Chapter 55
While still blindfolded, bath time with Reina came to an end.
Even though Clael hadn't soaked for long, his head was completely overheated, and he slumped back into the chair, utterly exhausted.
Of course, the blindfold had already been removed.
He had changed into sleepwear and had a towel draped over his shoulders.
"Haa... Why am I so tired..."
All he did was take a bath, so why did it feel like he'd used up so much energy?
No, he knew the reason.
It was because he had bathed with a girl of that age, and on top of that, she had washed his body while he was blindfolded—an unusual situation.
(No matter how you look at it, that was practically a 'play'... What on earth did Reina go to the academy to study...?)
Surely she wasn't doing things like that with the romance targets at the academy?
Beyond the Rainbow Gleam is an all-ages otome game. He wanted to believe something like that wasn't possible.
"Here's some water for you, Clael-sama."
"Ah... thank you."
Reina, being considerate, filled a cup with water and brought it over.
Clael tried to accept the water while avoiding looking at her body clad in a negligee.
"............?"
But Reina smoothly pulled back, dodging Clael's hand.
Then, for some reason, she brought the cup to her own lips, took a sip, and leaned in toward Clael's face.
"Wha... What are you doing!?"
"I thought I'd let you drink it mouth-to-mouth."
"I don't need that!"
Clael's face, already flushed from the bath, turned even redder as he snatched the cup from Reina's hand.
It had been a while since they'd seen each other, but... what kind of switch had been flipped in her?
She was strangely close, and her actions made no sense.
(Don't tell me... she learned how to toy with men at the academy... No, Reina was supposed to be the pure heroine, wasn't she...?)
The current Reina looked just like the heroine from the game, but her personality was completely different.
Clael had hoped for changes to the original scenario to save the unfortunate heroine, but... somehow, it felt like things had gone in the wrong direction.
"Um... Reina-san, more importantly, let's sit down and talk. Since you're here, I'd love to hear about your time at the academy."
After finishing the water in the cup, Clael asked Reina.
Ever since she got back, Reina had been clinging to Clael nonstop. They hadn't had a proper conversation.
Normally, when family reunites after a long time, they talk about what's been going on, right?
"Ah, yes. That sounds good. Let's talk."
Reina responded with a smile and sat in the chair across from him at the table.
"I made lots of friends at the academy. Ellie-san, Yuna-san, Milia-san, Jessie-san—they're all really nice people, and I'm having a great time."
"I see... That's good to hear."
"The people from the Duke Laurel family have also been kind to me. I haven't seen them much because of my duties at the shrine, but Carrot-oneesama gave me her clothes and accessories as presents—she's so sweet. We even went shopping together at the end of last month."
"Lady Carrot of the Duke Laurel family..."
In the game's scenario, Carrot had been in the position of a villainess who tormented Reina.
If they had built a good relationship unlike her original self, then that was a good thing for Lady Carrot too.
(Lady Carrot was supposed to be a villain character who eventually gets her comeuppance and falls into darkness... It seems Reina ended up saving not just herself, but even her.)
She truly was a Saint.
Clael was once again impressed.
"It seems you made a lot of female friends... So, um, what about a boyfriend?"
Clael asked something that had been on his mind.
He wondered which of the romance targets Reina was pursuing.
Normally, he wouldn't interfere no matter who it was... but the Crown Prince route involved some serious disasters, so he hoped she'd choose someone else.
"A boyfriend... I don't have one in particular. I do talk with some boys in class, but I don't have any private relationships."
"Huh? None at all?"
"None whatsoever."
Reina declared firmly.
It was only the summer break of her first year. Even if it was still early in the scenario, there should have been some events by now...
"It seems like a lot of boys try to talk to me, but if they get too persistent, my 'friends' step in to stop them. So I don't really know any boys beyond acquaintances."
"I see... I guess that can happen too..."
After thinking for a moment, Clael nodded.
It seemed Reina didn't have much interaction with the romance targets.
If this were a game, he'd probably be exasperated, thinking, "Handle it better."
(But... if she's not interested in romance, maybe that's fine too...)
Since it's an otome game world, he had focused too much on romance... but that's not the only highlight of student life.
Deepening friendships with friends, getting involved in sports or club activities, or focusing on studies—all of those are valid parts of youth.
Thinking that Reina would be better off ending up with one of the romance targets might just be him forcing his expectations on her.
(Even if she doesn't follow the otome game's story and just lives her own academy life, that's fine... As long as Reina is happy, that's all that matters.)
Perhaps... she might end up marrying some mob character who never even had a name in the game.
That would be fine too.
The Reina in front of him wasn't just a game character—she was a lovely Saint who felt like both a daughter and a little sister to Clael.
"Well then, Clael-sama. Let's go to bed, shall we?"
"You're not seriously suggesting we sleep together, are you?"
"Fufufufu..."
"............"
Feeling an intense sense of unease at Reina's mysterious smile, Clael was led by the hand into the bedroom.