Chirem Act 6-12.3
BGM: 【MV】24 Hours with Camellya - A Private Record
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Act 6-12.3: Wanting to Be the One by His Side
TL :<t0/> Cnine
ED/<t0/>PF :
R1[1-3], R2[4-6], R3[7-9]
Part 7
「It’s… Over... Phew! That was insane! Absolutely epic! Didn’t you love it, Silvia?!」
「Yes. Honestly ... I never thought something like this could exist... After that sky-floating pool earlier, the outside world just keeps one-upping itself.」
Wonder and joy seeped into Silvia’s expression as she spoke. She almost never reveals her feelings when others are around... Which told me just how deeply this experience had shaken her. Everything today had unfolded against my expectations, yet... Watching her like this, I felt an unexpected warmth in my chest. I was glad. Deeply so.
「I see... Glad to hear that. Come on, let’s get out of the pool.」
「Yes. Oh, right... Eek, so scaaary.」
「Eh?!」
Once we stepped off the boat, Silvia suddenly threw herself at me, rattling off those lines like she was reading a script. Her generous bosom pressed firmly against mine with a soft, squeezing sensation... Dammit, that was a completely different sort of elasticity compared to Fushigi-chan.
「.... Dammit, not that! What are you doing, Silvia?!」
「Well, I simply followed the common sense the Goddess-sama taught me. When a man and woman take on an attraction, and something startling or scary happens, the woman must cling to the man... That’s the iron rule of dating, according to her.」
Ah... Figures… Another stunt pulled by that hopeless goof.
SPLASH!!!
A massive spray of water went off behind us. Looks like the next duo had wrapped up their ride too.
I turned to see Bell and Ferio in the boat, both soaked and laughing.
「Whoa! That was amazing, Bell-chan!!」
「Yes! Worlds kept appearing one after another, and I was totally blown away! Ah, Rak--- Big brooo! You’ve only just finished too, haven’t you? Bafu?!」
I carefully pried Silvia off and trudged through the waist-deep pool back to the pair. Ignoring Bell and the others buzzing with excitement, I seized the side of their boat and flipped it over in one swift motion. Apologies, Ferio.
「Pffah! Whaaat?! What are you doing all of a sudden?」
「Shut it! You went and stuffed Silvia’s head with useless trivia! I said, common sense! Women are supposed to cling to men, remember?!」
「You also said to explain stuff about men and women! And this facility too! I just did what I was told! Not my fault!!」
「Cough, hack! What the heck, Rakuichi?! So you can’t stand seeing me get along with Bell-chan, huh?! You’re such a siscon!!」
「Ah, for heaven’s sake! You lot are way too loud!!」
◇◆◇
「Rakuichi-kun...」
Water erupted in brilliant arcs as Rakuichi launched himself into a full-blown splash war with Bell and the others. Laughter rang out. From beyond the pool, along the curve of Fancy Canal, Elsie stood frozen, her hands gripping the railing as though it were the only thing keeping her upright.
「Is it really all right to just watch?」
「Huh? … Lillian-san?」
The voice came softly, unexpectedly, from behind her. When Elsie turned, Lillian stood there, already dried off, already removed from the chaos.
She stepped beside Elsie, resting her palms on the railing. Together, they watched as Rakuichi and the others wilted under a lifeguard’s stern warning.
「At this rate, Rakuichi will be taken by Silvia. He says she is not his girlfriend, but… She does not seem to see it that way. And when someone like that sets their sights on something, they do not let go easily. That makes her a real threat.」
「Y-yeah… Silvia-san is really pretty. And she is more mature, and her figure is amazing…」
「Age is not something you can change, but when it comes to womanly appeal, Elsie, you are not losing at all. You're adorable, and besides… you are carrying around a perfectly respectable figure that can go head-to-head with Silvia’s」
As she spoke, Lillian’s eyes drifted pointedly to a certain part of Elsie. The trace of bitterness in her stare was far too specific to be accidental.
Realising what she meant, Elsie flushed scarlet and hurriedly covered her chest. Lillian sighed, rubbing her temple.
「This is no time to hide. You chose such a cute swimsuit, and then you cover it up with a hoodie. You are wasting your strongest weapon.」
「Uuu… I get it… but still…」
「…Actually, today I am going to put an end to my feelings.」
Lillian turned sharply, her upper body twisting with purpose, and fixed her gaze on Ein. He stood a short distance away, throwing jeers at Rakuichi and the others, completely unaware that he had just become the centre of her resolve.
「... Put and end?」
「Yes. I’ve made up my mind. Today, I’m finally going to tell him everything.」
「That's...!」
「I don’t want to be just his childhood friend anymore. He might only see me as an annoying older sister, and, I might get rejected hard. Even so, that’s better than staying trapped in this awkward, half-baked relationship forever.」
「....」
Lillian straightened her back, then placed a steady hand on Elsie’s shoulder.
「“So you need to give it your all too, Elsie. If you really love Rakuichi, this is the moment to stand firm. Unless you start walking forward yourself, the future you dream of will never come.」
「But I...」
「I’m not telling you to confess today. But I think you should be a little bolder... A bit more daring. You’ve been a good girl for so long. Surely, just for today, no one would blame you for being selfish.」
Lillian ended her words with a tender smile and walked away toward Ein. Elsie watched the two of them laugh together, their rough voices oddly harmonious, the sight almost blinding. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her hoodie.
「Bolder... And Daring...」
And when she looked at Rakuichi again, her eyes shone with a light that hadn’t been there moments ago.
===
Elsewhere, at the entrance to Spring Heaven.
「So then? You followed the big bro and the other all the way here. What’s the plan now? You didn’t even bring your weapons.」
After getting in without trouble, Yuri called out to Chris’s back.
Chris answered with a bold, ringing laugh.
「Isn’t it obvious? I can’t go murdering people in a place like this. So instead, I’ll harass their group until today’s plans fall apart completely! Come on, Yuri!」
She shouted and took off at full speed.
「Geez... If you just want to spend time together, you could be honest about it ... Why does my very first spa resort have to be with my sister」
Muttering her complaints, Yuri dropped his head heavily, resignation weighing on his shoulders. With a long sigh, he followed after his sister.