Episode 175: Clam’s Selfless Love
When the ultimate dream is right before your eyes, you reach out for it.
It’s only natural, and honestly, it doesn’t even need to be stated.
You have wings, and there’s a sky.
That’s why birds fly.
So if there’s a dream within reach when you extend your hand, why would you hesitate?
―There must be a reason…
“K-Kei, are you alright? Look, I’ve brought some rice porridge for you…!”
“…cough”
I was lying in bed, half-crushed by despair, when at eight in the morning, there was a visitor.
A person who absolutely should’ve come but really shouldn’t have.
Yes, it’s Clam Kirara.
“Clam, did you send that message to Phectom’s group chat? That I’m unwell and resting in my room today?”
“Yeah, that’s why I came.”
Are you sane?
Your eyes look so determined.
“Haven’t you had breakfast yet?”
“I ate an apple.”
Saying that, I pointed to the empty plate.
Then Clam stared at it and said,
“That’s not enough. Here, eat a little. I made the porridge with careful attention to the katsuobushi broth.”
“…You went through too much trouble.”
Does porridge even involve katsuobushi broth?
Isn’t it just soft rice?
And furthermore…
“Yes, here comes the airplane.”
Uwaaaaaaaah!
This kindness is trying to kill me!
“Wha-”
“What’s wrong? Are you a slow eater? …Well, can’t help it. Let me cool it down for you.”
With that, Clam took a spoonful of porridge and began blowing on it.
No, that’s not it.
It’s not because it’s hot that I’m confused.
The problem is this situation where a beautiful girl is feeding another beautiful girl with “aaan~”.
The slight vulnerability shown by the usually mysterious beautiful girl when she’s unwell, coupled with Clam’s selfless care…
How wonderful is this?! Bravo!
This is something that should be recorded and passed down to future generations.
The scene of one beautiful girl taking care of another is far too beautiful and sacred.
If I were watching this in a theater, I’d be shedding tears while applauding endlessly.
There’s that much value in this moment—
“cough… cough… ugh…”
“Are you okay!? Maybe you’re worse than I thought! Should I take you to the hospital—”
“Not that!”
“Eh?”
What am I supposed to do if the diagnosis is “Lost to ASMR”?
I’d be too embarrassed to face the sun.
Doctors would scratch their heads over this one.
“…Could it be that Zero is causing trouble?”
“…No, it’s not.”
“That’s what I thought! Listen, don’t hide it from me! You can let your guard down with me… ‘hehe, calm down’… sorry.”
I already said it’s not.
Clam has this tendency to jump to conclusions.
It’s not a good trait.
All Zero can do is erode Solciera’s body anyway…
…But then again, it’s understandable that you’d misunderstand! Alright!
However, since Zero isn’t currently around, blaming Zero wouldn’t be wise.
This is a good opportunity to set a flag for Zero’s alliance.
If we keep going down this monster route, someday Star Reader’s Staff might die.
And that absolutely cannot happen.
“That child… Zero hasn’t done anything wrong. In fact, thanks to her, I’m still alive like this.”
“…Is that true?”
“Yes, it is.”
I said this while stroking Clam’s head.
Beautiful girls are always innocent! Beautiful girls are always innocent!
Hehe, justice is only as strong as this!
Still, how should I put it?
Maybe a cool lie… hmm, let’s say I fought an angel.
“A few days ago, I fought an angel. But I couldn’t finish them off.”
“…!?”
Clam gasped at my words.
Haha, it’s a lie.
Just a joke. A mysterious joke!
“An angel… could it be the same one we fought back then!?”
“Yes. An angel bringing ruin to the world. I cornered it, but as expected, they live up to their reputation as calamities. …I let it escape.”
I lowered my eyes sorrowfully.
Here’s the point for beauty bonus!
Grip the sheets tightly just within visible range!
It makes it seem like you’re truly regretful!
“…Kei”
“My body, corrupted by its poison, is no longer usable. So now, I have no choice but to rely on her.”
“…That’s Zero, huh.”
“Yes. With my supply of magical power, Zero can fight. The high-density information body is immune to the angel’s poison. Therefore, this time, it’s best for her to fight (explanatory tone).”
I’ll have to coordinate my story with Star Reader’s Staff later…
But well, she should understand now.
She should realize that Zero is fighting against the angel for her.
“Zero hasn’t fully understood humans yet. She was always alone in a dimly lit lab, unable even to see the stars above.”
I absentmindedly caressed the dive gear.
Then I relaxed my cheeks into a smile.
“It’s all her way of expressing love. That’s why I accept it. As her contractor, I accept everything about Zero.”
“…And as a result, you’re hurting, right? Is that okay with you, Kei?”
Clam said this with a pained expression.
Of course, making a beautiful girl look sad worsens my condition.
Ugh, my head is spinning…
But I still have enough presence to muster a mysterious smile!
“That’s what I desire.”
“…!”
Ah, danger.
My brain feels hot.
My body feels like it’s burning. Did Mizuki Senpai come? Did Mizuki Senpai burn me inside?
“―Then, I will suffer alongside you. If you fall into the depths of hell, I will fall with you.”
While saying something terrifying, Clam hugged me.
This… this is a still image moment! No matter how much I try to distract myself, my beautiful-girl-loving brain automatically recognizes and creates these moments…
“ugh… cough… cough… aaargh…”
“Kei! Hold on!”
Clam desperately calls my name.
But my head is already spinning wildly.
Star Reader’s Staff, I’m sorry.
Sorry, but can I eat the porridge too? Since it’s come to this… right?
“I’m fine.”
“But…”
“Rather, won’t you let me eat this? Your cooking is excellent, after all. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Yes, that’s right. I’ve improved thanks to Hikari. I want Kei to enjoy it.”
Clam! You can’t keep adding to the beautiful girl points!
My body might explode!
If that happens, beautiful girl particles will be scattered within a radius of ten thousand kilometers from the epicenter!
Just stay quiet and feed me, please!
“Then, shall we begin?”
“Y-yeah… aaan~”
Contrary to her previous aggressive attitude,
Clam blushed slightly, looked up shyly, and offered me a spoonful of porridge.
At that moment, my heart stopped.
“―――――”
Death suddenly visited me, even though I couldn’t defeat the angel.
But it wasn’t the end.
The beautiful girl particles coursing through my body immediately activated, restarting my heart.
My love for beautiful girls acted upon my body, pulling me back from the brink of death.
It was the true light of life, shining like stars.
It was the miracle caused by my resolve not to die in front of a beautiful girl’s “aan~”.
“How is it? Does it taste good?”
“Yes, it’s so delicious it might kill me.”
“S-so… that’s good… yeah, I’m glad.”
I’m glad too.
I’m glad I’m alive.
And how sweet that one bite was.
The porridge fed to me by Clam with “aan~” surpassed any three-star rating in terms of deliciousness.
Yeah, my body seems to be adapting, so with Clam taking care of me, I’ll probably only die a few times!
“Then, the second bite.”
“Fufu, why are you so tense? Relax.”
Even though I feel terrible, somehow I think I’ll be okay.
Though, if another beautiful girl walks in, it might get dangerous.
I’d start hopping between this world and the next.
“Kei, open your mouth.”
Clam said this while holding the spoon.
As she spoke, I opened my mouth…
“–Kei, I heard you have a cold, so I came. Can I come in? I’ll open (fast speech).”
Before I knew it, someone burst through the door.
And who should walk in but Rinka, whose eyes were wide open.
Why???!!!
“I’m great at nursing people. Leave it to me…!”
As Rinka declared this with bloodshot eyes, I heard a small sigh from beside me.
“…You came all this way. But it’s fine. I’m taking care of Kei.”
“No no no, it’s tough for one person, right? I’m here to help.”
“Hmm…”
“Aha ha.”
Rinka and Clam exchanged smiles as they looked at each other.
They seem to get along well, good job!
But man, I didn’t expect Rinka to show up too…
Things are getting intense.
Looks like I’m going to die a few more times.
Hold on, my body…!
“Kei, open up.”
Clam said this while holding the spoon.
Just as I opened my mouth…
“–Kei, I heard you’re sick, so I came. Can I come in? I’ll open (super fast speech).”
In an instant, the door opened, and someone entered.
And there stood Rinka, her eyes blazing.
“I’m great at nursing people. Leave it to me…!”
Seeing Rinka announce this with bloodshot eyes, I hear a small sigh from beside me.
“…You came all this way. But it’s fine. I’m taking care of Kei.”
“No no no, it’s tough for one person, right? I’m here to help.”
“Hmm…”
“Aha ha.”
Rinka and Clam exchanged smiles as they looked at each other.
They seem to get along well, good job!
But man, I didn’t expect Rinka to show up too…
Things are getting intense.
Looks like I’m going to die a few more times.
Hold on, my body…!
“Kei, open up.”
Clam said this while holding the spoon.
Just as I opened my mouth…
“—Kei, I heard you’re sick, so I came. Can I come in? I’ll open (rapid speech).”
The door burst open instantly, and someone walked in.
And there stood Rinka, her eyes glaring intensely.
“Why???!!!”
“I’m great at nursing people. So leave it to me…!”
As Rinka announced this with bloodshot eyes, I heard a small sigh from beside me.
“…You came all this way. But it’s fine. I’m taking care of Kei.”
“No, no, no, it’s tough for one person, right? I’m here to help.”
“Hmm…”
“Aha ha.”
Rinka and Clam exchanged smiles as they looked at each other.
They seem to get along well, good job!
But man, I didn’t expect Rinka to show up too…
Things are getting intense.
Looks like I’m going to die a few more times.
Hold on, my body…!
“Kei, open your mouth.”
Clam said this while holding the spoon.
Just as I opened my mouth…
“—Kei, I heard you’re sick, so I came. Can I come in? I’ll open (super fast speech).”
In the blink of an eye, the door opened, and someone rushed in.
And standing there was Rinka, her eyes blazing.
“I’m great at nursing people. Leave it to me…!”
Seeing Rinka declare this with bloodshot eyes, a small sigh escaped from beside me.
“…You came all this way. But it’s fine. I’m taking care of Kei.”
“No, no, no, it’s tough for one person, right? I’m here to help.”
“Hmm…”
“Aha ha.”
Rinka and Clam exchanged smiles as they glanced at each other.
They seem to get along well, good job!
But wow, I didn’t expect Rinka to show up too…
This is getting crazy.
Looks like I’m going to die a few more times.
Hang in there, my body…!
“cough… hehe, you two seem to be having fun.”
I steel myself.
I must win this battle.
This marks the beginning of the Super-Mysterious Nursing Time!
