Volume 9 Chapter 6 Reunion That Doesn't Go As Planned
I, Yamamoto Yuusuke, trembled with tension and excitement when facing the Demon Lord. I've battled demons, Lords, and various other enemies before. Still, I instinctively felt that nothing in life would surpass that moment.
But now, I feel a tension comparable to that time. Let's calmly assess my situation. As I forcefully suppressed my trembling body with muscular strength, my entire body stiffened like a bronze statue. My body temperature is noticeably high, and sweat soaks through my suit.
Despite the heat, blood doesn't circulate to my head, and my vision wavers. Undoubtedly, I must appear suspicious. Instead of fainting, I'd like to commend myself for sitting here.
But that's inevitable. Because right in front of me now is Eris Philin Centraris.
That Eris Philin Centraris. The woman I parted ways with in Asteris, the one I gave up on ever meeting again.
I had longed to meet her. She was the person I had wished for, someone I could be content with just seeing her face.
It's a miracle in itself that she is sitting across from me now.
I feel nervous. It's inevitable. It goes beyond mere nervousness; it's almost like reaching a critical point. It tickles my teenage heart.
Or rather, this is reality. Until Ayaka-san provided this opportunity, meeting Eris on the day of 'Tokyo Crisis' felt like a dream.
Well, it must be reality now.
From being rejected by Tsukiko, escaping to alcohol and venting frustration, meeting Lisha, being collapsed upon by Kanami, being saved by Mevia, reuniting with Sharla, and facing the battlefield with Kogarou.
And now, at the end of it all, Eris is sitting in front of me.
——Phew, it's about time to make up my mind.
I could objectively confirm my own state. I can't afford to escape from reality any longer.
I enter the body that seemed to be halfway out of the astral plane and deliberately focus the blurred focus.
There, Eris was sitting.
Of course. She hasn't moved at all.
She has been sitting in this room, unchanged since I entered.
The way she's positioned makes her look like a doll.
With fiery crimson hair and deep green eyes that seem to draw me in endlessly, there's no difference from the moment I remember.
The face is more mature than what I recall, but it doesn't feel out of place. I always thought this growth would happen, perhaps even surpassing what I expected during my time in Asteris.
——Uh-oh, my consciousness is slipping away again.
It's been happening repeatedly since I laid eyes on Eris, my scatterbrained mind short-circuits, attempting a forced shutdown.
I was confident in my body's durability, but that's long shattered.
Still, I can't collapse here.
Time is finite.
Even now, I don't know when the battle against the Try Order or demons will begin.
People die. Even if not, goodbyes come suddenly.
How many times have I regretted not speaking then, not conveying what I should have?
Since the day I left Asteris, how much have I yearned for this moment?
Pull yourself together, Yuusuke.
Look into Eris's eyes.
There must have been something I've wanted to tell her all along.
I clenched my molars and gazed straight into Eris's eyes.
And then, after several years, I called out that name.
"Eris──"
* * *
She thought it was like a dream.
Not long ago, it felt like she was in a dream in the world she's in now. Even though her body moved, her heart felt like it wasn't really there, like it was floating.
And that's okay.
Because the place where Eris Philin Centraris is right now isn't the Centraris Kingdom where she was born and raised, not even Asteris.
It's Earth, but from a different world.
As if that alone wasn't strange enough, there was another reason why Eris's mind felt a bit strange.
A young man is sitting in front of her.
In contrast to the men she sees in her hometown, his body is slender, and his facial features are delicate. His hair and eyes are a black akin to charcoal, exuding an exotic atmosphere from every angle. Not just from a different country but from a different world, which is only natural.
Whether he is considered handsome is subjective. While not plain-looking, it would be a stretch to call him a beauty. That's the extent of it.
Eris, a princess of a nation, has seen plenty of more visually appealing men.
Currently, Jack Dusken, who is treated as a hero in the Centraris Kingdom, is a handsome young man with attractive features. If she was to ask people on the street which one between this young man and Jack is the better-looking man, nine out of ten would likely choose Jack.
And among the ten, Eris is one of those who would pick him. Yuusuke, right in front of her eyes, is more handsome than Jack or any other men, without a doubt.
As a former Hero, the achievements, the kindness, the inner strength—every aspect seems endearing. Yet beyond all that, there's an admiration for the appearance.
It's different from the days straddling between boyhood and youth. Now, exuding maturity and composure, his visage has become even more striking than before.
"..."
In silence, Eris sat unmoving.
She understands. There are countless things to say. Considering how Eris treated Yuusuke, she shouldn't even be allowed to sit across from him. She should be groveling on the ground, pressing her head against the floor in greeting.
But Kagami Ayaka prevented that from happening in this setting.
Yuusuke shouldn't have desired such a reunion.
Yet, sitting there, waiting, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
Seeing Yuusuke after so long, he appeared far more dashing than imagined, causing all unspoken words to vanish into thin air.
She tried to open her mouth somehow, but she felt if she moved even a bit, everything she had been holding inside would collapse and overflow uncontrollably.
She already shed tears when they met in the city the other day. It was an eternal regret for Eris Philin Centraris.
But Eris has no right to cry. She's the one who hurt Yuusuke, so it's unforgivable to shamefully expose her own emotions.
Yet, she couldn't bear it.
Unbeknownst to herself, the surface of her emotions turned into large tears, uncontrollably pouring out.
When Yuusuke hugged her, everything turned blank with the sensation of his touch, his warmth, his scent, and she cried out like a little child.
She can't recall experiencing something like that since se was very young.
Happy, embarrassed, sorry—she eventually left the place right away.
If she stayed with Yuusuke as she was, she thought she would rely on his kindness. And given some time, she believed she could express what needed to be said as her usual self, in the usual manner.
But the result is this. If even a single word is uttered, her emotions will immediately surge like turbulent waves, wetting the cheeks. If that happens, it will be unbearable to face.
Even though she's at fault, she couldn't forgive herself for apologizing while shedding tears, such shameless behavior. Eris knew well that a woman's tears could be a weapon.
Having fought in the social battlefield against cunning old foxes from various countries, she was well aware of it.
That's why she didn't want to show it to Yuusuke. Surely, he would forgive her for crying. It's just a trivial and foolish pride. She understands that.
However, if she doesn't cling to that pride, Eris cannot remain in this situation. How much time has passed? Without a single word exchanged between them, the carried tea is slowly getting cold.
And the seasoned warrior, Eris, did not overlook the unfolding events even in such a dire situation.
Yuusuke looked at Eris with a determined gaze.
Just receiving that gaze made her heart pound violently, on the verge of bursting, and her magic power threatened to run rampant.
After a long moment, Yuusuke spoke.
"Eris——"
The moment she heard that voice, Eris's consciousness blacked out completely.
We a new work with genre returned from isekai. The story is punishing someone who troll in SNS, someone who cheat and many more. You can find out in => [Link]
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)