Nagai Koto c15

「Velt-kun, water please!」 (Customer A)

「Velt~ Is my ramen ready?」 (Customer B)

「Velt boy, hurry up and bring the order! Lunch break is going to end!」 (Customer C)

(TN: Many places in Japan have a way for you to call someone to your table, either with a bell or a button or something similar.)

「Velt-kun. You don't have to help any more after this. Children will be coming to help out.」 (???)

However, there's only one person that spoils me at the shop. That would be her.

「Kami-san, yo.」 (Velt)

(TN: Kami-san is one way to refer to someone’s wife.)

Coming off of break and putting on an apron, was sensei's wife 『in this world.』 Her name is Laraana. Her hair is only down to her shoulders, but one or both of her eyes are often hidden by her bangs. She looks like the plain and docile type, the one that reads a book in the corner of the classroom.

But, the other day, I happened to see it. With her bangs out of the way, she's very pretty. Her age is unexpectedly high at twenty eight, but she appears to only be in her teens. Unfortunately, I realized it. Sensei is thirty two but married at nineteen, and has been married for thirteen years. In other words, Laraana-san married sensei when she was fifteen. Though it seems you can get married at fifteen in this world, the problem wasn't that. It was that the formerly fifty-year-old high school teacher went and married a third year middle school kid. I was hit hard when I asked sensei, 「Isn't it a crime?」

「*Fuu~* Tired~ I feel like I've suddenly run out of magic power.」 (Velt)

Since mom and dad passed away, I'm staying at sensei's house. After I stopped going to school, I've been helping out with the shop and learning how to make ramen, so I'm normally busy.

「Velt-kun, is now a good time?」 (Laraana)

「Yes, your salary. Thank you for working here as always.」 (Laraana)

「Hey now! Children shouldn't be worrying about that. Velt-kun isn't a freeloader, but my child, so there's no problem.」 (Laraana)

「*Fufufu*, that's good! You've done enough for today, so why don't you go buy something to give to the princess?」 (Laraana)

「It's the thought that counts!」 (Laraana)

Ever since I talked about being a freeloader, Kami-san has welcomed me normally. Well, they don't have a child, so I'm something like their child now. I'm still conscious of being polite to everyone I meet. Furthermore, I'm still somewhat embarrassed from being regularly spoiled by Kami-san, but I think she and sensei really are happy.

「Forna, huh... What should I get?」 (Velt)

Later, though this is somewhat unrelated, I discovered something. At first I originally offered to work at the ramen shop to improve myself, but I'm filled with a sense of fulfillment now to be honest. I never even worked part-time as Asakura Ryuuma, but I don't dislike having worked by the sweat of my brow now.

If I had happened to work hard at farming, I might have come to like it just as much. Just maybe, mom and dad would have been overjoyed. As I thought of that, I still had my regrets as expected, so I've decided not to dwell on it any more. From now on, I don't want to have regrets like that again.

「Velt, you're done with work already?」 (Forna)

Forna already knows the timing of my shift perfectly as she suddenly showed herself. Though I thought she was just a noisy brat before, I've begun to think differently as of late. Of course, she's not an object of romantic interest, but something like noticing the younger sister is a brocon. (TN: Brother complex, look it up if you're unsure of the meaning.)

「Ah, good timing.」 (Velt)

「Are you my mother?」 (Velt)

「Well, that was, I was still training.」 (Velt)

It’s the opposite of nagging and talking about love. She's worried about how I'm doing, so she came to see me after all.

「Here, let's go.」 (Velt)

「Around the town.」 (Velt)

「Nothing really. Just that I'm taking you on a date.」 (Velt)

Well, with money in hand, I could treat her a... wait, wait. Why is she trembling there in shock and awe.

「Ve,... Velt... Velt invited me on a date!」 (Forna)

「Eh, no, ah, I don't mean that I hate it, let's go! Yes, yes, let us go!」 (Forna)

I see. When she's not setting the pace, she's normally cute. It's just, I wish she would stop dragging me along and clinging to me. Especially since she's beet red in the face from her embarrassment and skinship.

「Velt... What's happened to you lately? You were a little mature before, but now you're more honest.」 (Forna)

「~~~~...*Ufufu, ufufufufufufufufu.*」 (Forna)

「♪」 (Forna)

For some reason Forna became really happy. She began to swing my hand back and forth, all while humming a tune. As we walked around the capital with our usual banter, though the atmosphere was just alright, worrying seemed to be a pointless endeavor while I walked about with my intimate sister.

「Oh, Velt, are you on a date with your wife since your shift's done?」 (Person A)

「Next, get better at making ramen you hear?」 (Person B)

Before, I thought that the bustle of the city was irritating to hear, but somehow I feel that it's alright now. Also, though it's only the usual banter, when mom and pop died, many people visited their graves and cried. Though everyone pokes at me and jokes around, in actuality they're worried about me. Having come to understand that, I've been smiling a lot more whenever I run into them now.

「*Mou*, Velt is popular now.」 (Forna)

「That's not it, Velt is popular! Don’t forget, I am the most popular one, more than Velt!」 (Forna)

「Saying that with a straight face is rude! *Mou*, now I'm mad, it won't do unless you have a present to give me!」 (Forna)

「Velt has present! Wait, you, are you really my Velt? This isn't some transformed monster from the forest, and it's not a dream I'm having is it!?」 (Forna)

「I, I want it! Want! Need! I, I'll, I'll take it! Umm, what should...Maybe...Ah!」 (Forna)

「Eh... Wh, why?」 (Forna)

「Wh, what's with that astonished face! You're too cheeky for just being Velt! But, wait a bit please. Hm, umm, at the accessory shop, ah, but something that matches... Umm...」 (Forna)

Are we a comedy duo? What a terrible act. I think it's a bit fun though. Forna wandered back and forth in front of the booth at wit's end. The people in the area were laughing quietly and smiling.

「Sheesh, here, it's not that expensive, so, how about this ribbon?」 (Velt)

「Hey, don't think so hard. If something caught your interest, say it.」 (Velt)

「O, oh.」 (Velt)

It's weird. Just yesterday I was stuck between being Asakura Ryuuma and Velt Jeeha, with no interest in the world nor reason to live. However, with just a small change in thought, all the small, pointless things began to plenty my heart.

If I think about it, living as Asakura Ryuuma during high school might have felt like this. The days where all I did was fight were empty. I thought those who enjoyed school and school life were fools, and I was uninterested.

However, my way of thinking suddenly changed one day. The way I felt about school life reversed completely.

「*Mmm*, how troubling. Pink and white... Which one...」 (Forna)

That's right, when I came to think that school life was fun, it felt just like this. The change in Velt Jeeha's way of thinking is thanks to sensei, mom and dad, and this precocious brat. And, Asakura Ryuuma's change was thanks to...

——Isn't it fun, Asakura-kun!

That feeling, has become even stronger.

Chapter end