The exhibition match was over.
As I stood up, Emmy spoke to me.
"Hey. You're looking after Mineha, right?"
"Oh—ah, yeah."
I figured I'd go check on Mineha first.
But she wasn't in the arena waiting room.
"Oh my, Wof."
Ruriha walked in. She was in her large form.
She'd taken off her armor and was now in a light white dress.
I hadn't noticed before, but she was about the same height as me.
"Ruriha. Um, do you know where Mineha is?"
"…I don't know. But you should know."
"Me?"
"Yes. So go find her, won't you?"
Ruriha gave a quiet, somewhat lonely smile.
Only I know about it—could it be.
"Alright. But, um, are you okay, Ruriha?"
"Oh my, I'm fine. It's something I already knew."
"You're not fine. You look like you're about to… you look like you're about to cry."
I felt like she was about to crumble at any moment.
She forced a brave smile.
"...Oh my, oh my, it's nothing like that."
"I don't want women to cry. I don't want to make anyone cry, either."
When I said that, Ruriha looked a little surprised.
What was that about?
"Oh my, oh my, Wof. You mustn't go saying things like that so casually."
"But I... um, why are you so upset, Ruriha?"
The one who challenged her was Mineha. She even won and gave advice.
So why was Ruriha acting like she'd lost?
"Upset... yes. I... that child. I wanted to praise Mineha. For becoming a delver as a special case. For obtaining a new OOPArt spinner. For becoming so... beautiful. I wanted to heap her with praise and hold her in my arms."
"Then why not just praise her?"
Why was she agonizing over something like that?
They were mother and daughter, after all. Parent and child.
"And yet I fought her and defeated her."
"It couldn't be helped."
"There must have been another way. There must have been... but I didn't search for one. Besides, you know that she's been calling me 'Mother,' don't you?"
"Y-yes."
"I wanted her to call me 'Mom.' She's never once called me that... When she was small, I wanted Mineha to grow up into someone worthy as the daughter of the fairial leader, so I was strict with her. And that's still lingering inside her to this day... I don't know what to do. And 'Mother' has this distance to it. That's why I want her to call me 'Mom.'"
"Then why don't you tell her that? Mineha would listen."
"...Yes, she'll say it even if it's hard. She'll force herself to say 'Mom,' won't she."
"That's... Ruriha."
They really are mother and daughter, these two. Of course they are.
"I can't. I'm hopeless."
"Ruriha!"
Without thinking, I grabbed Ruriha by the shoulders.
"Hyah—!? Oh... um... Wof...?"
"But still, Ruriha. I really think you should just let it all out. Tell Mineha everything—every thought, every feeling in your heart."
"S-something like that, at this point..."
"It's not 'at this point'—she doesn't know because you haven't told her. The walls are there because you won't say anything. So what if it's embarrassing or clumsy or whatever? She might think it's pathetic and look at you with exasperation. But so what? What you feel for Mineha inside your heart—she'll definitely receive it. And Mineha isn't the kind of person who wouldn't understand that. She'll understand. I'm sure of it."
Mineha will definitely understand. She's that kind of person.
"H-how can you just... say something like that so directly... Why are you..."
Ruriha turned her glistening eyes toward me—eyes clouded with a mix of anxiety and fear.
In a way, it almost looked like she was glaring at me.
Being direct? That's the easy part.
"Because I believe in her."
"..."
Ruriha kept staring at me, and a single tear slipped down her cheek.
"Ruriha!?"
Oh no. I made her cry!?
"You're so unfair."
Ruriha suddenly threw her arms around me. Wait, what.
"Wh-what?"
"So unfair… so unfair… what even is this… what is this. We haven't even known each other that long… and you're just a kid… and your shoulders are so easy to lean on… or rather, you're the first person besides my husband I've actually relaxed against in ages… and you get along so well with Mineha… well, not just get along, more like… and yet you know all these women — the Witch, and Shiro, and Chayve, and Munieka on top of that… and others too… you know so many people… and yet, and yet… unfair… so unfair, unfair, unfair, unfair… unfair"
"Um, Ruriha?"
"So unfair… you idiot."
"Um…"
"Idiot."
"Th-this…"
"Idiot."
"…I'm sorry."
"Idiot."
"…I apologize."
"Idiot."
What is this.
Ruriha was pouting like a child, clinging to me.
No matter what I said, all she'd reply was "idiot."
"So… if you'd like, shall we go to Mineha's place together?"
"Idiot… fine, but take me just like this."
"Like this? Come on, there's no way I can do… something like this."
"Then kiss me."
"Wh-wh-wh-what?!"
What!?
"Kiss me."
"U-um..."
"Do it."
"..."
I understand that I'm the one who's put her in this state.
Somehow, I've definitely done something terribly fatal.
I have no idea what that something is.
But my memories from my past life are telling me: once you've made an adult woman like this, it's over.
It's hopeless. What on earth have I done?
I always, always end up doing this.
Why is that? I'm just doing what Uncle told me.
When I was little, Uncle said to me:
"Listen, Wof. Remember this one thing, no matter what. Never make a girl cry. Never make a girl sad. Got it? No matter what happens, never forget that."
"Yeah. I understand."
That's true. I'm firmly convinced of it too, so I try my best not to do it.
But even so... somehow... I don't know why. Sometimes I still get it wrong.
But even if that's the case.
I can't just leave a sad girl or a girl on the verge of tears alone.
I really can't do that.
I want everyone to be happy. I want everyone to be smiling.
So I pressed my lips to Ruriha's... no, her lips would be going too far, so I pressed them to her cheek instead.
"Mm..."
"Is this okay?"
"A gentle kiss, huh."
Ruriha pulled away from me.
It had felt nice when she hugged me, and she smelled good too, so I was a little reluctant to let go.
"Let's go. To Mineha's place."
"Yeah."
Ruriha kissed my cheek and smiled.
That was way too sudden.
My house. The watchtower.
Mineha was sitting at the very top.
"Wof... Mother..."
Mineha was just sitting there, frozen in place, as large as ever.
She looked surprised to see us. Her gaze stopped on Ruriha, who was perched on my shoulder.
Ruriha was in her fairial form.
"Mineha."
"......"
"Ruriha."
When I urged her, Ruriha flew to Mineha's side.
"Mother..."
"Mineha. Let's talk. I... I have so much I want to tell you."
"Mother, to me?"
"Yes. You see... I... Mineha. I love you so much."
"Wh-What... Mother...?"
Ruriha embraced Mineha warmly.
I left the spot so as not to get in the way.
A smile naturally spilled onto my face.
Mothers and daughters, huh. There's nothing quite like it.
Maybe it's about time. I'll rest in my room for a bit — it's been a while — then head to the watchtower.
I can hear voices. Are they still talking?
Good. I wonder what kind of fun conversation they're having.
"You old hag! What the hell are you talking about at your age?!"
"Then you deal with it with that perverted body of yours!"
"Excuse me?! What kind of thing is that to say to your own ten-year-old daughter?!"
"You. The capital's..."
high-class prostitute
"She's so sexy she wins by a landslide! She's a mega-shameless pervert! Ten years old is definitely a lie!"
"No way it's a lie! Doubting your own daughter's age, you're way too senile!"
"What did you just say?!?!"
"WHAT ABOUT IT?!?!"
Um... what is this... what's going on?
Ruriha and Mineha were hurling insults and grappling with each other.
Why.