Noah, who was diligently chewing jelly, began to shake his head left and right.
“Noah…? Are you drunk…?”
“Uuuh…? Do I look drunk? I’m not… at all… hehe…”
His expression, which had been stiff until just now, softened, and his face turned bright red…
It was obvious he was drunk.
“Rubia…”
“…Yes?”
“I found you…!”
Noah, who had been flailing his arms searching for me, bounced over when he heard my voice.
“Ugh…”
“Fuhuhu… The fresh scent of Rubia… I was so sad because the pillow lost its smell… hehehe…”
Then, he nestled into my arms, hugging my collar and starting to sniff.
But… pillow, really?
“Uh, um… I’m sorry… I bought drinks to help you two make up and talk, but… I didn’t think it would turn out like this…”
“What do you have to apologize for? It’s okay. Plus, I didn’t think I’d be this bad at drinking…”
“Uuuh… The scent is so good…”
“It seems like you didn’t know that either…”
“Yeah… Hahaha…”
I looked away from the drunken Noah and glanced around at the spot where I had been lying.
Hephaestus’s pillow was in its place, but mine was all crumpled where Noah had been lying.
Did he hug my pillow…?
“Noah, um… Hah…”
“Yeees…?”
Honestly… I wanted to ask a mountain of questions to Noah right now.
But I really didn’t want to hear his true feelings when he was this drunk.
I felt cowards for not wanting to know.
As I merely stroked his hair with my lips twitching…
“Rubia, I’ll be in my room. You both have a good chat!”
Hephaestus, who had suddenly stood up, was packing her things and heading out the door.
“No… You can stay here.”
“I have to wake up early tomorrow! Plus, it might be uncomfortable if I’m here! Sleep well, see you tomorrow!!”
“…Okay. Thanks. Good night.”
Hephaestus, with a bright smile, quietly left the room, leaving behind a “Fighting!” as she exited.
For an 18-year-old… she’s surprisingly perceptive.
“Rubia… why did you stop talking…?”
Noah wiggled around, tickling my thighs.
“…Noah.”
His innocent face looked up at me.
Is it alright to have a conversation with Noah like this when he’s drunk?
Wouldn’t he end up saying his inner thoughts he didn’t want to share?
It’s all so confusing.
“Want some jelly?”
“Eek… Jelly…!”
Whether he was drunk or not, it was the same.
I chuckled and held a piece of jelly up to Noah’s mouth.
Suddenly, he opened his mouth wide like he wanted to eat my hand too.
I saw his small but neat teeth.
A cute pink tongue fitting his small mouth caught my eye.
“Why aren’t you giving me jelly…?”
“Oh, here you go.”
“Uuuhm… Peach!”
I poked Noah’s cheeks, which were munching away, giggling.
“Noah, since I gave you jelly… can I ask you a question?”
“Rubia doesn’t need to give jelly to ask a question…!”
“…Really?”
“Uuh huh. Of course… Rubia is my friend…!”
Noah’s bright answer made me feel good, but also a bit uncomfortable.
“Friend… right. Because we’re friends…”
I wet my dry lips with my tongue and continued speaking.
“Then, as a friend, I’ll ask. Did you sleep holding my pillow just now?”
“Eh… How did you know…?“
“Why… did you do that?”
“Rubia wasn’t next to me… I can’t see anything without the Great Sword… Hah… This is a secret…”
Noah quickly covered his mouth.
Is he acting like this because he thought Hephaestus was next to him…?
“Is it because of Hephaestus?”
“Ugh… It’s a secret between Rubia and me… what should I do…?”
A wry smile escaped me.
He was thinking way too much about something I had just mentioned playfully.
“It’s okay. Hephaestus went to sleep because she was tired.”
“R-Really? Then, can I say it…?”
“Yes. Feel free.”
I slowly stroked Noah’s hair.
How can he be so cute?
“When I woke up and there was no Great Sword and no… Rubia, I felt so lonely…”
Noah leaned forward, gently wrapping his arms around my neck.
“But… even though I was angry the day before, if I search for Rubia because I don’t have the Great Sword… I was worried you’d hate me…”
His wet voice soaked my ears.
“I just… wanted to endure, and at least… sniff Rubia’s scent… Ugh… It must feel bad… I’m so sorry…”
The arms that were hugging around my neck slowly slid down.
Noah’s trembling body began to pull away from me.
I raised my arm and wrapped it around his waist.
I pulled him closer, bridging the distance between us.
“Ue…?”
“It doesn’t feel bad.”
“I-I was doing it secretly…?”
“Yes.”
Even in that situation,
The fact he searched for me…
Made me happy.
“Really…?”
“Of course. I’m more sorry that I left you alone, knowing it would happen.”
Once again, Noah’s arms wrapped around my neck.
I could feel her heartbeat clearly.
The small but distinct rhythm intertwined with mine.
My breath felt warm.
I should stop now.
I should close my lips.
I should let go of him.
“Noah.”
I had to.
“Yes…?”
This atmosphere.
Noah’s breath brushing my ear.
The sensation in my hands.
The rhythm implied through our bodies.
The color grew deeper and redder.
“Noah, why do you want to protect me?”
My mouth moved of its own accord.
“Why did you say you’d protect me forever?”
It twisted my heart.
“It’s so hard. I feel like I’ve become a bad person, I’m scared of being unable to control these filthy feelings and tormenting you. I’m scared that it’ll push us apart… But still… why do you keep…”
It’s not your fault.
It’s my problem.
But.
I cowardly.
Foolishly.
Pathetically.
Stupidly.
Passing the blame to you.
“Why do you make me experience such ugly feelings?”
I’m saying things I could never say to you when I’m sober.
“Why don’t you push me away, instead…”
Noah’s arms loosen.
“…That’s because.”
Her hand, which flowed down my shoulder to my chest, unwrapped my arms and pushed me away.
“I like Rubia.”
“Y-Yeah…?”
It was a different voice from her previously dragged-out tone.
A clear voice filled with strength reached my ears.
“I like Rubia, who walked a different path, even though we were similar.”
The warmth that had gathered between our bodies began to dissipate.
The sweet scent of jelly mixed with the bitter scent of alcohol floated away.
“Infinitely dazzling and beautiful.”
Our eyes met.
“Only Rubia can save me.”
Deeper red eyes shin brighter than my emotions.
“Only Rubia can answer me.”
Noah’s pure white smile illuminated.
“That’s why I’m protecting you.”
It submerged into the deeply entrenched red feelings.
“That’s why I like you, Rubia.”
They mixed together.
Blending.
Melding.
And lightened.
“So don’t worry.”
On the last day of August.
Under the hot tropical night.
“I’ll never hate you.”
The deep red transformed.
Into a dazzling pink shade.
“Forever.”
Captured on my lips.
Filled with the scent of peach.
*
“Uuuu… M-my head hurts…”
As I came to, a fierce headache jolted me, feeling like there was a fire in my stomach.
What in the world happened yesterday…?
Ah.
I ate spicy skewers and… drank… alcohol.
But I barely had one drink, right?
Why don’t I remember anything after that?
“Guuugh…”
No way… did I get drunk from just one drink?
So much I lost my memory?
Ahhh, I don’t know…
With my head throbbing and my stomach churning, I wanted to stop thinking…
“Sa-save me…”
I tried to twist my body and flop over.
But it didn’t move.
“Ugh…?”
I stretched out my hand to check my surroundings.
I caught something soft and huge.
“Uugh…”
“Rubia…?”
Hearing Rubia’s strange voice brought me back to my senses.
My body was tied up with Rubia’s arms and legs.
And…
What I held…
Was…
“Noah… What are you doing squeezing my chest this early in the morning? I didn’t allow this yet…”
“Uh, uh… No, it wasn’t… a-aren’t…!”
I quickly pulled my hand away.
And when I tried to turn my back,
Rubia’s legs blocked me.
“Where are you going… Come here.”
And strongly pulling me back into her embrace.
“Eh… Ah?”
Why is Rubia behaving like this all of a sudden?
She was acting so awkwardly until just yesterday…?
“Does your head hurt?”
“Yes, it hurts…”
“How about your stomach?”
“It hurts…”
“Fuhuh.”
A sweet scent tickled my nose.
“R-Rubia… Did you eat jelly alone?”
“Nope?”
“That’s not true… I smell jelly…”
“What fragrance?”
“Peach…”
“Peach? Puhuhuh… Maybe?”
Rubia teased me as she gently let go of my hold.
“What should we eat?”
Why does her voice sound so sweet…?
“I-I don’t know… My stomach hurts too much…”
“Well, I think warm soup would be good then. I’ll go get some.”
Patting my back, Rubia quickly rose from her seat, her body popping.
“Uuuhh… My back.”
Then there was a crackling sound…
“R-Rubia… Are you putting on your clothes?”
“Yes.”
“Why…?”
“I can’t go out naked, can I?”
“Ah, um…? N-no… that’s not…”
“Simple… It would be nice to have some bread too.”
“Not bread… R-Rubia? Why… why are you taking off your clothes with me…?”
Wait, I’m wearing clothes…?
“I’ll be back quickly.”
With the sound of the door opening,
“Just hang in there a bit.”
Rubia left.
“Eh…?”
Since I couldn’t see, I could hear better.
Earlier…
Rubia’s voice mixed with laughter was.
“P-Pink…?”
The heat radiated.
It held the essence of pink.
