Nikami POV
"Shit I said that outloudâ¦. ?" Raijin noticed what she just said and covered her mouth.
"I-I meant like, being engaged you know!? I'm not your best friend, I-I'm your fiance!" Raijin frantically tried to defend herself, moving her hands around as she turned even more red.
"Raijin, I'm not dumb okay?" I glared at her, before covering my face as I felt it heat up as well. I don't want to make her see my face, I can't. I have to⦠Look normalâ¦
"Ugh⦠I⦠Listen, it's⦠AAAUGGHH!! I'M NOT A COWARD OKAY?! I'M SAYING IT!! I'M SAYING IT!! I LIKE YOU OKAY?!?" With embarrassment, Raijin just gave up and yelled that. Then slowly falling lower into the bed and felt her already weak body be limp.
"I CAN'T!!! I CAN'T. I JUST CAN'T?? HOW CAN I??? KEEP CALM?????????????????????????? THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE, THAT'S VERY IMPOSSIBLE. Okay!! You can't keep calm, that's fine, yes, that's totally alright. That's okay!! Just⦠Just, just don't let her see you are flustered. How did I not see� Now that I think about it, she dropped multiple hints hasn't she?! How are you THIS dense Nikami?! Really?? You haven't seen through the hints??? Despite observation is one of the talents you are extremely good at! You fool! You are such a fool! Okay, stop beating yourself over something that has already passed, now think of what to do currently, how do you deal with this?!" With all of those thoughts filling my head, my head was just blaring, everything felt numb and I felt like I was set on fire.
My face felt like it was turning into mush, my heart was beating so fast you might think it's a horse running⦠For the first time, I was actually panicking. And it's not like I could solve this problem logically.
â¢
â¢
â¢
Silence filled the room when I started to panic, both of us didn't know what to say or do. Raijin was too embarrassed to say anything while I was too busy trying to make sense of my thoughts.
After a few minutes of piercing silence, I finally spoke up.
"For how long?" I spoke, my voice breaking at the end and I tried to clear my throat, and I had my poker face on in time. It⦠Wasn't the best due to the redness in my face, but it still counted.
"Ehâ¦? Well⦠Uh⦠As far as I could remember⦠I was just⦠Attracted to you, the first time we met⦠It was like, love at first sight or somethingâ¦" Raijin mumbled, still feeling limp on the infirmary bed.
"In our past life� That long? And you never even confessed? Not even once? I get that the past me was ridiculously naive but⦠Wow. You didn't even try." I blinked over at her, staring in confusion.
"Li-listen! I just⦠Didn't know what to do okay?! I feel like you are so far from me yet⦠So close. Ugh!! I don't know!? I don't really remember much! Listen, it was more than two decades ago!" Raijin exclaimed, grumbling as she continued to look away from me. Not even trying to make eye contact.
"In that case⦠I apologize. I⦠I didn't get the hints and hurt you when⦠I talk about that girl. I thought you were only irritated because you had a rival, but it wasn't that at all⦠You had that sad look because you were jealous. So, I deeply apologize." I bowed my head as I was sitting down on the chair.
Raijin confusingly glanced over at me, blinking as she shook her head.
"N-no! Why the hell are you even apologizing?! Me being hurt because⦠I was kinda jealous... Was on me! You had no fault in it!" Raijin tried to stop me from bowing, yet I was still in the position.
"Augh⦠All my yelling makes my chest hurtâ¦" Raijin stopped, lowering her voice and sighed.
"I see." I replied nonchalantly, nodding as I lifted my head back up and stared at her.
"Now then⦠Shall we talk about how you awaked so early into the game?" I quickly tried to change the subject, clearing my throat with a cough.
"W-wait! Aren't you going to say anything about⦠My feelings?!" Raijin turned towards me, and for the first time ever since she confessed, we made eye contact.
"I did, haven't I? I apologized to you. I already acknowledged your feelings and talked about it. Shall we move on? Or⦠Unless⦠You have another proposition? Tell me, Raijin Gakerumi, do you want to ask me a question?" I stared at her right in the eyes, not faltering or looking away. I may have a slight blush on my face, but that was it.
"D-do you⦠Mean that... ?" Raijin's face turned red once more as she looked away and covered her mouth.
"Oh my, do I?" I titled my head sideways, my stern lips tugged into a smirk.
"A-are you serious?! Aauuggh⦠When did you really get so mischievous and underhandedâ¦? Fire Emica from being your personal maid⦠My heart can't take this⦠I don't know anymoreâ¦" Raijin covered her whole face again, the top of her hair being set on fire like a volcano eruption due to her flusteredness.
Ah. That's cute.
"Stop doubting yourself and ask me out." I couldn't help but just tell her in a straightforward fashion, especially when she made such an expression like that.
"Do-doesn't that mean you like me?! Don't⦠Don't you like Yasachu?" Raijin exclaimed right after me.
"Uh⦠Not necessarily."
"Huh?"
"You see, I may be head over heels, but I'm not stupid!" I stood up, placed my hand on my chest and said that confidently and clearly to Raijin.
"Do you really think I'll just leave everything I have built in my life to elope with a commoner? No, of course I won't. At this moment I can think properly, I'm not so sure in the future due to this world making me fall for her even deeper⦠But, if a commoner is making me even think of running away with her, I do not want that. I am made to be a queen, and a queen I shall be. I will do everything in my power to secure it that way. So, Raijin, would you give me your blessing? Are you up with the challenge of making me fall in love with you?" I moved the hand on my chest and reached it out to her instead, staring deeply into her blue eyes with a piercing gaze.
"Ah⦠I can't believe you made me ask you out instead⦠Oh whatever, sometimes a switch is a good change of pace." I folded my hands, sitting back down as I continued to stared over at her.
"A-aha⦠A-as if⦠That was you asking me⦠Out⦠Th-that was a speech of⦠Ch-challengeâ¦" Raijin gritted her teeth as she continued to mumble something under her breath as her face continued to go red. She was panting heavily, not knowing what to even say and covered her face.
"Is that a yes?"
"U-ugh⦠You know I hate to loseâ¦"
"I'm sorry Raijin. I'm so sorry I'm using you and your feelings towards me to stop this coded love⦠I'm sorry for forcing myself into you. What should I do to make it up to you�" I deeply regretted my decision inside my head, my gaze falling downwards. But it had to be done. I don't want to fall deeper into Yasachu's garden of roses with thorns.
"Well then, what will you do now? Shouldn't we do⦠Couple stuff? You have played through my route right? Now then, romance me." I continued to stare at Raijin despite her being extremely flustered.
"H-how can I⦠Even do that� That was in a game! This⦠The game is⦠Real but you aren't really a character and I-"
"Coward."
"Ah⦠I know how to make it up to you." I thought in my head, standing up and leaning closer to Raijin.
"I-I'm not a cowar-AH?!?" Raijin turned towards me and uncovered her face, and was surprised at how close I was so she slightly jumped back.
"..."
"Ni-nika�" Raijin asked, her eyes bloodshot open as her mouth was as well. What the hell was she doing?!
"...I don't know how people could think you are a man, these soft cheeks and rosy lips of yoursâ¦" I observed Raijin's face, gently caressing my finger on Raijin's lips. Going closer towards her, to the point of our nose touching.
"Wh-what⦠Are you⦠Even doingâ¦-" Raijin quickly froze and stood silent, what was Nika about to do? Her heart rose and adrenaline started to pump into her as if she was going into battle. Her body was just telling her to push her and run away, but the same body was limp and couldn't move as muchâ¦
Or maybe that was an excuse?
Maybe she was actually just melting from Nikami's touches and can only brace herself at this moment?
"Nika⦠I love youâ¦" She didn't know what to say, in her mind all there was was me right in front of her. Raijin's mind was clouded with thoughts of only⦠Meâ¦
Raijin closed her eyes, bracing for impact⦠Haha, the only attack she can't parry or dodge is Nikami's advancements. It's not really her fault, this was a surprise attack from a powerful enemyâ¦
"..." I didn't reply with anything, and continued to lean in, closing my eyes as wellâ¦
Taking my finger away from her lips, with the intention of replacing it with my own lips.