After losing sight of Jeanne, I decided to return home before meeting up with Hikaru.

She'd said she'd be staying at an inn, so there was no need to go searching for her and bring her back.

She's a grown woman, after all, and this is her own choice.

"Well then. Now that it's just the two of us, I should think about dinner. We could have a drink... hehe..."

I couldn't help but smile.

When I'd first started liking Hikaru, I'd been so bold and eager to pursue her.

I'd wanted to be together all the time, always clinging close, wanting to make our relationship stronger and more solid.

I think I was just caught up in the thrill of my first love.

I hadn't really thought much about Hikaru's situation, nor did I know how to suppress my own feelings.

Yet, after being apart for a while, I gradually calmed down a little.

My feelings for him haven't cooled at all. Deep inside my chest, they still burn fiercely, red and bright.

After reuniting, and living together,

I kept a cool exterior, never making any direct advances.

I'd occasionally get overly affectionate, and that was fun in its own way, but there was always Jeanne around.

...I also made subtle, indirect attempts and flirtations, though they were completely ignored—well, that's beside the point.

Anyway, it's been a long time since we've been alone together. This moment is important.

—Hmm?

(That's――Gilmina Tea!)

On the way back, I discovered a rare tea being sold at a market stall.

That tea was the one shown to me by the daughter of a former party member who had returned to her hometown, saying, "It has amazing effects, you know?"

The distinctive shape of the leaves—there's no mistaking it.

They say just one cup can make a man feel stirred up...

(But still... what should I do about this...?)

"I'll take one bag, please."

"Ah, yes. Young lady, do you know how to drink this?"

"Oh, yes, I'm fine. It's no problem."

"It's a strong tea, so be careful."

(…Even if it's true, I can't possibly give her that… I've decided to slowly close the distance between us like this...)

"Huh!?"

Before I realized it, the Gilmina Tea was already in my hand.I have a vague memory of chatting with the shopkeeper, but it shouldn't be a problem.

Still, I never expected it to cost twelve silver coins. That's an incredible price.

I should have told myself not to rely on things like this, but since I've already bought it, there's no turning back.

After all, this tea seems delicious just as tea... Alright.

I didn't know about its effects!

I bought it without knowing!

I'll drink it with Hikaru without knowing!

There's absolutely no problem!

There's really no problem, but I should clean myself up before Hikaru gets back...

◇◆◆◆◇

"Where's Jeanne?"

"She hasn't come back yet, but she'll probably return soon. Let's just have some tea and figure things out."

When I had just finished cleaning myself, changing clothes, and starting to boil water, Hikaru returned.

It had taken quite a while for him to come back, so he might have been searching for Madame Jeanne.

I prepared two cups of Gilmuna tea and placed them on the table.

It has a slightly spicy aroma, reminiscent of spices. Incidentally, this tea is said to be effective not only for men but also for women.

I tried a small sip earlier and found that, despite its strong scent, the taste is refreshingly clean and easy to drink.

He sat on the chair, resting his elbows on the table and bowing his head, looking slightly worn out—reminding me of the Hikaru I first met.

His slightly longer, glossy black hair fell across his cheeks, giving off an indescribable allure.

With delicate fingers—unusual for a man—he held the cup, his slightly chapped lips gently meeting its rim.

I like this calm, composed Hikaru too, but there's something equally amazing about this version of Hikaru—so melancholy

and shadowed. I just want to push her down and

take her completely... Wait a second! The effects of the Gilmina tea might

already be kicking in

. Calm down... Calm

down... "I've never tasted anything like this before... Did we even

have this at home?" "I just bought it. I lost track of Jeanne at the market a moment ago." "Huh

. It's giving me a warm, cozy feeling all over." Hikaru

doesn't know much about this world. Naturally

, she wouldn't know about Gilmina tea. ...Or if she'd ever tried it before, I'd have to come up with a convincing excuse. But since she doesn't know, that's not a problem.

Actually, since I've always been the one buying tea, I figured Hikaru wouldn't know much about it—and my guess turned out right.

Well, even if that weren't the case, there are plenty of tea varieties sold in markets. Normally I brew a slightly premium taru bean tea, but that's purely because I personally like it.

That's what we always had back home.

Still, Gilmina tea... It's genuinely delicious...

Just as Hikaru said, it warms you up from the inside, and that aroma is oddly addictive...

I suppose it's no surprise it has such strong effects—drinking it daily would probably be unwise.

"Janne, were you angry?"

"Huh?"

I'd been lost in thought about the tea, so I didn't immediately understand what she meant.

This tea is dangerous. Combined with alcohol, it might be unbeatable?

I moved my chair next to Hikaru's and sat down beside her.

For a split second, Hikaru made a "Why?" face, but I ignored it.

"I might have been a little angry… but mostly I was just confused, weren't I? You practically approved of Madame Jeanne completely, didn't you?"

"Completely approved…? That's not true at all."

"It is. You never once denied anything, did you? You were so stubborn with me, yet you never doubted her!"

"……I'm sorry about that, but it was unavoidable. I owe Jeanne too much to ever repay her."

As I spoke, I pressed my body tightly against Hikaru's.

Today I'm wearing a dress with a wide-open neckline. Pressing my chest against his arm, I find it delightfully amusing to see Hikaru's face turn slightly red.

It's something Jeanne taught me—that in their original world, many men prefer this.

If that's the case, there's no reason not to use it.

Hikaru blushes slightly but still manages to stay composed.

Is the effect of the tea starting to take hold?

"What should I do…"

Hikaru's quiet whisper, head down, clearly troubled.

Should I really move rooms?

But going upstairs together like this feels a bit embarrassing. Maybe it'd be better if we built up the mood a little first.

It's still quite early in the day, after all.

"…Hikaru, what do you want to do?"

I ended up asking such a teasing question.

After all, Hikaru is a man too.

You know I’m always dressed lightly, so you’re always sneaking glances, right?

"Actually... I know Jeanne’s right. I understand that in my mind... but still, I just can’t help wanting to wait for Nanami." "Huh?" Wait, what?

This isn’t

supposed to be such a serious conversation,

was it? I thought it was

going to be something like... my body getting hot... or that kind of thing.

Even if Nanami really was chosen as a transmigrant and came over to this world, I don't think 'The Abyssal Transmigrant' is actually Nanami. Judging from the map, she does seem to be actively heading toward this town, and there might only be one such transmigrant like that... But she could just be aiming for a large city, or perhaps she's simply headed toward the labyrinth. There's only a labyrinth in Meltya around here, right?

"Eh, yeah... that's true..."

"At least it's not something that'd put her at odds with Jeanne... So Reflair saying 'Just apologize and it'll be fine' makes perfect sense. Huh... I messed up..."

Ah, wait—

Isn't this tea completely ineffective?

I'm already feeling pretty affected, though?

Hikaru sighed, head hung low.

Close-range attacks didn't seem to be working very well.

"……Anyway, I'll apologize to Jeanne."

Hikaru said, facing forward.

Yeah, yeah. Just apologize—there's no point getting serious about something like that.

It's pointless to take it seriously.

You should be paying attention to me instead.

　

……No, wait.

Calm down, Reflair.

If I let myself be swayed by the effects of the tea, I won't know what's what.

I shook my head, brushing aside the distracting thoughts.

For now, it seems Hikaru hasn't shown any effects from the Gilmyna tea yet, and the night is still long.

There's no need to panic yet.

For now, I'll support Hikaru and indulge her. Mother and the nobles both said to just spoil her.

And well, honestly, it doesn't matter to me either way.

Whether we marry in this town or marry while traveling with Hikaru, it's all the same to me.

If I had to choose, though, it might be better to stay away from the artificial shrine.

Both the great spirits of the artificial shrine and those of the natural shrine enjoy being loved, but the great spirits of the natural shrine don't go chasing after or capturing those they favor.

Of course, if Hikaru tried to make a contract with one, she might end up being eaten, but at least it would be a more livable place for Hikaru than this town.

Even without a labyrinth, someone with a Gold rank could survive by working as a guard or hired sword. They could even run a restaurant normally.

I'd like four children—each could make a contract with a spirit of earth, water, wind, or fire, and then we could all explore labyrinths together as a family.

"R…Refraya? Are you okay? You're spacing out and your face is red."

"……Huh? Oh, yes. I'm fine. I was just thinking."

No, no, I shouldn't be doing this.

　

"Cough. Um… Anyway, I think apologizing is a good idea. Let's get it over with as soon as we get back. Then, what should we do next? Should we set out on a journey? Stay here? Or… me?"

"W-well, me…? No, I plan to continue traveling as scheduled. I'll apologize to Jeanne."

"Wait, are you really okay with this, Hikaru? You wanted to wait for your childhood friend, didn't you?"

"I've been stubborn, but as Jeanne said, we can't really know for sure if it's true or not."

"Then, what if your childhood friend really is coming this way?"

"In that case, I'd want to wait... but..."

"Then why not just wait?"

Why are you trying to follow Jeanne's way of thinking?

If you want to do something, just do it.

That's all there is to it.

"I think wanting to wait is exactly what you want to do, Hikaru. I understand Jeanne's point, but you should just do what you want."

"But..."

"There's no 'but' about it. I'm doing what I want, just like Jeanne is. Why should Hikaru be the only one unable to do what they want? That's sad, isn't it?"

"Refrayer..."

"Ah, I'll refill your tea."

Actually, I finished mine already.

It's delicious, too. Maybe I should drink it regularly.

Drinking it in the labyrinth might not be a bad idea either. It kind of gives me a buzz—makes me feel more eager to fight.

"…What that traveler said… it might be a lie, but if the message comes back to life, we'll know right away. And I don't see the point in lying with something that'll be obvious in just a few days. …Ah, no. In the end, I just want to believe that Nanami is really here in this world."

As I listen, I add tea leaves to the teapot.

I'll try a bit more than before.

"I… if Nanami is really here, I want to see her."

"Then that's what Hikaru wants, isn't it?"

"Is it really okay to do what I want?"

"Of course. In fact, I think you're holding back too much? Even I, who live with you, never expected things to be this quiet."

Oops, I accidentally said something I shouldn't have.

But it's truly the truth.

What I've heard from the daughters of former party members about "boys" has nothing to do with Hikaru. He must be from a completely different world—something about him is just different.

According to them, they'd pounce the moment they were alone together...

"…I never thought I'd end up living with Refreia."

"But aren't you getting used to it by now?"

"Getting used to it… maybe…"

Hikaru gives a vague smile.

To me, it's quite torturous.

Or perhaps it's the same for Madam Jeanne.

I don't know how Hikaru feels about Madame Jeanne, but I'm pretty sure he likes me.

...We've even kissed, you know.

I mean, we've done it before, so it's not like it's any different now, right?

Alright.

Ahh, my heart's racing.

I poured myself another cup of tea and sat back down next to Hikaru.

Pressed right up against him, his skin felt cool and refreshing.

"Hihihii, Hikaru. How about it? You don't have to hold back, you know? Hehehe."

"W-Wait, no, Reifrea. Something's really hot in here!"

"That's the tea's effect, that's the tea's effect! You're getting flushed!"

"No, no, no—it's not just that kind of heat!"

Hikaru seems flustered, but there's no denying his body is burning up.

Maybe I should just take off my clothes.

"W-what is this? Is this the tea's fault?"

"Hikaru, aren't you too hot in all this clothing? Let me take it off for you. Come on, come on."

"N-no, I'm not hot. And seriously, Refleia, don't start undressing here! This is totally weird!?"

"It's just that the tea's effects are a bit too strong. It's fine, it's fine."

"It's not fine at all! Item鉴定!"

Hikaru's finger drifted through the air as he did something.

"Hikaru, Hikaru, Hikaru. Since we reunited, we've never had a moment alone, so I've been holding back, acting like this. But today, I can't hold it in anymore. You feel the same, right? You're feeling the same way, aren't you?"

"This is bad...! What kind of tea is this? Where did you even buy this!?"

Something felt off in the conversation, but I’d just push forward with a decisive move.

"Well, whatever, isn't it just ordinary tea?"

"It's not just tea! Ah, forget it—'Dispel!'"

As Hikaru chanted some spell, something passed through me.

At the same time, the heat in my body rapidly cooled down.

Wait…? Did I just end up doing something completely insane…?

"Did it work…? I remember reading that consuming this causes a frenzy in spirit mages who’ve made contracts with spirits other than fire, as it activates fire spirit power instead…"

"C… crazed…"

Though there was absolutely no sign of that state, I was left with the strange memory of having wildly overreacted all by myself—like it had happened to someone else entirely.

Now that I’ve suddenly snapped awake as if doused in cold water, all that remains is embarrassment.

"Ah... ah, ah... I-I need to go to the bathroom... I must've drunk too much tea..."

Unable to bear the situation any longer, I fled.

I never imagined I'd be affected so strongly by myself.

And yet, why didn’t it work on Hikaru!