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Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut Vol 20 Chapter 4
🕑 Added 2020-08-11 13:12:38 +0000 UTC
Episode 4 – The Little Sister is Seeing a New Dream (Airi Chapter)
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Part 1
Going slightly back in time.
Several days before Lux decided to temporarily become the king and took five queens.
The aftermath of the battle against Fugil at the Ancient Forest was being cleaned up while talk was held about the successor of Queen Raffi. At that time──.
Airi was sleeping in the academy’s medical office.
「Nn……. Uu……」
The decisive battle over Avalon where everyone united and challenged it together.
Airi was also participating in it but, after the battle was over and she recovered briefly──her body’s condition worsened again and she had to stay on bed. She was still unable to leave the bed.
There was also a female doctor who was constantly staying in the medical office, but fundamentally it was Noct who often attended on her.
Even now Noct was constantly accompanying and nursing her.
「──Airi, how are you feeling today?」
「I’ll recover, by sleeping like this……. I think.」
The reason she collapsed was the mental shock from how Lux ended up taking five wives──wasn’t the case. It was because of the recoil from using the Divine Drag-Ride Jormungandr in that decisive battle for a long period.
Her body couldn’t move satisfactorily because of mental fatigue as well as muscle pain all over her body.
She was also getting fever due to the side effect of continuously using Drag-Ride.
These several days, the time she was able to wake up was very little. She was relying completely to Noct to take care of her need.
「Really, it was really reckless of me even if I say so myself……」
As a Drag-Knight, Airi’s ability was extremely low except for her aptitude score, but in order to support Lux, he volunteered to participate in the battle against Fugil as a trump card.
Looking from the result, her decision was correct.
Without Airi there──they would surely be unable to obtain victory.
However, the compensation for that was great.
Even though she didn’t even move for a step at that time because she was wearing an installation type Divine Drag-Ride, her stamina was considerably consumed just from wearing it.
What could be said for now was that Airi would never wear Drag-Ride anymore.
She thought that stamina was unrelated with controlling Drag-Ride, but as expected basic physical ability was also indispensable for it.
In that sense, she could understand how Celis could be called as the academy’s strongest.
Even so, she was fortunate enough that she still had all her limbs and there also wouldn’t any permanent after-effect from this.
She had actually fought that much, and she was satisfied that she was able to save Lux.
──But, putting that aside, her days on the bed were extremely boring.
「By the way Noct, what happened to Nii-san’s……schedule?」
「It’s a tough schedule but one that isn’t overly so just as Airi wished for. There is no need to worry.」
「And his guard……. How is it going with that?」
「Yes. It’s also being done following Airi’s thinking. The other Triad──Sharis and Tillfur are at his side, also──」
「Then, it’s fine. I too have to think about myself soon──」
「Airi……」
Airi let out a relieved sigh while muttering that.
Noct changed the cold towel on Airi’s forehead without being able to say anything.
As her roommate, as her best friend, she had been watching Airi’s action from her side all this time.
Airi was anxious even from Lux throwing himself into danger. So she recklessly joined the final battle to not let Lux died.
But thanks to that Lux was starting to walk a new path as a king.
He hadn’t decided his plan after his term finished in one year and he graduated from the academy, but he wasn’t wearing the criminal collar anymore.
「I too have obtained freedom……. Perhaps I should study more and work in the capital as a civil official.」
「…………」
Airi said that jokingly. Then she fell asleep from fatigue.
Airi had fought together with Lux in order to win their freedom.
Airi who was unable to pilot Drag-Ride skillfully studied the knowledge about the Ruins and displayed her ability as a civil official.
The huge amount of debt that was placed on Lux couldn’t possibly be cancelled other than becoming a hero who dealt with a world-scale danger like this.
But, now that her objective had been achieved, it also meant losing her objective at the same time.
Because when she was still branded a criminal, the only thing in Airi’s mind was how to survive at the present together with Lux.
Noct couldn’t say anything because she knew that feeling of Airi.
The marriage of Lux and the queens would also be an auspicious event, but she must also feel lonely because her brother was taken away.
Even so, she didn’t say anything in consideration of her brother’s happiness.
「Airi──you are a splendid person.」
Noct muttered while staring at Airi sleeping.
「If possible, I wish to be able to serve you and Lux-san till the end.」
Noct muttered that to her prideful friend before she left that place for a bit.
.
And then, Airi saw a dream.
.
Part 2
Five years ago──at a monastery in the capital.
Lux and Airi reunited for the first time after the revolution.
『──Airi. Are you alright!? How is your body……? Have you eaten?』
Airi was still seeing in her dream of the time when she was reunited with Lux in an old lounge made from wood.
The revolution succeeded──no, the coup d’etat that became a success ended and three months had passed.
Lux went to meet Airi who was staying in a monastery.
After the emperor’s death──Lux received Queen Raffi’s amnesty and avoided execution in exchange of being branded a criminal. He had been separated from Airi temporarily.
At the surface, Lux was placed on his position as the chore prince to be the symbol of atoning for the sin of the old empire.
Airi who had sickly body was living a life of house arrest in the monastery.
She was living as a hostage in essence.
Most likely this would continue for her whole life──.
Airi was hearing rumor in the monastery that perhaps if she was lucky, the criminal collar might be taken off from her just before she died.
She was standing on the precipice of despair with her future tied by fate.
Her big brother was allowed to meet her every few months and came here in panic for that.
In order to protect Airi, he had trained hard to pilot Drag-Ride even though he was still twelve years old──, then not only he attempted a revolution, he even got branded as a criminal now. The heart of Airi who was in the monastery was pained from that.
(Because of me──. Nii-san went through something like that.)
Not only he was burdened with debt for eternity as a criminal, he was also showed to the whole country to be humiliated as the chore prince.
Even while her heart was hurting from that, Airi stifled down the pain of her powerlessness of being unable to help Lux.
She strongly wished to be able to meet with her brother more, but at the same time she also felt scared to meet him.
What if Lux who became the chore prince met a horrible experience──or what if he resented Airi who became a hostage.
She thought that there was no way her kind brother would be like that, but the rumor around her was also cruel at the same time.
But, that anxiety of Airi was only a needless fear.
Her brother was giving her an affectionate smile with pure kindness that was no different from before.
『Nii-san yourself, please eat properly at least. You’re worn out.』
『No, this is just──I was still working just before coming here. I’m sorry that I come here with this kind of appearance.』
Lux was living in a far poorer environment compared to Airi at that time. Even so he wasn’t showing her any fainthearted attitude at all.
It was so that he wouldn’t worry Airi.
She noticed that and felt that her tears were going to spill out.
Airi had been sickly since she was a child. Then she lost her mother. Her position in the imperial family was at the bottom rung. Then after the revolution she got branded a criminal.
For Airi who had been toyed by fate until now, Lux’s existence was her only salvation within her.
Most likely, if she didn’t have this brother, she would have died for real.
『I’m doing good. Everyone is also treating me well──. That’s why Nii-san too, please treat your own body carefully.』
Facing Lux, Airi showed a graceful ladylike smile and poked on Lux’s nose.
『I’ll check on Nii-san’s appearance and condition the next time we meet, so please pay attention to yourself so that you won’t get talked down by me.』
『Ahaha……. I really can’t go against Airi.』
Lux smiled wryly. In respond Airi spoke proudly at him.
At first she felt lonely and wanted to cry from anxiety, but then she felt that a hot fire was lit inside her.
Actually──she wanted Lux to stay at her side.
She wanted to say her complaints to him.
However──seeing her brother’s figure made courage born inside her, telling her that she couldn’t do something like that.
(If it’s for the sake of helping my precious big brother──I swear I’ll go through any hardship.)
Airi became strong since that day.
Her body also stopped being as sickly as before. She desperately strived to study even more than before, and she also worked hard to get along well with the people around her.
Sometimes she also wanted to meet with Lux more and be together with him, but she didn’t act spoiled and kept training herself to make Lux happy.
Lux had fought all this time for his little sister Airi’s sake.
He risked his life and spent time to give her freedom.
That was why, this was alright.
From here on, she wanted Lux to prioritize his own happiness.
She was worried of the trouble he might get from having a lot of queens but──it would surely be alright somehow if he was with those five.
She thought that he could be troubled as much as possible with his woman relationships.
It might be a bit mean of her but, Airi was unable to look after him until that far.
However, Airi intended to become of help for him after he became king no matter what if it was about other matter than that.
That was why──.
(Please become happy. Not for my sake, but for NIi-san’s own sake from here on.
Airi said that while being half asleep and half awake.
Then before she realized it, her consciousness had completely fallen into darkness.
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Part 3
「Nn……, nn」
Airi woke up and opened her eyes slightly.
It was the usual morning.
She still had some fever and her body was still languid like before, but she could feel that she was becoming better bit by bit.
(I saw, a nostalgic dream……)
There was no voice of female students coming from the school building. Airi noticed that today was a holiday.
In addition it seemed right now was time for breakfast. The aroma of food was flowing inside.
It seemed the female doctor wasn’t here because it was holiday, but it had been arranged that Noct would nurse her, so she wasn’t worried.
There was also fire at the fireplace to warm the room.
Airi felt relieved with her best friend’s consideration while closing her eyes inside the medical office.
After a while, the room’s door opened with a clattering sound.
A scent that stimulated the appetite was drifting along with the sound of a trolley being pushed.
「I’m feeling hungry. Let me eat quickly Noct. My body still can’t move like I want it to so──」
「Sorry. I almost never used the kitchen here, so it was already late when I noticed it──」
When Airi said those words to act like a spoiled child toward Noct, the reply that was returned came back from a young man instead.
The reality that was outside her expectation made Airi fell into thought for several seconds on her bed before she tried to jump on her feet.
「……Tsu!?」
But──, her body was still heavy. She was unable to get up immediately with her strength.
However, she understood from the voice who was entering the room.
She somehow mustered the strength of her whole body to put her hands on the bed and lifted her upper body.
Then, she found Lux who was wearing uniform and a light pink apron above it preparing things to act as her waiter in Noct’s place.
「──Wha-!?」
「I heard that you will be fine to eat light food, so I made soup for you but, do you think you can eat it?」
「What are you doing Nii-san!? You should be still in the capital today right!?」
Airi flared at Lux even while doubting that perhaps this wasn’t a reality but a dream.
In the schedule that Airi knew, Lux should still be in the capital for inspection.
Even if his work finished earlier, it was impossible for him to have returned to the academy at the afternoon today.
After that she remembered that his whole day──would be a holiday after so long.
「Airi……. You remember even my schedule even though you have collapsed like this, You don’t need to force yourself like that, so forget about it right now and rest well.」
「……Now see here, Nii-san.」
Airi put her hand on her forehead and sighed in her pajama.
「I was doing my work properly you know? I finished earlier than scheduled and so I returned here, that’s all. I flew with Drag-Ride for a bit, so I was able to return quicker.」
「Then, it’s all the more reason that it’s not the time to nurse me here right?」
「Eh, why?」
「…………」
Lux asked with a puzzled face. Airi felt dizzy seeing his reaction.
Even though it was already difficult for her just to sit up on the bed like this, she fired up herself and argued.
「As the next king, resting your body is also your job. This isn’t the time for Nii-san to waste time looking after me! You even forced yourself like that」
「But, I heard that Airi still isn’t well so」
「There is no need to worry. I’m energetic like this as you can see──……uu」
Airi who was sitting down on the bed staggered from her fever.
Lux hurriedly held Airi’s shoulders so that she wouldn’t fall.
「Come on, don’t force yourself. Tomorrow is also a holiday, so I’ll nurse you for these two days.」
Lux smiled brightly and whispered to her.
「……Noct, where has she gone to?」
「It seems that she has a business today and tomorrow, so it doesn’t look like that she will be able to come here too much. She had also looked after Airi all this time, so it can’t be helped.」
「Why do I have to be calmed down, haa, haa……. By Nii-san who is always doing reckless things-……!」
「Ahaha……. Rather than that, let’s eat the food. It’s freshly made, so eat it before it got cold.」
Lux smiled wryly while preparing a cushion on the bed to support her back. It fixed Airi’s sitting position in place.
And then, he scooped the soup with a spoon and blew on it fuu fuu to cool it before he brought it to Airi’s mouth.
「…………」
Airi opened her mouth like a baby bird receiving food from the parent bird. The moderately warm soup flowed into her throat.
The content of the soup was consommé that was taken from red meat and vegetable.
The faint taste of salt and the taste of melted vegetable were clearing up her hazy consciousness.
「Say, I’m not a child. So can Nii-san not blowing the soup fuu fuu like that?」
Airi became embarrassed and her cheeks reddened not from heat while she stared fixedly on Lux.
But Lux paid it no mind and held the spoon just like before toward her.
Either way, she wouldn’t be able to get out from this situation unless the meal was over.
Thinking that, Airi helplessly accepted Lux’s help.
This time a freshly baked bread with herb and soaked into the soup entered her mouth.
Last she ate a grilled egg and drank milk. With that the meal was over.
It was difficult for her to move her limbs, so Lux supported her shoulder and wiped her mouth. It was really embarrassing that Airi was writhing with red face.
「Somehow, it feels nostalgic. It’s like returning to our childhood.」
「……Tsu! I’ll say this, I don’t want to be looked after by Nii-san at this age okay!」
「Ahaha, sorry. I wasn’t making fun of you.」
She was giving her all to show her reluctance, but Lux removed the tray with a smile.
And then, Noct in her uniform showed up to relieve Lux.
「Wait, where……did you go, Noct!」
「Yes. I’m sorry. My job as Syvalles had been piling up a little, so I went for a bit to deal with them──」
Noct replied with monotone tone. Airi flared up at her.
「I don’t mind you doing that, but why were you sending Nii-san here? He is busy with dealing with the official businesses, it’s not the time to make him nurse me like this……」
「That’s not true, Airi.」
Airi was pointing out like that, but Noct answered her smoothly.
「Airi is an important family for Lux-san. Lux-san has been holding back himself all this time from looking after you who collapsed in order to do his works.」
「────」
She heard that while the Triad were guarding him, it seemed he was worried about Airi all the time.
「That’s why, please let him nurse you obediently. If you really don’t want that, Airi should ask Lux-san yourself to leave you alone.」
「The way you say that……. It’s unfair.」
Airi averted her gaze from Noct and sulked.
「Nii-san won’t listen even if I tell him anyway, there is no way I’ll be able to stop Nii-san……」
Airi was always proclaiming victory in the dispute between them but, she was aware that she actually didn’t have any way to make Lux changed his thinking.
Lux wouldn’t compromise with his own will when it was important.
He would accomplish his will no matter what kind of recklessness he had to do.
This time was most likely something like that too.
「Besides──」
There was no way she wouldn’t feel happy that Lux was thinking that much about her.
She was also happy with how he intentionally took the little bit of free time that he had to nurse her personally.
Her feeling toward Lux that she finally was just about to sever was welling up inside her.
「……Then, excuse me. I’ll come to check on you sometimes, so please call me if there is something.」
「Wait……! Please wait! There is something that I want to ask you Noct──」
Noct bowed and was about to leave, but Airi hurriedly stopped her.
「What is it?」
「That’s……. Toilet.」
「Yes. Please pardon me for my lack of consideration.」
As expected this was the only thing that she couldn’t possibly ask her brother for help regardless of whether she was acting strong or not.
However in the end it was decided that she would be nursed by Lux for two days, today and tomorrow.
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Part 4
She became alone with Lux once more in the medical office that was reserved for her.
The hands of the clock were ticking away. The sound of crackling from the firewood in the fireplace silently filled the room.
「I’m right here, so tell me if there is anything that you need.」
After going to toilet, she also asked Noct to help her changing her clothes. She was now receiving Lux’s nursing in a new pajama.
Regulating the temperature inside the room, changing the towel on Airi’s forehead.
And then, periodical help in changing her posture to prevent her from getting sore. Those were Lux’s primary tasks.
「I don’t really need any help. I just need to sleep, so Nii-san should take some rest yourself. Even though you haven’t even taken any rest sufficiently since the battle was over.」
「Ahaha……. I’m fine. My body has become tough from Baptism after all.」
What Airi pointed up seemed to hit a chord in Lux because he started making an excuse to her.
After that, time passed peacefully for a while.
「──Nii-san, how long are you planning to be like this?」
Suddenly such words slipped out from the lips of Airi who was lying on the bed while staring at the ceiling.
「What do you mean?」
「Nii-san won’t be able to keep sparing your time just to look after me forever. After all you are going to become the king, and you will also marry five queens.」
『How long』──she wasn’t referring to him nursing her right now.
She was referring to how long Lux would continue treating Airi specially like this.
「Eerr, I never thought about time limit like that at all though──」
「I don’t think Nii-san can be like that. I’ll allow it this time but, Nii-san too will be in a complicated position after this, so you should have the self-awareness as the king.」
「Somehow, you don’t seem like usual Airi.」
Lux made a troubled smile.
As expected he never thought that he would be lectured by the one he was nursing.
But, this was also Airi drawing the line.
It was to deal──with her jealousy toward the girls who would walk the path as Lux’s queens after this.
This was necessary for her to come to term with her feeling of jealousy toward them for taking away Lux from her.
That was why, Airi was intentionally trying to push Lux away.
「This is the last time Nii-san can treat me specially okay? I too will soon become an adult lady after all.」
「…………」
Airi’s tone was like a light chiding.
Lux smiled with some loneliness in it hearing that.
Even though──it was actually Airi who wanted to be together with Lux, she was pretending as though she was going along with Lux’s selfishness reluctantly.
She wouldn’t be able to keep going unless she drew a line in her heart like that.
However, she felt her chest tightened seeing Lux’s pained face.
That was why after that Airi kept her gaze fixed on the wall while talking.
「In exchange──is it fine……that I have Nii-san spoiling me just for today and tomorrow?」
「It doesn’t need to be just today and tomorrow you know?」
Lux’s voice when answering her was bright and gentle.
Airi’s chest ached hearing those words.
「It will be just today and tomorrow. After that please concentrate to your duty. You can think about me just once in a while after that.」
After telling him that, their alone time continued.
Even so──there wasn’t anything that particularly changed.
Airi would sit up and read a book. Then she would sleep when tired.
Lux was also sitting on a nearby sofa and reading the paperwork of his official business.
Sometimes he would check on Airi and helped her changing her posture so that she wouldn’t get sore, or changing the wet towel on her forehead.
Airing the room, adjusting the fire’s size at the fireplace.
The time was passing slowly like that mostly.
Several hours passed and Lux fed Airi once more for dinner. After it finished, he talked to Airi.
「Come to think of it──what are you going to do after this Airi?」
「I’ll have to attend Nii-san’s wedding five times. It’ll be troublesome.」
「……No, not that.」
「If Nii-san means about my future, I haven’t really thought about it. Perhaps after graduating I’ll work as civil official to manage the Ruins’ legacy?」
Because after this the world would be moving to suppress the working of the Ruins, the management of the ancient technology would have to be even more thorough. If not each country would seek power once more and got into dispute with each other.
And yet, letting go of the benefit that they had obtained until now was already impossible.
In order to thoroughly seal the function to produce Abyss and forbidding taking out a legacy in a level that was higher than the currently existing technology, a role to inspect that standard would become necessary.
In that regard, Airi who had received Baptism and could also decipher ancient script had enough qualification for that.
She would surely be highly prized for any organization that was related to Ruins.
「I see. The new kingdom have three Ruins, so I too will be happy if you can stay at my side.」
「I’m not saying that I will work in new kingdom where Nii-san’s eyes can reach though?」
Lux was saying that with a heartwarming tone, but Airi told him with a fixed stare.
「I-I see.」
In respond Lux hung his head down with a conflicted expression.
「This time I fought in order to save Nii-san but, it’s not like I will be needed here from here on, so Nii-san can just get heavily troubled by your relationships with five queens surrounding you.」
Airi spoke scathingly like that and smiled faintly.
That was the way she could draw the line right now.
Noct who occasionally came to check on them seemed to have somewhat guessed what happened between the two of them from the atmosphere, but she didn’t say anything and helped Airi cleaning her body.
Like that, the first day of Lux’s nursing came ot an end.
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Part 5
The next day, Lux borrowed a wheelchair and a cane and brought them to Airi.
「Airi, do you want to try having a stroll within the academy if you think you can? You must be bored only lying down on the bed forever.」
「I think I have told Nii-san that you don’t need to care for me though……?」
Airi gave him a fixed stared. In respond Lux smiled while scratching his head.
「But, I have already borrowed them. So how about it seeing that I already brought them here?」
「Haa……it can’t be helped.」
In fact──Airi’s body had recovered to a degree where she could get up by herself.
Even though she was planning to separate herself from her big brother by making use of this chance, why then Lux was the one taking the initiative to get involved with her?
She wanted to reconfirm his intent.
Lux prepared muffler and lap blanket for the warmly dressed Airi, and also made her held a heated stone to warm her body.
Airi recalled the time when she was genuinely sickly at her childhood. Far from feeling nostalgic, she was feeling embarrassed instead.
「You don’t feel cold? Tell me right away if you feel tired. I’ll carry you on my back to return quickly.」
「Nii-san……. Although it’s holiday, are you planning to make me be shamed within the academy’s ground?」
Airi was replying to Lux’s genuine concern with exasperation.
「It’s fine. I’m going to be careful so that no one will see us.」
However, Lux only pushed on her wheelchair with a terribly bright expression.
「Ah……」
Lux was pushing her wheelchair gently in consideration of Airi’s body.
It was nostalgic. It felt like she was returning to the past seven years ago. Airi immersed herself in her recollection.
They alternately went to inside and outside of the academy while staring at the scenery and breathing the outside air.
They stopped at the library to borrow books, visited the cafeteria to drink tea, relaxing at the courtyard while basking in the sun, frolicking with a stray cat.
It was the holiday alone with her big brother that Airi had wished for all this time.
「──Nii-san, can I ask you one thing?」
Airi suddenly began to talk when the sun was shining at the peak of the sky at the afternoon.
「……What?」
Lux tilted his head in confusion. Airi turned around to look at him and told him with a serious face.
「Why did Nii-san intentionally volunteered to nurse me this time?」
「…………」
Lux showed a slightly surprised expression to that question.
But, his expression immediately returned to his usual smile and he replied even though he seemed bewildered.
「That’s because I heard that Noct is busy with other business this time. It also looked like that I would be able to return to the academy earlier this time so I──」
「You’re lying.」
Airi pointed that out with an upward gaze without any hesitation.
「I have asked Noct herself about her schedule. She shouldn’t have any work that would make her need to neglect her role of looking after me.」
「N-no……that’s why perhaps, there was a sudden business or something──. You know, the doctor is in holiday yesterday and also today, and it’ll also feel awkward to ask other student to switch with her.」
Lux’s gaze was wandering around while he was saying that.
With that Airi saw through that he was lying without even needing to ask him directly.
「Actually, I was listening to Nii-san and Noct’s conversation. Nii-san purposefully asked her to leave the role of nursing me to you──」
「Eh, there is no way──!? Airi should be sleeping at that time!?」
Lux was surprised and asked reflexively. Right after that Airi turned a smile toward her brother.
Lux was really something when getting into an exchange of tactic and plot against his opponent, but he was full of opening like usual when dealing with a comrade or family who he trusted.
「Nii-san fell for it. It’s one hundred years to early for Nii-san to try to trick me.」
「Ah, uh……」
Lux awkwardly looked down. Airi turned her gaze back to the front and asked.
「And, let me ask one more time. Why is Nii-san intentionally asking to nurse me that you even lie about it? Even though you are busy and tired, you even stole Noct’s work──」
「The question are increasing……」
「It’s fine, please answer me. The reason why Nii-san is doing something so incomprehensible──」
Airi looked around once more and pressed her question with a fixed stare.
In respond Lux hesitated for a while. Then before long he resolved himself and muttered.
「That’s, because I thought that being taken care by me would weigh on Airi’s mind.」
「I don’t understand what Nii-san mean……, what’s with that reason. I’m talking based on a mature judgment. Why is Nii-san is even making excuse to do something like──」
「……Eerr. Because, I don’t want Airi to refuse me──」
「────」
Airi stiffened at Lux’s awkward smile and words.
That strong, heroic, and kind──.
She would never say it from her mouth but, she loved and trusted her big brother more than anyone else. Her thought stopped because that brother of hers confessed his reason with such despondent look.
「Airi is always, being considerate of me. Perhaps, you would just chase me off if I asked normally to nurse you……. But──」
Lux whispered with a fragile voice.
「I want to be together with you after so long. I want to at least stay at Airi’s side properly when you collapsed because you were forcing yourself for my sake. After all since I became the chore prince, since coming to the academy, I kept getting Airi to look after me.」
「…………」
Airi couldn’t say anything back.
Airi herself couldn’t become Lux’s strength as a Drag-Knight.
She felt jealous to Lisha and others, and even to the Triad who had been fighting beside Lux all this time.
Even though she had finally become healthy, it vexed her that she couldn’t become any help for her brother.
That was why──she forced herself and even participated in the final battle wearing Divine Drag-Ride.
After that, she wanted to free Lux himself.
She didn’t want to tie up Lux to herself by needing him to look after her.
However──.
「Just what are you saying, Nii-san.」
Airi made an exasperated smile and looked up at her brother’s face.
「It’s me. I’m the one who is saved by Nii-san, all the time until now I have been saved by Nii-san.」
Because Lux was there for her.
Because there was someone who was treasuring her──because she had a beloved family that she was able to do her best until now.
And then, if it was for the sake of a sibling who shared the same blood with her, she was able to force herself no matter how reckless.
In the end──the two of them brother and sister were two similar people to a shocking degree.
「But, if Nii-san is seriously thinking that──it looks like that you still need my help huh.」
Even without saying it out loud, the feeling that was weighing Airi down at the inside vanished the moment she realized they were able to connect with one another.
Airi chuckled and lifted up her right arm that still felt somewhat languid to poke at her brother’s cheek.
「Ahaha……. Yeah──I’ll be greatly helped if you do that for me.」
「Then, I’ll have Nii-san take care of me thoroughly today. After all I ended up like this because of going along with Nii-san’s recklessness.」
Airi said that mischievously. Lux smiled at her with a troubled look.
After that, the two of them enjoyed a holiday of just them siblings without anyone else interrupting them.
.
Part 6
『I’m sorry. About the bath today, I got an urgent business and won’t be able to return. It will be until late at night, so I’ll leave it to Lux-san to take care of Airi.』
After finishing dinner and returning to the medical office, the siblings saw the note that was left behind and froze.
This wasn’t Noct being considerate in a strange way, it seemed she was really dispatched to solve a trouble of collapsing building that happened in Cross Field.
「W-well……. It can’t be helped. Should we wait until Noct return?」
Lux suggested in slight bewilderment, but Airi shook her head slightly.
「Nii-san is naïve. Noct would properly write it if there is possibility that she will be able to return back in time. Are you planning to make me sleep in this state?」
Airi’s cheeks reddened slightly in shame while she pleaded with an upward gaze.
Although Airi’s body had recovered more than yesterday, she was still not in the state of being able to easily change her clothes by herself.
It would be difficult for her to change her clothes by herself, and it would also take a lot of effort for her to wipe her body using wet towel.
「That’s, I’m, alright with it but……. Is Airi alright with it?」
In the end Airi would need to show her almost naked appearance to him, so Lux fearfully asked.
「T-there is no way I’m alright with it right? Does Nii-san wish to see your little sister naked at this age? Please blindfold your eyes. I will──direct Nii-san how to do it.」
「Ah, yeah. I got it.」
Lux was relieved by what Airi pointed out and he started making preparation.
The dorm mother was the one doing the laundry, so the set of clothes for changing had been left by Noct beside the pillow.
(Looks like, there is also underwear……)
It was only natural that there was underwear but, if he pointed it out to Airi it felt like she would look strangely at him again, so Lux began without saying anything.
He covered his eyes with a thick towel and Lux’s sight was covered in darkness.
「Err, what should I do──」
In the past Lux had also helped the sickly Airi to change clothes, but doing it now was making him nervous in various senses.
He was sitting face to face with Airi on the bed. His hands reached forward and unbuttoned her pajama’s buttons one by one.
(Somehow, it feels like the atmosphere is getting even stranger because of the blindfold……)
Lux was taking off Airi’s pajama while a strange atmosphere of embarrassment and tension was drifting.
「Err, now is the back. Undo the hook──」
「Wait, I’m taking off even the underwear too!?」
「Please don’t say it out loud even though I’ve been intentionally keeping quiet about it! I’m not making Nii-san doing it because I like it……!」
「S-sorry……」
Lux apologized to the shouting Airi while his hands moved toward Airi’s underwear.
It was obvious but, Lux’s heart was strangely beating fast because he was also touching her bare skin.
「Nh……」
There was Airi’s voice that sounded similar with a small sigh.
That voice echoed inside the quiet medical office at night and colored the atmosphere alluringly.
But, Lux took a deep breath to endeavor to calm his heart.
(Calm down, just what am I thinking……! I’m only nursing her like in the past, I’m not doing anything──)
Lux chased out his idle thoughts from his consciousness and wiped Airi’s sweaty skin with a towel that was already soaked in hot water.
In the middle, Lux’s hand felt the sensation of something small and soft over the towel.
「Kyah……!?」
「W-what’s the matter Airi!?」
Lux was surprised hearing the sudden shrilly voice. He wondered if there was any trouble.
「I-it’s nothing. Nii-san’s hand……touch a little──」
Airi’s voice at the latter half was small so he couldn’t hear what he said, but it seemed nothing particular had happened.
(But, is it alright to continue like this, really!? It feels like I’m doing something that shouldn’t be done as a person──)
Couldn’t he ask other girl who was staying behind in the academy at least just for helping Airi changed clothes?
However it also felt it was already too late to do that after coming this far.
「……Tsu, p-please continue it, Nii-san.」
Even Airi was enduring the shame.
Lux resolved himself like that. It was at that timing, *rattle* the door of the medical office opened.
「──Ah」
Lux couldn’t see with his blindfold, but he could hear Noct’s monotone voice.
「I have knocked just now but, I suddenly recalled something urgent so please excuse me.」
Lux couldn’t see with his eyes, but Airi could clearly see her best friend closing the opened door with a blank face.
「──Wai-!? Wait! Don’t go!」
「T-that’s right Noct! If you have returned then please switch place with me!」
Lux and Airi desperately stopped Noct.
In the end, the role of wiping Airi’s body and changing her clothes was handed over to her.
.
Part 7
While Lux was waiting outside for the moment, Airi and Noct were talking alone inside the medical office.
「How was it Airi? Were things going well with Lux-san while I wasn’t here?」
「Nothing happened. I only had Nii-san taking care of me normally.」
「Yes. That’s great. If you are able to become honest with yourself, then it’s worth it for me to remove myself like that. Ah, but what happened at the end there was really unexpected.」
Noct said that while smiling and putting a blanket over Airi on the bed.
「……Haa, I’m really happy to have a best friend who thought of her friend like this.」
Noct must have noticed the subtleties and conflict in Airi’s heart.
Lux had obtained freedom with the collar of criminal taken off from him, and he began to walk a new path as the king of the new kingdom.
He was also going to marry five queens. With that Airi was feeling that she had lost her objective and place to belong.
Airi had no need to become Lux’s strength anymore.
Rather, she intended to leave him so that she wouldn’t hinder her brother’s action.
However──that was wrong.
「You are magnificent. You controlled that Jormungandr with a body that isn’t used to pilot Drag-Ride, and supported Lux-san until the very end. No, even before that you have become Lux-san’s strength until now from the shadow. More than anyone else──from a place nearest than anyone.」
The usually taciturn Noct was talking unusually talkative.
Furthermore Airi wasn’t the only one who had such feeling. Lux was also feeling the same.
That was why, in order to make the two of them realized each other’s feeling, Noct played a trick by entrusting Lux to look after Airi.
「Lux-san will be taken away after this so I think that Airi will also have it hard but, you are without a doubt loved by him. Please at least keep that in mind.」
「……I don’t have any intention to say anything about Nii-san’s love life from the start though.」
Airi slightly averted her gaze and pouted at what Noct pointed out.
In respond her best friend nodded with a faint smile on her lips.
「I’ll believe you.」
「Yes, do so. Also──」
Airi stared at Noct’s face and told her while lying down on the bed.
「Please show me Nii-san’s schedule after this. Now I know what I want to do next.」
「Yes. I’ll bring it for sure tomorrow. I’ll leave it to Lux-san to continue taking care of Airi until then.」
After that Noct left. Then Lux returned again.
Before she slept, Lux finished adjusting the fireplace’s temperature and ventilating the room. Then he tidied her bedding.
「Then, I’ll stay here, so rest well without worry.」
「──Yes. Good night, Nii-san.」
Lux moved the sofa to right beside Airi’s bed and covered himself with a blanket there.
With the small flame of the fireplace faintly lighting the place, Airi was starting to fall sleep──then Lux too had closed his eyes before he realized it.
「I thought it would be like this.」
Airi slowly sat up on her bed while whispering with a small voice so that her brother wouldn’t wake up.
And then, she stared at the sleeping face of her brother who was peacefully sleeping beside her.
「This is because Nii-san is showing sense of responsibility at strange place even though you are the one who is the most tired.」
Lux wanted to personally take care of Airi who collapsed because she was forcing herself for his sake.
There was nothing wrong with that feeling.
However, it seemed he had been forcing himself unconsciously.
「Really──what a troublesome brother.」
There was a smile on Airi’s face when muttering that.
Nothing had changed from when he visited Airi at that monastery.
Whether he was a criminal or a king, there were things that hadn’t changed from him.
And then surely, Airi’s own feeling toward Lux was also still the same like in the past all this time.
「If Nii-san show an opening like that, someone might get the jump on you, you know? Like by a bad little sister for example──」
Airi whose cheeks were dyed crimson whispered to Lux mischievously.
Lux was completely exhausted and showed no sign of waking up. She leaned closer to him.
Since this morning, although she couldn’t move normally, she had become able to move quite much.
However, this was a rare chance so she allowed her brother to spoil her.
Because Airi herself also wanted Lux to spoil her.
「I love you. ──My number one Nii-san in the world.」
The shadows of Lux and Airi from the fireplace’s fire, their face overlapped right after that.
Nobody noticed that secret act and the night silently grew late.
.
Part 8
「──Nii-san. Please wake up quickly. It’s already morning.」
「N, nn……. Fuaaa. Wait, Airi!?」
The next day, when Lux woke up Airi had already changed into her uniform and sitting on the wheelchair.
It seemed she had rapidly recovered in these two days.
「Yes. Good morning.」
Noct had arrived while Lux was still sleeping. Airi was able to at least dress herself with Noct’s help.
「Today Nii-san is going to have a discussion with the mayor of Cross Field about the garrison of the Ruin and the security situation there. Of course Lord Dist and Celis-senpai will also be present there.」
「…………」
Airi’s back was straight even while sitting on the wheelchair. She was listing out his schedule straightforwardly.
Lux couldn’t hide his confusion at her attitude that was completely different from yesterday.
「Err, is your body alright?」
「Just as Nii-san can see, there won’t be any problem with my daily life if I take some breaks in between. Rather than that, please pull yourself together. Because I’ll manage Nii-san’s schedule.」
「Eeeeh……!?」
Lux was astounded. Airi continued in respond.
「What? Nii-san doesn’t like that? Nii-san who is forcing yourself even when you are dead tired is opposing my opinion?」
*Glare* Airi stared at Lux with a fixed gaze that was hiding an implication.
With that, Lux became unable to object at all.
「Then, first please wash your face and dress yourself. I’ll tell the Triad of when to depart. Please listen to Noct’s instruction okay?」
「Ah, yeah……. I’ll do that.」
Lux nodded. He was accepting it even while looking bewildered.
.
Part 9
Airi sighed in relieve after Lux left the room.
Before Airi was insinuating that he was going to take some distance from Lux. But now she was becoming even more proactive than before.
Noct who was realizing that asked her best friend.
「Have you found what do you want to do next now that you aren’t a criminal anymore?」
「──Yes. As I thought I’m really worried for Nii-san that I can’t just leave him alone.」
Airi proudly answered and chuckled.
Her expression was saying that she was going to support Lux just like before, ──no, even more than before from here on too.
Noct guessed Airi’s feeling and her lips loosened slightly.
「That’s good. It’ll be worth it for me too to be in your service. By the way Airi──you were alone with Lux-san last night but, there wasn’t any misconduct that happened at that time right?」
「……What could you be talking about? Everything was normal last night.」
Airi said that while averting her gaze from Noct.
「Even siblings will have skinship with each other at least sometimes. Please don’t make any strange misunderstanding.」
「Yes. I have a hunch that this require special caution.」
「I’m telling you, how can you make such misunderstanding right after I said that!?」
Airi flared up at her. In respond Noct easily ignored her with her blank expression.
Airi who wasn’t branded a criminal anymore and obtained her freedom had found her next objective and starting to walk toward it.
Under the azure sky of winter, the sunlight that was giving the sign of spring’s arrival was shining on them.
