Chapter 319

After Eden-san left, Alice and I spent our time together only with each other again, leisurely looking after the store .

[Fuhehe…… For white gold coins, there’s one, two…… so many…… Fueee—— Fugyaaahhh!?]

[You really are……]

[Isn’t it fine? It’s been a while since I sold a lot . With this much money…… I could “lose” about 200 times——— Fugyaaahhhh!?]

[Why the heck are you trying to lose on purpose……]

I knocked Alice on her head, as she counted the large number white gold coins she received from Eden-san with an ugly grin on her face .

Even though you don’t have to lose on purpose anymore, why the heck are you calculating on the instance that you would lose purposely…… How should I say this…… Alice really is Alice huh .

[……Ahh, speaking of which, I almost forgot . I had something to give Kaito-san . ]

[Something to give me?]

[Yes…… Errr, I think it’s around here somewhere…… Ahh, found it!]

[……What’s with this money?]

Saying that she has something to give me, she hands me a cloth bag full of gold coins .

However, I don’t know why she’s handing me this…… Or rather, I can’t get my head around this unusual situation where Alice is giving me money .

Seeing my expression, Alice explained with a smile .

[You see, I got the idea for the futon that I made before from Kaito-san…… Those futons were selling like crazy . No, well, this shop isn’t getting any customers as usual…… but I heard that Kuro-san’s shop they’re selling so much that they can’t keep up with the production . So, that’s 20% of the profit . ]

[Fumu…… Hmmm . I don’t really know what I would do with them even if I get more money……]

[Kaito-san should learn how to be extravagant too~~ Like you know, buying Alice-chan a meal, buying Alice-chan clothes, or buying Alice-chan some accessories…… Something like that . ]

[All rejected . ]

[Can’t you at least think about it for a little bit!?]

I threw a tsukkomi at Alice who was joking around again . Somehow, even though this is just our usual exchange, it was strangely fun .

It seems like Alice was feeling like that too, as Alice and I looked at each other and laughed .

[Ahaha, ahh~~ As I thought, it’s this feeling . However, I feel like it’s been a rather long time . ]

[That’s just because Alice turned a bit strange . ]

[Ahh~~ I’m sorry about that . But you see, I’m also growing up to become the new Alice-chan, you know?]

[Fumu, and what exactly changed?]

[I didn’t hit that stupid God . ]

[……H- Hmmm . ]

That’s quite the subtle growth you have there . Or rather, if you hadn’t become the new Alice-chan, you would have hit her huh……

As I looked at her with a doubtful expression on my face, Alice chuckled again and lightly snapped her finger .

Thereupon, I heard the sound of the door of the miscellaneous goods store being locked . And then, I don’t know if it’s the sign that changed from “Open” to “Close”, but I heard the sound of something hitting the door .

After that, Alice takes off her mask to reveal her face, and as her cheeks blushed red from embarrassment, she spoke .

[……Well, all jokes aside…… If it had been the me from before, I would have been more acrimonious with that God . Thinking that I need to protect Kaito-san…… But thinking about it like this, I could clearly see it . That I had lost my presence of mind back then . ]

[……And now, it’s different, right?]

[……Yes . The thought of protecting Kaito-san hasn’t changed but…… even though it’s just a bit, something has changed . ]

As she said this, Alice gently laid her hands on mine . Holding each other’s hands with our fingers interlocked, she continued .

[……Now, I stopped pushing myself . What I want to do is “to protect this happiness I have together with Kaito-san”…… That means I also have to make sure that I myself am safe . ]

[……Unnn . That’s right……]

[Well, but as Kaito-san knows…… I’m an idiot, so I’ll be needing Kaito-san to save me a lot of times too . ]

[Yeah, me too…… I don’t think it’s impossible for me when it comes to situations that need strength, but I want to be able to support Alice’s heart . I want to protect the feeling of happiness Alice has for being together with me . ]

Hearing Alice’s determination, I tell her my thoughts, tightly squeezing back her hand .

Thereupon, without saying a word, Alice slowly leans against me .

The gentle warmth I feel from my hands and shoulder, and without saying a word, I also lose myself in the happiness that seems to spread from the depths of my heart .

Our first meeting was a coincidence for me, and something contrived by Alice . The impact I felt when I first saw her, wearing that stuffed cat costume, in the miscellaneous goods store is still very clear in my memory .

Looking back on it now, it may have been partly because she wanted to leave an impression to me .

In fact, I continued to visit Alice’s miscellaneous goods store afterwards and developed a friend-like relationship with her .

I was repeatedly taken aback by her idiotic behavior, and I even lectured her for not planning ahead . But when I think about it, Alice is the second person, after Kuro, that I’ve talked to in a natural way without any pretense since I came to this world .

Was that the reason why? As for Alice, she was planning to sever our connection when I was abducted…… when Alice betrayed me . But even when that happened, rather than resent her, I was more inclined to forgive her .

Perhaps, at that time…… Alice has already become very important to me .

Even after I found out that Alice was the Phantasmal King, my attitude towards her didn’t change…… No, I never planned to change my attitude .

To me, Alice is more than just one of the Six Kings…… As expected, my impression of her being my important friend was stronger……

At least, not at that time, I didn’t expect that I would become lovers with Alice .

I thought our relationship where we make silly snide remarks and chuckle together would last forever…… No, I may have just been convincing myself that it is the case .

I’ve been aware of Alice as a woman for some time now, and not once or twice have I thought that her casual gestures were cute .

The reason I pretended not to notice it was because with the change of our relationship to one of lovers…… It was because I was subconsciously thinking, and perhaps, Alice as well, that the easygoing relationship we had before was going to change .

However, in the end, it turned out to be just needless fear and the relationship we had changed for the better . Even now, we are still carefreely talking and laughing with each other…… and with the addition of love in our relationship, everything we do with each other brings us happiness .

I’m sure it will continue to be like this in the future . My easygoing friend, my beloved lover…… She’s protecting me, while I protect her, the both of us walk side by side . .

Needless to say, that’s happiness…… That’s why I’m also going to do my best to protect Alice’s heart .

I wish for this relationship filled with happiness…… to last forever……

[……Kaito-san . ]

[Unnn?]

[I just want to call your name . ]

[……What the heck?]

[Fufufu . ]

[Hahaha . ]

[……Kaito-san . ]

[……Unnn?]

[……Please stay with me forever . Please don’t leave me alone . ]

[It’s alright . I won’t let you be alone . I promise you that . ]

[Yes . ]

[…………… . ]

[…………… . ]

[……Kaito-san . ]

[What is it now?]

[……I love you . ]

[……I love you too . ]

Dear Mom, Dad———— She would sometimes say stupid stuff with a smile on her face, and even utter things that makes me feel astounded . I think I’ve let out a lot of sighs after I met her, and I think I will still be sighing in the future . However, I don’t dislike it . That’s because, indeed——— Alice’s heart and mine are connected .