Could it be that I’ve planned the trip for a whole week?
I feel like I could just lounge around for a day and still be fine.
If it had been a 3-day, 4-night schedule, I would’ve been up early with an alarm, but since it’s a week…
Plus, even when I go back, I can still take it easy.
“You look happy.”
“Well, in a situation where I can’t help but be happy, what can I do?”
As I replied while pulling the blanket up to my chest, Charlotte chuckled softly.
Last night, I switched rooms.
Even so, it didn’t feel right to take the hotel blanket into the next room and sleep on the floor. I might as well buy a sleeping bag if I wanted to do that.
Usually, I hang out with Alice and Claire, so last night was all about spending time with Charlotte and Mia.
Just as I expected, they weren’t noisy at all.
Compared to Alice and Claire, who often bicker and make a racket whenever they’re together, it was almost the opposite.
Thinking about it, Alice is a crown princess, and Claire is basically a crown princess too in a way, while just Count Crowfield’s daughter, Mia, is much quieter.
“Shall we slowly get up? It’s already lunchtime.”
Charlotte was already dressed. Mia next to her was too.
“…What about Alice and Claire?”
“Well, our crew is out exploring the area.”
“Since this morning?”
“Yep, all morning.”
That was a bit surprising.
I thought Claire would come bouncing into the room to shake me awake the next morning.
“I-I insisted on letting you sleep.”
As I sat up, Mia said.
“Is that so?”
“Yep… you were sleeping so comfortably.”
“To be honest, I was so surprised at first, I thought you weren’t breathing.”
Charlotte said, sitting on the edge of the nearby bed.
“It was the most relaxed expression I’ve seen on you until now.”
Hmm…
I guess that makes sense. I had been on edge a lot in Azernar.
Even if I rewound time to extend my sleep or repeated holidays to rest my body, that fatigue would come rushing back after time rewound.
The only thing that did seem to heal was a bit of mental stability.
That alone was a huge help, but the image people often saw of me was probably that of someone on alert, always looking around.
I stretched my arms out in front of me.
“Thanks to you, I think I’ve slept deeper than in the past few years. It’s refreshing.”
Even though I learned how to remain fine with reduced sleep, the most comfortable way to rest remains sleeping deeply and waking up.
To lie down on a fluffy bed in a completely safe place without any thoughts is happiness itself.
“That’s good to hear.”
Hearing Charlotte’s reply, I threw off the blanket and stood up.
*
“Oh, sis, you’re up!”
“Did you sleep well?”
I waved my hand lightly to greet the two waiting for me in the hotel lobby.
“You look really good! You must have been tired.”
“It’s just Mia among us who doesn’t wake up early.”
As I replied to Alice’s comment, Mia puffed out her cheeks, and I chuckled a little.
“So, what should we do today?”
“I found a place nearby that sells delicious tarts. It’s not just tarts, it seems they have various breads too.”
Seeing Claire look at Mia while saying that, I guess the searcher was Mia.
“Then let’s go check it out?”
I nodded in agreement.
*
After stopping by the bakery to eat bread, we came out onto the street and bought random street food to munch on while walking.
We took photos whenever we saw parks, and went into strange alleys for no good reason.
If there was an oddly shaped shrine, we even went inside to take a spin.
Even though we were happily wandering around here and there, I hardly felt my body getting tired.
Actually, I felt like I was continuously recovering instead.
It was as if the grime was washing away, revealing the white within bit by bit.
“…”
As I walked down the street, I suddenly stopped, and the children walking ahead turned around at the same time.
It was such a beautiful sight.
No doubt after this time passes, I’ll only recall it vaguely.
After some time passes, even if I seek it out in photos, I won’t accurately remember this day.
While that fact is a bit sad, it’s also just too beautiful.
As if trying to engrave the sight of the four of us standing together in my mind, I quietly watched.
“Sis?”
Claire was the first to break the silence.
“What are you doing over there?”
Alice tilted her head.
“Sylvia?”
Charlotte looked puzzled,
“Are your legs hurting? Would you like to take a minute to rest?”
Mia suggested.
The corners of my mouth curled up slightly as I silently watched the four of them with my hands tucked into my coat pockets.
“No, I was just watching because I wanted to.”
As I resumed walking and slipped by them, Claire tilted her head.
“We see each other’s faces all the time.”
“Right.”
I replied for no reason.
The other three looked bewildered, nodding their heads repeatedly, but I didn’t elaborate.
I wonder if we’ll ever get together again like this at least once.
If that time comes, I want to bring all the friends I made in that world with me.
Is that too greedy?
Well, it doesn’t matter.
After all, people are creatures who want more once they have something. I’m one of those people too.
No one will scold me for desires I didn’t speak out loud.
The somewhat cool Tokyo night gleamed, perhaps due to the end of the year.
Maybe it looked even more sparkling because of the four people around me.
*
Having spent a leisurely week like this, we returned home.
The flight time was just two hours, but it’s really just two hours of flying time; add in the time from Tokyo to the airport, check-in, and customs, plus the time spent wandering around the airport and taking the bus back, and that time doubles.
Of course I’m bound to be tired.
As soon as we entered the house, Claire dashed toward the living room. The hallway from the entrance to the living room was slightly bent, so I couldn’t see her properly, but considering the thud I heard, she must’ve jumped onto the sofa.
“Claire, you need to unpack.”
While the apartment entrance wasn’t small, four teenage girls and five suitcases made it unrealistically crowded.
“Let’s unpack later~ later.”
I heard Claire’s voice from quite a distance.
Alice sighed heavily.
Honestly, I wanted to quickly spread out a blanket in the living room and lie down too.
“Hmm.”
“Why the sudden giggle?”
As I thought of that, too tempted to sit on the bed, I let out a quiet laugh, and Alice asked.
“It’s nothing.”
I said while folding the suitcase handle.
“Then let’s just unpack first. If Claire leaves her bag in front of you, it’ll be inevitable.”
“Let’s do that.”
Charlotte nodded her head.
*
After some fuss, we finished tidying up, and it was about an hour later before I could spread out the blanket and lie down.
“It’s hard to believe I was in another country just a few hours ago.”
“Maybe it felt that way since the travel time wasn’t as long as expected.”
Charlotte responded to Claire’s comment.
“Bellbur and Azernar share a border, and there’s a lot we have in common with building styles too. Since we weren’t blocked by a long sea journey, crossing over didn’t have a huge impact.”
“And in my case, I actually lived in Azernar.”
Charlotte chimed in with Alice’s statement.
“I’m kind of the same. It’s my hometown, right across from Bellbur.”
I guess it could be compared to taking an airship over the sea. While it technically was Azernar land, it’s a bit similar.
For a moment, everyone fell silent, staring at the ceiling.
“If we go back to that world…”
Claire spoke up.
“Let’s all go on a trip together, just like we did this time. We could easily make it work during vacation.”
“That sounds fun.”
Charlotte laughed.
“Yeah, for sure. It’ll be a worry-free trip.”
Alice said as if just imagining it was enjoyable.
“If possible, I hope it’s a place with plenty of sights and food.”
Mia honestly expressed her wishes.
I didn’t bother saying anything.
Another silence descended. Among those who didn’t utter a single word, a quiet breathing sound was heard.
Perhaps it was Mia.
With that breathing sound as a cue, one by one, we began to drift off to sleep.
Of course, it makes sense after a few hours of traveling.
As I listened to those breaths, I too felt the heavy sensation pulling me in.
My eyelids had already grown heavy and shut tight.
“…”
Surrendering myself to that pleasantly tired wave, I felt like I would have good dreams tonight.
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