Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 4 Prologue (section)

===Part 3===

After that, Miu told Chikage and Kuzuha about her background.

From herself being a resident of a world called Alayzard, to her position as the Demon King's daughter, as well as the details of how, having a relationship of enmity with Akatsuki, both of them came around to this world. And from how, since she came to this world, she posed as Akatsuki's sister, to Phil Barnett's true identity and his hidden objective.

Once the whole story was over—before they knew, the sunlight that came from the window was going down.

Looking at the clock, Miu realized. Since she started her story, a full three hours had passed.

So, in order to take a break from the conversation, on Akatsuki's suggestion they had a temporary recess.

On the table before them, everyone's teacups had already become empty,

"I ...... I'll brew some more tea." 

Saying that, Miu placed the cups on a tray, and flew into the kitchen.

She placed the four sets of tea cups and saucers in the sink and placed a kettle filled with water over the fire of the stove. Finally, Miu let out a big sigh.

The water that flew from the faucet was making circular ripples in the stainless steel sink.

Like that, Miu listened for a while to the sound of running water.

And then,

"—Hey, thanks for your work."

Suddenly, someone called out to her. Looking back, there was Akatsuki, leaning on the wall at the entrance of the kitchen, with a gentle look on his face.

"Yeah......" 

Miu quietly nodded and turned back to the sink. After that, she started washing the teacups, gently sliding the sponge soaked in detergent.

Then, Akatsuki, without saying a word, stepped up to Miu. And,

"Ah......" 

While quietly washing the cups, Miu's vision suddenly darkened. She had been embraced. It seems her head was embraced from the side. Miu had stopped her hands, and with a little troubled tone,

"That's dangerous...... What if I break a cup?"

"Relax. There's no way I'll let a girl I'm hugging get injured."

That joking tone gave her comfort. 

"You did your best......" 

"...... Yeah." 

Before Akatsuki's voice tinged with warmth compared, she couldn't help but let out a quivering nod.

Miu softly closed her eyes on Akatsuki's chest. She leaned on him as if entrusting him with her body.

By receiving Akatsuki's gentleness, Miu knew to what extent he was at a loss wondering about whether to convey the truth to Chikage and Kuzuha or not. Because of that, Miu meekly fawned on that gentleness.

There's no turning back. Since I've told everything to those two.

From now on, all depends on Chikage and Kuzuha's judgement.

Whether they would keep fostering friendship like until now, or else they end up as enemies.

"I wonder if I have sufficiently explained myself......"

"Yup, there's no doubt about that." 

He patted her back, as if saying she didn't need to worry. 

Then, Akatsuki put both hands on Miu's shoulders, and gently pushed away her body. 

"—Well, since I'll brew the tea, you should go back first." 

"Eh, but......"

Miu's face clouded. Akatsuki, why don't we listen together to Chikage and Kuzuha's answer?

To Miu, who looked up with uneasiness, Akatsuki showed a gentle face, 

"When I called them, I was asked something by Izumi and Class Rep. But after listening to your story, they still don't know what answer give to you. That is, since they'll give you a thoroughly thought out answer... That answer, they want you to hear it first."

What to do? 

"However, if you say you want me to hear it with you—Do you mind if I'm present?"

 

The decision Miu made after pondering for a while, Akatsuki respected it without complaint.

As a result—Akatsuki was currently left alone in the kitchen.

Having the water in the kettle already boiled, he was now cooling it down to a suitable temperature.

Warming the cups and the tip of the teapot with hot water, Akatsuki was counting.

The gradually decreasing figures were a countdown until the moment of his arrival.

And, it happened when he got to just under 10. A single voice raised from the living room.

"————————"

It was a cry. What the trembling voice conveyed was a wailing of overflowing in-endurable feelings.

Akatsuki knew who was the owner of the voice. And also why she was crying.

So, Akatsuki didn't move from that place.

Ousawa Akatsuki knew how to react to a girl's tears.

In this case, if he reacted, then those were tears of sadness.

Had that kind of tears been shed, Akatsuki would have immediately rushed to the living room.

<u>However</u>—<u>These tears were different.</u>

The ones who had to react to these tears were the two people at her side.

So,

"...... That's good." 

Akatsuki showed a satisfied smile. Then, as if he had remembered something,

"—Tch, how bad. Since it arrived sooner than expected, I lost count." 

Distracted by the situation there, maybe the water had cooled a bit too much.

Scratching his cheek in annoyance, Ousawa Akatsuki showed a disappointing<!-- "disappointing" makes little sense as a desription here, should probably be translated differently --> wry smile.

"Well, isn't it fine? Rather than warm, it may be better to a body that has cooled down by crying."