Editing Unlimited Fafnir:Volume 8 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 5===

'—Then pass this message to Mitsuki. Tell her to take care.'

"Yes, Mom, I got it."

Ending the call on my portable terminal, I leaned my back against the balcony railing.

From the room I was using on the second floor of the mountain villa, I could overlook the fenced tennis courts. I could also spot another building in the distance. Probably a guest house.

On the court, Iris and Lisa had changed into tennis uniforms available in the mountain villa and were playing tennis.

The others were still tired from the long drive and looked like they were going to rest until noon. Keeping the unusually energetic Iris company was Lisa, who had not taken part in the battle yesterday.

"Lisa-chan, here comes the ball!"

With a large stroke, Iris served a powerful fast ball.

"Not bad at all, Iris-san!"

However, when Iris struck the ball to the other side, Lisa caught up and returned it with splendid form.

—Iris really seemed to be in top shape.

Midgard's courses included ordinary PE class in addition to the training of practical skills. PE classes mostly involved sports in indoor facilities such as tennis, volleyball or basketball.

Not particularly athletic, Iris was always on the losing side, but today, she was playing a spectacular match.

However, after watching them rally for quite a while, I felt my gaze involuntarily drawn to the pale thighs exposed under the miniskirts rather than what was happening in the match. With every strenuous motion, it felt like their underwear could almost be seen.

—She can't have forgotten them today, right?

Since Iris had forgotten to wear underwear in the past, I could not tear my gaze from her despite the worries in my heart.

"Ah... What am I doing?"

I suddenly regained my senses and pressed my palm to my forehead. Now was not the time for such thoughts.

Although there was the Kraken Zwei and Vritra incidents on one hand, I had forgotten something important.

Who I loved the most—I still had not reached a conclusion.

I already thought that "my current self" would disappear once I recovered my memories and returned to "my past self," but reality was not that simple. With two types of memories mixed together, past and present, even I myself had trouble telling which ones were real.

What flashed through my mind was Mitsuki's face, stuck in deep slumber.

But just as I was getting ready for a change of pace, a gust of wind blew Lisa's skirt up. What entered my view was pure white fabric—

Lisa frantically pushed her skirt down and her gaze met mine. During this opening, Iris served an ace then turned her head back to look up at me on the balcony.

"Mononobe! Did you see that just now?"

"Eh, no—"

I thought she was asking about Lisa's underwear, so I answered in a panic.

"Eh, you didn't see it? But I served such a spectacular ace just now..."

"Oh, you mean that? Yeah, I definitely saw that too."

Realizing my mistake, I corrected myself, only to see Iris smile happily.

"Wow, I'm so glad!"

Seeing her expression, my heart skipped a beat, but Lisa glared at me with her face red.

"Mononobe Yuu, by saying you 'definitely saw that too,' what else did you see exactly?"

"W-Well..."

Just as I hesitated how to answer, Iris waved to me.

"Come over here too, Mononobe! Let's play together!"

"I will have you explain yourself clearly. Please come down at once!"

Lisa demanded my presence too, so I sighed and gave up on resisting.

"Got it... Wait for me."

After answering Iris and Lisa, I opened the balcony's French windows and returned to the room.

"C-Captain! Will you be inclined to go play tennis!?"

Sitting on the bed, John seemed extra nervous as he asked me. Far too reserved, his choice of words was also a bit strange.

"Yeah... By the way, why are you so on edge?"

"U-Umm... Because I never expected to share a room with you, Captain..."

I could not help but smile wryly after finding out he was concerned about the room assignments.

"We're the only guys so getting assigned to the same room is only natural, right? There aren't enough rooms to give everyone a single. Although there seems to be another building—considering the emergency situation, it's best that we don't spread ourselves out."

"Y-Yes, that is true..."

"Is there a problem? Haven't we camped together many times during NIFL's operations before?"

I could not figure out why John felt nervous.

"Yes... But this our first time sharing a room, just the two of us—"

Seeing John blush and bow his head in shyness, I sighed deeply.

"We're both guys so you don't have to be that bothered. Besides, we're equals now. Since we're no longer under NIFL, you don't need to use polite speech with me."

"N-No way, because to me, you are someone to be respected, Captain, so I am fine with maintaining the current relationship."

John shook his head and refused.

"You're serious as always... But that's your good point too, John. Still, being tense all the time is not good for your health. How about some tennis for a change of pace?"

"M-Me too?"

"Yeah, let's have a match, John. You'll accept if you're a man, right?"

I deliberately provoked him and John immediately tensed his expression.

"—Yes sir! Of course I will accept, because I am a man!"

Putting extra emphasis on the word "man," he nodded and accepted the challenge.

"Then let's go."

"Affirmative!"

John saluted and answered, then we headed over to the tennis courts where Iris and Lisa were waiting.



After sweating from tennis and having lunch, we then relaxed in the living room—Time passed as though we were out on some kind of staff retreat.

Those of us who were initially unsettled by their dragon marks changing color now seemed a bit calmer.

Firill and Ren were by the window, amply lit by sunlight, engrossed in reading and playing on the computer respectively. Still full of energy, Iris had gone out, saying she was taking a stroll nearby.

Having driven since last night, Shinomiya-sensei was resting in her room.

The others were gathered on the sofa in front of the television, watching a news program. No—on closer examination, Tia was fast asleep, using Lisa's lap as a pillow, probably sleepy after a meal.

'—"Black" Vritra was sighted in the sky above Nanato City yesterday. Furthermore, there have been reports of a flying creature, alleged to be a dragon—'

The news was reporting about Vritra. Kraken Zwei did not get a single mention from any news program, so information control seemed rather tight.

"Oh, look, look. Mother, you're on television. If everyone knew that the gigantic dragon looks this adorable now, they will surely be in for a surprise."

Kili pointed at the black dragon shown on the TV screen and joked with Vritra.

"...Hmph."

Perhaps annoyed with Kili's persistent toying with her, Vritra turned her face away without saying a word.

"Fufu, you're even pouting too. Mother is very cute when she's like that as well. Don't you agree, Yuu?"

Kili leaned herself against me, who was sitting next to her, and sought my agreement. Her soft bosom was touching my arm, forcing me to lose composure.

"H-Hey—"

"Kili! Get away from the Captain!"

"You are too close together!"

Before I could complain, John and Lisa were already chastising Kili. However, Kili smiled at John and Lisa to taunt them instead of separating from me.

"What? Are you two jealous of me?"

"N-No! It's because the Captain feels troubled that I—"

"Indeed, even if you force him, he will feel nothing more than irritation."

Red in the face, John and Lisa denied resolutely.

Just as both sides were glaring at each other and the atmosphere was growing tense—A patter of hasty footsteps was heard from the entrance.

"Hey! I found a beautiful river nearby! There's a waterfall even though it's a small river and there's so many fish swimming in the water! Do you wanna have a look, everyone?"

Iris was back from her walk outside. Still inexplicably energetic, she invited us to go with a face of excitement.

Glad to free myself from the crossfire, I seized the opportunity to rise from the sofa.

"Great, let's go. Lead the way, Iris."

"Yuu... My goodness."

Kili glared at me unhappily.

"—Since there's fish, rod fishing should be possible. I'm coming too."

Watching television silently this whole time, Ariella stood up, apparently interested.

"I will pass since I'm tired from tennis. Also, I'm currently serving as Tia-san's pillow."

Stroking the sleeping Tia's hair, Lisa declined the invitation.

"I'm not going either. It feels like it'll be a pain to go into the mountains while acting as Mother's nanny."

Kili shrugged and replied. Vritra grumbled "Do not treat me as an infant."

At the window, Firill and Ren waved to see us off.

"What about you, John?"

"Oh—I shall keep you company too!"

John rose up frantically.

"Mononobe, come this way!"

Iris pulled my arm and led the way.

We exited the mountain villa and walked along a path to the forest. Even inside the forest, the path remained well-paved and was very easy to walk.

"We're almost there, Mononobe!"

Just as Iris said, we soon heard the sound of flowing water.

Getting out of the forest, our view broadened as we came to the riverside.

"This is... Rather than a river, it's more like a small stream."

I looked at the flowing water and commented. Upstream, there was a small waterfall roughly ten meters in height.

"The water is really clear and transparent. There's so many fish swimming. Fishing here should be fun."

Ariella cheered as she peered at the water surface.

"Given this level of transparency and shallowness of the water, spearfishing will be faster. Or catching with bare hands."

Having experienced outdoor survival during many missions, John made this suggestion but Ariella shrugged in exasperation.

"You don't get it at all. Can't be helped, I'll teach you the pleasures of rod fishing."

"H-Hey!? I want to go with the Captain—"

Ariella grabbed John's arm firmly and brought her lips to his ear.

"Also, I have things to ask you."

After saying that, Ariella whispered something to him. John's face instantly turned pale.

"W-Why do you..."

"Don't you remember? I fought you back in the Principality of Erlia. After all, many things can be learned just by physical contact."

Ariella giggled and explained. John slumped his shoulders dejectedly.

"Guh... Do as you wish."

"Great, so let's start the lesson with how to make a simple fishing rod. We'll go pick up suitable branches! Mononobe-kun, lend him to me for a bit, okay?"

Hence, Ariella took John and entered the nearby bushes, leaving Iris and me behind, staring at each other.
[[image:UnlimitedFafnir_v08_061.jpg|thumb]]

"What's with them?"

"I don't know either..."

We cocked our heads in puzzlement. Just as the conversation died down, I heard random noises in the forest.

The rustling in the trees, birds calling, the water in the stream, the waterfall—the only one beside me was Iris.

"U-Umm, let's go to the waterfall for a look!"

Iris urged me in a slightly obviously stiff tone of voice. Perhaps she was also conscious of the fact that the two of us were alone.

"S-Sure."

I nodded nervously in response.

Thus, with unnatural footsteps, we headed to the waterfall.

Although the volume of water falling down was low, the view was still impressive up close. Small bubbles of water flew up, shrouding the waterfall's vicinity in a layer of light mist.

"Wow, the water's so cold!"

Iris reached for the waterfall but quickly retracted her hands. Then this time, she peered into the stream and cheered.

"Look, look, there's a crab! It's smaller than the ones on beaches!"

"—That's a river crab. Even though it's small, it's still essentially edible. But you risk getting infected by parasites if you don't cook it with fire."

Iris immediately looked very interested when I told her about outdoor survival knowledge I had learned from NIFL.

"Really? I wonder if it tastes good?"

Glimmering brightly with excitement in her eyes, Iris reached for the river crab in the water.

"Hwah!?"

Almost getting her finger pinched by a crab's pincer, Iris hastily withdrew her finger, but fell over from the momentum.

"Are you okay?"

Smiling wryly, I extended my hand to her.

"T-Thank you..."

Iris reached out shyly but stopped before our fingers were about to touch.

"What's wrong?"

"...Nothing, I'm fine. I can stand up on my own!"

Iris smiled cheerfully and got up by her own effort. She used her handkerchief to wipe off sand stuck to her skirt and took a step away from me.

"Mononobe—I've come to understand. I can't keep relying on your kindness."

"Huh...?"

Staring at Iris' face, I could not understand what she was talking about.

Calm determination surfaced on her face.

"Back when Mitsuki-chan collapsed from Vritra-chan's attack, Mononobe... Your face looked really scary. That expression was like the end of the world had arrived. I don't want to let you make that kind of look again, Mononobe."

Iris hugged herself and spoke in a trembling voice.

"So from now on... I will try my best not to rely on you, Mononobe. This is to let you focus your heart on Mitsuki only at critical moments."

After saying that, she turned around as though trying to hide her face.

"Iris..."

Despite acting lively and cheerfully, had she been thinking about this the whole time? —When that thought crossed my mind, I could not help but bite my lip.

'Please worry more about Iris-san than me, Nii-san. Because Iris-san is the one you love, Nii-san.'

What Mitsuki had said to me in the NIFL base flashed across my mind.

Both of them wanted me to stop considering and worrying about them, but that sort of thing... How could I possibly do that?

"I think you've probably gotten the wrong idea, Iris. I haven't lost anything as a result of retrieving my memories."

"Eh?"

Iris looked back and I continued.

"I think I was wrong in the beginning too. I thought that my current self would vanish once I recalled my past self, but reality isn't like that. Even after my memories recovered, I'm still me."

Then touching my left chest, I told her:

"My feelings for you have not changed, Iris, they are still here."

"!?"

Iris blushed intensely and pressed her hands forcefully on her chest.

"Don't say that... ever again, Mononobe."

Iris stared at me with a tearful smile.

Seeing tears flow out from the corners of her eyes, I could not help but gasp.

"Back then, had Mitsuki-chan really died, Mononobe, you probably would have broken down. For you to be yourself, Mononobe, you need Mitsuki-chan. Most certainly, the one I love... is the Mononobe who treasures Mitsuki-chan more than anyone!"

After saying these words with a clumsy smile, Iris started going back along the path she had taken to come here.

"...Wait up!"

Catching the hand I had failed to grasp just now, I stopped Iris.

"Let me go, Mononobe. Am I wrong on any point?"

Confronted with her question, I could not find an answer. Had Mitsuki lost her life then and there, I would not have been able to stop. I would have allowed "Fafnir" to control my body and kill Vritra. Then with that, I might not have returned.

Seeing my reaction, Iris smiled wryly.

"If I died, Mononobe, you'd mourn me... But you probably won't break down. I think that's the gap between Mitsuki-chan and me that can never be filled."

Iris wanted to shake my hand off, but I hung on tightly in defiance.

Why? Because it was not like that.

Because that was the one sentence that was wrong.

"I can't imagine what'll happen after you die, Iris. But if anyone tried to take you away or kill you, Iris, I will risk everything to stop it, even at the cost of my life. This is the one assertion I can be certain."

"—"

Iris gasped, her body frozen on the spot.

Our eyes met but Iris was the first to look away.

"Don't say anymore, Mononobe. If you talk like this, I... Urgh—"

Iris' voice trembled, but just as she tried to say something, she suddenly showed a look of pain.

I thought I was gripping too hard so I released her hand, only to see Iris hold the side of her abdomen. That location was Iris' dragon mark.

"Don't tell me—"

I cried out in surprise. Then Ariella and John emerged from the bushes slightly farther away. Both of them were holding long branches for making fishing rods but the atmosphere did not feel as though they were going to start fishing. Ariella's reaction was the same as Iris'—frowning, she had her hand on her lower abdomen, which was exactly the location of her dragon mark.

"...Perhaps Kraken Zwei is starting to move."

When Ariella suggested that with a look of suffering, John clenched her fists as though enduring something.

While Iris was pressing on her dragon mark, I placed my hand on her shoulder and told her quietly.

"What I just said was not a lie."

"Mononobe..."

Iris looked up at me with unease in her eyes.

I knew very well that Iris was not worrying about her own safety. Surely, she was worrying about the matter of me and Mitsuki.

Despite understanding that, I still had no intention of going back on what I had just said.

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