TL/Editor: Butter Cat

    Status: 4/week mon-thurs

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    〈 Chapter 86 〉 HaPpY. (3)

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    Ding-a-ling─?, Ding-a-ling─?.

    "So this world also has festivals like this, huh. Of course, it''s a bit different… Well, I guess a place where people live is still just a place where people live, after all."

    Muttering those words, I looked around.

    Although the festival officially started tomorrow, the world was already completely immersed in a festive atmosphere.

    It was like the day before a school field trip, when everyone''s all excited.

    Every time groups of children moved around with colorful handbells clutched in both hands, the streets were filled with clear, beautiful melodies.

    And the carols, which had started with the humming of one or two people, spread like the aroma of delicious food, and before I knew it, the entire street was immersed in a grand harmony.

    Adults and children alike, everyone blessing this day.

    It was truly a festive moment, a feast for both the eyes and ears.

    —Tap, tap!

    "Wow! Big Sis Elli, look, look! There''s a tree with a huge star on top! I wonder what kind of tree that is?"

    "Needle-shaped bark and pointed leaves... It must be a fir tree. And those hanging on it… seem to be candies made from hardened sugar."

    "......Oh? Look, flowers! Heehee, let''s go see, Big Sis Elli!"

    And it looks like Alice was no exception to this.

    At twelve years old, soon to be thirteen when the month ends and the new year begins, Alice wasn’t exactly a small child by this world''s standards, but perhaps because this kind of festival was a first for her.

    Alice, completely immersed in the festive atmosphere, was leading us around here and there with an innocent smile on her face.

    The sight of Alice running about, grabbing Saelli''s arm and busily moving around to see the street vendors and the goods they were selling.

    It was like a young child''s bold declaration that she would enjoy this moment forever.

    "Alice. Running around like that here is dangerous—"

    "—Big Sis Elli! Look at this, it''s a narcissus! Oh, and there''s a camellia too!? Heehee. Aren''t they pretty?"

    "....Yes. They''re very pretty, indeed."

    I wonder what our Saelli finds so beautiful.

    Looking at her flushed face, which even the hood couldn’t completely hide, I had a rough idea what it was.

    Worried that Alice might slip and fall on a hidden patch of ice, Saelli tried to warn her. Running around on the streets where snow had fallen could be dangerous.

    But Alice, who would normally have stopped immediately upon hearing Saelli''s words, was now too engrossed in her surroundings to even hear Saelli''s words and just continued with her own excited chatter.

    —Swish!

    "Ta-da~!"

    Alice, who had run up to a merchant displaying flowers, hugged an armful of daffodils and camellias that were on display there and turned back to face us.

    In the midst of the Christmas festival, filled with human warmth, it was the moment a white flower bud with striking blue-green eyes bloomed fully.

    "....Well, I suppose it''s alright, just for today."

    Seeing that excited look, even Saelli couldn''t bring herself to be stern, and she nodded with a wry smile.

    Despite her words, she was the one who doted on Alice the most among us.

    And then—

    —Squeeze!

    "Let go off me right now, Han Sia!"

    "Mercenary, release this arm immediately. I must go to Aris."

    "...Geez, you princesses really can''t read the mood. Where do you think you''re trying to butt in."

    Two women, each being grabbed by one of my arms, frozen mid-stride as they tried to run forward.

    The names of those who were muttering, ''Of course it should be us (me) who stands beside her,'' were Anna Akaia and Remi Akaia, respectively.

    They were, even though I really want to deny it… they were Alice''s real older sisters, connected by blood.

    Whether it''s because sisters are sisters even if they don''t get along, or what, these two who were acting like exact copies of each other until just now, upon seeing Alice and Saelli cuddling up ahead, moved in perfect unison to try and split them apart, as if their earlier bickering had been a lie.

    As I pulled them back, I shook my head vigorously, trying to resist the solidifying stereotype that everyone with the last name Akaia has this kind of personality.

    I mean, Alice''s last name is Akaia too, right?

    They can''t all be… like this, can they?

    "Ariiiiis~! Come here! Your favorite big sister is here!!"

    ".....Aris, there appears to be flowers here too."

    Hmm.

    "....Tch."

    The conclusion to that age-old question was finalized as these two simply being weirdos.

    Of course, I knew better than anyone that if I were to utter the thought process behind solving that puzzle, I would never see the light of day again, so clamping my mouth shut as it was about to open was just par for the course.

    Unfortunately, in this world, there was no such thing as the nicety of freedom of speech.

    And I, unlike them, knew how to read the room.

    Well, like that.

    "Are you alright, Alice? The scent wafting over seems quite spicy."

    "....Mmm? No… I''m fine, Big Sis Elli. Heehee."

    Sometimes, we all gathered to buy and eat strange skewers made of meat we couldn''t even identify.

    "Aris~! How about this? It''s a butterfly-shaped bookmark! Let''s each get one!"

    "Mmm…? Ah, I… want the orange one."

    "Orange? There are only yellow and green ones… Hmm, are you talking about this yellow one, Aris?"

    "....Yes. That one!"

    And sometimes, though it felt like we were being ripped off a bit, we would buy small trinkets that would become a page in our memories to cherish forever.

    The eventful and somewhat bizarre five hours of the festival, a time so intense and unforgettable, was nearing its end.

    Just as flowers bloom, they must eventually wither.

    The happy times, where every second felt too precious to waste, finally came to a close.

    —Tap, tap!

    "~Ah, that was fun! Hehe, this bookmark is my treasure now!"

    "But Remi, you''ve never really liked reading since you were young—O-Ow! I-I''m sorry. I said I''m sorry, Remi—!"

    And so, as we were all reminiscing about the happy memories of the festival, slowly savoring the lingering feeling under the slowly setting evening sun.

    "Big sisters—"

    "......Yes?"

    We heard Alice''s voice calling us.

    Though her voice was small and weak, as if she was barely able to speak.

    Strangely enough, Alice''s words entered our ears as clearly as if she had spoken right into them.

    "—I, I wanted to buy you all gifts…Um… So…"

    "......Yes?"

    As if embarrassed, she covered her flushed face with her long sleeves.

    Alice moved her small, cute lips, peeking out from between the fabric, and spoke to us.

    "It''s a surprise… so… um, I''ll quickly go buy them from the store over there…so, s-so… I''m a little embarrassed, so would it be okay if I quickly go by myself?"

    ".........."

    Alice said she had seen something she liked on the way here, and wanted to get us gifts to show her gratitude.

    But she was too embarrassed to buy gifts for us in front of everyone, so she asked if she could quickly go to the store by herself.

    She said the store was right in front, so she''d be back quickly.

    And their reactions were, well.

    "...No way. Aris, what do you want? I''ll buy you the whole store for you!"

    "Alice is the one buying the gifts, why are you butting in!? Hey, stop right there, Crown Princess don’t try to sneak away! Where do you think you''re going with that wallet!"

    "....I''m going to buy the store. Is that… not allowed?"

    "....You guys are actually close, right? You''re just pretending not to be in front of me, right!?"

    No one could resist that destructive appearance, like a cat looking up at its owner and begging for treats, especially in this situation where everyone was ready to give Alice their liver and gallbladder if she asked.

    Well.

    "—It''s right in front, so I''ll be back quickly! Big sis, you really can''t follow me!!"

    "....!? Ah, she''s gone?"

    Alice was also about to turn thirteen years old, old enough to be considered more or less an adult, and seeing Alice running off ahead saying she''d go to the store right in front, of course no one could follow her.

    The place she said she was going was pointing to the building right in front.

    And this was the imperial capital, famous for its excellent public safety.

    It wasn''t like we could spend our whole lives by Alice''s side, restricting her every action and taking away her freedom.

    There wasn''t any reason, any reason at all, to stop a child who had pleaded with us not to follow her, saying she wanted to buy us gifts.

    "Don''t fight while I''m gone—!! I mean it—!!!"

    "Okay! We got it!! Come back soon, Alice!!!"

    We all waved our arms vigorously as we watched Alice look back at us one last time before turning back to the road we had come from, simply cheering Alice on in our hearts.

    Wondering what gifts she would bring back.

    Thinking, this much should be fine, right.

    Because that''s what we all thought.

    Yes.

    "───?!"

    "....What''s wrong, Saelli?"

    In this hellish world.

    We shouldn’t have done that.

    **

    The nightingale that sang of dawn had its wings broken.

    Now the bird wondered where to go.

    "Its destination had already been decided."

    Everything, returns to the beginning.

    **