Volume 6 Chapter 5 The Damage Of Leaking Charm
While Mikage was troubled during solo practice, Kyunei and Aina went to the market for daily necessities shopping. Normally, Yukina would have volunteered to carry the bags, but Kyunei declined his offer and went with Aina instead.
They were shopping for various daily consumables and ingredients for medicines. They needed to replenish supplies after the incident at Eubarest.
At first, they were just shopping, but Kyunei suddenly spoke to the girl walking beside them.
"Hey, Aina-chan. Are you feeling better now?"
Aina twitched at the question and then slightly averted her gaze.
"...It's not like I started off in a bad mood."
She spoke with a slightly different tone than her usual cheerful self. Looking at Aina now, it was quite difficult to take her words at face value.
Kyunei, looking troubled, placed a hand on her cheek. Refusing Yukina's company was meant to calm Aina down, but it seemed like this situation would drag on.
Then, Aina glanced at Kyunei and let out a small sigh.
"Sorry. I lied a little."
Kyunei smiled at the small apology and gently patted Aina's head as she slumped her shoulders.
The two of them moved a bit away from the market and sat down on a convenient step.
After a moment, Aina muttered softly.
"Lately, I've been causing trouble for everyone because of my actions, and I'm sorry."
"No one thinks it's annoying. It's a perfectly normal feeling for a girl. In fact, I'm happy to see that side of Aina-chan."
Until now, she has been raised as a member of the royal family, as someone on the ruling side. Being fair to everyone means not harboring special feelings for anyone. Aina herself, as a princess of a country, has always been excellent and intelligent, and she has never particularly resented the obligations of her birth.
"But, after meeting Yukina-kun, you were freed from your duties as a royal. Surely, deep down, Yukina-kun must have been happy about Aina-chan's jealousy."
"Is that so?"
"No man dislikes being the object of jealousy from a girl he likes. A woman's jealousy is a sign of her strong feelings. While Aina-chan was sulking, Yukina-kun was probably paying even more attention to you, right?"
"That's... yes. That's certainly true."
Recently, when Aina looked back on her actions, she blushed. She realized she had been overly dependent on Yukina, more so than before when they started living together. Reflecting calmly made her feel like pulling her hair out.
"I'm surprised. I never knew I had such a jealous personality. And I couldn't control it at all. Even though I knew it was wrong."
"You were really cute, Aina-chan, with all that jealousy. Watching you made me feel all bittersweet."
Closing her eyes, Kyunei hugged herself, recalling the scene of Aina silently clinging to Yukina, and she squirmed in embarrassment.
"Kyunei-san, please calm down. Your seductiveness... and the collateral damage..."
Men passing by in the vicinity couldn't help but bend forward due to the unusually alluring expression and bewitching charm being exuded. Even a young man seemingly with his lover was inadvertently captivated by Kyunei's seductiveness, almost letting his nose lead the way until his ear was caught and pulled so forcefully it felt like it might tear off.
"Oh my, what have I done?"
Realizing the situation around her, Kyunei cleared her throat and retracted the overflowing charm. While she usually played the role of everyone's coordinator, occasionally displaying such bewitching allure made her wonder if she could just pass it off as playful.
"Well... to begin with, it was Kyunei-san who instigated Reed-san."
The details were revealed by Yukina and Reed the morning after they spent the night together. Initially, she wasn't calm about it, and even now that things have settled, she hasn't completely accepted it.
"Is it okay? Even if Yukina-san is taken by Reed-san?"
"Well, let me ask you this instead, does Yukina-kun really think he can ignore us by favoring Reed-kun?"
"Well..."
As Aina was being questioned in return, she couldn't respond. It was unthinkable, and she knew it.
"We didn't fall for someone with such a small heart. That person treats us all equally, yet loves us with all his might. Right, Aina-chan?"
"Yes... It seems like I didn't believe in Yukina-san. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Your reaction is actually very reasonable, Aina-chan."
Kyunei was aware that her views on love were different from common sense. With her experience as a pr**titute and her upbringing as an succubus, she believed it was welcoming to have other women who understood the goodness of the man she loved.
Because she is aware of the differences in perception around here, Kyunei plays a good role in bringing Yukina and the others together.
"Also, it's not a very pleasant story, but there's a bit of calculation involved this time. Reed-kun might have a vague idea about this too."
"Huh?"
Aina tilted her head at the unexpected words from Kyunei.
Losing the light tone from earlier, Kyunei continued.
"I'm not a warrior, I'm a doctor, so I can heal the wounds Yukina-kun and Mikage have, but I can't prevent the wounds themselves. I can't stand by and fight. But with Reed-kun around, maybe the scenes where the two get seriously injured will decrease a bit... It's not a very pleasant story to hear, is it?"
"No. My position is somewhat similar as well."
Aina is a magician. She might step forward to fight compared to Kyunei, but that is based on the premise that Yukina and Mikage will be at the front lines to block. While she can provide support, she can't fight side by side with a sword in hand.
On the other hand, Reed is different. She is a warrior, and her skills are so impressive that even Mikage acknowledges her. If she fights alongside her, Yukina should feel more confident.
"Kyunei-san."
"What is it?"
"Will Yukina-san probably get injured a lot in the future?"
"...I suppose so."
Both of them understood without words.
Surely, Yukina will continue to be involved in battles. He will likely endure many hardships and wounds.
It's like someone once said.
There are people in this world who seem to attract battles regardless of their own intentions.
It's not because Yukina is a mercenary.
As long as Yukina remains Yukina, there is an inevitable fate that cannot be avoided.
But that is not destiny.
It is the result of choices Yukina himself made.
And he is not the only one who made a choice.
They also made a choice. To be with the 'Hero (Eiyuu)' named Yukina.
"That's why I'm here, Kyunei-san is here, Mikage-san is here... and Reed-san too."
In a soft voice, she added, perhaps Aina is starting to accept Reed after all.
"No matter how difficult it may be, we have to support Yukina-san so that he can come back safely."
"That's our duty as those who have decided to love him."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
"Now, shall we continue shopping? I plan to open the clinic in the afternoon."
"Understood."
Adjusting their shopping bags, Aina and Kyunei walked back to the market.
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