That’s a Very Natural Thing

The Pumpkin Knight’s face lit up as he clapped his hands in excitement.

“Wow, are you serious? Congratulations!!

What is this? You should have told us sooner. We thought Krish-san must have been heartbroken, so we planned a ‘regret party’. We had prepared it as a surprise, but Krish-san refused when we invited him out for drinks, so we were worried he must have been pretty depressed. I’m glad it worked out.”

“I thought you’d been inviting me out for drinks a lot lately, so that’s what you were doing.”

“Well, half of it is that I just want to drink. Anyway,  as expected of the knight captain, he catches them quickly!! Not only did he catch criminals, but he also got a lover in no time. I should learn from him.

No, I understand. Annette-sama is cute, but she can be a bit selfish. He’s tired of being pushed around and is drawn to the soothing Shinobu.

But they’ll be disappointed. There’s no way Krish-san can win.”

The pumpkin knight folded his arms and nodded with a knowing look, saying, “Uh huh.” It seemed he had imagined various things and was convinced.

Hiding my face, I was relieved that he wasn’t criticizing him for finding a new lover so quickly. What I was most worried about was that Krish-san would be spoken ill of because of it.

 “Who are you talking about?”

“Of course, it’s all the apprentice knights who were part of the search of Shinobu-dono’s fields. Shinobu-dono is always smiling, and the food and sweets he occasionally brings us are delicious. We all said that even though he’s an adult, he still looks so innocent and childlike, which is soothing.

When I get home from work and he says “Welcome home” with that smile, all my fatigue will disappear.

We were all excited about how if I were to get married, it would be good to marry someone as hardworking as Shinobu-dono. We said that we wanted him to date us when he is a little more grown up, and that those who were already married wanted to adopt him.

Ah, I prefer girls, so you can rest assured.”

“I… I see.”

What do you mean when I grow up a little more, I’m still an adult now. By the way, I haven’t grown a single millimeter since coming to this world, so I don’t think I’ll grow any more.

And did you just say adoption? I didn’t hear it wrong, right?

I’m sure all the apprentice knights were younger than me.

While the pumpkin knight was talking, I was snuggling up to Krish-san with my face down, so I’m not sure, but I felt like Krish-san got a little upset. The voice he used to respond was really low, like a bass organ.

When I pressed my face against his neck, I could feel the vibrations.

“So that’s what you were talking about at the bar.”

“How do you know? Wait, what? Are you mad about something?”

“…Well, that’s fine for now. You guys will get a lecture later. Be prepared.”

“What?! Why?!”

The pumpkin knight was yelling, “That’s mean!!” but Krish-san just laughed at him.

 “Tch, what’s this? You already have a lover. I thought I had finally made a connection with the knights.”

For a moment, the store was silent.

………Huh? I thought I heard someone clicking their tongue. Moreover, I thought it was Elise’s voice. No way. Beautiful Elise wouldn’t click her tongue, so I must have misheard. Yeah, I’m sure of it.

“Well, I guess there’s no other way. I’ll give up and move on. I need to get serious about finding a partner soon, my parents are getting annoying.

I wonder if there’s a good man out there somewhere.”

Maybe I didn’t mishear after all. I was surprised to hear her click her tongue from her beautiful, trembling lips, but I wonder if Elise has given up on Krish-san? I hope so.

Elise is beautiful and has a nice personality, so I think she’ll find a lover soon, but Krish-san is the only one I have, so I hope she gives up.

 “Yes, yes, big sister, I’m a knight too. I’m still an apprentice though.”

“…Oh, how cute.”

Elise-san really only had eyes for Krish-san, and didn’t seem to notice the pumpkin knight until he called out to her.

Hiding behind Krish-san’s shoulder, I tilted my head a little to look at him. After taking a good look at the pumpkin knight from head to toe, she smiled with a beautiful smile.

It was a perfect smile, like a Japanese flight attendant’s.

“Do you want to play with big sister?”

“Yes, I’ll play!!”

“Hehe, what should I do?”

Elise-san didn’t seem completely opposed, so I let out a sigh of relief. I think it was very lucky for me that the pumpkin knight was here right now. Thanks to him, Elise-san’s interest was diverted from Krish-san.

 “I know I’m pretty good. I’m a good buy for the future!”

The pumpkin knight was trying his best to appeal to her, and in my mind I found myself cheering him on, saying “Good luck, good luck.”

“Hey, Tibot. You’re still at work.”

“I know that. I’ll give you a lift home on my way back to the management office today.”

“Really? I’ll take you up on that.”

Is the pumpkin knight’s name Tibot? I was so grateful for his help yet I didn’t know his name. Okay, I’ve got it.

The two exchanged promises in excited voices, and then went out the door with a clang. The doorbell sounded like a light blessing on a new encounter.

“It feels like a storm has passed.”

Couge couldn’t keep up with the developments, and muttered in a tired voice while holding the cheek that had been slapped.

Today was really an amazing day. He was glad that he was able to ease Norn’s worries.

“I was surprised. Shinobu and Krish-sama have started dating. Congratulations!!”

Now that it was just acquaintances, I had calmed down and was finally able to lift my face from Krish-san’s neck.

“Yeah, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”

“Sorry, things are a bit complicated. I guess Shinobu couldn’t tell us because you were being considerate.”

While patting me on the back, Krish-san gave me a rough explanation of what happened with Annette-sama. I wondered if it was okay to tell them, but he said that they’re special because they’re my friends. He said that the two of them wouldn’t spread the news.

I was really happy to know that Krish-san trusted my friends.

“Hehe, Shinobu, you seem happy. I’m also happy that Shinobu has found a good person.

I know it’s not my place to say this, but Krish-san, please take good care of Shinobu. Shinobu tries his best at everything on his own, so I feel more at ease knowing that Krish-san is watching over him.”

“Mm, I know. I’ll take good care of him.”

Yeah, me too. I’ll take good care of you, Krish-san. So, let’s stay together forever. Even if you have to go on an expedition or something and we’re separated, please come back to me.

 On the way back from Couge’s shop, I was clinging tightly to Krish-san. When Blanche gave me a ride before, I sat facing forward, but I felt lonely because I couldn’t hold on to Krish-san, so Krish-san made me sit sideways.

It was less stable than sitting facing forward, but I was clinging to Krish-san and he supported me well, so I wasn’t scared at all.

“Is there anywhere you want to go?”

Since we came all the way to town, we could have gone to the market. I’m sure it would be fun to go shopping with Krish-san for the first time but I wanted to go home quickly.

I wanted to go home and hold on to Krish-san forever.

“No, I want to go home quickly.”

As I answered while burying my face in Krish-san’s chest, the strength of his arms supporting my waist tightened. Just that made my heart start beating hard.

 Normally, being stuck to Krish-san like this would make my heart pound and I’d be rock-hard nervous. But right now, even though I was nervous, my heart was filled with a warm feeling. I was entrusting my body to Krish-san with a feeling of fulfillment.

It was the first time I’d ever felt this way. I can’t really explain it, but I feel so much more excited. My whole body is warm, and I’m so happy. More than when I ate the cake my grandma baked for me, or when my grandpa and I caught the biggest rhinoceros beetle I’ve ever seen.

If you split my body in half right now, I’m sure I’d be filled with happiness from head to toe, just like a taiyaki filled with sweet bean paste.

What about Krish-san? Are you having fun and feeling happy being with me? Thinking this, I raised my face, which had been pressed against my chest, and looked up at Krish-san.

 Krish-san noticed that I had moved my head and turned his gaze from straight ahead to me.

“What’s wrong?”

The moment our eyes met, Krish-san’s heart started beating a little faster.

I could hear the thumping of his heart. I wondered if Krish-san was feeling the same way I was, and the corners of my lips curled up.

“No, it’s nothing.”

I pressed my face against Krish-san’s chest again to hide the grin on my face.

I felt a ticklish sensation, and couldn’t stop the grin on my face.

We were both silent on the way home, but the comfort of his touch made me feel happy. I savored the feeling of happiness.

When we got home, Krish-san went inside without removing Blanche’s harness while still holding me in his arms. Normally he would give her water and brush her right away.

 Blanche snorted, slapped Krish-san’s back with her tail, and went back into the cage of her own accord.

I sometimes feel that Blanche seems to sense my and Krish-san’s moods and act accordingly.

Pochi will come charging at me if Krish-san and I are getting along well, but Blanche will casually tease Pochi and play with him somewhere else.

It’s amazing that a horse can read the mood. Maybe she’s very smart, just like Krish-san.

When we were alone, Krish-san sat on the sofa with me in his arms, and hugged me tightly as I sat on his lap.

I hugged Krish-san just as tightly. We were so close that there was no space for the air to get through.

The temperature was high, so I was sweating slightly, but I didn’t mind at all.

 Krish-san stroked my head with a relaxed gesture. He put his fingers into my hair and massaged my scalp, gently moving his fingers from the top of my head to the nape of my neck. As I felt his fingers going back and forth, I remembered the time at Couge’s shop.

Since coming to this world, I feel like I’ve been treated well. When I first met Norn, he showed me around very carefully, and because I look like a child to the people here, strangers would give me sweets and talk to me.

It’s a world of difference compared to when I was in my original world, with only 1,100 yen left, no one to turn to, and afraid that I might lose my home.

Even though there are many people who are kind to me, I still felt lonely in this world.

I have a home, Pochi and the others, and I never have to worry about food. I’ve made friends, and I’m somehow able to live despite some inconveniences, so I’m blessed, but I somehow prepared myself for the fact that I’ll probably have to live alone in this world too.

 Even though I didn’t want to be alone, I didn’t have parents that cared about me in my old world, so there was no way someone else would like me.

I was scared of what would happen if I got my hopes up and it didn’t work out, so I gave all sorts of reasons, like my childish appearance or the fact that I’m from another world.

But Krish-san found me. He hugged me and said in front of Norn and the others that he would cherish me.

I feel like this is like a miracle. If I had just lived a normal life in the other world, I would never have crossed paths with Krish-san, but I was able to meet him and we even became lovers.

Who should I thank for this coincidence? I guess it’s my mom and dad who gave birth to me? And also my grandpa and grandma who taught me so many things.

“Shinobu, is it hot?”

“…it’s a little hot.”

It was hot, but I didn’t want to let go. I squeezed my arms tighter, and Krish-san pushed my damp bangs up. 

When I was prompted to look up, I saw Krish-san’s yellow-green eyes so close to mine, and I was mesmerized by their beauty.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him, so we stared at each other for a while. Then Krish-san’s hand, which had been stroking my head, came down to my cheek and his thumb slid smoothly over my lower lip.

It felt natural to do so, so I closed my eyes. I wonder why. I don’t know, but it was a strange feeling, as if I’d always done this, as if it had permeated my body as a habit.

Krish-san’s scent became stronger, and something soft, warm, and slightly dry touched my lips.

It was only a light touch, like a feather, but my heart was filled with a feeling of fulfillment just from that.

Feeling our lips parting, I gently opened my eyes to see Krish-san smiling softly, and my chest tightened and became painful. Our lips only touched for a split second, and I didn’t have time to hold my breath, so I wasn’t short of oxygen, but it felt like the area around me was deprived of oxygen and it was hard to breathe.

Maybe it’s because my heart was filled with the feeling that I love Krish-san.

“I love you, Krish-san.”

I felt like my heart would explode if I didn’t say it, so I poured out my feelings to Krish-san. Krish-san opened his eyes wide and smiled with such happiness that I felt so happy that I said it again, louder than before.

“I love you Krish-san.”

I was so happy to see Krish-san laugh that I couldn’t help but smile.

“Mm, me too. I love you.”

Krish-san face, who said “I love you,” a difficult word for me to say, came to mind again. This time our kiss lasted longer. I had been holding my breath, so the moment our lips parted I took a big breath. Krish-san laughed and patted my back, saying it was nice and firm.