Published: October 11th 2024, 7:15:34 am
Guilt and the feeling of being a spare tire.
The corruption of the world with BL had exhausted me mentally. I had given up on that crisis for now... With the immediate danger avoided, I thought it was time to disband.
"Rosarin, sorry to keep you waiting☆"
Please, just let me go home. But due to the monster crisis at hand, I couldn't just leave.
"Kurarin..."
Kurarin was surrounded by some sort of sparkling effect.
I looked at Dirk. Normal.
I looked at Rinka. Aside from making girls into fujoshi, normal.
I looked at Alphage-sama. Seemed like he had a black heart... but normal.
I looked at Aldin-sama. As radiant as ever. Hey, Light-kun!? Stop competing with him! Your glow is blinding!
In other words, it wasn't just my imagination—Kurarin was physically sparkling.
"Rosarin, Kurarin leveled up after facing the world’s crisis."
"For real!?"
"Oh yeah, Kurarin did help take down that meatball-like creature before it got boiled."
"Stop it! I won’t be able to eat meatballs anymore! Why didn’t you tell me that first, you fool, Rinka!!"
"Gyaaaahhhh!"
My umeboshi-filled wrath exploded onto Rinka.
"God☆Transformation Change! KuruKura☆KuriKura☆Miracle Kurarin☆ With a wonderful smile, let's make tomorrow bright and happy☆"
Kurarin, now transformed into something like a magical girl, struck a dramatic pose.
"Bravo, bravo, Kurarin!!"
"That's amazing, Kurarin!!"
Rinka and I gave her a round of enthusiastic applause.
"Now that I take a closer look, that old guy’s the magical girl grandpa from Saintya. As I thought, connected to Rosarin."
The whole grandpa-or-girl thing is kinda confusing. But Kurarin is Kurarin, so it can’t be helped.
"Yeah, most strange things tend to be related to Rosarin-chan…"
Yukihime and Kanata were saying something really rude, but I wanted to believe that was false.
"Thank you, Rosarin! Thank you, Rinka!! Now, prepare yourself, Kirarin! I’ll awaken you to love!!"
Kurarin dramatically pointed at Aldin-sama.
"Me!?"
Kirarin... That nickname is too perfect.
"Prepare yourself, Kirarin!"
"What are you planning to do to my brother!?"
"Miracle☆Delicious☆Dynamic☆Lovely Shower!!"
From Kurarin's staff, a shower of glittering hearts burst out and surrounded Aldin-sama.
"!?"
And then... nothing happened.
"Huh? A dud??"
Seriously, nothing happened.
"Ugh... I really thought it would work...!"
Kurarin, now on all fours, revealed striped panties. Not that it mattered. But seriously, Aldin-sama? How far gone are you? Even the gods can't handle this!? Something is definitely wrong!
"Stupid Kirarin!!"
Kurarin flew off into the sky, crying.
"... What just happened?"
Aldin-sama tilted his head in confusion. Well... that was Kurarin for you.
“…………………”
Lavita seemed to be deep in thought, but he didn’t say anything.
Meanwhile, I had been quite busy. That meatball-like creatures from before had started to multiply.
Geraldin-san, Jend, Dirk, myself, Rinka, and Milfi were the core team, hunting them down nonstop. After things finally settled down, a week had passed.
I attended classes again after a long break. Good thing I forced the school to adopt a credit system. Otherwise, I definitely would have failed.
In the sunset-lit classroom, it was just me and Aldin-sama. And... that heart effect from earlier was swirling around us.
Now!?
The delay is too much!
Is this a grandpa timing?
Oh right, Kurarin is a grandpa!
And the effect was directed at the wrong person!
I had a flood of internal retorts, but none of them could escape my lips. What a disaster!
Just as I was considering making a funny face to break the tension, Aldin-sama spoke to me with a serious expression.
"Rosarin, I like you."
"Huh? Oh, I like you too~"
I casually replied, and then Aldin-sama collapsed. Why!?
"... I mean, I love you, as a woman!"
"I'm sorry!"
I immediately turned him down. No hesitation—Dirk is the only one for me.
"... I know you love Dirk. But was there ever a future where you and I could have been together?"
I thought about it for a moment.
"No, there wasn’t."
Nope, absolutely not. If there was a future where I ended up as Rosalia, it always led to a bad end. Besides, Rin’s favorite character has always been Dirk, without question.
"... I see. I think it started when I found out that I was supposed to be Rosalia's... Rosarin’s fiancé. That’s when I realized I liked you. I admired you. You were my first love."
"... I see. I'm grateful for your feelings, but... I’m sorry."
In this case, all I could say was sorry. I can only choose Dirk. There’s no other option for me.
"Yeah... Sorry for forcing my feelings on you. Thanks."
Aldin-sama said, with tears in his eyes, as he left.
Why do I feel so guilty!?
Ahhhhh! I need Dirk to comfort me! Even turning someone down is emotionally draining!!
"... Aldin-sama?"
That voice... was Miss Leticia? Without thinking, I used magic to eavesdrop.
"... What’s wrong?"
"It’s nothing, really. How pathetic."
Aldin-sama sounded like he was crying. Oh no, more guilt!
"... I’m sorry. I overheard your confession to Miss Rosarin."
"... I see."
"Aldin-sama, you’re amazing. Miss Rosarin just doesn’t have good taste!"
"... Huh?"
"Aldin-sama is so serious, shining, kind, and amazing! You’re radiant!"
Well, Aldin-sama is literally sparkling.
"Uh, thanks?"
He was clearly caught off guard by the compliment.
"I’ve loved you for a long time!"
"... Huh?"
"Ever since that time at the castle tea party when I tore my skirt, and you comforted me while I cried, I’ve always loved you!"
"... I see."
"D-don’t look for someone like Miss Rosarin, who won’t look back at you... Please, just look at me, even if it’s just a little!"
"... Okay."
"I’ll wait! However long it takes for your heart to change, I’ll wait!"
"... Okay... Thank you."
Miss Leticia, with tears in her eyes, passionately professed her feelings. Aldin-sama, who had been crying, now gently looked at her.
It seems like Aldin-sama will fall in love again soon.
"... Let’s go home."
I’m emotionally wrecked. Why do I feel both guilty and like I was the third wheel? Kurarin, this is all your fault!
When I get home, I’ll drink some alcohol and cling to Dirk! Dirk is always so sweet when I’m sad, he’ll definitely comfort me!
I’ll sit on his lap, get petted, and while I’m at it, I’ll demand to use his fluffy chest hair as a pillow!
With that resolution, I headed home.