Chapter 24 Childhood Friend Bragging
"Laura, good morning."
When I felt the bright morning sun shining through the window and opened my eyes, there stood my childhood friend.
"Luka...?"
"Sorry for waking you up. I came to see you, Laura, but your mom said you're still sleeping, so she told me to wait in your room."
Feeling apologetic yet somewhat happy, Lukas squinted his eyes. At the same time, my consciousness gradually awakened.
After enjoying a private dinner with my parents last night, I fell asleep right away. I must have been tired from being on the carriage for almost a day.
I sat up and looked out the window over Lukas' shoulder. The sun was already quite high up.
"...Is it already noon?"
In response to my question, Lukas smiled vaguely. It seems like I guessed right.
I felt relieved coming back home, so I ended up falling asleep more deeply than usual. I asked Lukas to leave the room quickly to get ready, and started changing clothes.
When I opened the closet, my old clothes greeted me warmly. I've been wearing clothes I bought in the capital recently, so compared to them, the colors and materials of these old clothes look dull. However, they gave me a sense of nostalgia and warmth that I couldn't resist.
I picked up the dress I used to wear often and put it on, then I put on a thick cardigan on top in case it's cold.
Lastly, I quickly combed my hair and opened the door.
"Good morning, Mother, Father!"
"Oh, Laura, you slept well, didn't you?"
My mother, who chuckled and called out to me, handed the basket to Lukas. Puzzled, I tilted my head wondering what was going on, then decided to sit on the living room chair for the time being. As I did, my father, who had been tinkering with a fishing rod, looked up from his work and glanced at me.
"You look tired. Did you get some rest?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
As I said that with a smile, my father also grinned back.
Perhaps because I had slept soundly, my mind was quite clear. Even when I was in the capital city, I would finish my training in the evening and make sure to get enough sleep, but—
"Laura, let's go. Uncle, aunt, see you later!"
Suddenly, Lukas tightly held my hand and led me outside.
I could hear my parents saying in unison from behind, "Take care!"
"Wait, where are we going?"
I asked as we walked. The back in front of me felt somewhat larger than the back in my memories.
Lukas looked back at me. He wasn't holding my hand, but he lifted the basket in his other hand that my mother had given him earlier, showing a bright smile. It was an unusual, lively smile for Lukas.
"Picnic!"
* * *
We arrived at a small flower field on the outskirts of the village. Beyond the forest near the village, there was a picturesque meadow, which seemed perfect for a picnic. However, considering the possibility of monster attacks, we chose a location within the range of magic that protected the village.
We laid out a cloth as a mat and sat down. Inside the basket Lukas had received from my mother were her familiar sandwiches.
It was a late breakfast but an early lunch. Just as I took a big bite of my sandwich, Lukas spoke up.
"Welcome back, Laura."
Out of the blue, after blinking a few times, I responded.
"What's wrong, all of a sudden?"
"I thought I hadn't said it properly yet."
His blue eyes peered into mine.
Seeing my childhood friend looking so adorable, my cheeks naturally relaxed.
"I'm back, Luka."
"Welcome back. I'm back." Just that simple exchange, yet why does my heart feel so warm?
Being wanted back like this makes me so happy.
"How's studying alchemy going?"
"It's going well. I'm getting to do a lot of different things."
"I see. Are you enjoying it?"
"Yeah."
After cheerfully nodding, his expression in front of me visibly dimmed.
This reaction may be,
"Are you... feeling lonely?"
Luka's gaze wandered for a moment. But soon, he sighed, furrowed his brows, then smiled while meeting my eyes.
"It's embarrassing, but just a little."
My own feelings were reflected in Lukas's tone and expression, making him seem "cute" to me, even though he's a boy over 14. Perhaps he has his pride as a boy. It might be embarrassing for him to show his weaknesses, like feeling "lonely," to a girl.
As I gazed at Lukas's charming face with a warm feeling, he suddenly smiled, though it seemed a bit forced.
"But Laura is my best childhood friend."
Best childhood friend.
Those words made me feel a bit uneasy. I shrugged my shoulders and gave a wry smile at the pure gaze directed at me.
"Lukas is the same to me."
Even without the title of Future Hero-sama, Lukas was also my proud childhood friend.
When "I" first woke up, I cursed this relationship, but now I often find myself grateful for being Hero-sama's childhood friend. It's quite amusing how energetic my personality is, but when I see Lukas in front of me, blushing and smiling shyly, I can't help but think so.
Lukas is kind, hardworking, and cute, my proud childhood friend. Knowing the harsh future he carries, my feelings for him grow stronger day by day.
As I gaze at his gentle face, I think to myself. Saving Elvira from illness should be for the sake of my most proud childhood friend above all.
"We are each other's proud childhood friends, right?"
Lukas smiles as if he's looking at something dazzling. The way he laughs when he's truly happy.
"Let's always be childhood friends from now on."
At Lukas's words, I blink several times.
Let's be childhood friends.
It's a strange thing even if I don't think about it too much. Childhood friends are not necessarily like lovers, it's not something we consciously become. We were born in the same village, and even now, after turning 14, we are still next to each other like this. This fact will be enough evidence to say we are childhood friends even if we grow distant from each other in the future.
But I understood what Lukas was trying to say.
Let's continue to be the kind of two people who can share laughter like this in the future.
Surely, that wish is what Lukas means by childhood friends.
"From now on, I will always be Lukas's childhood friend."
In response, Lukas nodded vigorously.
The environment surrounding Lukas will gradually change from now on. And a few years later, it will change dramatically. Lukas will become a Hero-sama who saves the world, and I will become a simple alchemist.
After the world was saved - in other words, after clearing "Last Brave" - I don't know what the world was like. Even without knowing, I couldn't have imagined sitting near a small flower field, having a peaceful time with the Hero-sama who saved the world.
――Actually, I doubt whether Lukas and Laura from that world that "I" saved were able to maintain a relationship where they could laugh together after clearing the game. It's much more likely that they have become completely distant.
Setting aside the reasons for that happening, anyway, I want to see an ending where Laura and Lukas from "Last Brave" are not welcomed. Looking back, that was already being achieved, but it was "my" ultimate goal.
Interlocking pinkies to make the promise strong.
No matter how much the environment around us changes from now on, no matter what "unknowns" come to my world - I will always be the childhood friend of Hero-sama.
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