Side Story : Valentine’s Day (2)
Since I’d already been to the capital estate and Phantasmo, I figured I should stop by the Longest family’s home too.
But since I’d never been there before, I had Liam take me from the capital estate. It’s convenient—I can just teleport back afterward.
To the Longest Family Capital Estate
“Welcome, Joan!”
“Sorry for dropping in suddenly, Big Sister Julie, Big Brother Gil.”
“So, what brings you here today?”
“Um, happy Valentine’s Day!”
“”Valentine’s Day’?””
“Yes, in my previous life it was a day to give sweets to people you liked or people you were grateful to. So… here, thank you as always. I love you both.”
“Oh my, Joan, I love you too~” hug
“I love you too, Joan.” hug
“By the way, are Brother Aran and Vee here?”
“Yeah, Aran came home yesterday for once. He’s probably training in the backyard. Vee’s still sleeping.”
“Then I’ll go check the backyard… um, where is it?”
“Hehe, I’ll show you.”
Out in the backyard, I spotted Brother Aran practicing his swings!
“Brother Aran!”
“Hm? Joan?”
“Good thing you’re here. Big Brother Gil said it was rare for you to be back.”
“Yeah, every year on this day, you see…”
“Here, happy Valentine’s Day!”
“Valentine’s Day?”
“It’s a day in my previous life when you gave sweets to people you liked or felt grateful to. So… here.”
“I see… thanks. It’s been a while since I had Joan’s sweets, I’m glad.”
“What do you mean ‘I see’?”
“For some reason, every year on this day, I get a bunch of gifts from strangers…”
“Ah—that must be from Amy…”
“Yeah. So, which is it?”
“Which is what?”
“Do you like me? Or is this gratitude?”
As he said that, Brother Aran cupped my cheek with his hand.
“L-l-l-like… o-of course it’s gratitude!!”
“Haha. But when you came to the royal castle before, you called yourself my girlfriend, didn’t you?”
“T-that was just… getting carried away…”
“Hehe. You’re still weak when pressed, huh.”
“S-shut up! I’m leaving!”
Since Vee was still asleep, Big Sister Julie offered to take me to his room. No, no—going into a teenage boy’s room is bad news.
“Well then, why don’t you wake him up while you’re at it~?”
“Ah… alright. Phew. Here goes…”
Knock knock knock “Excuse meee.”
Inside, the room was surprisingly neat and simple. The bookshelf was filled almost entirely with swordsmanship manuals. The typical boyish magazines must be hidden somewhere.
They’d said he wouldn’t wake up just from being called, and it seemed to be true—I could still hear his steady breathing.
At the bed, I could only see his black hair. I gently touched it.
“Wow, so silky.”
In that instant, my wrist was grabbed and I was pulled in.
“Wah!”
I toppled onto the bed, and Vee pinned me down.
“Hm? Joan? … A night visit? …That’s fine. Come here.”
Even though he was only fourteen, freshly-awakened Vee was radiating a dangerous amount of charm. He pulled me right into bed.
“Nonono, this is not fine! It’s not a night visit! It’s not!! It’s almost noon!! A-a-and why aren’t you wearing a shirt?!”
“Eh? It’s hot… It’s fine, isn’t it?”
He hugged me and whispered right into my ear.
“Hyah! D-d-don’t whisper in my ear!! Let me go!”
“Why? Let’s just… sleep together like this. Joan, you smell sweet. Heh, delicious.”
“I just brought sweets… hey, don’t fall asleep! Vee!!”
Snooore
“Help meee!!”
At my shout, Big Sister Julie, Big Brother Gil, and Brother Aran came into Vee’s room.
“Oh dear…”
“Well, well…”
“Joan…”
Big Sister Julie and Big Brother Gil just smiled wryly and made no move to help, while Brother Aran looked exasperated.
“Say, Joan. Why don’t you really become our daughter?”
“Oh, that’d be good.”
“You hear that? So, which will it be? My wife, or Vee’s? But if you pick me, then right now you’re cheating.”
“Wha—why would it come to that?! First, could you please help me? I can’t move.”
“Hahah. Fine, fine. Hey Vee, wake up.” Bonk
Brother Aran smacked him on the head.
“Ugh! What the hell, Brother?! … Hm? Joan? Why? A night visit?”
“No it isn’t!!”
“I’m truly sorry!”
Out on the terrace, Vee was bowing in apology.
“It’s fine, I forgive you. Just sit down—I’ve got something to give you.”
“Something to give me?”
“Yes. Happy Valentine’s Day!”
“What’s that?”
“In my previous life, it was a day when you gave sweets to people you liked or were grateful to. So… here.”
“Oh, thanks… Hey Joan, do you like me?”
“Huh? N-no no no, it’s gratitude, gratitude!!”
“But Joan does like me, right?”
From my left, Brother Aran pulled me close by the shoulder.
“A-Brother Aran?”
“You did sleep with me, after all.”
On my right, Vee leaned close with a tilt of his head.
“That’s a misleading way to put it!”
“Joan, your face is bright red. Cute.”
“No, the way you got embarrassed in bed was even cuter.”
For someone with the mental age of a woman in her twenties, having two handsome cousins like these was heart-stopping. Especially since they knew exactly how to push my buttons—it was downright unfair.
“Ugh, enough already, both of you!!”
“Pfft! Ahahahaha!!”
The two of them doubled over laughing. Infuriating! I’ll get back at them somehow…
“Oh! I also brought curry bread. Want some?”
“Yeah!!”
“Here you go. Careful, it’s freshly fried.”
crunch “Hot—!! Hm? … Mmmm!!!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Spicy!! Water, water!!”
“Ahahaha!”
“Joan!!”
“Hahaha, I’m heading home now~ Bye-bye.” Whoosh
Ah, that was fun.
I managed to share my feelings with everyone.
But next time, I really do want to give out chocolate treats. Even if chocolate’s reputation was started as a marketing ploy, Valentine’s Day just isn’t the same without it.
I’ll have to ask Mr. Taiki about it next time.
What do you think about this chapter?
Hahaha, I want her to end up with Aran.