IEULBERW 10

Chapter 10 

Magic and a Kiss

Ami’s younger sister, Kotoko, had come over to visit.

“Sorry for bringing my sister all of a sudden…”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”

Apparently, Ami had accidentally mentioned Chamomile in conversation.
Kotoko was a first-year middle schooler, a cheerful girl who loved anime.

“Um… can you really use magic?”

So pure and cute.
Ami used to be like this when she was little, didn’t she?
Kotoko’s hair was long, tied loosely in the back.
Ami was the boyish type, while Kotoko was the complete opposite.

“Wanna see?”
“Yes!”

Chamomile pulled a wand out of nowhere and made a sphere of water appear in midair.
Since we were indoors, water was probably the safest choice.
Fire would’ve been dangerous, after all.

“Amazing…”
“Hey, Kotoko-chan. Can you keep this a secret?”

“Huh? Why? It’s so cool.”
“Well, if Chamomile became famous, she might not be able to stay here anymore, you know?”

In a Japan without magic, who knows what could happen?
She might be treated like a sideshow… or attacked.
Used as an experiment… locked away somewhere.

Just imagining it sent a chill down my spine.

“If that happens, I’ll have to leave this place.”
“What?”

“What kind of face is that, Yuya? Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

Chamomile leaving…?
I’d never even thought about that possibility.

“You’re pale… are you okay?”

Ami peered into my face with concern.
Was I really feeling sick?

“I’ll take care of Yuya. Ami, you and your sister should go home.”

Chamomile gently but firmly sent them away.
They didn’t seem to want to leave, but—
well, if I was sick, they couldn’t really argue.

“Now then…”

As I lay in bed, Chamomile sat beside me, resting her chin on her hand, gazing into my eyes.
She was really close.

Suddenly, my heart started pounding.
Weird… what’s happening to me?

Chamomile raised her hand in front of me.
A faint light glimmered in her palm.

“What are you—”

“Your color looks fine… I used appraisal magic just to check. You’re not sick.
But I went ahead and cast a little healing spell just in case.”

Chamomile smiled softly.
When I looked up, our eyes met.
Her emerald-green eyes—
so clear, so beautiful.

“Your eyes are beautiful.”

The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them.
Oh no, was that creepy?

“Ah, s-sorry. If that made you uncomfortable, just forget I said—”
“Not at all. I’m really happy.”

Her cheeks flushed pink.
She was supposed to be older than me, but right now she looked impossibly cute.

“I love you, Yuya.”
“…Huh?”

Chamomile… loves me?
Her eyes were serious—it wasn’t a joke.

“Really?”
“Of course.”

My face burned hot.
What’s happening to me?

“I… I think…”

This strange feeling—
something I’d never experienced before.
Could this be… what it means to like someone?

“I… like you too…?”
“Why the question mark? You mean you haven’t realized it yet?”

Chamomile chuckled softly. “That’s right—you’re still just a kid, huh?” she murmured, and then—
she pressed her lips to mine.

Her tongue slid gently into my mouth.

“—!”

“Your face is bright red. Was that your first kiss?”
“Y-you went straight for a deep kiss! Of course it’s my first—this is the first time I’ve ever liked someone too…”

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might explode.
But it didn’t feel bad—just warm and dizzy and unreal.
For a while, I just sat there, completely dazed.

The next day.

“School starts again tomorrow… ugh.”

I packed my bag with everything I’d need.
Summer vacation was over, and the new semester was beginning.
If only it could’ve stayed summer forever.

Since that day, Chamomile had been spending a lot of time right by my side.
Not exactly clingy, but… very touchy.
A lot more physical contact than before.

I still wasn’t used to it, so I often ended up pulling away.
Can you blame me?
I’m a total beginner at this whole love thing.

Chamomile, on the other hand, seemed much more experienced—probably because she’d lived longer than me.

“Pathetic…” I sighed.

“So, you’ll be going to school every day now, right? I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll be home by evening, don’t worry.”

The way Chamomile’s expression fell was adorable.
She’d been more open and honest ever since confessing to me.

“I’m just glad you finally learned to smile naturally, Yuya.”

Huh?
What kind of face had I been making before?