“…What’s wrong?”
Sieglinde is looking at me with a puzzled expression, because I suddenly stopped in front of the store. She’s piercing me with her clear eyes through those lame glasses just like she did back then.
“It’s nothing, I was just remembering stuff from a long time ago.”
“I see. We did stop by this place a lot.”
She says as she walks confidently to the back of the store. I’m sure she didn’t stop coming here even after I left the capital.
This small store feels even smaller because of the big bookshelves, and the corridors are barely even big enough for an adult to get through. But just like old times, there’s no one here, so that’s not much of a problem.
“Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you buy a book here.”
“Really? Pretty much all the magic books I used to read in the classroom were bought here.”
“Liar. You were always just standing here reading them. And I was the only one who cared that you were a bother.”
“I like to examine the contents of books carefully before I buy them. Ah, maybe I really didn’t buy any when I was with you. I probably bought them when I came here alone on my days off.”
Coming here after school wasn’t enough? She came here on her days off too? And I’m sure she was reading through them from morning to night, choosing what to buy. She’s rich enough to just buy them, but she was always tightfisted.
I walk with her to the back of the store, and we see an old man sitting behind the small counter. He’s probably the owner. We came here a lot when we were students, but this is probably my first time actually meeting him.
“Oh, Sieglinde. It’s been a while.”
“It has. I’m sorry I haven’t dropped by lately.”
“Don’t worry. This is just an old man’s hobby.”
Sieglinde and the old man share friendly words, and as I casually watch them, the old man’s eyes suddenly meet mine.
“You… I’ve seen you before. Where was it…”
“I think you’re just imagining it. I don’t remember meeting you.”
“You don’t even remember your old classmates.”
Is she talking about Medici? How’s that my fault? It’s been ten years.
“Ah, I remember. You’re Sieglinde’s boyfriend that used to come here with her, aren’t you?”
“Gahogoho!?”
The old man’s crazy question sends Sieglinde into a coughing fit.
“Boyfriend?”
“No? You’re even together now.”
He says while pointing to us with a grin on his face.
We? Boyfriend and girlfriend?
What an outrageous misunderstanding.
“No, Weiss and I are…”
“Married.”
“!?”
Sieglinde looks at me with a shocked expression, and I move my eyes to the side to observe her closely.
“…”
What reaction is that?
She doesn’t look mad. I don’t really understand.
The old man ignores the completely paralyzed Sieglinde, and lets out a shrill cheer that doesn’t really go with his appearance.
“Hoho! I knew it! Good for you, Sieglinde.”
The old man reaches over the counter and pats Sieglinde on the shoulder. She’s too embarrassed to respond with anything other than a bow.
“Good…?”
“N-no no, nothing! All right, let’s move on! I’m sorry, but we have to go. Come on Weiss!”
Sieglinde rushes out of the store like she’s running away. What’s her problem…?
“…Weiss, right?”
I take my eyes off Sieglinde’s back, and see the old man is looking at me with a serious look on his face.
“That’s right. What is it?”
“Don’t make Sieglinde sad. She’s a nice girl, and my best customer.”
“Ah…”
So that’s what he’s so serious about.
“That goes without saying. Married couples support each other.”
I say, and he seems happy with that.
“Well said. You have a good head on your shoulders for a young man.”
“Hey Weiss! What are you standing there talking about!? Hurry up!”
Yells Sieglinde from outside the store. What’s the hurry?
“Bye old man. We’ll probably be back.”
“Yes, come back together again. I don’t mind if you just hang around the store like you did before.”
I turn my back to him, and walk towards Sieglinde.
Married couples support each other…
I said that, but it honestly feels hollow.
I’ve been so busy being a parent for Ririi, that I haven’t thought about anything else.
To make matters worse, I’ve never asked Sieglinde how she really feels. She wants to be Ririi’s mother, but she might have a problem with the fact that it means being my wife too.
“…In the first place…”
Speaking of feelings, how about me?
I’ll be Sieglinde’s husband. Basically the same relationship that my parents have with each other. Like a family.
A family, with Sieglinde.
“You’re so slow Weiss! Come on, next stop! Next!”
“…”
A family with this girl…
I keep watching her without saying a word, and she starts checking her clothes.
“W-what!? Something wrong!?”
She starts trying to fix her clothes and hair all over. Looking at her like this makes my feelings clear.
“…It’s strange, but probably not bad.”
“What are you talking about!?”
“Nothing. Come on, let’s keep going.”
I start walking, and Sieglinde rushes to my side.
…Now that I think about it, it’s weirdly comfortable having her by my side. I probably knew that back when we were students too.
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