Chapter 90 – NTO
One.
Waiting blankly in the hospital room.
Ceres did as she said and called for a doctor. He was no ordinary doctor either. He was a healer who was well versed in healing magic. From what he heard, he seemed to be a wizard who specializes in treating pilots in this city.
It seemed that the members of Unit 393 were also taken care of, but it was the first time they had come to a city hospital, so it was the first time they met Netoru in person.
“… Huh. This is a really strange body. I’m sure he was brought in half-dead yesterday, but it’s amazing to see him recovering so quickly.”
The old wizard with his grayish white hair exclaimed. Netoru frowned as he continued groping his body without the treatment the old man had asked him to do.
“…How long do you plan to stay like that?”
“What, how is it? It doesn’t wear out just because I touch it anyway. Dragging It’s just curious.”
At this point, I wondered if the purpose was something other than treatment.
However, since he was an old man, Netoru couldn’t bear to say anything. So he decided to just let the old man be satisfied.
How many calloused hands had pressed his forearm like that. The old man, who had been glancing at Ceres next to him, waved his little finger and hinted.
“Is the pretty lady next to you yours?”
“…If that’s it?”
“It’s a sweetheart. I still kept the seat next to you last night… Isn’t that normal, too? Besides, it looked like a coupling partner.”
After all, Ceres stayed by my side all night. When I asked the question earlier, he quietly avoided answering.
Anyway. What is this all of a sudden during treatment? It’s so absurd that I can’t even laugh. Netoru glanced at Ceres next to him.
Maybe she just heard the story.
“…We’re not like that.”
Ceres laughed awkwardly and waved his hand in denial. Then the old man quietly pulled the corner of his mouth and said.
“Is it? Good luck then.”
“Yes?”
“Even so, my granddaughter is interested in this guy. She just happens to be working here as a nurse…”
“·······”
Ceres’ eyes twitched with a strange atmosphere at the old man’s clever talk. The awkward smile that formed on his lips instantly faded.
But the old man didn’t care, and moved his gaze to Netoru, and his expression became serious.
“Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart when I wake up. Thanks to that, many citizens survived. My granddaughter also said that she lived thanks to you. She’s on her way to the shelter, I don’t know if you’ll remember, but she was attacked by a centipede, you saved her. “
Before I knew it, the old man’s hands were tightly gripping Netoru’s. As if receiving a great favor.
When she was attacked by centipedes…
Oh, are you talking about when Natsuo takes the citizens to the evacuation center?
Apparently, the old man’s granddaughter was there at the time. Is this why she was strangely friendly? Netoru smiled dryly at the unexpected fate.
“So you’re saying you’d like to introduce me to your granddaughter?”
“Truck. Well, something like that. From this point on, you look beautiful. If you’re curious, I can call you right here…”
“I’m sorry, but I will politely decline.”
“Hmm? Still, seeing her face at least once…”
“No.”
“… Huh.”
Was it because of the firm answer without hesitation? The old man’s brow furrowed. Her mouth also twisted slightly.
However, rather than being displeased with the rejection of the offer, it was an expression full of doubts somewhere.
To that question, Netoru quietly answered.
“Old chief, as you know, I am a holy cavalry pilot.”
“·······”
It’s short, but would the dry voice contained in it be a sufficient answer? The old man, who had a blank expression for a while, smiled bitterly as he touched the few strands of his hair.
“···Is it.”
“To be honest, if you want her granddaughter to be happy, she probably shouldn’t even think about pairing her up with a genital pilot. In the first place, the old man must have known that well. What kind of ending do most of the current Holy Trooper pilots end up with?”
“Yes, you know. But···. Eh…”
At this time, the end of the holy cavalry pilots was either killed by the bugs or retired as a crippled person.
Unless the war against the bugs ended, it was impossible for holy cavalry pilots to have a normal family.
In this era, what you can understand a holy cavalry pilot is,
It was the holy cavalry pilots in the same position.
The wizard who specialized in treating pilots must not be unaware of that.
A clumsy relationship only ruined each other for nothing.
The old man, who was speechless at the end, clicked his tongue slightly.
“… Tsk. Got it. Well, come back later if you ever change your mind. It’s true that my granddaughter is interested in you. Besides, she likes to take care of people, so she might be okay unexpectedly.”
“When the war is over, let’s think about it again then.”
“Truck. That, I wish I could see it before I die. I can’t even remember what a world without bugs was like.”
The old man blurred her face in genuine pity.
3.
After that, the treatment went smoothly. Fortunately, there were no major problems with the body. It just needed a long rest period for the overworked magical nervous system.
At least I didn’t have any problems with my body.
“Look. Didn’t I say I was fine?”
“···Yes.”
Is it because I heard the results from the side? Ceres nodded his head with a relieved face.
Anyway, just like that, Netoru was putting on the top he had been putting off for a while.
Ceres insinuated from behind.
“…You know what? Just the grandfather’s granddaughter. That she is very beautiful.”
“Beauty?”
“Yes. It is very popular with the troops. So I shouldn’t have looked at your face at least once. You might regret it later.”
What does this mean?
“Are you serious about that? I told the old man earlier, but how can I meet ordinary people?”
“Still, I think I might have refused too firmly… For once, out of courtesy, at least once…”
“… Well, actually, it was a little tempting.”
Of course, the old man’s offer to introduce her granddaughter was quite attractive. It’s a proposition that no man can dislike.
But.
There, Netoru stared blankly at Ceres.
“…?”
Then Ceres, wanting something, tilted his head innocently. Netoru, who found it interesting, thought with a smile.
With a woman like this next to her, why should she look elsewhere?
That’s why Netoru honestly tried to tell her what her sentence was that flashed in her mind at the moment.
“But even if she was said to be beautiful thanks to the person next to her, I shouldn’t have expected too much.”
“Yes? Gee, now… What···.”
“No, nothing.”
“Oh, no… Bang, you just said something embarrassing!”
Ceres shouted with an angry face.
“What do you want to play? I just copied the line from this book once.”
Enjoying the reaction, Netoru picked up the book that was on the table and shrugged. It was a romance novel with a fresh feeling that girls would read.
“Nonsense···. Uh, when did you read that again…”
Seeing that, Ceres’ purple eyes shook greatly.
Staring into those eyes, Netoru said.
“When you call the doctor? Anyway, after reading a little bit, I found it interesting.”
“···Ah.”
Ceres staggered precariously, clutching his forehead. It’s a shame.
But is there any need to be ashamed?
What’s wrong with reading a novel?
Before long, Ceres muttered in a low voice.
“…Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t bring it.”
“Then who is it? Are you Karen?”
“Oops. That···.”
At Netoru’s question, Ceres’ eyes rolled around busily. Is that the feeling of rolling glass marbles?
In the end, Ceres slightly averted her gaze and said.
“···No. That’s what I brought.”
“Hmm.”
Couldn’t you just sell Karen?
Just in case, I opened up a way to make an excuse, but Ceres was the first to admit it honestly. He expected me to tell a stupid lie.
Anyway, good.
Netoru decided not to dig deep. Instead, he asked Ceres as he quietly put down the book he had picked up.
“Oh, and Bonnie, what is Karen doing now?”
Right before she lost consciousness, when she recalled the vague expression on Karen’s face, she must have been very surprised by that guy as well.
So she needed to tell me her condition quickly.
3.
“… Karen. I’m sorry about yesterday.”
She went as far as apologizing, but to be honest, Karen was embarrassed by Natsuo’s behavior.
“Eh? Now, wait!?”
So Karen struggled to push her body out. However, Natsuo showed no sign of falling easily. Strong boy’s body. This guy was also a man, so he was hard to shake off with the power of a woman.
No, what are you doing with Asuna right next to you?
“… Hoo.”
Asuna, who happened to be watching from her side, raised the corner of her mouth. Her eyes curl gently as if she saw something interesting. She was smirking silently with her arms crossed before she knew it.
Karen was very concerned about that gaze, but Natsuo didn’t mind and continued her words.
“Karen. I will not lie to you in the future.”
“···You.”
“And Netoru, I will also sincerely apologize to that person… Please forgive.”
“·······”
It is a desperate and sorrowful voice that I have never heard before.
That’s why Karen, who was struggling in Natsuo’s arms, licked her lips startled. Even before I knew it, Natsuo was making a crying sound. Thanks to that, Karen couldn’t help but be dazed for a moment, losing her words.
Is this guy crying right now because of what happened yesterday?
Realizing that, Karen had no choice but to release her power from her hand that was pushing her Natsuo away.
Obviously, yesterday was very upsetting. And she was very disappointed. One of the people was seriously injured because of him, and he cowardly lied in front of him.
But···. Still.
Karen had never seen it before. That’s how Natsuo was crying.
Natsuo was a guy who always pretended to be strong.
She may be half bravado, but she was a boy who always wanted to show only her strong side. However, such a child is crying now, praying for her fault without hiding it.
In the end, Karen let out a sigh inside her, but she couldn’t hide her complicated expression and said to Natsuo.
“Natsuo. When Netoru wakes up, make sure to go apologize. No, come with me.”
“Huh.”
“He tried so hard to save you. You’re a male pilot too, so you wouldn’t know. How recklessly that guy fought. “
“···Huh. I know.”
The faintly felt trembling from Natsuo who nodded her head was so pitiful.
Pat. Pat.
Finally, Karen gave Natsuo a light pat on the back. My longtime coupling partner was crying like this, and I couldn’t say anything more.
Really. This makes me feel like an older sister with a really immature younger brother.
But still, it was a time when Natsuo was said to be sincerely reflecting, which was oddly reassuring.
The voices of a man and a woman were heard from across the hallway.
──···First of all, it’s a simple rubbish removal.
──No, that’s the case… Are you really okay? I guess I’m just overdoing it.
Ceres.
And the last one… Netoru’s voice.
“…!”
Did that guy wake up?
The moment she recognized that, Karen couldn’t help but open her eyes in surprise. She then immediately turned her head and looked down her hallway.
No, it was the moment I wanted to see.
Kwaaaaak.
“… Natsuo?”
“·······”
As she tried to avert her gaze, Natsuo gave her strength even more to the arms that were clasping her body.
It was as if Karen was trying to keep her from looking at her. Let her focus only on herself.
