Time passed; D-day was approaching, with only 5 hours left.
I sat in the restroom, which had now become my sanctuary, staring blankly at the ceiling.
“Not much time left…”
I reflected on the past two days.
Although two days was an absolutely short time, it wasn’t for me. Each day felt like an endless test of patience, and I felt as if I were in hell.
But it was a very… extremely happy hell.
And the mastermind behind creating that hell…
Thunk, thunk.
“Arthur? Are you in the restroom again?”
There was knocking at the door from outside.
“I’ll be out in a moment.”
I sighed deeply and stood up.
There wasn’t much time left now.
If I just endure tonight and tomorrow morning, I can go on a date.
Surely, she wouldn’t be acting like this outside too, right?
“…….”
Surely…
With ominous thoughts in mind, I stepped out of the restroom.
Immediately, something soft clung to me.
“What are you doing in there for so long~?”
The heavenly softness.
It was definitely something I like very much, no doubt about it.
The problem was its frequency.
Like Lily, who wouldn’t tolerate being even an inch apart and clung to me. This outsider had been unusually proactive these past few days, only detaching when I went to the restroom. During the Old One hunting, she even pulled out food from nowhere and started eating.
Being attached like that all day was quite a burden in many ways.
Especially when I woke up from that kind of dream and found the very person from the dream right beside me. Terrifying experience, that was.
When I rushed to the restroom for cleanup, I noticed her crimson eyes fixed on my lower half, and the saliva glistening at the corners of her lips.
Of course, if I asked if she liked this, the answer would obviously be no.
Every day spent closely with someone I love, I couldn’t possibly dislike it, right?
It’s just the overly aggressive physical contact testing my patience that I cannot adjust to.
That’s why it’s the ‘happy hell.’
But this too doesn’t have much time left.
“Lily, we’re going on a date tomorrow.”
At my suggestion, Lily beamed with joy.
“Really? Where… would it be, I wonder. When will we go?”
“Late afternoon, around 5 p.m.”
“…Isn’t that a bit late? We usually go right after lunch.”
“It’s on purpose. There’s supposed to be a New Year Festival tomorrow evening.”
“New Year Festival?”
“It’s a festival to welcome the new year. There’s an abundance of food and things to see, it’s a great time.”
I was attending such a festival for the first time.
The old me prioritized survival-related studies over festivals.
Reeti had insisted repeatedly that we go together, but I always stayed locked in the dorm and never went out.
Though I did taste the festival food Reeti laboriously brought back, actually going to the festival was a first for me.
“Hmm~ A new year, huh… So tomorrow is the last day of this year? It’s impressive how humans manage these kinds of events.”
“Thanks to which, we also get to have fun, so it’s good, isn’t it?”
“You’re right about that.”
After nodding, Lily clung to my arm.
“So tomorrow we go out and have fun, so tonight, I’m going to hug you and go to sleep!”
We usually did sleep like that anyway…
But Lily looked perfectly content, smiling brightly.
Her cheerful expression finally made me smile and embrace Lily as well.
It’d be foolish not to when someone so adorable like her is around.
—-
Time passed again, and the morning of D-day arrived.
The morning was entirely devoted to preparation for the evening.
Lily quickly gathered festival information by visiting shops and such, and we planned out our route based on that information.
Must-try foods, must-see attractions, etc.
Dinner was planned to be handled with a bento prepared by Lily, so snacks were mainly our focus.
After finalizing the route, it was time to decide on our outfits for the festival.
Lily made me sit on the bed while she changed clothes dozens of times right in front of my eyes.
Of course, she changed so fast that there was no chance to see anything inappropriate.
Though, thanks to her subtle hints, I nearly panicked a bit.
Ultimately, I could do nothing but watch her fashion show in awe.
The everyday evening dresses altered into ordinary dresses, light and flowy clothes, sharp suits-like outfits, and modest clothes of common people.
“Wow…”
“Beautiful.”
“Fantastic!”
“Very fitting.”
And an outfit with a deep cut, exposing a significant valley—
“Lily!!”
“Ahaha, alright, alright.”
With a playful laugh, Lily continued changing her outfits.
At first, I responded with small reactions, but eventually, I just stared blankly.
Reacting was taking up too much time; I wanted to savor every detail of her appearance.
But Lily’s expression started to turn sour.
She finally puffed out her cheeks and spoke.
“Arthur.”
“Yes?”
“Does it bother you when I do this?”
“Ne?! No, not at all!”
“But why are your responses so lukewarm? You just repeat the same things…”
That was the issue, huh?
But I had something to say about it.
“I can’t decide.”
“Huh?”
“Whichever design, whichever concept, everything looks good on you. How am I supposed to choose? I can’t.”
Adorably cute when she’s cute, sexy when she’s sexy, haughty when she’s haughty.
Gorgeous like a goddess when she’s glamorous and like a fairy when she’s modest.
No matter what she wears, she perfectly pulls it off. Asking me to pick one is… quite excessive.
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. I love every outfit on you.”
“Fool… Then you’re just not deciding, are you…”
Her face flushed as she muttered under her breath. Fortunately, her mood seemed to improve.
The fashion show continued for a while longer, and ultimately, what Lily chose was…
“…This is the first one I tried on.”
“Really? Is it not great?”
“How could it not be?”
Lily twirled around once, showing me her dress.
“Isn’t it pretty?”
“The prettiest in the world.”
“Pfft… you’re laying it on thick.”
Though truthfully, she looks amazing enough for me to exaggerate.
Lily leaned over to whisper softly into my ear.
“I’ll wear the other outfits on our future dates.”
“…What??”
“Sure~”
Smiling sweetly, Lily looked like an angel descended from heaven.
It was as if a halo was shining behind her.
“It’s time to get up. Let’s check your outfit too.”
“Eh… mine as well?”
“Of course. You’re not planning to go in your school uniform, are you?”
To be honest, uniforms are pretty convenient…
But it seems Lily doesn’t think so.
Lifting me up, Lily started showing me various clothes, from modest outfits commonly worn by commoners to lavish ones adorned with jewels fit for royalty.
She checked whether they suited me, and if any looked okay, she urged me to try them on. As a result, I went in and out of the restroom several times changing clothes.
‘If only I could also use the instant changing magic…’
Even more time passed than when choosing Lily’s outfit.
Finally, Lily handed me a piece of clothing.
“Let’s go with this.”
The clothes weren’t overly simple or unnecessarily lavish; they had an appropriately designed style.
After changing into it, I looked at myself in the mirror.
“Hmm, it definitely suits you.”
“Agreed.”
Honestly, I wouldn’t know much about clothing—I probably have fewer than ten outfits combined—but if Lily likes it, that’s all that matters.
However, I noticed a serious issue with the clothes we had chosen.
“Hey Lily.”
“Hmm?”
“You do remember it’s the dead of winter, right?”
That’s right.
All the clothes we selected were thin. Going outside in this weather, where snow could fall at any moment, would likely lead to…
Disregarding my concern, Lily smiled gently and said,
“Don’t worry. I’ll cast a heating charm on the clothes. You won’t feel cold at all.”
A heating charm, that’s the one rich people use on their clothes, right?
Though our academy uniforms have it, the performance isn’t particularly strong.
And to keep these thin clothes warm, it would likely require considerable magic power.
In the past, I’d layer every piece of clothing I owned just to survive the winter.
Recalling the times I wobbled down the snowy path, I chuckled.
“Thanks to Lily, I get to live in such luxury now.”
Quietly, I moved behind Lily and hugged her.
“Eh? What’s wrong?”
“Just… I feel really glad I started dating Lily.”
“Pfft… all of a sudden?”
“Yes, all of a sudden.”
I grasped her hands and played with her fingers.
Suddenly, my gaze fell on her left ring finger.
Before today ends, I’ll slide a ring onto that finger.
I have all the plans laid out.
Depending on the situation, it might change, so I have a few options prepared.
Option 1: Present it at the exact moment the new year begins.
It’s a special moment and a good memory to commemorate every year.
Option 2: Quietly offer the ring.
According to what I read, proposing in a quiet place is in fashion.
Thinking about it, we’re already engaged.
This is merely reaffirming our commitment by giving her the ring.
Just handing her the ring is also an option.
“No strange variables, that’s all it takes. I have to give it to her today.”
“Arthur?”
“Yes, yes?”
“What are you thinking so deeply about? You didn’t even hear me calling you.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. Why did you call?”
“About the bento. Is there anything you’d like?”
Ah, right, there’s also a bento to look forward to.
To be honest, it’s hard not to be excited.
The last one was incredibly delicious, after all.
‘Come to think of it, last time…’
“Lily.”
“Yes, is there something you’d like?”
“Not exactly something to add, but something I’d like omitted.”
“What is it?”
“That really spicy dish from last time…”
“…”
It nearly killed me.
I’m not eating that again, definitely.
—-
And so, as the morning quickly passed,
Lily and I prepared to go out.
After carefully selecting our outfits, Lily cast the heating charm on them.
We also grabbed our wallets.
Unlike before, where we paid with gem-embedded jewelry, this time we sold the jewelry and exchanged it for coins.
I still remember the astonishment on the staff’s face when they eagerly pleaded with me to sell just two pieces.
Even though only two were sold, the wallet, filled with gold and silver coins, weighed quite heavily.
“Shall we go now?”
“Let’s!”
With energetic strides, we headed out of the dorm.
It’s our first festival, and then there’s the proposal.
Anticipation and nerves mixed in my chest, making my heart flutter with excitement.
Just then,
“Ah!”
“What’s wrong, Lily?”
“Look, Arthur!”
Lily pointed to her cheek, where a small moisture droplet glistened.
“What? Is it raining today?”
I felt my heart sink.
Heavy rain could potentially halt the festival. If that happened, all my previous plans would go to waste…
Anxiety made my heart thump inconsistently.
Then, something slowly landed on the tip of my nose.
It was white, and it instantly melted upon touching my skin, turning into water.
The chill tickled my nose.
“…Impossible!”
I looked up at the sky and soon relaxed.
In fact, it made me even happier than before.
“Woah! First snow, Arthur!”
“…Yes, it is.”
From the sky, white snowflakes danced and landed gently.
They melted upon touching the ground, making it evident that it wouldn’t snow enough to pile up, but such snow was perfect for enjoying the festival.
My gaze instinctively turned to the person beside me.
Lily, with a bright smile, looked up into the sky.
Tiny snowflakes gently rested on her hair.
A snowflake fell onto her lips.
The small white flake slowly melted upon her red lips, enhancing their luster.
Unable to resist…
Smack
Lily’s wide eyes grew round in surprise at my sudden kiss.
My goddess, even her surprised look is irresistibly adorable.
‘Absolutely, I’ll make you happy.’
To do that, first, there’s the ring.
Today,
I propose.
