The Hero Who Returned Remains the Strongest in the Modern World - Chapter 79

Side: Morishita Daiki

Why do we have to talk outside… and, I walked with Sakaguchi a bit from the house and brought her to a hill.

This is a landscape park where the rich live and there is one large tree.

And then, we climbed up the tree and then we sat on a thick branch and we looked below.

Looking both up and down there are torrents of lights.

Basically, the sky is filled with an ocean of stars and below scenes of human activity— The stars so named electric lights in the streets.

And, I brought Sakaguchi-san to this place for that reason.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it? This has been my favourite place since childhood.”

「……」

“That time in the other world, you… You said the sky was beautiful. Humans are dirty, nature is only beautiful…”

“Such a thing might’ve happened.”

“That’s why I wanted to show this to you.”

「……」

I put my hand on Sakaguchi-san’s shoulder.

“The human’s activity is beautiful, too. You’ve only seen the dirty parts of humans that’s why I wanted to show this. I couldn’t do it at that time.”

Sakaguchi-san sighed like she was astonished.

“Aren’t you an idiot?”

“…Eh?”

“I’m saying that I know that even if you didn’t have to teach me something like that, now. Showing me such a silly thing, aren’t you an idiot?”

I’m getting slightly irritated at her speaking style like she’s pushing it aside.

“Can you not speak like that? This is my favourite place.”

“You… The princess and then Anastasia taught me. All of you clearly taught me. That humanity shouldn’t be discarded. That time I spent with all of you is a million times more persuasive than this display…”

「……」

“And then, I met Serafina and the others. Thanks to meeting you I was able to trust in Seraphina and the others. Thanks to you, I didn’t have to worry, so I’m happy.”

“Is that so, I’m glad then.”

No, I believe that I’m really glad.

I understand what you’re saying and if you think like that then I’m really glad.

But, as I expected I’m irritated by her speaking style.

And, I pretended to be pouting.

“Well, it’s a bit shocking being told my favourite place is silly.”

“…Eh?”

When she opened her eyes wide, I sighed.

“Was this scene that bad? I was moved extremely as a child…”

“….Eh?”

I sighed again and then made a gloomy expression.

Then, Sakaguchi-san drooped down.

“Aa…”

She began thinking and muttering something in a small voice.

“Mu…”

Rather, why are you troubled over not knowing what to do towards my response.

Sakaguchi-san nodded like she resolved herself.

“Look here… Thank you.”

“Hm?”

“I’m really grateful to you saving me at that time in the other world when I didn’t have strength to live and I had fallen to the very bottom.”

“Yeah.”

“And, and, you know.”

“Hm?”

While saying she was suspiciously averting her eyes from me.

“Leaving that aside, I do think this scene is genuinely pretty. Besides… Y-You showing your special place to me is… I am… That’s all.”

「……」

“I’m happy.”

I spurted then.

“Haha, Sakaguchi-san really isn’t honest with herself. You can’t thank somebody when at the start you complained to them.”

“Stop with calling me Sakaguchi-san already. You’ve remembered so it’s very weird.”

“Well, you’re right.”

“Lela is okay. So, returning back to the topic… Wait, you.”

Lela puffed up her cheeks.

“I’m not obedient… You wanted to say I’m not cute.”

“No, I don’t dislike you. There are times when I think that you’re cute.”

“Eh, cute… Wha, wha, what are you saying!? Aren’t you an idiot!?”

Lela dyed her cheeks red.

“Well, isn’t Lela giving off feelings like a tsundere?”

“Un, I’m fine with that. But, you know? You’re not good.”

“About?”

“You’ve returned to Japan and then laying low, not having a lot of MP, and you’re a pervert, you can’t talk back to Abeno Kaguya, you’ve forgotten about me and haven’t noticed me.”

“I can’t respond back to that due to being true.”

“And top of it your grades are also in the lower-middle and you have no fashion style and also you’ve forgotten about me and not notice me.”

「……」

“Besides it’s not just Abeno Kaguya, you also ogle the class president, if there’s a big breasted woman then you’ll definitely turn your gaze to her chest, and then you have forgotten about me and not notice me.”

It seems she has a lot of resentment from not being noticed.

Rather, for most part I have nothing to say back.

“In the end you didn’t even notice my feelings, not even a little bit, you’re really and truly good-for-nothing.”

I asked Sakaguchi-san.

“I haven’t noticed your feelings, what exactly?”

Haaa… Sakaguchi-san sighed deeply.

“Do I have to say everything!? What’s up with you! I don’t like the you who has bad grades! I don’t like the you who has no fashion style! I despise you when you look at other girls with perverted eyes! I hate that you’re getting along with Abeno Kaguya! I really hate you for forgetting about me!”

Sakaguchi-san took deep breaths.

“I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I don’t like you! I hate you! But, I like the kind you! I like the you who is nice with people! You’re truly the worst! Why are you like this! Why, why! You…”

“You… What?”

“You… I lo, lo, lo…”

“Su?” (TN: She was stuttering on the　す su which is followed by　き ki and it becomes　好き which means like/ love. But he dense so can’t follow it up *shrug*, so he asks instead.”)

To my question her face was blushing that even I could understand and then she shook her head left and right.

“Nope! I can’t say it! Hey, look here! From here on just for a bit… I as Ariel have things to talk with you about… In that case I feel like I’ll be able to talk more honestly! That’s why… The words I’ll speak from now absolutely don’t think of them as Lela Sakaguchi’s words.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember the parting at that time in the different world?”

Really, what is she going on about?

Well, here I have to answer honestly.

“Aah, I do remember.”

“That time, I did say to make me your bride, right?”

“That is…”

“I get it. I get it that it was a lie so that the parting would be happy. That’s why, I’m fine with it. But, I was forgotten, it was very lonely, and very difficult. It was really hard, I can assure you.”

Sakaguchi-san… No, Lela is whining honestly…?

No, is it different?

This is her expressing her true feelings without any lies.

She had to lead the Guardians till now so she needed to be a strong commander.

Even until now she didn’t whine to anybody.

And then, within herself there’s also resistance in not being strong.

That’s why she’s deceiving herself by talking as Ariel…

No, she’s making excuses for herself.

She really can’t be honest…

But, she conveying her honest feelings with a face that’s about to cry, and her weak appearance of quivering slightly with tears looked like a normal 16 year old you would find.

That’s why, I should respond to her feelings with honesty, too.

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t noticing you…”

I put my hand on her and began patting her.

“…Un”

“I’m really sorry.”

Then I looked at my watch.

Soon it’s going to be 11 o’clock and it’s becoming time to go.

“It’s about time we get off the tree.”

We came down from the tree and headed home.

And then, we walked for 10 minutes and we arrived in front of my house.

I spoke to Lela.

“Then, good-bye for today.”

Lela shook her head left and right.

“Wrong.”

“Wrong?”

“Instead of “good-bye” you should say “See you, again.” when we part.”

Now that I remember, that time in the other world those were the last words I said to her.

I see, she clearly remembered from back then.

For some reason something hot was flowing in my chest.

“Rather, it’s a really high time. Well then, see you at school!”

Lela spread her hands and then hugged me as hard as she could.

“Oi… Lela?”

“I will never leave you, anymore. Definitely, I won’t!”

It seems she’s still continuing as Ariel…

Her speech, her looks, too… They’ve become much softer from the earlier usual severeness… Well, that’s fine.

“Aaa, I’m relieved that we don’t have to part away like that time anymore.”

While hugging me tightly she looked up at me.

Her height is short so the current situation is she’s looking upwards at me from my chest’s height.

“Hey, you know? That time, you told me that you’ll grant me any request, right?”

“Un.”

She stretched her hands to my neck and then stood on her tiptoes—

That was a surprise attack.

That’s right, the feeling of soft lips was conveyed to my lips.

It’s a mutual first kiss.

The feeling is light but, it should be a important experience mutually.

Lela laughed impishly to the me who’s flustered.

“I revoked the promise about making me your bride! I’m tired of lying! That’s why, even if I do this much I won’t be punished! I’m not at fault!”

“Oi, you…”

Lela parted from me and went to her home.

“Just a moment!”

And then, she turned around in front of her house.

“See ya tomorrow!”

While waving her hands she said with a bright smile like a sunflower blooming.

“That time, this time, and from now on! I’ve always liked you— Niini!”

“Like, you…”

Rather, saying Niini here is foul play.

Her waving her hands while having a abysmally cute smile that only angels can express, at that time I thought that my heart was surely captivated by that.