I might come across as sarcastic, but I'm quite used to seeing beautiful people.
So, you might wonder what the point of this discussion is. Allow me to explain.
First of all, there are more beautiful women and girls in the world than people realize. You can see them on TV or while walking through the city. You'll often think, "Oh, she's cute," multiple times a day.
But what I mean by "beautiful" here is slightly different. It's not just about looks but an aura or presence. These are the kind of people you understand are different from the moment you lay eyes on them.
Take Eris, for example. She was a princess of a nation and a first-class magician on the battlefield. The impact of meeting her for the first time was beyond words. Vibrant scarlet hair that no Japanese person could possess, with a strikingly exquisite face. Her beauty was as if someone had breathed life into a life-sized doll.
I was nervous for quite a while and couldn't speak properly. Her aura was that of a true ruler. A supreme force that demanded everyone's reverence. She called me all sorts of things like "a walking beacon" and "a moth to the flame," but frankly, Eris was the one who stood out a hundred times more.
Well, speaking to her directly was a bad idea, as the gaze of a ruler and a royal punch would silence you physically. It's best to keep your mouth shut when dealing with Eris. She's like a lioness in the guise of a beautiful maiden.
Now, let's talk about Sharla. After various twists and turns, she ended up traveling with us. Sharla's beauty was, well, out of this world.
Her skin was so pale that you'd think she'd never seen sunlight in her life, and she had an eerie, captivating beauty that made you feel like you were being dragged in. In a way, Sharla was the complete opposite of Eris. She had an ethereal fragility about her that made it seem like she might disappear at any moment. She exuded a cursed aura that, once you saw it, you couldn't get her image out of your head.
If I think back on it, I can think of countless others. I've traveled to many places and met extraordinary individuals, each with their unique talents, lineage, power, and charm. Saints, noble daughters, adventurers, high-class courtesans, honey-trap assassins, demons, and so on. They were all a vivid bunch.
So when I returned to Earth, I didn't feel my heart skip a beat even when I saw the cutest girl in my class or a famous idol on TV. Don't get me wrong; I acknowledge their cuteness. In fact, they are so cute that it would be presumptuous for me to judge. But it usually ends at "Wow, she's cute."
I no longer felt the excitement that made my heart race, the tension that sent shivers down my spine when I saw someone like that. Perhaps it's a peculiar fetish, but it's too specialized. Even in Japan, a land of diverse tastes, there wouldn't be a supply to meet this demand.
And so, I carried the burden of this sadness. But when I was in university, I had a surprising encounter.
I saw her for the first time at the welcoming party for new members of the literary club.
Tsukiko Isumi was surrounded by many people. Her petite body and glossy hair were as stunning as Eris and Sharla.
What's more, her behavior was beautiful.
Seeing her was an electrifying experience, just like with Eris and Sharla. I never thought I'd end up dating Tsukiko, but from that moment on, I couldn't help but be curious about her.
It wasn't love, per se. It was more like curiosity. I wanted to understand what kind of person could exude such an aura.
One summer day, in the sweltering heat, I was walking on campus. The scorching weather had me contemplating even summoning a special summoning to cancel classes, and I lost a game of rock-paper-scissors against Matsuda and Souji, so I had to buy ice cream from the co-op and return quickly.
As I walked, I saw something unusual.
Something black was melting.
In front of our university's co-op, there was a shaded bench with a table, and there, a woman dressed in black was lying face down.
It didn't take me long to realize that it was Isumi Tsukiko.
She's usually poised and carries herself with grace, but now she looked like a melted cat due to the heat.
Normally, I would never strike up a conversation, but seeing her in this unusual state, I couldn't help myself.
"Isumi-san, right?"
Her black hair moved as she fidgeted, and her pale face turned towards me.
"Yamamoto-san, was it?"
Oh, she remembered my name. Even though we were in the same literary club, we hadn't spoken much before.
Tsukiko widened her eyes in surprise and sat up.
"Are you okay? You seem tired."
"Yeah, I was waiting for a friend, but it's hotter than I thought."
There were plenty of places on campus where you could cool down, like the co-op or the cafeteria, but maybe she wanted to get away from the crowds. Her usually cool eyes had softened, and the light within them swayed gently. She looked quite tired, perhaps from the heat or maybe she's sensitive to it. Her dignified demeanor had given way to an adorable vulnerability, like an elegant cat letting its guard down.
I reached into a plastic bag.
"Chocolate or vanilla? If you prefer matcha, I have that too."
"What do you mean?"
"It doesn't mean much, really."
"I see. Well, if I had to choose, matcha..."
I placed a matcha ice cream in front of Tsukiko, who still seemed puzzled. It hadn't melted much while we were talking.
"What's this?"
"It's a little treat. Go ahead and have it."
"I can't just accept it without a reason."
She was still being quite reserved.
"We're in the same club, so consider it a way to get to know each other better. Well then, I have someone waiting for me too."
"P-please wait."
I heard Tsukiko's voice from behind, but I didn't turn around. It seemed like she wouldn't accept it unless I insisted.
But really, when I talk to her, she's just a normal girl. I wonder what that initial shock was all about. I hope we can talk about more things in the future. Maybe things will work out somehow.
As I walked away, I thought about Tsukiko's melted face. From that moment, she was just a cute girl to me. Love at first sight made a resounding thud in my chest.
From there, many things happened, but I'll spare those details. Stories with predictable endings aren't that interesting.
By the way, the matcha ice cream belonged to Matsuda.
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