ââ¦â¦But Iâm surprised. I thought he had some kind of disease.â
âYes. The doctor said that lack of sleep and fatigue came all at once with a nervous breakdown. Iâm glad nothing serious happened.â
Hearing my father and motherâs wordsâ¦..I looked up.
âUm, Father. Mother.â
I said. They looked at me.
ââ¦..Iâm so sorry for all the worry youâve been going through. And I apologize.â
I was unaware of my fatherâs and motherâs feelings. I was spinning my wheels in so many ways.
âIf only I had pushed my feelings out more. If only I had talked moreâ¦â¦â
Then my father laughed softly.
âItâs okay, Nagi. Itâs our fault that we couldnât come to terms with each other. It was my fault more than anything.â
He then reached out his hand and placed it on my head.
I wonder how many years it has been since I have had my father pat me on the head.
I was so happy. My vision was blurring.
ââ¦â¦Um. Father, Mother. I know itâs selfish, but I have a favor to ask you.â
âWhat is it? Iâm willing to listen to anything, Nagi. You should be more selfish.â
My motherâs words made my cheeks loose. While capturing the two of them in my blurred vision.
ââ¦..Is that okay if I call you Mama and Papa when Iâm at home?â
Thatâs what I said.
I had always wanted to call them that. But because I had called them Father and Mother at first. I couldnât say it.
They looked surprisedâ¦..and nodded with smiles.
âYes, of course. Nagi.â
âBy all means. It would make usâ¦â¦Mama and Papa happy.â
At those words. I smiled again.
âYes ! Mama, Papa !â
I was happy about that and smiled. â¦..The two of them looked at me with surprised faces.
Oh, right. This is the first time Iâve shown this kind of face to the two of them. â¦â¦No, itâs been a while.
âThanks to Minori kun, huh. We really have to thank him.â
âThatâs right.â
Saying that. Fatherâ¦â¦no. Papa put his hand down on my head.
âNagi, please watch over him. Iâll go talk to the other party.â
ââ¦..Ah.â
Thatâs right. I had a marriage proposal.
âFather, I also want to apologizeâ âNagi.â
Papa called me. He smiled at me.
âI appreciate your feelings. However, I donât think itâs likely that the other party will try to be stronger than me when they see Nagiâ¦..and I donât think thereâs any chance that they will become furious, but I canât say that thereâs zero chance. To be honest, itâs easier for me to move on my own. And Iâm confident I can minimize the damage.â
Mama who was next to him nodded deeply.
âYes, thatâs right. I think thatâs a good idea. â¦.But. A letter of apology is expected to be sent out soon. At that time, please, Nagi.â
ââ¦â¦Yes, I understand.â
If they both say so, it would be better that way. I nodded, and Papa nodded as if satisfied.
âIâm going to go get ready then. Nagi, give my regards to Minori kun.â
âYes, be careful, Papa.â
Then I parted with Papa and Mamaâ¦.. and went to the room where Souta kun was sleeping.
In front of the room, there was Suzaka san.
âSuzaka san.â
âYoung ladyâ¦â¦um.â
Suzaka san looked a little apologetic. â¦â¦Itâs probably about that thing.
âAbout the thing where you meet Souta kun without my knowledge?â
ââ¦â¦Iâm very sorry.â
I smiled at Suzaka san who said that.
âFufu. Itâs fine. â¦â¦Iâm the one who should apologize. I have caused you much trouble. Suzaka san. Iâm sorry.â
I bowed my head. â¦..I looked at Suzaka san again.
âAnd thank you. â¦â¦For allowing Souta kun into the house. Without Suzaka san, Souta kun would have been turned away at the door.â
ââ¦â¦No, Itâs not that much.â
âSuzaka san.â
I called out to Suzaka san, whoâs being humble.
âIn times like this, itâs fine to say Youâre welcome.]â
ââ¦â¦Youâre welcome.â
âYes ! Thank you ! Please continue to take care of us from now on !â
âYes, of courseâ¦..Iâm very happy to see young lady make such a face.â
Suzaka san wipes the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief. It made me happy to hear her say that. I entered the room after greeting her moderately.
Souta kun was still sleeping on the bed.
I sat upright next to the bed. I saw him on the bed.
âSouta kun.â
I called Souta kunâs name who was still sleeping. Souta kun was sleeping peacefully and a little adorable.
I looked at Souta kun just like that. I continued speaking.
Iâm sure he canât hear me yet.
âI love you, Souta kun.â
I slipped my hand into the futon and held his warm hand.
Souta kunâs warmth is transmitted from his hand as if it were coursing through his veins.
âI will never let you down. I will definitely make you happy.â
Looking at his face.
It was very happy and gentle.
And then. My heart aches so much.
âEven though Iâm like this. Souta kun chose me. So, I will definitely make you happier than anyone else.â
I squeezed his hand. I spoke to Souta kun who was still sleeping.
âFrom now on. Whether in high school or in college. Even when Iâm an adult and working, Iâll always support Souta kun..
I took out one of my hands that was piled on Souta kunâs hand and put it on his head.
ââ¦â¦We will have children, and watch them grow up. We will watch them grow up and become aunt and uncle and grandparents. I will always make you happy. â¦â¦And when the last moments come. I will say it.â
I smiled at Souta kun.
âI will say [I had the happiest life in this world.] â¦â¦And watch over you. I will be following in your footsteps in the near future. Even after I go to the other world, I will always make you happy.â
Warm feelings naturally overflowed.
ââ¦.If itâs to come true. In the next life or the one after that. I would like to meet you, Souta kun, and spend a lifetime with you.â
And also. I will make you happy. Definitely.
As I said that. I noticed that Souta kunâs ears were turning red.
When I saw thatâ¦..I smiled.
âI love you, Souta kun. I love you more than anyone in this world.â
ââ¦..Me too.â
Souta kun replied in a small voice. I couldnât help but feel happy.
I fell into the bed.
âWait, Nagi !?â
âGood morning, Souta kun. You just woke up, so Iâm going to hug you.â
Just like that, I hugged Souta kun tightly.
I hugged him so tightly that I heard a sound.
ââ¦â¦I wonât hold back anymore.â
I whispered in Souta kunâs ear.
âIâll tell you that I love you a lot. â¦..Over and over again. Iâll say it even if you get tired of it.â
ââ¦â¦I wonât get tired of it.â
Souta kun started to move. He turned to me.
âI love you, Nagi.â
He hugged me back. My lungs filled with warm, soothingâ¦â¦but pounding air.
âAh, Iâm.
âIâm happy. Very happy.â
âMe too, Nagi.â
I was so happy to hear Souta kunâs voice like that. My heart was filled with happiness.
They turned into tears and overflowed.
ââ¦..Really. Iâm the happiest Iâve ever been in my life.â
I buried my face in Souta kunâs chest. Deeply happy. I bit down deeply.
Souta kunâs hand that hugs me is warm and strong.
I looked up and made eye contact with Souta kun. I was even happier when I laid my lips on his.
âI will say it again and again and again. Souta kun.
âI love you. I love you so much. Souta kun. I love you more than anyone else.â
âYeah, I love you too.â
Iâm sure there will be a lot of things in the future, like whether I will take over my fatherâs business, and many other things.
âBut thatâs. Iâm not afraid now.
âIf Iâm with Souta kun, everything will be fun. â¦â¦And I will be happy.
With this conviction, I think about the future I have yet to see.
âI will be counting on you from now on. Souta kun.â
âMe too.â
Seeing Souta kunâs smile. I was happy and smiled.
After I Save The Ice Princess From Another School From a Molester, We Started as Friends.
Chapter 2 The Ice Princess Wants To Know ??