TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 222
A gentle breeze blows.
The wind lightly brushes past my hair and refreshingly sweeps away the stifling feeling in my chest. It seems like coming out was a good idea. I had hesitated, wondering whether to step out since it was so late, but it felt like a good way to ventilate and clear my mind.
“This is nice….”
Growing tired of the hospital life that had dragged on for over a week, I leaned my arms on the balcony railing and enjoyed the moment of leisure.
It was definitely comfortable at first, so why does it feel tedious now? Is it because the hospital food is tasteless?
-It’s not good.
-It can’t be helped. Just eat it.
-It’s bland. Tasteless. Not good.
While there were good aspects to resting, I felt like I was reaching my limit. Proper rest is best taken at home, not in a hospital.
With my eyes closed and feeling the breeze, I smiled faintly as I gazed at the Northern Snowy Mountains. Thinking about how the Protagonist had lived here, I gave a small nod.
“It really is beautiful.”
The sight of snow gently settling on the white snowy mountains was pleasing to the eye. It gave a feeling of my chest being cleared and a sense of calm. I thought, maybe if I earn a lot of money later, I could build a vacation home here. Living here permanently might be too much, but having a vacation home to visit occasionally seemed like a good idea.
“What nonsense.”
I chuckled softly, indulging in my daydreams. Sometimes, having such thoughts can lead to bigger ambitions. I smiled brightly and brushed off my messy, wind-blown hair.
Since I was in the hospital, I hadn’t styled my hair, and even the smallest breeze made it flutter. My hair had grown long enough to cover my eyes. As I swept my hair back, I muttered softly.
“I wonder if Miss Yuria is doing well.”
I heard from the Doctor that James had woken up, but I wasn’t sure if he was okay. I avoided visiting him, thinking that showing a handsome face to a patient in need of mental stability might worsen his health, but I was still worried.
Of course, the biggest reason was Yuria.
‘She’d probably dislike it if I visited.’
I didn’t want to disrupt the intimate time between father and daughter. Plus, I didn’t think I’d hear anything pleasant if I did.
How should I put it? It was hard to express in words.
Although I hadn’t been directly told anything bad, it felt like she subtly found me uncomfortable. After meeting Yuria last time, I hadn’t been able to muster the courage easily.
Being hated was something I was used to, but I didn’t know how to react. I figured it was natural for Yuria to dislike me.
Considering what I had done, smiling carelessly seemed inappropriate. Even if we had reconciled, I wasn’t thick-skinned enough to act like nothing happened.
And her Favorability hadn’t improved much either.
Looking at the Northern Snowy Mountains, I thought about the Favorability score I had seen a week ago, smiling bitterly.
[Favorability: 13]
“…”
Thinking about Yuria always brought up regrets.
There were ways I could have guided things in a better direction.
If I had thought differently, we might have been able to create a future where we were both happy.
The time I locked her in a wardrobe for three hours.
-Let’s spray this medicine on Yuria’s face.
-That sounds fun. Who’s going to do it?
-I don’t know, just convince someone to do it.
The bullying from the classmates.
-Hey, let’s ask her to eat with us tomorrow and then ditch her.
-Good idea. Let’s say it’s a class dinner….
There must have been better solutions, but I always resolved things crudely, thinking a fist was closer than words. I was probably afraid of Yuria getting hurt.
There must have been a better way.
I regretted that my rash decisions might have caused Yuria more pain.
Though it’s all in the Bygone Past now.
The Cold Breeze tickled my chest refreshingly, as if urging me to let go of past regrets and move on.
“Should I go?”
It was about time to sleep.
It would be troublesome if the Young Lady lying on the bed took my spot. I lightly packed the snow piled on the railing into a ball and moved my body.
‘I should place this on the Young Lady’s forehead.’
Grinning mischievously at the thought of playing a prank.
After some time, enough to make a Small Snowball the size of a fist, I heard the sound of someone walking on the veranda.
‘Is it a patient?’
Judging by the footsteps, it didn’t seem like the Young Lady. Listening carefully to the weak footsteps, I waited for the door to open.
“Oh.”
I encountered a familiar figure.
Someone it was awkward and regretful to see.
At the same time, a foolishly kind and meddlesome woman opened the glass door to the veranda.
Looking at Yuria, who met my gaze with tearful eyes, I quietly called her name.
“Miss Yuria.”
Yuria was dressed lightly again today. She looked like she could be blown away by a slight breeze, yet she wasn’t wearing an outer garment.
Wondering what she was doing at this late hour, I smiled softly and spoke to her.
“The wind is cold.”
“…”
“You’ll catch a cold dressed like that.”
I took off the cardigan draped over my shoulders and reached out to place it on Yuria’s still figure.
-Flinch.
‘Is she still angry?’
Awkwardly smiling, I paused my outstretched hand and fell into thought, but eventually, I draped the cardigan over Yuria’s shoulders.
No matter how awkward it was, I didn’t want Yuria to get sick. As the Heroine, catching a cold because she was considerate of the Possessor’s feelings would be embarrassing. Shaking my head lightly, I gave an awkward smile.
“I washed it today, so it shouldn’t smell.”
The cardigan was so oversized that Yuria’s arms weren’t visible.
Though her clumsy appearance almost made me laugh, her stern expression made me think twice. I decided it was better to have a calmer conversation and held back.
I carefully thought of a topic Yuria might like, something she could respond to without feeling burdened.
“Miss Yuria.”
“…”
“I heard the news. Your Father has woken up….”
Yuria nodded.
Her head hung low, obscuring her expression, but seeing her nod reassured me.
“You must have gone through a lot.”
“…”
“He’ll recover soon, so everything will be alright.”
-Clench.
Yuria, who had remained mostly silent, bit her lip and maintained a long silence.
“…”
As the silence dragged on, I cautiously glanced at Yuria’s Affinity Window, hoping for a clue to break the situation.
But the glimpse only made things more complicated.
Very complicated.
Looking at Yuria’s Affinity Window, I muttered softly, “This is tricky….”
The Status Window laid bare the reasons for Yuria’s emotions without reservation. Depression, guilt, wishing I’d just scold her, fear, and regret—things that shouldn’t be in the ‘favorite conversation topics’ category were all there.
While I wasn’t unfamiliar with meeting depressed people, seeing the Heroine filled with such uncomfortable emotions because of me didn’t feel good.
And furthermore.
“…”
It seemed like I was the reason for those turbulent emotions, making it hard to say anything. It appeared the Young Lady had said something.
Taking in the Northern Winds, I pondered. It felt like a lie I had tried to keep hidden had been exposed, leaving me unsure of what to say.
‘…’
I didn’t want to embarrass myself by playing Hero or sound pretentious like a Villain with a Backstory, so I concluded it was best to act as I wanted.
-Plod.
Taking a step closer to Yuria, I grabbed the button of the cardigan.
“It’s cold.”
Carefully kneeling down, I buttoned up the cardigan as Yuria looked down at my hands, biting her lips.
-Sniff…
Perhaps overwhelmed, her shoulders trembled as if she was holding back tears.
Yuria, who was biting her lips as if they might burst, was taking Deep Breaths with trembling shoulders.
I gave her a Small Smile at her sorrowful expression and spoke softly.
“Are you alright?”
“…”
“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”
At my gentle inquiry, Yuria Shook Her Head and lowered her gaze.
“N…no. Why would I be struggling….”
I asked Yuria again about her well-being. Like gently brushing my fingers against a retaining wall that seemed ready to collapse, I opened my lips in a calm and quiet Voice.
“There’s no one in the world who isn’t struggling. That includes me, the Young Lady, and Miss Yuria as well.”
“…”
“It’s just that the weight of what we endure differs from person to person.”
“Sniff…”
“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”
Yuria spoke in a trembling Voice.
“I… I can’t… I’m not allowed to struggle.”
“If I struggle… it’s because I’m a Fool… because it’s all my fault.”
Yuria Shook Her Head as if rejecting the words that wouldn’t come out easily, clutching her chest tightly with her Fist.
I thought, perhaps that answer was the one she most wanted to hear. A desperate wish for someone to scold her and tear her down.
But what could I do?
I had no intention of saying such things.
“It’s alright.”
After fastening Yuria’s Buttons, I carefully took a step back from her. Yuria’s head followed me with trembling eyes as I moved away. Her face, swollen red from crying so much, looked like that of a fish.
‘Pfft.’
As I gave a Small Smile, the cracks on Yuria’s face began to widen even further.
“I’m sorry…”
Yuria, hastily speaking as if pleading for me not to leave, evoked Yuria’s Sorrow, and I gave her a Small Smile as I carefully perched on the Balcony Railing.
“Don’t cry.”
And I gave the simplest answer.
“You’ll ruin your pretty face.”