsumi-san. I have to.

Otherwise, I can’t face her. I must reassure her and see her off.

That is the compensation and responsibility I, who know a bit of the future, must bear.

I won’t fear anything anymore—and I will fulfill my duty.

Having decided so, I, once more, yelled and struck myself again with all my might.

——A loud ‘smack’ echoed again in this small house.

Surely my cheeks are swollen red.

But that’s fine. Thanks to that, I’m completely awake.

“O-ohhh…… You are so fired up this morning.”

My father was standing in front of the door.

Crossing his arms as he intently watched me.

“.. I’ve finally understood what I should do.”

“Is that so? You’re looking good right now… You’ve grown up a bit…”

My father smiled broadly.

I also smiled broadly in return.

“I will say goodbye to the two of them.”

My parents have some unavoidable business to attend to, so I’ll be the only one at the funeral and the farewell ceremony today.

“Ah, I can leave it to you now.”

“Get dressed, and then—”

——The ringtone of my smartphone sounded.

It seems someone is calling my smartphone.

“.. Kanako?”

“Shorty Kanako” was displayed on the smartphone screen.

I tapped the screen of the smartphone and answered the phone.

“What happe—”

『—It, it, it’s terrible! It’s so terrible!』

Even over the phone, it was clear how flustered Kanako was.

I could faintly hear Harune-chan’s crying voice.

It seems like the people from the Himegi family are nearby.

“What’s so terrible?”

『Himegi-san has shut herself in her room——She won’t come out!』

However, I was not surprised when I heard those words.

“….Kanako, I want you to tell the Himegi family people.”

『What should I tell?』

“.. I’ll handle it.”

『W-wait! What do you mean by ‘handle,’? What are you planning to do! You can’t be seriou——』

I ended the call.

And then, operating the smartphone, I tapped the photo app.

On the smartphone screen was a woman in a wedding dress and a woman in hospital garments.

The two, in contrasting attire, were smiling happily.

I made a promise. I made a promise that I mustn’t break with two people who are no longer in this world.

“Dad, I have a favor to ask.”

I won’t allow such an ending.

***

In front of Himegi-san’s room, a crowd had formed.

Everyone was not in their usual attire but was clad in mourning clothes.

Harune-chan was crying.

The child who was always smiling like an angel no matter how painful things were, was shedding tears…

You idiot… don’t make your sister cry…

Amidst all this, the man who is the master of this house was banging on the door violently, trying to persuade her daughter who presumably was inside.

Impatience could be seen on Himegi’s father’s face.

He probably never thought that his daughter would barricade herself in.

And then, he stopped banging on the door and slumped in that spot.

I don’t like this man.

I don’t like him, but I genuinely respect he, who, even after losing his precious daughter, still serves as the chief mourner with a resolute attitude.

He showed me the strength of a man trying to fulfill his responsibilities as an adult.

Such a man slumped, his spirit broken, weeping manly tears.

If things continue this way, everyone present here will be absent.

I won’t be able to face Natsumi-san if that happens.

I approached the flustered Kanako and gently placed my hand on Kanako’s shoulder.

“Everyone, please go to the funeral home first. I will definitely bring her there.”

Everyone present turned towards me all at once.

“What are you going to do? It’s locked.”

“I’ll figure something out.”

Then, I approached the man slumped in front of the door,

“Can I handle this…?”

Himegi’s father stood up and glared at me as if he had encountered his parent’s nemesis.

I returned his gaze without averting my eyes from him.

Then, Himegi’s father bowed his head,

“…I’m sorry. Please take care of my daughter…”

The man bowed deeply.

He bowed his head to me, even though he didn’t want to.

Next, I knelt in front of the crying Harune-chan,

“It’s going to be alright.”

I spoke with all the reassurance I could muster and lightly patted Harune-chan’s head.

“Please….Please bring Touka-nee…”

“Yeah, I promise.”

And then, everyone present headed towards the memorial service, believing that I would bring her.

Now, shall I begin…

I took a hairpin from my pocket and stuck it into the door lock.

“Alright, it’s open!”

In just a few seconds, I managed to unlock the door.

Maybe I should become a phantom thief rather than a magician…

Well, now is not the time to be self-congratulatory.

Opening the door, I entered Himegi-san’s room.

Upon entering, she, in her mourning clothes, was sitting quietly on the bed.