【New Work Information】
And so, I am announcing a new work!
The title is:
『The Ice Goddess Only Smiles at Me Her Neighbor』
It is a semi-cohabitation rom-com, so please look forward to it!
“Ah... I’m exhausted.”
“Ah, ahaha... Sorry, Akito.”
Everyone is sprawled out in the living room, fast asleep.
After the gift exchange and a fighting game tournament fueled by a strange energy, it is now 2:00 AM.
It’s the dead of night, and it’s so quiet it’s hard to believe how noisy it was just a moment ago.
I drink some juice, using the leftover food as a snack.
Riran, sitting next to me, looks like she’s about to fall asleep any second.
“Riran, if you’re sleepy, you can go ahead and sleep.”
“No, I’m fine. Akito is awake, so I’ll stay awake too.”
Riran rested her head on my shoulder and reached her left hand toward the light bulb.
The wedding ring shone on her ring finger. She really seemed to love it.
I reached out my hand in the same way, and our Red Thread of Fate stretched from the rings, connecting us straight together.
“I’m so happy... I could die right now.”
“Don't say such unlucky things.”
“I’m joking. But I mean I’m happy enough to feel that way.”
Happiness enough to die, huh... I wonder if that’s how it is.
“I don’t want to die yet.”
“Oh, aren’t you greedy?”
“Yeah. I’m going to enjoy this life with Riran, and I’ll die only after I’ve seen you through to the end.”
“...What do you mean by that?”
Whether she really didn't understand or was asking even though she did, Riran tilted her head.
“If I were to die first, what would you think, Riran?”
“...To put it dramatically, I’d probably want to follow you. But I’d be incredibly sad and would probably just cry.”
“Exactly. I don’t want Riran to be sad.”
I grabbed Riran’s hand and slowly lowered it.
Our hands, the rings, and the Red Thread intertwined as if melting together.
“I want Riran to live a life where she can think ‘this life was the best’ and fall asleep in happiness. That’s why I’ll be the one to see you off—”
“Wa-Wait! What’s that? I feel the exact same way about you!”
Riran stood up, straddled me, and knelt on the sofa.
Her eyebrows were sharply raised, and she glared at me.
“I want Akito to end his life in happiness too. That’s why I’ll be the one to see you off.”
“No, no. That’s no good. I’ll do it.”
“Me!”
“Me!”
““Grumble...!””
...Sigh. What are we doing?
As we both lost our tension at the same time, Riran leaned her body against my chest.
Facing each other, we both broke into smiles.
“Well, I guess we can think about that when the time comes.”
“Let's aim for the Guinness record for longevity as a couple.”
“As a couple?”
“Of course. Full of energy, a hundred and thirty years old!”
“That's a long-term plan.”
“But that means we can be together for a long time, right?”
“...That sounds good.”
“Doesn't it?”
Well, whether we can do it or not is another matter.
I have a feeling that if I'm with Riran, we can manage somehow.
That's what I feel.
“If that happens, I wonder if we'll have great-grandchildren?”
“It wouldn't be strange to have great-great-grandchildren.”
“That sounds lively. Won't our happiness last for generations?”
“Haha, I hope so. ...But before that.”
“Kyh...!”
I picked her up in a princess carry and left the living room with Riran in my arms.
“Before grandkids, first comes our own child.”
“Wa-wa-wa-wait, wait...! I-i-i-isn't it too early for that...!?”
“I’ll wear a condom, of course. But I want to do what I want to do.”
“...Idiot. I love you.”
“Yeah, me too.”
In reality, I don't know what the future holds from here.
No one would have thought that a girl I viewed as an enemy would be tied to me by the Red Thread of Fate, right?
Because I don't know, I'll live the present with everything I've got.
I'll make Riran happy right now with all my heart.
Because the girl who was my natural enemy—is now the woman I love most.
【End】