Ursphere (7)

As Noah diligently chewed on the jelly, her head began to sway from side to side.

"Noah...? Are you... drunk?"

"Ehh...? Do I look drunk to you? I'm ab-so-lutely... not drunk at all. Hehehe..."

The stiff, serious expression she had earlier had completely melted into a silly grin, and her face had turned bright red.

It was obvious to anyone—she was drunk.

"Rubiaaa..."

"...Yes?"

"There you are...!"

Flailing her arms around as if searching for something, Noah leapt toward me the moment she heard my voice.

"Ugh—"

"Haaa... Fresh Rubia scent... The smell on the pillow had faded, and I was so sad... Heheh..."

She clung to me, burying her face in my chest as she grabbed my collar and started sniffing me.

Wait... pillow?

"Uh... well... I'm sorry. I brought the alcohol thinking it might help you two talk and reconcile, but I didn't expect this to happen..."

"There's nothing to apologize for. It's fine. Besides, even I didn't know she'd be such a lightweight—"

"Hmm... I love this smell..."

"She... didn't seem to know herself either, apparently."

"Yeah... Haha..."

I turned my gaze away from the drunken Noah, looking back at the place where she'd been lying down.

Hephaestus's pillow was still in its spot, but my pillow had been crumpled up where Noah had been resting.

So... she'd been holding onto my pillow?

"Noah, um... sigh..."

"Yes...?"

Honestly... there were so many things I wanted to ask Noah right now.

But hearing her speak her true feelings while drunk didn't sit right with me.

It felt unfair, like I'd be taking advantage of her vulnerability.

As I hesitated, simply stroking Noah's head,

"Rubia unnie, I'm going to head back to my room. You two should talk freely!"

Hephaestus, who had quietly packed up her things, was already halfway out the door.

"You don't have to leave, you know."

"I have to wake up early tomorrow anyway! Besides, I might make things awkward if I stay. Sleep well, and see you tomorrow!"

"...Alright. Thanks. Sleep well."

Hephaestus flashed a bright smile before leaving the room.

For an 18 year old, she was surprisingly perceptive.

"Rubiaaa... Why did you stop talking...?"

Noah wriggled in place, her movements tickling my thigh.

"...Noah."

She looked up at me with an innocent face.

Was it really okay to talk to her while she was like this?

Wouldn't she end up saying things she didn't actually want to reveal because of the alcohol?

My mind grew increasingly conflicted.

"Do you want another jelly?"

"Gasp... Jelly...!"

Drunk or sober, she's the same when it comes to jelly.

Smiling faintly, I held a piece of jelly up to her mouth.

Noah opened her mouth wide as if she intended to eat the jelly and my hand along with it.

Her small, neatly aligned teeth caught my eye.

And her tiny pink tongue, perfectly matching her small mouth, stood out, too.

I couldn't look away.

"Why aren't you giving me the jelly...?"

"Oh, here you go."

"Mm... Peach!"

Watching Noah chew the jelly with her cheeks puffed out, I reached out and gently poked them.

"Noah. Since I gave you some jelly... can I ask you a question?"

"Rubia, you can ask me questions even without giving me jelly...!"

"...Really?"

"Of course! Rubia is my friend...!"

Her bright, innocent answer made me smile.

But at the same time, it made my chest ache.

"Friend... Right. Because we're friends..."

I licked my dry lips before continuing.

"As your friend, let me ask. Earlier... were you hugging my pillow while lying down?"

"Eek... How did you know...?"

"Why... did you do that?"

"Well... Rubia wasn't next to me... And without my greatsword, I can't see anything... Hic... Th-this is... a secret though..."

Noah hastily clamped her hands over her mouth.

Was she doing this because she thought Hephaestus was still here?

"Is it because of Hephaestus?"

"Ah... Rubia and I were supposed to keep this a secret... Oh no, what should I do...?"

A small laugh escaped me.

What I'd said half-jokingly before, she'd taken so seriously.

"It's okay. Hephaestus is sleepy and went to bed."

"R-really? Then... is it okay to say it...?"

"Yes. You can speak freely."

I gently stroked Noah's hair.

She's... unbelievably cute.

"When I woke up... there was no greatsword... and no Rubia... Do you know how lonely I was...?"

Noah sat up and lightly wrapped her arms around my neck.

"But... since I got mad the day before... if I said I was looking for you because I didn't have my greatsword... Hic— What if Rubia hated me...?"

Her voice, damp with tears, tickled my ears.

"So... I just kept holding back, and holding back... And then... I just wanted to smell your scent... S-sniff... It's gross, right...? I'm sorry..."

The arms around my neck slowly slid away.

Her trembling body pulled back from me.

I raised my arms and wrapped them around her waist.

I pulled her closer, pressing her gently against me.

"Wha...?"

"It's not gross."

"B-but... I did that secretly..."

"Yes."

If anything, the fact that she sought me out so desperately...

It made me happy.

"Really...?"

"Of course. If anything, I'm sorry. I should have known and stayed by your side."

Noah's arms slowly wound back around my neck.

I could feel her heartbeat so clearly.

The small but distinct rhythm intertwined with my own.

The breath I exhaled felt scorching hot.

I needed to stop now.

Close my mouth.

Step away.

"Noah."

I had to—

"Y-yes...?"

But this atmosphere.

The sensation of Noah's breath brushing my ear.

The texture of her touch on my skin.

The thudding heartbeat resonating through her body.

And the deepening crimson hue between us.

"Noah, why... why do you want to protect me?"

My mouth moved on its own.

"Why did you say you'd protect me for the rest of your life?"

My emotions spiraled out of control.

"It's so hard for me. I feel like I'm becoming a terrible person, unable to suppress these filthy emotions... I'm scared I'll hurt you. I'm scared we'll drift apart... But why do you keep—"

This isn't your fault.

It's my issue.

And yet.

Cowardly.

Foolishly.

Pathetically.

Stupidly.

I'm shifting the blame onto you.

"Why... why are you making me feel these ugly emotions?"

These are words I could never say to you while you're sober.

Yet I'm spilling them now, to you in your drunken state.

"Why don't you push me away? Why do you... instead—"

Noah's arms loosened.

"...Because."

Her hands, sliding from my shoulders to my chest, gently pushed me back.

"Rubia it's because I like you."

"...What?"

Her voice, so clear and steady, pierced through the haze.

"Rubia, you're similar to me, but you've walked a different path. That's why I like you."

The warmth gathered between our bodies began to dissipate.

The sweet scent of jelly faded, overtaken by the bitter trace of alcohol.

"You're endlessly radiant, beautiful."

Her gaze met mine.

"Only someone like you, Rubia, can save me."

Her crimson eyes, deeper than my own emotions, reflected me.

"Only you can give me the answer I'm searching for."

Noah's pure white smile—

"That's why I protect you."

—sank deeply into the scarlet emotions I'd buried in my heart.

"That's why I like you, Rubia."

Her words blended, swirled, and merged with my own feelings.

And as they mixed,

My overwhelming emotions began to soften.

"So, don't worry."

On the last night of August, beneath the sweltering tropical night sky—

"I'll never hate you."

The deep crimson hue transformed into a dazzling pink.

And with it,

"For the rest of my life."

Her lips brushed mine, carrying the faintest taste of peach.

* * * *

"Ughhh... My head hurts..."

As I regained consciousness, an unbearable headache and a fiery pain in my stomach greeted me.

What happened yesterday...?

Oh.

I ate that spicy skewer... and drank alcohol.

But I only had one drink, didn't I?

Why can't I remember anything after that?

"Ughhh..."

Did I really get drunk off of one drink?

Drunk enough to lose my memory?

Ahhh, forget it...

My stomach's burning and my head hurts too much to think about it...

"Someone save me... Water..."

I tried to twist my body and lie on my stomach.

But I couldn't move.

"Huh...?"

I reached out with my hands to check my surroundings.

Something soft and warm was wrapped around me. Something big.

"Hm? Mmm..."

Hearing a strange sound, I froze.

"Rubia...?"

The moment Rubia's unusual voice reached my ears, I snapped wide awake.

Her arms and legs were wrapped tightly around me.

And...

My hand.

My hand was—

"Noah... What are you doing, touching my chest first thing in the morning? I haven't given you permission for that yet..."

"Huh?! I— No, wait— It wasn't on purpose! I didn't mean to—!"

I quickly pulled my hand away, fumbling to turn my body.

But her legs stopped me from moving.

"Where are you going? Come back here."

Then, as if sealing my fate, her arms pulled me back in with force.

"Ah— W-wait...!"

What's going on? Why is Rubia acting like this all of a sudden?

Yesterday, she was so... awkward.

"Does your head still hurt?"

"Y-yes, it does..."

"And your stomach?"

"It's burning..."

"Hehe."

A sweet scent tickled my nose.

"R-Rubia... Did you eat jelly by yourself?"

"Nope."

"But... I smell jelly... I can tell... Peach..."

"Peach, you say? Hehe... I wonder."

Rubia finally loosened her grip and gently released me.

"What should we eat for breakfast?"

Why does her voice sound so... sweet?

"I-I don't know... My stomach hurts too much to think about food..."

"Hmm, in that case, some warm soup would be good. I'll go get some."

Rubia patted my back lightly before standing up. I could hear the faint crack as she stretched her body.

"Ughhh... My back hurts."

I heard a soft rustling sound, almost like fabric brushing against skin.

"R-Rubia... Are you putting on clothes?"

"Yes."

"Why...?"

"Because I can't exactly go out naked, can I?"

"Ah, uh... no, I mean... that's not what I meant..."

"Maybe I should grab some bread while I'm at it. It'd go well with the soup."

"N-not bread, Rubia? Why... why were you undressed with m—"

Wait a second.

I'm wearing clothes, aren't I...?

"I'll be right back."

As the door opened, I heard her voice again—

"Just hang in there for a bit."

—and then the sound of her leaving the room.

"Huh...?"

With my vision gone, my other senses had grown sharper.

Just now...

Rubia's voice, tinged with laughter, carried something else.

"P-pink...?"

That voice,

wrapped in a warmth I could almost feel,

held the color of pink.