Chapter 59 – Lavender Tea
“·······”
“·······”
An awkward silence hung around the bathroom.
Karen and Ceres were silent for several minutes in the bath. It was because things that had happened in the morning hadn’t worked out yet.
Then, unable to overcome the silence, it was Karen who barely spoke first.
“…Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes. It’s nothing to worry about.”
Ceres said with a small smile on his lips.
However, Ceres’ smile was only seen as a false smile to Karen. It was still obvious that his expression was stiff somewhere.
When she opened the door and entered the bathroom, she was surprised to see Ceres sitting on the floor.
Her face is red, and her body is faintly trembling…
It was clearly an overheat.
‘… I’m sure he would have been treated.’
Maybe once wasn’t enough?
Right now, Karen alone barely held it back, but she wasn’t fully recovered. So maybe Ceres is like that too.
If that’s really the case, she shouldn’t hold back and go to Netoru for treatment. She said that from Karen’s experience so far, she was ashamed, and there was nothing good about putting up with it.
But how do you tell Ceres about that?
No, would it be possible to bring out the words in the first place?
If he did, his relationship with Netoru would be discovered.
Karen couldn’t tell Ceres that she herself had kissed her with him. There’s no way I can honestly say that if I’m in my right mind.
But she can’t just leave Ceres alone.
Then, should I just go over to him and secretly listen to him…
After Karen washed up anyway, she was going to go find him right away. She’d better get one more treatment before bed.
‘… I have no choice but to let you know.’
Anyway, after washing up, let’s talk to Netoru about Ceres’ condition.
Isn’t it still a tense situation?
Right before an important battle, it was better to pay attention to Ceres’ physical condition as much as possible.
And···.
You better apologize for what happened this morning.
The argument was impulsive because he felt sorry for Ceres, who did not speak honestly.
Of course, Karen didn’t hate Ceres just because of that. She still likes it So she can’t be in an awkward relationship with Ceres.
Besides, there is a monster called Death Worm right nearby, how long will it remain like a child?
No matter how much I think about this, it’s not like me
After she had finished her thoughts there, Karen exhaled slowly, and she called Ceres’ name quietly.
“Ceres.”
“···Yes?”
When her name was called, Ceres slowly turned her head. Karen looked at Ceres like that and said.
“I’m sorry about what happened this morning.”
“·······”
“I sincerely apologize for getting angry about swapping. What should I say then… I felt a little bad. So, somehow, I told Ceres carelessly. Ceres didn’t do anything wrong… I’m really sorry.”
“… Karen.”
Ceres blinked in surprise at the honest apology. He opened his mouth slightly and licked his lips. Then she smiled softly and gently. It was a pretty smile, like a flower in full bloom.
“No···. I am also sorry for what happened during the day. As an older sister, I needed to calm down a bit… I reacted too emotionally.”
Maybe Ceres was waiting for the same situation.
Karen felt the awkward air she felt from Ceres fade away. Karen was relieved by that fact, but she wiggled with her hands and feet submerged in the water, feeling a strange tingle in her that she didn’t know why.
It was a strange feeling.
Why did you fight like that in the morning when you were going to do this?
As expected, rather than talking with a hard face, I like the way Ceres smiles gently.
That was when Karen was content with herself. Ceres muttered in an inaudible voice.
“I think I understand a little bit why Karen insists on coupling with Netoru.”
“···Huh? What?”
What did Ceres just say? She tilted her head because she couldn’t hear, and Ceres looked away from her in surprise.
“Oh, nothing.”
“·······”
What the hell did you just say?
She is Karen, who has been curious about it for nothing,
─Huh? What, did you see anyone inside?
─Ah! Lin! Can’t you put some clothes neatly? It’s not a boy, it’s a girl like this…
─Ay! What, how are you? I’m going to wash it all anyway.
The noisy voices of the two girls were heard.
It was Rin and Ran.
At that moment, Karen and Ceres, who were looking at each other’s faces, turned their heads. Then the door to the bathroom opened and I saw Rin and Ran enter as expected.
“Ok? What, the people inside were Karen and Ceres?”
Rin, who entered the room with brisk steps, noticed this and tilted her head.
Her long brown hair flowed smoothly up her spine, probably because she had undone the string that usually bound her hair.
Rin looked at her alternately for a while, then pulled the corners of her mouth slyly as if she sensed something in her.
“…Huh. Fortunately, the two of you seem to have reconciled?”
“···Uh? Karen, Ceres sister! Really?”
Seeing Ran making a fuss at Rin’s words, Karen smiled bitterly at her. She must have made her troopers care too much, too.
“I don’t know what the hell the two of you have been fighting for since the morning, but I’m glad anyway. There’s going to be a big fight soon, but it would be difficult if the two of you were at odds.”
Saying that, Ran sat on her half-bath in the bathtub with her hips crossed. Then she stared at Ceres, she said.
“Ceres. I heard the story from the commander. You said you were going to kill the Death Worm with a venereal weapon?”
“···Yes.”
“But is it possible? I’ve never used a venereal weapon, so I’m not sure, but I heard that it can’t be used properly if the coupling wavelength doesn’t match?”
“I have to do it. No matter what method you use.”
Ceres’ answer to Rin’s question was firm.
Even so, a calm color began to dwell in her pure, straight purple eyes.
Karen saw it there.
Seeing Ceres look more determined than ever. She had a serious face, as if she had let go of all the slightest hesitation.
‘…Ceres.’
Looking at Ceres like that, Karen smiled bitterly at her.
Even though she was carrying heavy responsibilities, her fearless appearance even made her look noble like a knight in a fairy tale.
She is also a trustworthy older sister.
Then Karen thought so.
2.
After her bath, Karen dried her hair properly and immediately left the room.
‘As expected, everyone is gathered.’
Upon arriving at the hangar, as expected, I could find the members of Unit 393 gathered in one place.
When there is no sortie, each of them spends their personal time in their room and takes a break, but it is rare that they remain alone in their room.
In the first place, the camp is a place where there is nothing to enjoy.
However, it was difficult for the average mind to spend time alone in the room. In that respect, in a way, Netoru, who enjoys being alone, was a strange guy.
In any case, there was no choice but to create a meeting place among the members of the unit, and that place was the Holy Cavalry hangar.
The location may seem strange, but in fact, the Holy Cavalry Hangar was an ideal place for gatherings.
As befits the place where the Holy Troopers are stored, the space was spacious and surprisingly comfortable. Besides, being here, there was no need to rush around when the sortie order was given. It was enough to prepare for the sortie immediately.
Perhaps knowing that, Asuna, the head of the maintenance group, and Rien, the commander, were on the side of being considerate so that the members of the unit could gather and rest in the hangar.
That is why there are several small pieces of furniture in the corner of the hangar so that the troops can gather and chat.
Thanks to this, the scenery inside the hangar was a mixture of Holy Troopers and small furniture, making it a slightly comical yet full of humanity.
In fact, this is why Karen is waiting in the hangar for her unit’s return.
Because this was the meeting place.
Rather than waiting in the room, it was more comfortable to wait vaguely for the troops in the hangar.
“…Is the atmosphere as expected?”
Late evening hours. At first glance, the atmosphere of the troops gathered in the hangar seemed chaotic.
Originally, most of them focused on reading books leisurely, playing chess with each other, and killing time by painting or knitting.
But now it doesn’t look like that at all.
Even so, it seems that the unit members are resting and chatting with each other to kill time, but their faces show tension and fear that cannot be hidden.
It must be unavoidable. It’s strange when you’re suddenly faced with such a monster and you’re not nervous. Besides, the unit members had died a few days ago.
In addition, it seems that bugs continue to appear around the death worm. So this fight will be more dangerous than ever.
Thanks to this, Karen couldn’t hide her nervousness.
“…How can I not sortie?”
My physical condition has improved a lot now. It wasn’t impossible to sortie if you overdo it a little.
There is just a problem.
Because Netoru and Ceres had been swapped, Karen currently has no coupling partner. So even if she wanted to sortie, she was in a state where she couldn’t sortie.
Because of this, Karen has been trying to swap with her troopers all day today. Because there were still two members of the unit without a coupling partner in the unit.
However, Karen couldn’t find a unit member whose coupling wavelength matched among them.
For some reason, the matching rate of the coupling wavelength was the worst than expected. When she heard the results from Asuna, she even surprised Karen.
“···Ha.”
The heavy atmosphere of the troops. Sensing it, Karen turned her back as if to run away from her group of troops.
She then headed to the men’s quarters.
Karen thought she would get one last treatment from Toru right before she went to bed. She didn’t know how the battle would go, but she had to focus on recovering her body just in case.
That was when I arrived at Netoru’s room.
Karen stopped her steps and tilted her head.
Unexpectedly she had someone with her first.
‘… Ceres?’
The one in front of Netoru’s door was Ceres. While he was watching quietly, wanting something, Ceres let out a breath with a nervous face and knocked on his door.
Then, the door opened, and Netoru looked at me curiously and let me in.
“·······”
For a moment, she remembered the crying Ceres she had seen in her closet that night, but Karen shook her head.
In the current situation, there is only one reason for Ceres to visit Netoru’s room. Maybe it’s because of the treatment.
Didn’t you say that you felt bad in the bathroom because of overheating? Rather, he was going to visit and receive treatment even now, so in a way, it was fortunate.
“I will have to wait a bit.”
I guess it’s a bit late. Karen decided to lean against the wall and wait for Ceres to come out.
3.
“I didn’t know that you would visit me again at this time. What are you thinking this time?”
“···Do not misunderstand. I have no intention of doing anything suspicious today like last time.”
“Hmm. Okay?”
Netoru twisted his lips and laughed. Seeing him like that, Ceres shut his mouth tightly. Thanks to that, the incident came back into my mind once again.
The moment when I was crushed under him and the tape recorder was taken away.
—This is my first and last warning, but if you do such nonsense next time, I won’t let you go.
His cold, desolate eyes were truly frightening. Now that I think about it, I wondered if this man could make such a scary expression.
. . . He was probably very angry.
Ceres carefully opened her mouth, recalling the incident. He was about to apologize again.
“Excuse me···. Then···.”
“What. I don’t have any intention of scolding you again, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
But Netoru shrugged his shoulders as if to cut him off on purpose.
Then, with a friendly smile, he handed out freshly brewed tea. It was a very different look from the cold face Ceres recalled just now.
In a way, Ceres accepted the teacup he offered with a wry smile.
“···Huh?”
And soon, Ceres’ eyes widened.
It was because of the smell of the tea.
He thought he would bring out something that came out as a supply, but he brought something unexpected.
Ceres, who slowly put her mouth on the teacup just in case, inadvertently admired it.
“I was wondering, but is this lavender tea?”
“Hmm? Do you know?”
“…Just happened to me.”
There was a member of the unit who enjoyed tea in the past.
It was the kid who was approaching his 19th birthday. However, the child eventually broke down without becoming an adult.
It was a death that could only be described as unlucky. Dodging shells raining down from the sky is not an easy task for a young pilot.
Is it because the memories that I have forgotten now come to mind?
Ceres smiled bitterly. Then Netoru, who was watching that expression in front of him, muttered quietly.
“Did you bring this for nothing? It’s something I cherish.”
“No. I like it.”
Ceres shook his head. What is this like for the owner of the room who made the tea? She asked him a question as if to quickly refresh the atmosphere.
“By the way, why does a man have these things in his room?”
“Why? Does it look weird?”
“A little bit?”
Ceres stared at Netoru.
Dull-looking blonde hair and brown skin that seemed to have been through the battlefield for a long time. Besides, the well-trained body of a male pilot was like looking at a sharpened sword.
To be honest, from the looks of it, I wasn’t the kind of person who would keep a lavender tea or something in the room. And so is the atmosphere.
“Anyway, it’s good tea for the body, so don’t leave anything behind. Drink everything. In particular, lavender tea is helpful in restoring a woman’s magical nervous system.”
“…You don’t even have to nag like that.”
Ceres slowly dipped the tea into her mouth.
Like the strong lavender scent, the taste of the tea that seemed to permeate her body wasn’t too bad.
It didn’t seem like it had been boiled once or twice.
Ceres laughed softly at that fact.
It is difficult to imagine Netoru making tea. To be honest, should I say that it doesn’t fit the image too much?
‘This person···. Could it be that he purposely made lavender tea for me because of overheating?’
Silently enjoying the taste of tea, Ceres secretly glanced at Netoro.
On this side, she was enjoying coffee herself while she carefully brewed lavender tea. Besides, it was a cheap product that came out for supply.
To anyone’s eyes, this was the way Ceres cared.
As Netoru just said, lavender tea helps to stabilize a woman’s magical nervous system. In other words, it was said to be good for recovering from overheating.
This is trivial, but that’s why it was a consideration that couldn’t be done without deep thought.
Netoru’s delicate side is very surprising, but
“·······”
But this must be quite expensive…
The current kingdom was at war with the bugs. There is no room for food, but there is no way there will be enough tea leaves in Korea. So, of course, the value will be abnormally high.
Still, the reason why I have prepared lavender tea leaves like this is probably not because I simply enjoy making tea.
At first glance, it was clear that this was prepared for women on a regular basis. Lavender tea is only good for female pilots, but it has no special effect on men.
Looking at things like this, it seems like he usually cares about his coupling partner…
The more you look at him, the more unrecognizable he is.
In fact, Ceres wanted Netoru to show even a little bit of a bad side. She wanted something to disappoint, something to regret.
But if this is the case… I can’t back down.
Ceres, who had been observing Netoru for a while, put down the teacup and sighed.
“…You know what? You are really strange.”
“Is that a compliment or an insult?”
“Well. In a way, it’s both.”
Unsure of what that meant, Netoru frowned.
But strangely.
For some reason, it looked like a big kid struggling with a riddle, so it felt a little cute rather than scary.
Really…
Can people’s impressions change so easily?
Sensing a subtle emotion that was difficult to express, Ceres continued to ponder while looking at Netoru’s face.
If the person in front of me was a man other than Netoru, what choice would I have made?
Even then, on an evening like this, did you come to the man’s room alone after washing your body thoroughly?
Even back then, she was wearing a white dress that a man would like and was talking so carelessly.
To be honest, Ceres didn’t know.
Where did his own choices originate from?
However, one thing was known.
There is no wavering in their choice now.
I wondered if there would be hesitation if I talked about something right in front of me, but unexpectedly, inside her heart was quiet.
Perhaps the lavender tea that Netoru brewed calms the mind and body. Should I say that the warmth that permeates the body relieves tension?
That’s why Ceres was able to speak calmly.
“By the way, when are you going to ask me?”
“What.”
“Why did I come to your room?”
“·······”
He is a quick-witted man.
So you can’t know
After washing her clothes, she wore clothes that a man would like. I wonder if Netoru doesn’t know the meaning of this.
“Do not worry. I don’t have a tape recorder today.”
As if to prove one’s own words.
─Slowly
As Ceres finished his words, she pulled down the white dress she was wearing modestly.
And at that moment, Ceres could feel it once again.
Also, I’m not used to acting like this.
He tried to act as resolutely as possible, but Ceres immediately felt his face turn red.
Last night, Netoru’s words that the way he seduced men went bad seemed to be a fact that couldn’t be hidden.
But what can I do?
─Unexpectedly, you don’t have much experience with men until you reach that age?
Really inexperienced.
