Bonus 2: Dancing in the Cold Sky
Just as we'd said, a few days later, we set out for hanami.
Our destination was a small hill a bit removed from the village—an elevated spot with a nice view overlooking a spring, in a clearing among the trees.
The weather was great, too. A perfect day for flower viewing.
I could see tiny white petals fluttering through the blue sky. They looked almost like cherry blossoms, and for a moment, a faint sense of nostalgia welled up in me.
...If only the cat next to me weren’t staring daggers into me, I might’ve been able to bask in the mood.
“Why is Lulu in such a bad mood?”
Even though she should’ve been happy to have Master all to herself while I was out of commission for a few days, I could feel this pressure from her for some reason.
“I realized partway through... it just kinda felt like I was getting someone’s leftovers!”
“Mmmffuh hohfhuh hhhat’shyahminh no heh!”
I don’t know what you’re talking about! And why are you pulling on my cheeks? Go complain to Master, not me!
“Haah... senpai’s so lucky... Even like that, you still get doted on…”
“I think Master’s actually putting in quite a bit of effort, though...”
“That’s it! That’s exactly the problem! He has to put in effort for you!”
As Lulu started going off about something annoying again, I turned my eyes away from her and looked to Master—who seemed to be putting up some kind of barrier to make sure the area was safe.
...It’s so unfair how he can just pretend not to notice stuff like this. Aren’t we supposed to be in the same ‘guy’ category? Why is there such a gap?
“Yuria, you get it too, right!?”
“Eh? Ah, yeah…”
Apparently giving up on me, Lulu now turned her attention to Yuria. She had just finished setting out the lunch and looked taken aback at first, but she started nodding as if she did kind of understand.
Sensing this would get even more annoying, I quickly scurried over to Master—who gently placed a hand on my head.
...I wish he wouldn’t mess with my bedhead. No matter how many times I fix it, there’s always one part that sticks up.
“This brings back memories, doesn’t it?”
“…………Yeah.”
When he gets all sentimental like that, I honestly don’t know how to react. I mean, I do feel nostalgic too, but still—I lightly kicked the back of his calf.
“The more I look at it, the more it feels like cherry blossoms.”
“Even though the flowers are totally different…”
The blossoms in full bloom were from a species with an abundance of petals. At a glance, they didn’t look like cherry blossoms at all. But since the petal shape was similar, the way they scattered in the wind looked just like a cherry blossom storm.
Even so, I think this will end up being a beautiful memory in its own way.
“…………Right?”
“Eh—yes...!?”
Just as we exchanged those words and I glanced forward, I noticed Lulu quietly staring this way.
A chill ran down my spine, and I hurried to hide behind Master’s back. But Lulu came charging at me and wrapped her arms around me with incredible force.
“Why is senpai always, always like this!?”
“Ow ow ow ow!? What is your problem!? Master, help please!”
“—Aah, you two, that’s enough already.”
As I cried out for help, Master sighed and tried to mediate, looking a little annoyed.
“Shuya-sama! I’m talking to senpai right now!!”
But faced with Lulu’s fierce attitude, he quickly gave up and went back to setting up the barrier.
Why do you always back down right at those moments...!?
“Teach me how you make it look so natural, senpai.”
In the end, after catching me, Lulu made a request so awkward it was hard to respond to.
I mean, what’s that supposed to mean, “make it look natural”?
“What do you mean by that?”
“You know how you always end up next to Shuya-sama in such a natural way? Even at night, you just act like it’s the most normal thing in the world and wind up getting to use his arm as a pillow.”
I’ve got zero memory of that. If anyone overheard this, it’d totally ruin my reputation, seriously.
“I don’t recall any of that… And if you want to act natural, maybe just… act normal?”
“That’s exactly what I don’t get!”
I glanced over at Master nearby—he was gazing absentmindedly at the petal storm while Yuria poured him a drink. That, I thought, seemed like a pretty natural distance, too. Maybe she could just copy that?
“Wouldn’t Yuria be a better example?”
“But that’s the distance between a maid and her master! That’s not what I’m aiming for!”
According to Lulu, what she’s after is more of an easygoing, close-knit couple kind of vibe. Yeah, and I’m still not the right person to be asking about this.
“I want to build the kind of relationship where I can close the distance naturally—like you do, senpai! That natural flirt energy! I want to master it with Shuya-sama—for the future!”
“Excuse me, what do you mean by that?”
Did she seriously just insult me in the most casual, natural tone ever? Is that really how I come off to people?
“Senpai, you’re amazing at creating that ‘mood’ without even trying.”
“All right, that’s it—we duel.”
Can’t believe I didn’t notice it before. Lulu’s frustration has finally boiled over and now she’s picking a fight with me. I see, well then—good guts you’ve got there.
What about me looks natural!? I’m practically being dragged along half the time, and it’s completely forced! There’s nothing smooth about it, it’s full of awkwardness!
“That’s why! I’ve decided to throw away my useless pride and learn from my predecessor! So c’mon—share your slutty secrets with me!”
“Okay, rock-paper-scissors is how we start this...!!”
I’ve had enough of being treated like a helpless little critter. This is the perfect chance.
Time to teach you what a real hierarchy looks like, you damn pervy cat…!
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