Chapter 55: Everyone thought

I walked out of the Demon King’s office. We ended up working uncomfortably together from start to finish.

I ran across Garen on my way back to my room.

“Mika.”

When Garen saw me, he became concerned.

“What’s wrong? Was there anything that caused your face to cloud over?”

“… Garen…”

Garen’s attitude hasn’t changed despite the fact that I rejected his proposal, or rather, he wouldn’t allow me to turn it down.

“Is there anything I can help?”

“Thank you, but…”

This is between the Demon King and myself. Garen smiled at me when I faltered.

“Well, here’s a bit of magic.”

Garen’s fingers snap, and four crimson flowers appear.

“Wow…”

It’s like a magic trick. Unlike magic tricks, there are no tricks. And he extended the rose to me.

“Can I have it?”

“Of course.”

Garen nods, and I gladly take the rose. I thanked Garen, and I went to my room.

I put the roses Garen gave me in a vase and rolled around on my bed.

Garen made me feel a bit better, but I still have a sinking sensation in my heart.

“I couldn’t say I liked him either.”

I developed a crush on Garen and imagined how happy I would be if we could be together. But the reality is that it’s not that easy to have a happy ending when you have feelings for someone.

I like the Demon King as much as he likes me, but my sentiments will only annoy him if he only wants to be friends with me.

When I previously discussed love with the Demon King, I thought that this time I wanted to have a love that I could say with confidence that I had a great love. However, love is tough. I closed my eyes while I thought about that.

■□■

“…Good.”

Mica gave me a bewildered look, and the mood was weird, but I managed to keep Mica’s friendship.

TL: ¯_(°ᴥ°)_/¯

“What exactly was “good,” brother?”

Yulin strolled in just as I was about to exhale a sigh of relief. When I told Yulin what had happened, he looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“What makes you think you can remain friends? You should push harder, brother—If you continue in this manner, the Shrine Maiden will really go back to her world.”

“That’s… as long as Mica’s safety is guaranteed, I think that’s all right.”

Mica has her own world, just as I can’t leave Crystallia. I was relieved when Mica informed me she loved this world, but I don’t think she will stay in it. I’m here as her friend, but she has family. No one can replace the loved ones she left behind in her world.

“You’re really clumsy, brother, but I think you should put your own desires first and tell the Shrine Maiden how you feel about her again. ──I want you to stay in this world.”

It’s not that I don’t want Mica to do me a favor and remain in Crystalia forever… that Mica would smile next to me all the time… how happy would that make me?

“…that’s.”

But… If I tell her that, I’ll lose Mica’s friendship.

”Brother, love is more fulfilling for those who persevere—I can’t count how many times Sofia has turned me down.”

Yulin is a free spirit, yet I appreciate his perseverance. That is what I lack.

“Yulin is incredible.”

“Of course I am.”

Yulin said firmly.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as he exuded confidence.

“Thank you so much, Yulin… I’ll tell Mica how I feel about her again.”

And if Mica says she can’t accept my feelings, I’ll give up for good. I decide to do so and glance up through the window at the moon.