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“There we go… we’re back. I hope the pudding didn’t cool down too much.”
“Awa… awawa… awawawawawa…”

Though the kids had returned to their apartment, Sakura was still unable to form coherent words.

“Are you in there… Sakura? We’re back, in our apartment.”
“Gah… uh… yeah. We’re back… I guess.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Is… is something wrong!? What isn’t wrong? Kanata… that was too…”

Little by little, Sakura came back to herself. Likely since she was somewhat flustered, bashful, and angry at Kanata, she didn’t manage to form the right words in her attempt to thank the boy, and her tone of voice made it unclear whether she was happy or not.

“Hah… A lot happened, so I get that you’re still shocked, but just try to calm down, alright? There’s pudding waiting to be eaten.”

Kanata teleported the pudding and spoons onto the table and then opened the bowls in which the pudding had been placed. On that note, they had made enough of it to last for three days.

“Here you go.”
“Ah… t-thank you.”

They started eating pudding. Even though it was among her favorite sweets, Sakura still felt so tense, she barely tasted anything.

However, as she ate, she seemed to calm down and started talking to Kanata in a mix of gratitude and complaints.

“So yummy… Uhm, Kanata, there was no need to spend 60 million yen on clothes, was there?”
“You think so? But we still got tons of magic beast materials left,” Kanata replied nonchalantly. “I mean, that wasn’t even 1% of our stores. We’re still completely in the green, you see.”

While she understood that there was no need to worry about money, Sakura still wasn’t fully convinced, so she continued talking.

“S-Still… To spend 60 million on just me… that’s obviously…”
“Well, to be honest, I first thought that seven sets would be enough, but they all looked so pretty and suited you so well, so… To begin with, you seemed happy, being dressed up nicely. Back in Japan, maybe because you didn’t have much self-confidence, you were never much interested in fashion, compared to other girls your age, weren’t you?”
“Well… yeah. I can’t deny that.”
“So, if dressing up makes you happy, I don’t see the harm in buying all those clothes,” Kanata told her with a shy glance.

Sakura couldn’t look him in the eyes. She was caught up in an indescribable sensation that made her feel both warm and bashful. In order to distract herself from this feeling, she continued talking.

“Ah… uhm… If that’s… how you feel, you’ll end up spending tons of money, once you have a girlfriend! Eh-heh-heh… You already spent so much on me, and I’m merely your childhood friend… You… you need to be more careful!”
“I bought them since it’s you, Sakura, you know? Usually, all you want is sweets. I know I can trust you…”

These words made Sakura blush once more. Her face grew hot, and she could no longer think clearly.

“…!! Uhm… You… you bought all this for me, but… erm… there’s… there’s barely anything I can do for you in exchange…! U-Uhm, is there anything you’d like me to do for you?” she stammered. “I-I’ll try to fulfill your wishes, as far as I am able to, no matter what…! Erm… though there’s only so much I can do…”

The weight of the 60 million yen combined with her previous feelings of “as long as it’s Kanata, it’ll be fine”, led to her muttering that sentence, but the very person it was directed at her could do nothing but stare dumbfoundedly.

“It’s not nothing… I mean, we earned that money together, Sakura, didn’t we?”
“N-No, what are you saying? Even if you include my support magic and the few monsters I defeated… you were the one who made most of that money, right? L-Look, you even gave me all those legend grade items…!”
“Well… that may be true, depending on how you look at it. Still, it’s not something you should have to worry about, you know. You don’t need to thank me for it either. If I had to give a reason, it’s in apology for that sudden hug today, I guess?”

Kanata chuckled and smiled at her once more, before stuffing his cheeks with the remaining pudding. Thinking that he wouldn’t hear her during that time, Sakura unthinkingly spoke her true thoughts in a small voice.

“(What was there to apologize…? That was more like a reward…)”

“Huh, is that so?”
“Bwuh!? Gah… uhm… Kanata… erm! Ah, I-I didn’t mean it like that, just now! Gah… uhm…! Oh! We should finish eating the pudding, right? Right?”

Sakura continued eating her pudding, deliberately making strange noises to distract from what she had just said. Kanata wondered whether she was hiding something and frowned for a moment.

“That was delicious, wasn’t it? Like, really tasty!”
“Sakura, you’re kinda restless today. Well, if you’re happy and strangely excited, I’m glad too.”
“I-I-Is… is that so? R-Right, I’m definitely happy! Thank you.”
“Gotcha. That’s great. As long as you’re happy.”

He smiled at her. It was super effective. For the nth time today, Sakura ended up blushing.

“Ah… gah…”
“I’ll go wash the dishes, alright?” Kanata told her and disappeared into the kitchen.

The moment he was out of view, Sakura went limp, as if all strength had left her body. This was due to her having been way too tense. Right now, she recalled what Kyrian had told her about Kanata.

“(As I thought… Kanata might have feelings for me… I like him so much, but… what do I do? I’m not sure. I wonder, should I just ask him? How… how will that turn out? I’m scared. B-But all he did… hm~… Should I muster all my courage? After all, I really do like him.)”

A short time later, Kanata returned from washing the dishes.

“Sakura, what do you want to do? There’s still around one hour until dinner, so should we play something?”
“Oh… Kanata, you can take a nap if you want to. We’ve been active all day long and you never had a chance to rest.”
“You’re right. I’ll take you up on that offer, then. Could you wake me once dinner is ready?”
“Sure thing… sleep well.”

Thus, Kanata went to their double bed and laid down. While he rested, Sakura once more thought back on everything the boy had done for her since they came to this world, or rather, since she was born, and settled on the things she wanted to tell and ask him.

____
___
__

“Kanata, food is ready.”
“Mh~… oh, thanks for waking me. Is that stuffed cabbage? It looks delicious.”
“Eh-heh-heh… yeah.”
“…Hm? Well, good. Thanks for the food.”

Sakura and Kanata ate the stuffed cabbage. However, Sakura kept fidgeting the whole time for some reason. Kanata knew that this was a habit of hers when she was hiding something or was nervous, so he asked her.

“Hey, is something up?”
“Huh? No, it’s nothing.”
“Right, that’s fine, then.”

A bit later, the kids had finished their dinner, and it was time for their baths.

“I’ll go in, then,” Kanata volunteered.
“Yeah. Oh… uhm… say?”
“What is it? Is something wrong?
“Erm… could I go first today?”
“…Hm? Oh… of course.”

Sakura grabbed her magic bag and went into the bathroom. Meanwhile, Kanata pondered what was going on with her, seeing she hadn’t seemed in great spirits for some reason.

“(Was buying clothes for the equivalent of 60 million yen too much, after all…? That might have put an unnecessary amount of pressure on her. Hm~… to begin with…)”

Soon enough, Sakura left the bathroom.

“It’s free now, Kanata.”
“Hm.”
“Oh… after you’re done… could we talk a bit before going to bed?”
“Alright.”

Kanata went into the bathroom. While he was in there, Sakura started rummaging around in her magic bag.

____
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_

“I’m done.”
“Then… uhm, could you sit next to me?”
“S-Sure?”

For some reason, Sakura was wearing Brísingamen and one of the outfits they had bought today. Kanata was certain she had been in her pajamas, when she left the bath.

He did as she had asked and sat down next to her.

“Erm, Kanata.”
“…Hm.”
“Thank you for today. For buying me such wonderful clothes.”
“What matters is that you’re happy. Heh-heh,” Kanata replied.

After hearing that, Sakura quietly brought her hand to Kanata’s own, grasped it, and squeezed it gently.

“Right… erm, Kanata. It wasn’t just since we came to this world… but before that, too. Ever since I can remember, you did so much for me, just like today.”
“W-What are you doing? Please stop talking like this… if this was a manga, you’d be setting a death flag.”
“I won’t die, you know, probably. Anyway, Kanata. Is there a way for me to thank you? I want to. Isn’t there something I can do that’d make you happy? I can do whatever… just tell me.”

Sakura intently looked into Kanata’s eyes. Since the boy could feel her seriousness from that gaze, he replied just as seriously without any jest.

“…It’s fine, you know. If you’re there for me, that’s enough. Just stay with me and don’t get injured… or get into other trouble. That would make me the happiest.”
“Right… as I thought, that’s how it is. Say… Kanata. Do you… l-l-like me?”

Even though she had managed to talk smoothly up till now, Sakura fumbled her words at the most important point. Kanata interpreted her “like” in the friendly meaning, so he replied casually.

“Ha-ha, of course I like you. If I didn’t, we wouldn’t be childhood friends.”
“T-T-T-That’s true! As for… as for me, I… I like you, too. I like you a lot.”
“You like me a lot? Thank you. It’s the same for me. From now on, let’s keep getting along well-”
“…Grr. I feel like when I say ‘like’, and you say ‘like’… we don’t mean the same thing. Erm… uhm, what I’m trying to say… is…”

Sakura pounced on Kanata. The boy’s mind couldn’t keep up… Her lips met his.
A few seconds later, they separated.

“This is what I mean… You probably… meant it like a simple ‘like’… but I mean it in a romantic way… like ‘love’¹…”

With his cheeks dyed red, Kanata listened obediently.

“Even before we came to this world, I felt like this. Though I’m not sure when it started. Ever since coming here, you were so kind to me, every single day… you did so much, a whole lifetime wouldn’t be long enough to thank you! That’s why my feelings only grew stronger. Uhm… that kiss just now was my way of thanking you. Sorry for just giving you my first kiss, if you didn’t like it… you can just wash your face later, alright?”

Sakura looked at Kanata’s face uneasily. He looked back at her.

“Uhm… t-then, erm…” she continued.
“I liked it.”
“…if you didn’t hate it… huh?”
“I feel the same. If you didn’t dislike it, I’m fine with it. As for what we’ll be from now on… we won’t be childhood friends any more… but a couple, I guess?”
“Huh… ah… uh huh!?”

There was a gap of a few seconds. Sakura had grown rigid in surprise… but she soon regained consciousness. When Kanata told her what she was about to say herself, she could do nothing but reply with a stiff nod.

“Are you fine with that?” he asked her.
“Uh huh.”
“Ha-ha, really?”
“Uh… huh.”
“Me being a chuunibyou… and being lazy, like super lazy, at times will probably cause you no end of trouble, you know?”
“I… I’m fine with it. Even if you say so… I was the one who was hard on you, Kanata… Besides, I don’t think you have any shortcomings; you’re gentle, and cool, and a wonderful person…”

Sakura expressed her thoughts to him, something she normally wouldn’t do.

“Ah-ha-ha, thank you,” Kanata lightly scratched his cheek in apparent embarrassment and happiness. “Then, will we be in a relationship from now on?”
“Y-Yeah. I may be inexperienced, but… if you would have me…”
“Ha-ha… I’m in the same boat.”

The two kids bowed their heads to each other.

“Sakura, I’m sorry, I should’ve been the one to confess. I wanted to be the one to say it first no matter what… I decided that a long time ago. Though that’s probably me being selfish.”
“Huh… no! It’s fine… But no escaping tonight when we sleep! Eh-heh-heh, you’ll get used to it… won’t you? We’ll be sleeping next to each other from now on.”
“Ah… sure. I get it. Will do.”

TL notes:
It took 3 volumes, but those two finally managed to get their feelings across. Good for them.

Same as Mika and Rir, it was the girl who ended up confessing, I guess that’s the author’s thing.

1. Why not use “love” in the first place then? Also, for supposedly being so smart, Kanata sure failed big at reading the room here.

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