wildflower-otome

‘I’m back~♪’

‘...........Um. Minami, you know this isn’t your house, right?’

‘Sure do.’

It wasn’t out of the ordinary for him to come in like this.

As for why I didn’t just keep it locked…..it was because when I had tried, he had simply broken the window to get in instead.

I got such a scolding from my mother that day…..

‘Hey, you don’t need my soul anymore, right? Why keep coming here?’

I closed the still wide open window as I spoke.

‘I’m here to play with you, of course.’

‘.....Do you not have any other friends besides me?’

‘Hah?’

…..Uh oh, I shouldn’t have said that.

Because he was always coming here regardless of how inconvenient it was for me, I’d ended up saying something harsh.

‘Sorry, just now I-’

‘You’re not my friend.’

................Seriously?

‘Rather than your soul, it’s you I want. Catch my drift?’

‘...........’

‘If you don’t understand, then I’ll make sure you do❤︎’

So speaking, Minami’s eyes shone—

‘—!’

…..Oh no. My body won’t move….!

‘Stop!’

‘Nuh-uh. I ain’t stopping.’

Minami-kun picked up my body and moved me over to the bed. And then, after laying me down …..

His face came close enough that I could feel his breath on mine.

‘Hey, I understand already, so stop!’

‘Oh? And what is it you’ve understood?’

‘Th-that is-’

‘Because of you, I’ve started to feel emotions unbefitting of a demon…..so how will you make it up to me?’

‘-....’

Just as I thought I was about to be kissed-

Minami-kun was sent flying, and, at the same time, I was able to move my body again.

‘Dear me, I can’t let my guard down for a moment….’

‘Seiya-san….!’

Somehow or other, it would appear that Seiya-san had stopped Minami-kun.

…..Haah. That was close.

The reason I was able to see him was thanks to the spiritual power that Toka-san had bestowed on me.

‘Thank you. You saved me.’

‘It was no trouble at all. Nonetheless, it would seem I made the right decision to bug your room.’

‘................Y-You what-….?’

‘Worry not. I don’t listen to everything.’

…..Uh, I don’t think I can help being worried?

‘You perverted bastard!’

Yelling out, Minami got up.

‘Yes, I am a pervert. And what of it?’

It was likely only Seiya-san who was capable of making a reply such as this.

‘Gross. Don’t tell me you’ve got hidden cameras in her room too?’

‘What!?’

‘Of course not. Secretly filming someone is a crime after all.’

And so is bugging someone’s room——!!!

…..I couldn’t say it out loud however, seeing as he had saved me just earlier. No, I should tell him…..right?

Not just Seiya-san, but Minami-kun too. I wanted to use this opportunity to make things clear.

‘I have something important I’d like to speak with you two about…..no, it’s more like a request.’

Hearing what I had said, Seiya-san took up a pose as if to show he was listening.

‘What is it?’

Since it appeared that Minami-kun was also listening, I felt momentarily relieved. 

Straightening my posture, I faced the two of them, a serious look in my eyes.

‘As I have my own private life too.….’

Stopping there, I first looked at Minami-kun.

‘I don’t mind you coming here, but the least you could do is come through the front door—’

….Ah, but then he’d need to press the intercom button. My family would see him.

‘Or not. Could you at least….knock at the window?’

‘Hell no.’

‘............’

For the time being, I would let it slide. I hadn’t thought for an instant that Minami-kun would listen to me anyway.

‘Next is you, Seiya-san. I’m grateful that you saved me from Minami-kun, and you’ve been very helpful but-.....please remove your listening devices.’

Seiya-san, apparently in shock, momentarily staggered dramatically…..but then soon straightened up.

‘I had thought that you had accepted my insane and perverted side-................’

After a few moments of silence, his mouth moved again.

‘................I shall remove them shortly.’

Just as I had thought he would, Seiya-san had listened to—

‘I shall make do with merely keeping a GPS tracker on you.’

‘.....................’

‘You really are a creepy bastard. Can’t you tell you’re making her uncomfortable?’

‘You’re one to talk. Haven’t you realised it yet? She’s saying she doesn’t want to see you.’

‘Haah? She didn’t go that far. In my case—.....’

As the two continued to quarrel, I quietly left the room behind me.

* * *

Leaving my house, so as not to get caught up in their fight—

‘Haah….’

Having come to Beachfront Park, I was lost in thought as I gazed out at the ocean.

…..At this rate I was going to have no privacy whatsoever. What could I do to make those two understand that?

Don’t tell me, was this another trial from Toka-san…..? No, I doubted it.

‘Haah…..’

As I breathed yet another sigh, a voice called out from beside me.

‘Whatcha sighing for?’

‘-.....S-Sena-san…..’

…..He startled me! I hadn’t noticed him there at all.

‘You sighed nine times. Did something happen?’

From the opposite direction, Hibiki-kun made his appearance, startling me further.

…..Wait a moment, he’d been counting my sighs? Since when??

‘.....It’s rare to see you two together.’

The reason I hadn’t answered their questions was because I didn’t want to make them worry.

‘We’re helping Hibiki-kun with his rehabilitation. Koyo and Kureha-san are just over in the grass square too.’

‘I had Sena-san and Kureha-san accompany me out here.’

‘I see.’

Based on what they’d said, it would appear that Hibiki-kun was trying to graduate from his shut-in lifestyle.

Since Koyo-san had now returned to the world of the living…..perhaps he had come here to visit Sena-san, and then met the others by chance.

‘.....About the sighing from earlier. Do you want to talk about it?’

‘Um, if it’s alright with you, please allow us to be of assistance.’

I was happy that they wanted to help, but I couldn’t immediately answer.

‘At this rate, I’m gonna end up so worried about you that I won’t be able to move on….. Haah. I’ll end up a wandering ghost forever, all because of you.’

‘What!?’

‘Heheh. Just kidding.’

‘Sheesh, come on…..’

‘I truly am worried for you. I won’t be able to go to heaven like this.’

Both Sena-san and I went silent at Hibiki-kun’s earnest words,….and in the end I wound up talking.

And just as I was about to start, both Kureha-san and Koyo-san came to join the group…..

I confessed my worries to them.

‘That’s totally a crime.’

It was Sena-san who had spoken.

‘Still, those two are inhabitants of Hell…..perhaps it wouldn’t be considered a crime in that realm.’

‘Then, why don’t we go ask Toka-san for help?’

At Sena-san’s suggestion, Hibiki-kun nodded as if in agreement.

‘I’m sure a god will be able to handle this.’

‘He has been watching over you after all.’

It appeared Kureha-san agreed as well. However-.....

‘Wouldn’t that be pointless? I mean, Toka-san is a god of calamity. Feels like he’d just tell you to overcome it this time too.’

Before I could open my mouth, Koyo-san said what I had been thinking.

‘Still, we won’t know until we try.’

So speaking, Kureha-san stood up, holding a hand out to me.

‘Um….?’

‘Let’s go to Tsukumo Shrine. To ask a favour of the gods.’

‘!’

‘Let’s do it! But, Kureha-san. Even if you hold out your hand, you know you can’t touch her, right?’

At Sena-san’s reminder, Kureha-san withdrew his hand with a bitter smile.

And once he had, another hand was held out from a different direction.

‘Koyo-san….that’s so unfair….’

‘So irritating~’

As Hibiki-kun and Sena-san complained, Koyo-san murmured to me.

‘.....Just thought I could do it in Kureha-san’s place.’

‘Thank you, Koyo.’

Apparently embarrassed at Kureha-san’s thanks, Koyo-san’s cheeks reddened.

‘Thank you all so much.’

Taking Koyo-san’s hand, I stood up. And then immediately let go.

‘All the same, this is my problem, so I’ll go to Tsukumo Shrine by myself.’

Despite them all saying that they’d go with me, I turned them down and headed to the Shrine alone.

Somehow or other, I got the feeling that it would be better if I was on my own when meeting Toka-san.

…..Although to begin with, Tsukumo Shrine wasn’t a place dedicated to Toka-san, so I wasn’t sure I’d be able to meet him there.

* * *

After entering the Tsukumo Shrine grounds—

I immediately went to stand before the offering box and put my hands together.

And then, after giving a concise summary of the worries inside my mind-

When I turned around at the sound of chiming bells, Toka-san in his adult form had made his descent.

‘Um, so you see-…..’

…..Hm?

Feeling a sense of disquiet at Toka-san's manner, I spoke.

‘I apologise for calling you out here like this—’

‘This is all your fault, Toka-dono!’

‘—!?’

As I hurriedly turned, there was a seemingly angry Yukimaro-san….and a Koharu-san with a bitter expression on his face.

‘W-Why are you two…..?’

‘When we went to check on you, we came across that demon and Seiya-san battling it out.’

‘Haah, I am so glad you’re alright, mistress.’

‘.....Did you perhaps come here because you were worried for me?’

A smile rose to Yukimaro-san’s face at my question, while Koharu-san turned away as if embarrassed.

‘Thank you so much…..’

‘That’s totally, completely fine ♪ More importantly, this never would have happened if Toka-san hadn’t spirited you away!’

‘Yukimaro does have a point. Even if that demon was already after Misa’s soul to begin with, Seiya is a different matter. If you hadn’t caused the spiriting away, she and Seiya would never have met right?’

At Koharu-san’s criticism, Toka-san turned gloomy and looked down.

‘.....Before I put my plan into place, I did preliminary investigations into all spirits that there was a possibility she might meet. But, but…..I didn’t think he would be that much of a pervert…..!’

……….I see.

From the fact that he seemed so shaken up as to barely be able to put the words together, it would seem it really had not been part of the plan.

Not even a god had been able to predict the extent of Seiya-san’s peculiar (?) constitution .....

‘Even if you are a former master, at this rate I won’t be able to put any energy into my work because of how worried I am….’

‘Don’t you not have any work anyway? You haven’t even found a new master yet, right?’

‘Nuu-!!!!!’

Seeing as Yukimaro-san was unable to make a reply, it would appear that he’d hit the bullseye.

‘Well, it might not be as bad as Yukimaro but….at this rate, I’m not gonna be able to quit worrying either.’

The pair’s words made me happy, but at the same time apologetic…..

‘Regardless of whether it is something I caused, it is also still a trial….’

So Toka-san spoke, seeming to be thinking hard for a moment-

‘Ah! If I became human, then I could protect her as much as I’d like!’

Toka-san said this as if he’d thought of the greatest of ideas, but I vigorously shook my head.

‘You don’t need to go that far for me!’

‘I’d go that far exactly because it’s you. I had been thinking of doing so eventually either way, so it would just be bringing the plan forward a little—’

‘Toka-dono, wouldn’t becoming human just make you completely useless though?’

Yukimaro-san came out with it, not holding back whatsoever.

‘Hey, you didn’t need to be that blunt…..’

‘I see. It would appear the both of you think I would be completely useless as a human, is that right?’

Toka-san glared at them, but Yukimaro-san gave a loud sniff.

‘Then, let me ask you this. How will you protect her once you’ve lost your powers as a god?’

‘I will make full use of my spiritual power and protect her.’

‘But then how will you know when she’s in danger? Spiritual power alone won’t be enough.’

‘W-Well, that is true, but…..’

‘Not to mention, it doesn’t seem like you’ve been able to protect her so far, even with your god powers, right?’

‘Ugh-’

‘And if she hadn’t come to ask for advice, you wouldn’t even have known about Seiya bugging her room, yeah?’

‘Um, well, that’s because recently-…..I’ve been busy dealing with some clan matters…..’

Aah, Toka-san began to shrink back down….

Now’s my chance—!

‘Ah! I just thought of a good idea! So, I’ll be alright now. Thank you so much everyone!’

***

The moment I got home, I breathed a sigh.

…..I’d lied to everyone. Not to mention, I had no plan whatsoever…..

As I entered my room with heavy footsteps, Seiya-san was there by himself, waiting for me.

‘Welcome home. You disappeared so suddenly, I became worried.’

‘Sorry about that….’

When I looked around my room, there were calypha petals placed here and there, with a particularly large pile left around the window area.

I guessed he must have temporarily returned to HO to pick the flowers, before coming back here.

…..He might have some strong quirks, but he really was a very kind person.

‘I have removed the listening devices.’

‘.....Thank you. And you even brought calypha flowers….’

Seiya-san smiled and brought one of the flowers he had been holding up to my cheek.

As one of the living, I was unable to touch it, nor smell its fragrance.

‘I am sure the calypha will be of more help to you than listening devices or GPS trackers.’

‘!’

‘May God’s protection be with you.’

The air immediately felt clearer, perhaps due to the calypha I thought, but not only that-

‘Thanks to you, it seems like I might be able to live in peace for a while, Seiya-san.’

‘.....Haah.’

At his languishing sigh, I tilted my head in puzzlement.

‘Um…..?’

‘....If, in the future. If you come to feel romantic love for me….

I wonder if you…..would also love my perverted and insane side as well…..?’

He sounded so unusually diffident that I couldn’t help but stare at him.

Seiya-san’s eyes wavered, looking uncertain—....

At that very moment. Something that sounded like an incoming call began to ring, and Seiya-san gave a small sigh.

‘.....It would appear I have work to do.’

Seiya-san took out something that looked like a smartphone out of his uniform and checked the screen.

And then, putting it away, he looked at me once more.

‘Tomorrow………’

‘....?’

Seiya-san opened his mouth, seeming hesitant, then murmured-

‘Might I bring you some more calypha…..?’

‘Thank you. I’ll be waiting for you.’

Seiya-san smiled, then, after placing the calypha flowers he had been holding on my desk, headed for the doorway.

‘Tomorrow, you-.....No, it's nothing.’

So speaking, he slipped out through the door.

Now alone in my room, I drew a small breath.

I'd never seen such an expression on Seiya-san's face before. I wasn't sure what to do if I'd hurt him……

—Tap tap.

‘!’

As I looked towards the window from where the sound had come, I saw the face of a disgruntled looking Minami-kun.

‘If you don't open this window in 5 seconds, I'm gonna break it open.’

Hearing that from the other side of the window, I hurriedly went to open it.

Minami-kun jumped over the pile of calypha at the window side, landing neatly on the floor.

…..And Seiya-san had gone to so much effort picking those.

Although that was what I thought, I was also inwardly shocked that Minami-kun had actually knocked…..

‘You listened to my request.’

Looking irritated, Minami-kun stamped his foot on some of the calypha that had fallen on the ground.

‘Hey!’

‘And why do you think I did that?’

‘Huh-….’

‘Why do you think I would go into a room absolutely covered in calypha?’

‘..........’

‘It pisses me off, but I really do love you.’

My heart thumped loudly at his straight forward confession.

‘It's all your fault a demon like me started feeling an emotion like love. So, you'll take responsibility for that, won't you?’

‘Aha~’, Minami-kun gave a mischievous laugh.

Right now, I was unsure of my own feelings…..and so was unable to answer him.

‘Hey, are you listening?’

Flustered upon being pressed for an answer, what I said was-

‘F-For now….would you settle for a parfait?’

‘Aha-! Alright then ♪ For now, that is.’

—I wasn't sure who I would fall in love with, or when. So, for now, just like this…I would simply do my best to live peacefully.

‘Hey, I won't be able to wait too long though, alright? Once I stop being able to hold back, I'm gonna come steal you away to Hell, just so you know.’

‘!?’

Seiya-san's plan to put a GPS tracker on me—

Right now, I began to seriously think…..that perhaps that might not be such a bad idea after all—.