But even though she called him out of concern over that, she still received a sharp reply in return.
"You know, even if we put the problem with flextime on hold, I don't understand this sudden call early in the morning with neither restraint nor prior arrangement... it wouldn't have happened if you had just used some common sense"
"Because... the two of us need neither restraint nor common sense between us. We have love."
"There are so many things I should say about that, but my head isn't working well yet... I'll tell you later at school. Don't skip."
"Then I'll tell you what I want to say right now. I love you, and, good night," Erica whispered gently and threw the cell phone away.
She stretched out on the bed again, closed her eyes, and returned to her country of sweet dreams right away.
Kusanagi Godou earnestly felt miserable. Waking up early in the morning had been the worst.
He had been struck awake by Erica's call at five 'o clock in the morning.
As a consequence of waking up half-way, he had lost the will to go to sleep again.
With the creed "early to bed, early to rise," Godou always got up right after 6am. So even if he got up at five, it was not that hard. But a normal human would not have called him that early in the morning.
He had hoped for Erica to treat people with more common sense.
He melancholically muttered to himself.
He was in Jounan Academy's year 1 class 5 before morning homeroom. However, in the seat next to him, Erica was nowhere to be seen. It seemed she would be late just like her advance notice said.
"Seriously, that girl..." As Godou sighed, the female student next to him started talking to him.
"I do not see Erica. Were you not together this morning?"
"She contacted me saying she'd be late because she's sleepy."
"That girl was saying such things again? She really has not changed since she was a little child! She is always so selfish and not even trying to stick to the rules..."
The angrily muttering girl had her silver hair collected in a ponytail.
Liliana Kranjcar. After leaving her hometown of Milan, the great knight came all the way to Tokyo for him. It was the result of him thoughtlessly consenting when she told him "she'd stay by his side as his knight."
Before he knew it, Liliana, who had arrived in Japan at the end of August, had decided to study abroad.
She got into year 1 class 5 of the private Jounan Academy, which was his class. During homeroom on the first day, she had suddenly made an announcement.
Even though she was an Italian exchange student, she introduced herself in flawless Japanese.
When told that her seat was along the windows, Liliana had frowned with a twitch.
And then she declared right after stalwartly walking up to Godou's seat:
"To begin, I should first explain: I, Liliana Kranjcar, have someone I have sworn to share my destiny with, to be close with at all times. It is this gentleman, Kusanagi Godou."
She had a magnificent tone of voice; her words spoken like performances from a classical Greek drama.
"What is she saying all of a sudden?"
When their classmates all made expressions that seemed to say that, Liliana had continued her address. That she, who could be called his knight, would constantly be waiting by his side.
"The place I should sit at cannot be anywhere other than by his side. I would like you to think about helping me with my mission and pardon my selfishness."
That appeal had surprised Godou.
No, she was being impossible. He had wanted to remonstrate her, but he was now at a loss for words.
Suddenly the surrounding students had gotten up from their seats and started changing seats to grant Liliana's firm request.
At that time Liliana must have used hypnotism or some kind of magic.
Just like that, she had secured the seat next to him, and the class had immediately recognized: On Kusanagi Godou's right sat Erica Blandelli, and on his left sat Liliana Kranjcar; the two beautiful girls who came from Europe surrounded Godou and competed for his attention.
Liliana was burning with helpfulness towards Godou. Erica nonchalantly interfered with that.
After that day, such spectacles would repeat themselves many times. But today, one of the two in question was absent. It seemed like he would finally be able to spend time calming his heart, so Godou was relieved.
"Kusanagi Godou. Your complexion is not what it should be. Do you lack sleep?"
"I did sleep well, but I woke up at an odd time. That may be why..."
When Liliana suddenly asked him, Godou opted to answer safely. He did not mention Erica's name out of a knight's compassion.
"Adequate sleep is the basis for a healthy life. Please also take care to maintaining your health," she told him with an overly serious expression. Since she certainly was right, he had nothing to refute.
When Godou nodded with a bitter smile, the silver-haired knight sighed.
"This is no laughing matter. Your lack of self-awareness as a king is an evident weakness of yours... however, there is nothing we can do about it today. I thought this might happen, so please have some of the coffee I prepared this morning."
With that said, Liliana pulled a thermos flask out of her bag.
'What preparedness!' Godou was a little surprised at the unexpected development.
"How much sugar and milk should I add?"
"Ah, please don't put any. Black is fine."
"That is bad for your stomach, I cannot recommend that way of drinking. Well, no helping it now, let us take it one step at a time."
"Ah, okay."
When he accepted the presented coffee, Liliana said without a moments delay:
"It is hot, so please take care. If you don't mind, should I cool it for you?"
"Y-you don't need to go that far...," he perplexedly replied to her, who was leaning forward to blow on the coffee. Ever since this new knight had precipitously joined him, she has always taken on a very polite demeanor.
Coming from a family built on the principle of laissez-faire,[9] Godou had never experienced being care for to this degree, not even during infancy.
Liliana scowled at his reserved reply with a stern face.
"This is also my duty as a knight. Feel free to order me as you like. You should become more used to making use of people... What is that! Take your shirt off right away! Quickly!"
"Eh? Why?"
Liliana, her face changing color, drew closer to the wincing Godou.
"Your shirt has become frayed. I need to sew it right away."
"Y-you can leave that much alone."
"It would be my shame if I allowed you to look like that."
In the end, Godou, overpowered by the girl's forcefulness, took his shirt off and handed it to her.
When he was in his t-shirt, he noticed the stares concentrating on him from the surroundings.
Everyone was observing them—while quietly whispering to each other, while giggling, or while smacking their lips in annoyance. They gave impressions like 'Get a room!' or 'Eeeek, filthy!' or 'Tsk. That damn Kusanagi... he should just die.'
It was as though they were looking at a pimp that did nothing but leech off women.
At that moment, when his dignity as a man was being doubted... Godou finally realized what was going on around him.
Then lunch break arrived.
While heading for the rooftop, Godou was assailed by anxiety.
If he continued onward like that, he could not help but feel that he would rush head-on into an even scarier minefield. But since he still had no excuse to escape...
The first to welcome him on the rooftop was Liliana.
"I have been waiting for you... However, since our destinations were the same, could you not have come here together with me?" she inquired in ill humor.
Under her dissatisfied expression Godou's body slightly cramped.
"So-sorry. I went to
buy some bread."
"Is that so? That is unfortunate... finally a chance to be alone and progress our relationship..."
When Godou made a suitable excuse, Liliana mumbled away to herself.
"Eh?"
"Ah, nothing. As a knight. Right, because as a knight I must act as your guard. Anyways, let us quickly have lunch!"
While her mouth ran non-stop, Liliana produced a bundle from her bag that looked like a lunchbox.
With handmade sandwiches and fresh juice among other things, no one could object about either its taste or nutrition.
In contrast to the lunchboxes Erica brought, which were carefully prepared by Arianna, Liliana also began bringing handmade cooking every day. Usually they would share the gathered food with everyone, but...
This day Erica was absent. But everyone else still gathered.
Mariya Yuri was from the class next door and his little sister Shizuka especially came from the middle school section.
Would lunch really end safely with this lineup? As anxiety assailed Godou, Yuri timidly asked him a question.
"E-Erica-san is not present today?"
"Yeah, she said she'd come to school today but I guess she's not here yet."
"I... see...," Yuri murmured and fell silent, looking depressed. Then even Godou became restless.
Ever since the events in Naples, his relationship with her had become delicately awkward.
He felt that before the summer holidays, while being reserved around each other, they had become wonderfully close. However, lately it had always been like this, somewhat formal.
If at least Erica were here, she would liven up the place with her ingenious conversation skills.
It was time to do something. While looking at Yuri, who had been plunged into silence, Godou made up his mind. He might be over-thinking matters, but he would feel bad if the situation went on without him doing anything.
"You need not care about such a selfish woman. Leaving that aside, Kusanagi Godou, I warned you the other day, and yet you still obtained something like that again?" Liliana interjected in ill humor.
"Eh? What are you talking about?"
"I am talking about that. About that obviously nutrient-deficient bread!"
She was staring at the yakisoba bread[10] that Godou bought.
Even among the bread in the store, it was particularly a popular article. The sweetness and saltiness of the sauce surrounding the noodles was exquisite, and it was always sold out a few minutes after the beginning of lunch break.
That day he had managed to buy two of those popular items. He also purchased an egg sandwich and a croquette sandwich along with them, but in terms of rarity they were no match for the yakisoba bread.
But apparently the knight from Milan disliked this specialty bread that was unique to Japan.
"Combining carbohydrates with carbohydrates is reckless at best. So long as my heart beats, I shall not permit that kind of crude meal."
And just like that, Liliana confiscated the yakisoba bread. In return, she forced a self-made sandwich onto him.
Roast beef and lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, avocados, and other ingredients held between toasted rye bread, seasoned with what appeared to be a handmade sauce.
"A meal like this is appropriate for a warrior. Now, please eat up."
"A-ahh. Then, thanks..."
Actually, that day he had wanted to be satisfied by the taste of junk food sauce.
But refusing Liliana's consideration with such a reason would feel awkward.
Godou bit into the sandwich. Of course, it was delicious. It tasted better than the food offered by the cafes in the area. The pickled vegetables that were offered along with the sandwich were outstanding as well.
It was not just garnished with the customary cucumber, but carrots and broccoli as well. When he asked, he learned that they were also self-made.
It was a lunch prepared with a lot of time and effort that left nothing to be desired in both taste and nutrition.
However, Godou unintentionally stared at the yakisoba bread, which had been regretfully confiscated.
"Hey, could you return that to me? I still have room for more..." he asked tentatively. Junk food with an excess of salt and sauce had a charm that was hard to resist, after all. As a former athlete, he normally showed self-restraint; but from time to time gluttony would overcome him.
"I-I cannot. This was hard, but I confiscated it under consideration of your own good, you know?"
Liliana somehow became flustered when Godou asked.
"E-even if you ask me with such a face, this is out of the question, simply out of the question... But, umm, it is not that I cannot consent to giving you half of it. S-split half of it with me. That would be fine."
"Liliana-san. Please don't change your position so abruptly~" Shizuka said to Liliana as she suddenly came around to agreeing.
Until now, she had been sarcastically watching the exchange between her brother and the silver-haired knight.
"It's shameful to be like a mother going all soft on her child just because he's throwing a tantrum."
She was not outright rude, but Shizuka's tone contained an obvious thorn. Minding that, Yuri, who sat across her, softly chided her.
"Shizuka-san, you must not speak like that. Well, I also think that Liliana's behavior is inconsistent, but..."
"C-could you stop with the strange accusations?"
Liliana cleared her throat with a somewhat sheepish expression.
"Shizuka-san, I only acted with appropriate concern towards your older brother. In addition, I presented a compromise to meet his wishes as much as possible. Therefore, Mariya Yuri, all my actions were taken thinking of Kusanagi Godou's well-being. In that sense, all of my actions are consistent, I believe."
She was stiffer towards the younger Shizuka than towards Yuri, who was her age.
Liliana made her arguments with that slight difference in attitude.
"In short, that means you've totally caved in against my brother, right?"
"I caved in against Kusanagi Godou? Ridiculous. I am always strict and push high standards onto him. What you said just now was clearly a mistake of the facts," Liliana said as she took out a napkin.
When she suddenly handed it to him, Godou was startled.
"Ahh, this is no good. You have gotten sauce on you. Your dignity and authority will be for naught like this. Okay, it is all right now. You are an unexpectedly troublesome person, hmm?" she said while wiping Godou's mouth.
Although she called him troublesome, Liliana still looked very content for some reason. It was a strange feeling of enrichment, and, from the looks of it, Yuri and Shizuka had awfully cold stares.
"Godou-san."
"Onii-chan, I can't believe it. You look like an idiot. You're totally being babied!"
Were these possibly the same reactions that had occurred earlier in the classroom? Exposed to stares that doubted his character and dignity, Godou was horrified.
By the way, Liliana and Shizuka had met for the first time on the last day of the summer holidays.
Saying that her personal arrangements in Italy had finished at last, Liliana had appeared in Nezu[11] in the Bunkyou ward and went straight to Godou's house to introduce herself.
At that time, both Godou and Shizuka had been at home, and so was their grandfather Ichirou.
He had instructed her not to reveal information on magicians, knights, or Campione to his family, so Liliana had not used those words.
Still. Still.
"I came to take care of Kusanagi Godou" or "we shall be together forever."
"Our relationship binds us with the same fate; we are one in body and soul" or "I intend to protect him for all our lives" were also unnecessary, Godou believed.
At that time, his grandfather had laughed "Hoho, well well" and gave Liliana a warm reception.
But after she had gone home, he had whispered: "You see, girls like that brood over too many things, so you need to be carefu
l with them. How should I say it; whether they let you live or die is up to you..."
That piece of advice somehow seemed weighed down with meaning. And speaking of Shizuka...
"When you vanished off somewhere at the start of the summer holidays, I can't believe you were out catching such a beautiful person! You weren't satisfied with just Erica-san and Mariya-san; no, you had to get a third one!?! Onii-chan, you're totally like grandpa!"
Just like that, she had become exceedingly hotheaded. 'Little sister of mine, don't have weird misunderstandings about your brother.' But when he tried to relay that to her, Liliana had objected first.
"Shizuka-san, your words just now are mistaken. Unlike Erica or Mariya Yuri, I do not intend to become your brother's lover. Liliana Kranjcar is a knight that will protect Kusanagi Godou until the end, living my life alongside him... that is the purpose of my existence."
"L-lover!?"
"Liliana-san, please stop using such strange words!"
As Yuri interjected, Shizuka also winced at the term, one not usually used by modern middle and high school students.
But Liliana's face remained calm.
"Am I wrong, Mariya Yuri? I have already recognized that as what you are waiting for."
"That is not true! That very idea is a misunderstanding!"
"I see... Well then, if you say you have no ambition to become his lover, please refrain from excessive meddling. As it is my duty, I shall earnestly remain in waiting by Kusanagi Godou's side. I would like you to not interfere."
Faced with Liliana's decisive words, Yuri became flustered.
While Godou grew worried as he listened next to her.
If the usually reserved Japanese miko and the dutiful Milanese knight continued to diverge like that, it would definitely leave a bad aftertaste. He should settle matters before it came to that.
"Hey, Liliana, don't be so stiff. Mariya only says that because she's worried about us. It's nothing to be so hard on her for."
Matters like these should be resolved before they take deep roots.
Maybe it was because he had been the captain when he was still playing baseball, but Godou had gotten used to this sort of problem. It was not necessary to be excessively friendly among teammates, but discord hidden in the shadows was not good.
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