Chapter 98: Date (1)
We were on the way back from the infirmary after Priscilla checked Zetto’s condition.
‘There’s nothing wrong with him.’
She said,
Then, referring to Zetto’s swordplay, she suggested that his body might be overloaded and asked him to rest for the time being.
‘I’m sure… Even in mock battles…’
Suddenly, the scene of Zetto spewing blood from his mouth and collapsing flashed through her mind.
Even though it was an illusion, he still felt dizzy from the experience.
What was wrong with Zetto, she wondered.
What was the point of using such a dangerous sword technique?
“…Ms. Yuri.”
While I was deep in thought, I heard Zetto’s voice next to me so I turned my head to meet his eyes.
He was smiling, as always.
“…”
Despite Priscilla’s assurances, an unexplained reluctance settled in the back of my mind, making my head spin.
When I don’t answer, Zetto finishes the sentence.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“What else…”
I hung my head low.
He had a knack for embarrassing people.
I thought, ‘He must have simply fallen ill.’ But then, the body I’d seen on the airship…it wasn’t that frail.
Zetto’s toned muscles flashed before my eyes. It was so stimulating that I couldn’t think of anything else.
I glanced over at Zetto, who was walking beside me and even in uniform, his body was not hidden.
‘From his broad shoulders…’
I swallowed hard and shook her head, trying to clear it. This was not the time for that.
Barely clearing my head, I turned to Zetto.
“…Zetto, what are you pushing yourself so hard for?”
“Too much…”
Zetto trailed off at my question.
I had been wondering about this for a while, but I finally got around to asking.
He ponders something, then opens his mouth.
“…To protect the people I care about.”
“Important people…”
As I’m mulling over Zetto’s answer, he stops walking so I stop, too, and turn around to look at him.
“Ms. Yuri is one of them.”
“…Me?”
“Yes.”
“…Do I matter to you?”
“Of course.”
There was no hesitation in Zetto’s voice as he said that.
It was as if he didn’t know why I was asking.
He said he would protect me, like a knight in a fairy tale.
My heart leaped for joy, but my embarrassment made me blurt out a strange answer.
“I, I don’t need you to protect me, I’m strong enough…and who protects whom…!”
I turned my head quickly. It was hard to look at him.
My heart was pounding in my chest, and the tremors wouldn’t subside.
Then I heard Zetto’s laughter behind me.
“…Hurry up. You’re going to be late for class.”
“Yeah.”
Zetto replied, his voice filled with laughter as he stepped up beside me and I walked down the hall with him once again.
I stared blankly at his face and thought to myself.
I want to be the one to protect him.
First, I need to take care of his bleeding body.
‘…I wonder if there are any elixirs left in my family.’
***
“Blanc, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Hmmm… You’re calling me by my first name for some reason. Something important?”
The head of the Black Hand Guild’s southern branch asked, setting aside the papers she had been reading.
Blanc was curious about could this platinum-haired girl possibly want to know?
Her demeanor didn’t suggest she was here for information as usual. She was making her curious.
Blanc, who had cleared her desk to focus on her, set her jaw and stared at Aizel longingly until finally, Aizel’s mouth opened.
“Is that…”
“I’m listening.”
“…I was wondering what it takes to win a man over.”
“Huh…?”
Aizel’s words made Blanc doubt her ears.
It wasn’t just the fact that Aizel had come to her, the head of the southern branch of the continent’s most prestigious intelligence guild, for relationship advice.
“Aizel, you…”
“…”
Aizel quietly turned away, avoiding Blanc’s gaze.
“Do you have a crush on…?!”
Aizel’s eyes narrowed at Blanc’s excitement since she was unusually interested in her.
Aizel was not normal. Whenever she tried to pry information out of her, but nothing came out, this mysterious girl would give her the information she needed.
In return, she would get the information she wanted from Blanc.
As such an excellent source of information, Aizel was endearing herself to Blanc.
“So, who is it?”
“A secret. At least, I don’t want to tell the Information Guild.”
“You know I’ll find out somehow, don’t you?”
“No. It’s just……a cadet in my class.”
Aizel, blushing, ducks her head and Blanc’s interest is piqued.
She realized that Aizel could look so plainly embarrassed.
At least the Aizel she knew had always kept a straight face, even when asked for information about demons, information that even the Black Hand could not easily obtain.
“You’ve come to the right place, Aizel. I think I can give you the answers you’re looking for.”
“Really…?”
Aizel’s eyes widened.
She had come to Blanc because she thought Zetto’s curse had gotten worse and she needed to try something quick and sure.
Blanc’s cocky expression was enough to give Aizel confidence.
After all, the Information Guild was a profession that dealt with information and people.
Looking at Blanc’s exquisite dress in front of her, Aizel realized that she must be much more familiar with ‘love’ than she was.
“Hmph, how to win a man over…”
Blanc trailed off, smiling slightly.
“But is that really necessary…? I mean, what guy wouldn’t fall for your looks, you’re so pretty and cute?”
“…Never mind, I’m in a hurry.”
“What do you mean urgent?”
“…There’s a girl in my way.”
Aizel, who didn’t bother to mention Zetto’s curse, blurted out.
“Oh.”
Blanc merely found the situation amusing.
The stories of young cadets going through the turbulence of youth were a welcome distraction from her work.
“What’s the situation?”
Blanc asked Aizel.
“The situation…?”
“You must have done something.”
“…Nothing, really. One-sided contact…?”
“Hmm…What about the kid you’re supposed to be keeping an eye on?”
“I don’t think she did anything either…”
“If neither of you did anything, then what kind of restraint was there…?”
“…Was there?”
Aizel scratched her cheek at Blanc’s question.
“Still… I’m pretty sure we’re after the same guy.”
Aizel thought back to what Yuri had done to Zetto in the previous episode. This time was no different.
Only this time, she was far behind.
Looking at Aizel’s serious face, Blanc burst out laughing. In her eyes, Aizel was cute.
‘I knew it…’
Aizel glared at Blanc and thought.
“…Hmmm.”
Blanc stopped laughing and cleared her throat.
“Anyway, I guess that means you’ve never been on a date, right?”
“Date?”
Aizel asked, cautiously.
“…You don’t mean you don’t know what a date is?”
“No, I know about it, but is it really that important? We’re in the same class anyway, so we see each other all the time… Sometimes we run into each other alone…”
“Oh my God…”
Aizel’s words made Blanc’s mouth drop open, stunned.
Wiping her forehead, Blanc opened her mouth.
“Aizel… Isn’t love about getting to know each other?”
“…I know more about that man than anyone else.”
“Then, what does he know about you?”
“…”
Aizel was silent. She knew a lot about Zetto, and had countless memories of him from the previous rounds.
It occurred to her that Zetto probably knew very little about her. Being a regressor, she was hiding a lot. Or maybe it was because he’d figured out her tastes so quickly that she didn’t need to.
“Together. That’s the important part, isn’t it? Love doesn’t just happen when you force yourself on someone?”
“Together…”
This was so different from the information Aizel had gleaned from the book.
It had to be…The book Aizel had read was really about how to win a man over, or “seduce” him. It was a far cry from “love.”
Blanc had always known that something was very much lacking in Aizel, mentally and emotionally.
With her powers of observation, she read her demeanor and quickly realized what she needed and what she really wanted.
“It’s too soon to talk about love without even a casual date. Confessing your love comes after that, no matter what.”
“Ugh…”
The mention of confessing love stung Aizel unnecessarily.
It reminded her of the time she’d blurted out a non-confession to Zetto in the flower garden, using her love of flowers as an excuse.
“It’s easy, just ask him out on a date. You can do that, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Aizel nodded.
She had the somewhat absurd notion that if she did as Blanc said, she could make Zetto fall in love with her.
“This is your first date, right?”
“Maybe.”
“Good, then I’ll help you out this time.”
Blanc said and stood up as Aizel’s head tilted at her words.
“We…?”
“…Hmph, there is such a thing, service, service. It’s a date, so you’re going to have to put your best foot forward.”
Aizel didn’t know what it was, but she agreed. Whatever it was, it had to be enough to keep Zetto captivated.
Blanc smiled at Aizel, who looked at her nonchalantly.
Listening to Aizel, she realized that just making a date feel different from “normal” would go a long way so she decided to give her a “flower makeover” for her first date.
‘I think she’ll look good in any outfit…’
What kind of man wouldn’t be attracted to Aizel’s appearance?
***
After Edward’s class, Aizel asked me if we could talk alone for a while, and we walked out of the classroom together.
I wondered what she’s going to talk about so I followed her silently until we reached a secluded spot where there were no people.
Aizel, who was leading the way, turns around and looks at me and with her arms behind her back, she’s mulling something over.
I tilt my head, and she opens her mouth.
“Da…”
“Da?”
“…go on a date with me.”
Aizel’s words trailed off and I’m at a loss for words as she asks me out on a date.
[……]
Sierra was also speechless, her mouth was open and her pupils were dilated while Aizel was staring at me, waiting for my answer.
When she couldn’t wait any longer, she opened her mouth again.
“…Do you not want to?”
“……No?”