Setsuna spoke about her emotions while looking somewhat in the distance. And after a deep breath, she spoke as if remembering something.
“Melt Epee, you saw it too, right? That day, when the teachers arranged for a test to introduce their favorite students to us, Yuugo fought gigantes when it suddenly went berserk. Most people fainted with fear after that howl and tremor, and even we couldn’t move despite being in a safe area. And when I saw him take the lead and move out, a jolt of electricity ran through my body.”
The giant powerful monster suddenly went berserk. Most people present, teachers and students, panicked, and even Setsuna felt enough fear for her body to be paralyzed after that howl. And that was when she witnessed something.
Shaking his fear and boldly standing against the incoming threat to protect the immobile students… Before she knew it, she was unable to look away.
“Shaking off fear and rising up to protect someone. It’s easy to say, but to actually do it takes courage. And yet, Yuugo did it easily.
There was his strength to defeat gigantes, but what shined the brightest to me was the moment he threw himself into battle to protect others. At the time… He looked really cool.”
Setsuna faced down as though she was a little embarrassed, and spoke like a maiden.
Melt and An listened silently, but grins formed on their faces.
“I get it, I really do. Yuugo looks really cool when he’s doing his best for someone.”
“I can see that too. He’s stupidly straightforward. It’s nice to see.”
“…I have never felt that way. It wasn’t as though I wanted to be like that, I wanted to see more of him. And after looking into him… That brings us to today.”
Setsuna’s preface was very, very accurate. Still, there was a part that deviated greatly.
A big part of what she felt was admiration, as she said.
It was not the power to take down enemies. When Setsuna saw the strength of his heart when he overcame whatever fear he felt to protect someone, she thought she wanted to see more of that shine.
The part that was wrong was her hesitation in saying she liked him. Both Melt and Angel thought what she felt was more than enough to declare it.
“I see, so you fell in love at first sight…! What a sinful man Yuugo is. Making a combat miko from a foreign land fall for him.”
“You didn’t have to talk about positions and self-interest or any of that. You’re a pretty late bloomer for someone who says she doesn’t like to waste time with pointless things.”
“What could I do? It’s my first experience with love, so it’s all new to me.”
They had not been in the bath for that long, but Setsuna’s face was red as though the blood was rushing to her head, and she spoke with her hands on her cheeks.
Melt approached her, and smiled while looking directly at her.
“I was pretty wary at first, but after actually talking to you, I think you’re a normal girl too. You like someone, approached him… It was a unique way of doing it, but it makes sense if you were feeling so overwhelmed.”
“Conversely, you’re a little odd, Melt Epee. Should you be so friendly with your romantic rival?”
“It’s fine! If we like the same guy, we should get along, right?”
“Fufu…! You have a point. Maybe that’s exactly it.”
With a splashing sound, Melt extended her submerged left hand towards Setsuna.
She had a smile full of brightness, and spoke as if welcoming her romantic rival who exposed her feelings to her.
“You don’t have to use my full name, call me Melt. I’ll call you Setsuna too!”
“…Thank you. I will do just that. Let’s try to get along despite being rivals, Melt.”
“Yes! Just so you know… I have zero intention of losing. You’re not taking Yuugo with you to Yamato!”
Melt and Setsuna confirmed their friendship with smiles and a handshake.
It was quite different than the murky sight the boys (or rather, Marcos) imagined. It was a refreshing youthful scene but… Angel spoke.
“…Hey, sorry to cut in when you’re all excited, but how do you feel about there being another rival here?”
“Eh…? Another rival? An!? You’re kidding!? Aren’t you the dangerous older girl going after Phi!? You like Yuugo!?”
“Hey! What do you think I am!? Yuugo said the same thing too…!! Hey! That doesn’t matter!!”
After saying all that very fast, Angel let out a big sigh.
Then she looked away from the others and spoke as if mumbling to herself.
“…Well, I’m not all cute and enthusiastic like you, and I know it doesn’t suit me to get all excited about love and romance… But he saved me too, and I’ve seen again and again how good he is. I’m thankful to him… And enamored.”
“Uwah, so straight to the point! I’ve never seen a look of a maiden in love in An’s face!”
“I’ve never shown it either. Well, you know. I didn’t know how to tell you, and I thought about bottling it up and supporting you but… It’s a good opportunity to throw my hat in the ring as a romantic rival.”
Said An with an embarrassed but refreshed expression.
It was definitely unexpected, but Melt accepted her friend’s declaration as something that made sense.
“Ah… Another rival all of a sudden. What an unlucky day.”
“And yet you look amused. Well, it’s not like we’re going to start kicking each other down or anything. Let’s keep getting along as friends before rivals.”
“Agreed. But what if there are more? We could cooperate to eliminate them…”
“Scary! I get that you’re saying that in a friendly way to us, but it sounds violent!!”
“But thinking about what Yuugo’s like, I feel like there will be more… Maybe I’m on board with eliminating them.”
“Don’t start considering it too, An! And if you keep acting like this I won’t keep up as the straight woman!!”
They continued talking and laughing together.
And as Setsuna enjoyed the conversation, she whispered with a smile on her face.
“I’m glad Raiha isn’t here. She can’t see me like this.”
“Hn… Well, I get that Claire felt awkward about joining, but that girl could’ve come…”
“She’s not good with baths and hot springs. Yes… She’s shy.”
If Raiha was there, they could have gotten closer too, lamented Melt, but Setsuna responded.
Angel thought she really did seem timid, as she looked up at the ceiling and mumbled.
“I want to try talking to her but… Did she leave with Claire? I hope the hero prospects didn’t find her and started being annoying again…”
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Confirmed, An wants the reverse shimaidon
Well that’s a shock, An is a silent love interest. Not gonna lie, I don’t know how to feel about that.