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Chapter 205: Finger Wrestling
I’ve thought this for a while, but Abel’s actually kind of shy and innocent, isn’t she?
It’s probably because she’s kept her distance from people for so long that even the smallest things seem to fluster her.
Though, when it comes to people she doesn’t care about, she couldn’t be less interested.
She’s really extreme like that.
But if she cares about me even a little, that’s kind of an honor.
I adjusted my hold on the sleeping Phe with one arm and squeezed Abel’s hand with the other.
“—!”
Abel flinched, her body tensing up.
To reassure her, I gave her the best smile I’d mastered back in my old life.
“I care about you too, Abel. That’s why I’m glad you showed me this flower.”
“Yeah...”
Abel’s response was short, just one word.
But it felt like it carried a lot of weight.
“Al?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not used to talking.”
I know.
But you still manage to say a lot.
Abel squeezed my hand a little tighter.
“You said you’d spend time with me, Al. But I don’t have much to say. Even if we’re together, I can’t come up with anything clever or entertaining.”
“Don’t say that, I enjoy our time together.”
I won’t even let Abel herself deny that.
“Talking isn’t the only way to enjoy spending time together, you know.”
“...Jeez, you’re always like this, Al.You’re my comfort.”
Abel didn’t say anything more, just quietly held my hand in return.
That was it.
But it’s enough. That’s what I thought.
…Huh?
I noticed the unnamed flower out of the corner of my eye—it looked like it was glowing just a bit.
“Mmm? Phe was sleeping? Phe remembers wanting to pick a flower!”
As soon as we stepped out of the tower, Phe woke up, like she’d been under a spell.
She puffed out her cheeks, rubbing her face against me in protest since we’d already left the tower.
Well, if she picked the flowers, it’d just cause trouble for Abel, so I’d have to distract her somehow.
“Here, Phe. Head pats~”
“Yay! Niita patted Phe! Even though Phe didn’t even ask for it, but Niita gave headpats anyway! Phe is happy! Phe loves Niita!”
Yep.
She looks really happy, and that’s what matters.
Speaking of happiness, even Abel seemed a bit pleased after seeing the flower with me, even if it was just for a short while.
It’s hard to tell since her expression didn’t change, but I’m pretty sure I’m right, considering she’s holding on to the back of my shirt.
“Phe, let’s go back to Mom and the others.”
“Phe’s home is in Niita’s arms! We’re not going back, Phe is already in the right place!” #TLN: The Japanese for “Going back” is the same as “going home”#
There she goes again, spouting bizarre logic while sporting a smug smile...
With a proud huff, Phe nuzzled her cheek against me, while Abel, still holding onto my shirt, followed along as we headed back to Abel’s house.
“Abel! How could you just leave me of all people behind?!”
The moment we walked in, Lutiel shouted, almost in tears. Did something happen?
Meanwhile, Abel just looked away from her.
Was it because she didn’t care, or did she feel guilty about leaving her with Mom?
Mom, on the other hand, looked overjoyed, her face shining as she giggled to herself.
It seems my mother has taken quite a liking to the High Ancestor of Balance.
“Welcome back, Al-chan, Phe-chan.”
She hugged us both tight.
There was a pleasant, flowery scent I’d never smelled before.
(This must be the “scent of another woman” people talk about. It really does linger.)
Great, now I know something else I didn’t need to.
Lutiel, here’s the lake water.”
“Don’t you have anything else to say?!”
“You’re the one who said you had something to discuss.”
“Oh, right.”
Luti pointed outside with her gaze. I guess she didn’t want us overhearing.
“Alright.”
Abel stood up, and the sisters headed outside together.
“Looks like it’s just us again.”
Mom flopped over, holding us both as she rolled around the room.
“Hehehe… Phe loves rolling!”
I love lazing around too...
Probably not the same way she means it, though. #TLN: They use the onomatopoeia for rolling. It can also be onomatopoeia for lazing around#
The three of us rolled left and right together.
After a while, Mom let go of us.
“Ugh… I’m feeling dizzy…”
My mom may be an idiot.
“Is Mom out? Then Niita! Play with Phe!”
This one didn’t take any damage.
She leaped at me, full of excitement.
“Phe’s Niita always thinks of fun things! Phe’s excited!”
Rubbing her head against me, she sure overestimates me.
If I don’t correct this soon, I’m going to get crushed by her expectations someday.
“How about a game of finger wrestling?”
“Finger wrestling?! That sounds amazing! Phe wants to play!”
And so, we played finger wrestling.
Phe fell for every single feint, but she seemed delighted just to be holding hands with me, giggling the whole time.
Winning didn’t seem to matter at all.
“Hehehe… Holding hands with Niita is the best! Phe likes finger wrestling!”
Does she like it as much as kisses? It seems to be in that ballpark, at least
Afterward, Mom joined in, and the three of us played finger wrestling together.
I didn’t take turns; instead, I used both hands at once, and naturally, I lost every round.
Eventually, the Arch-Elves came back.
The hooded one glanced at us and frowned.
Maybe they thought we looked like a weird family.
“Welcome back, Abel. Did you finish talking?”
“Yeah, more or less.”
“What did you talk about? I want to know too!”
Mom leaned forward, but Lutiel hid behind Abel, clearly intimidated.
“There’s no way I can tell you. If it was something I could say, we wouldn’t have stepped outside.”
Fair enough.
The problem is whether Mom will listen or not.
“There’s only one thing I can say: always be ready with emergency supplies.”
With that, the progenitor of balance gave a quick farewell to her sister and left.
Did she go home?
Abel sat beside me and whispered quietly, just for me to hear.
“It’s happening again, like the Ice Cavern incident. It’s hard to prepare, but don’t let your guard down.”
“The Ice Cavern incident?!”
So that’s why Abel’s sister came.
This must be serious.
“Lutiel said she managed to deal with the threat, but there were no clues. For now, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Something bad is happening behind the scenes.
But if there were no leads, there was nothing we could do.
“Abel! I want to see something fun too!”
Not having heard any of the serious talk, Mom cheerfully made her request.
Abel sighed and got up.
“There’s a fruit section in the garden. Pick and eat as much as you want.”
“Fruit?! Let’s go, Phe! We can have something sweet!”
“Sweet?! Phe loves sweets! Phe loves Niita too!”
Phe jumped up, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
After that, our family had a great time picking fruit and getting a tour of the garden.
But the worries of the Arch-Elves still weighed on my mind.
I hoped we could keep living peacefully like this.
